REOPENING NEW YORK
Implementing CDC Guidance:
Effective May 19, 2021 New York has adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Interim Public Health
Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People,” issued May 13, for most businesses and public settings.
Businesses are authorized to require masks and six feet of social distancing for employees and/or patrons within their establishments
OR adhere to CDC guidance, which advises that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or be socially distanced, but
unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks and be socially distanced in most settings.*
• The Department of Health strongly recommends masks and six feet of social distancing in indoor settings where vaccination status
of individuals is unknown. Any mask requirements that businesses choose to implement must adhere to all applicable federal and
state laws and regulations (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act)
• *This provision applies across most commercial settings, including but not limited to retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness
centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and other personal care services, among other settings.
However, Pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and healthcare settings are
exempt and must continue to follow the State’s existing COVID-19 health guidelines until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE REOPENING NEW YORK GUIDANCE
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS LIFTED AS 70% OF ADULT NEW YORKERS HAVE RECEIVED FIRST DOSE OF COVID-19 VACCINE
State’s COVID-19 Restrictions and New York Forward Industry Guidance Lifted Across Commercial Settings, including Retail, Food Services, Offices, Gyms and Fitness Centers, Amusement and Family Entertainment, Hair Salons, Barber Shops, Personal Care Services, Among Others
Unvaccinated Individuals Responsible for Continuing to Wear a Mask, Per Federal CDC Guidance
Large-Scale Indoor Events Venues, Pre-K to 12 Schools, Public Transit, Homeless Shelters, Correctional Facilities, Nursing Homes and Health Care Settings Must Still Adhere to Existing COVID-19 Health Protocols Per CDC Guidelines
With the removal of the State’s minimum standard for reopening, businesses are free to choose to lift all or some restrictions, continue to adhere to the State’s archived guidance, or implement other health precautions for their employees and patrons. Businesses are also authorized to require masks and six feet of social distancing for employees and patrons within their establishments, regardless of vaccination status. Any mask requirements that businesses choose to implement must adhere to applicable federal and state laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
PANDEMIC SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM
The successful recovery of small businesses like yours is key to New York State’s future. The $800 million COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program provides grant funding to small and micro businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations impacted by the pandemic. The grants will be flexible and can be used for a number of different business operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, PPE or other business expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021.
Program application details are still being finalized, but if you are a New York State small business owner and would like to receive updates about the COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, please click here. You will be alerted when more information is available, and applications are being accepted. More information on the program can be found HERE
RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND:
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) was signed into law in March 2021. ARP included $28.6 billion for a restaurant revitalization fund at the SBA to provide direct grant support for restaurants bars, caterers, brewpubs, taprooms, and tasting rooms and other eligible entities hit hardest by the pandemic. Grants may be used in tandem with the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, and the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) to help vulnerable businesses survive the remainder of this crisis and get on a path to recovery as we emerge from the pandemic. This newly created restaurant revitalization fund at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is based on the bipartisan RESTAURANTS Act. Please visit the SBA’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund page for more details including a program guide and sample application to prepare for the opening of the application period.
CROSS PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY ON SBA CORONAVIRUS RELIEF OPTIONS SUMMARY:
the SBA has created a summary of criteria that must be met when considering different funding options. please CLICK HERE to review.
SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATORS GRANT
The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Applications will be open on April 8th, 2021. Please CLICK HERE to learn more.
“RAISING THE BAR” RESTAURANT RECOVERY FUND
Empire State Development (ESD) announced the more than $3 million “Raising the Bar” Restaurant Recovery Fund to assist restaurants in New York State during the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant funding has been made possible through financial donations led by Diageo North America and supported by Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits (a division of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits) and will be implemented by the non-profit National Development Council (NDC). The “Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund” will help eligible restaurants adjust their operations to the impacts of COVID-19 and adherence to New York State’s public health and safety measures during the winter months when outdoor dining is limited.
Eligible businesses consist of New York State restaurants that have no more than $3 million in 2019 revenue and are engaged in providing food services and meals prepared on-premises to patrons who traditionally order and are served while seated, including certain on-premises food and drinking establishments licensed through the State Liquor Authority (SLA) and which need funding to adjust to COVID-related impacts and protocols. Establishments providing take out or grab and go food services due to COVID-19 restrictions are also eligible to receive the grant from NDC. Additionally, these establishments must have been in operation on or before March 1, 2019 and certify and demonstrate that they have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. All businesses must continue to comply with the New York Forward reopening guidance and Cluster Action Initiative guidance, as applicable. Restaurants can apply to the “Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund” starting Monday, January 11, 2021. For more information visit the ESD website at https://esd.ny.gov/raising-bar-restaurant-recovery-fund. Applications will begin to be accepted on Jan. 11, 2021.
MOVING NEW YORK FORWARD
Re-opening guidance and fact sheet issued by Genesee County Health Department HERE
NEW YORK FORWARD LOAN FUND (NYFLF)
The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. The NYFLF is specifically timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan. Please click HERE to learn more about the NYFLF.
SBA – PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM:
Please click HERE for the basic information on how the program works. The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and
utilities. For more detailed information on the program, please click HERE.
SBA – ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN AND LOAN ADVANCE:
Please Click HERE for more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
SBA – EXPRESS BRIDGE LOAN PILOT PROGRAM:
As of March 25, small businesses can maintain operations with assistance of up to $25,000 in under a new Express Bridge Pilot Program. Download the Small Business Administration’s guide to the Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program, please click HERE.
NYS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND THE CARES ACT:
Please click HERE for more information on the enhanced Unemployment Insurance. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law March 27, 2020. The Act provides enhanced Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for New Yorkers.
For more information on the Federal CARES Act, please click HERE.
For the CARES Act in its entirety, please click HERE.
Senator Charles Schumer’s guide to Grants and Loans (Great Resource!), Please click HERE.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR:
The US Department of Labor has issued guidance to businesses impacted by COVID-19. To see frequently asked questions regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, please click here.
New York State Department of Labor is encouraging businesses to use a Shared Work Program as an alternative to laying off employees by allowing workers to work a reduced work schedule and collect partial unemployment insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks. Instead of cutting staff, businesses are able to reduce the number of hours of all employees or just a certain group. Please click HERE for more information.
IRS TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS:
Three new tax credits are available to many businesses hit by COVID-19. Learn more: click HERE
BDC LOANS:
The BDC will continue to provide competitive loans out of the Revolving Loan Fund. Please click HERE to be redirected the BDC’s loan guidelines and application page.
OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HERE TO HELP!:
Please utilize all of the resources at your disposal to get through this difficult time. Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is an amazing resource for Genesee County Businesses and has done a wonderful job of creating a resources page for COVID-19. Please click HERE to visit their resources page as it is highly recommended.
Genesee County Economic Development Center has done a great job in creating a COVID-19 resources page to help. Please click HERE to access the GCEDC’s resources page.
PUBLIC HEALTH:
Please be sure to follow our local, state and federal agencies as they offer guidance during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Genesee County Public Health Department – Click HERE
New York State Department of Health – Click HERE
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Click HERE
Guidance on Executive Order 202.6 (Essential Business) – Click HERE
COVID-19
The BDC understands that economic and business growth will be affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. As we navigate the programs that are available to help with the relief efforts, we will strive to keep you informed as these programs can be difficult to understand. Below are some resources that may be able to provide your organization direction and possible financial relief as we must do all we can and stay positive in these uncertain times. Our goal is to help organizations with the details of each program and act as a facilitator when needed. Each program carries specific guidelines to help you and your business understand what is available. Please use the resources below to navigating your needs. The BDC will continue to update this page if and when more programs become available, we recommend knowledge through research. This Page is not updated daily and additional programs may be available that are not listed below.