Is Your Business Affected by Coronavirus?

• Coronavirus Info for Small Businesses

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Have a question for your business projects that requires research?  Our friendly and knowledgeable Librarians can help!  Whether you are looking at starting a business or growing your existing one, doing research is a "mission-critical" part of being in business.   Set up a 30-minute, online video consultation with our Business Librarians for a quick referral to the Library’s resources and/or to resources outside the Library as well.  Our Librarians are available for 30-min video consultations on weekdays between 12-4 PM.

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Is your business affected by COVID-19? (Latest update: 12.2.2021)

Here's a list of resources and information from the FEDERAL, STATE and CITY Governments, as well as some OTHER organizations, Additional Resources, and Research Reports that can help. 

 

U.S. Federal Government - 
 

Census Bureau - 

• The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey is an experimental effort to measure Americans’ experience during the pandemic. 
   

Consumer Financial Protection Board - 

• If COVID-19 has made it difficult for you to pay your mortgage, utilities, or other housing payments, financial assistance is on the way. The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) was established by the American Rescue Plan Act to help homeowners financially impacted by COVID-19 with housing-related costs. Data releases are schduled for October 5, October 26, and November 23, 2022.

 

Department of Commerce - 
 

Department of Veterans Affairs - 

• The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) as part of its continued effort to support Veterans seeking retraining and economic opportunities in response to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. VRRAP provides up to 12 months of tuition, fee, and monthly housing allowance payments, based on Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, to qualifying Veterans seeking training for employment in a high-demand occupation.

Internal Revenue Service - 

• ​Update on COVID-19 Relief

  As the country moves into a new phase of the vaccination effort – one where all adults are eligible for vaccinations – we want to ensure that you are aware of a new tax credit that President Biden announced today. The new paid leave tax credit will offset the cost for employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide full pay for when their employees get a COVID-19 vaccination or recover from that vaccination.

  This tax credit will apply to nearly half of all private sector employees in America. The Internal Revenue Service posted a fact sheet to educate employers on how to claim the paid sick leave credit on their quarterly tax filings.

  For more details on how the paid leave tax credits from the American Rescue Plan will work for employers to enable employees to get vaccinated and recover from after-effects of vaccination, as well as for other purposes, please review additional information from the Department of the Treasury.

• The Internal Revenue Service announced that the third Economic Impact Payment [EIP] are on the way.
• Guidance:

               - Notice 2020-18 (PDF), Relief for Taxpayers Affected by Ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

               - Notice 2020-17 (PDF), Relief for Taxpayers Affected by Ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

               - Notice 2020-15 (PDF), High deductible health plans and expenses related to COVID-19
 

Federal Reserve - 

• The Federal Reserve has announced that it is establishing a Main Street Lending Program to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program ended on January 8, 2021. See the site's Post-Termination FAQs.
   

Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] - 

• FEMA has expanded assistance available for the funeral costs of COVID-19 victims.
   

Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] -  

• The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has published a guide of recommendations - Guidance and Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 - for making places of employment safer in the era of Coronavirus.  Click here for publication..
   

Small Business Administration -

• The Small Business Administration's Community Navigator Program is now open. This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach the nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.

• The SBA plans to simplify loan forgiveness for the smallest borrowers of the Paycheck Protection Program. These borrowers will soon be able to appply for loan forgiveness directly through the SBA instead of their banks.

• The SBA 's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant web portal is closed but remains open for approved loan applicants. 

• Economic Industry Disaster Loan Program -  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is no longer able to accept applications for new COVID EIDL loans or advances as of January 1, 2022. The deadline to request a loan increase or reconsideration was May 6, 2022.  . Further questions can be answered at the SBA Disaster Customer Service number: 833-853-5638.
   
• SBA Programs - Scams and Fraud Alerts: The Office of Inspector General  is alerting the public about potential fraud schemes related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,  Small business owners are being targeted  - be on the lookout for grant fraud, loan fraud, and phishing.
   
• SBA and Treasury Announce Simpler PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less
   

Treasury Department -  

• ​Update on COVID-19 Relief

  As the country moves into a new phase of the vaccination effort – one where all adults are eligible for vaccinations – we want to ensure that you are aware of a new tax credit that President Biden announced today. The new paid leave tax credit will offset the cost for employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide full pay for when their employees get a COVID-19 vaccination or recover from that vaccination.

  This tax credit will apply to nearly half of all private sector employees in America. The Internal Revenue Service posted a fact sheet to educate employers on how to claim the paid sick leave credit on their quarterly tax filings.

  For more details on how the paid leave tax credits from the American Rescue Plan will work for employers to enable employees to get vaccinated and recover from after-effects of vaccination, as well as for other purposes, please review additional information from the Department of the Treasury.

• Treasury launches $25B coronavirus rental assistance program | TheHill

• The CARES Act Works for All Americans, U.S. Department of the Treasury portal covering sources of assistance for American workers and small businesses.
   

US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - 

• What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEOC Laws
   

US Patent and Trademark Office - 

 

New York State Government -

• COVID-19-Related Questions?

               - Questions about any topic: submit them here to the New York State Department of Health

               - Strictly BUSINESS questions: submit them here to Empire State Development

               - COVID-19 testing locations: NYS Department of Health  and New York City 
 

Office of the Governor - 

• On February 9, 2022 Governor Kathy Hochul announced New York's new Winter Toolkit for the new phase of the pandemic. The Winter Toolkit focuses on five core areas: protecting the most vulnerable New Yorkers, increasing vaccinations and boosters, strengthening our health care system, empowering local leaders, and supporting individuals facing the long-term effects of COVID.

• The New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) was signed into law on May 5, 2021. The law mandates extensive new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the NY HERO Act is to protect employees against exposure and disease during a future airborne infectious disease outbreak. On September 6, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the designation of COVID-19 as an airborne infectious disease under the HERO Act. This designation requires all employers to implement workplace safety plans. 

• Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation (S.6353-A/A.7733) that will allow restaurants to utilize municipal spaces like sidewalks and streets for outdoor dining. First granted under an executive order by the Governor, this law allows restaurants to continue using these public spaces for another year as they recover from the economic devastation brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• New York Forward Small Business Lease Assistance Partnership

• Governor Cuomo Announces Launch of the New York State Excelsior Pass Program
   

Empire State Development Corporation - 

• Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the applications portal for the first-in-the-nation Seed Funding Grant Program - created as part of the FY2023 budget - opened on Monday September 14, 2022. The program provides flexible grants to support early stage, micro and small businesses in a still recovering New York State economy. The program will ensure that small businesses that opened shortly before or during the COVID-19 pandemic will have the funds to continue to operate and grow.
  
  This Program builds upon New York State's existing $800 million Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program. Empire State Development has expanded eligibility for the program, enabling more small businesses to access funding by removing the requirement that businesses show a twenty-five percent loss in annual gross receipts from 2019 to 2020. This expansion of eligibility comes in addition to previous program changes to profitability requirements and revenue thresholds. The Program - which will continue to process applications currently in the pipeline - will close as funding winds down on September 30, 2022. 

• Empire State Development’s $35 million Global NY Fund Grant Program provides grants and loans to help New York State’s small and medium-sized businesses go global and create new jobs. The Global NY Fund Grant Program is open to New York State companies and non-profit organizations seeking to create or expand direct exports. All export grants are awarded on a reimbursable basis.

• Empire State Development’s $250 million COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program provides a tax credit of up to $25,000 to eligible New York State businesses that made investments to comply with pandemic-related emergency orders and regulations, or to increase public safety.

• The New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program provides flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations in the State of New York who have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses and non-profits incorporated in - OR registered/licensed to do business in New York State - are now eligible to apply. 

• Business Pandemic Recovery Initiative - New York Empire State Development Corporation initiative that highlights the various economic resources available to support small businesses seeking pandemic relief.

• Coronavirus FAQ for Businesses

• Guidance on Executive Order 202.6 -This guidance is issued by the New York State Department of Economic Development d/b/a Empire State Development (ESD) and applies to each business location individually and is intended to assist businesses in determining whether they are an essential business.

• The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is an 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. 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. These loans are intended for businesses which did not receive funds from either of the U.S. SBA relief programs, the Payroll Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan.  The loans must be paid back within a five year period with interest. If you have any questions or need help with your application, visit nyc.gov/financingassistance to get support from our Business Solutions Centers. Additionally, the State Department of Financial Services will issue an emergency regulation to help businesses and consumers who suffered damage from looting and vandalism. DFS is directing insurers to expedite claims, provide free mediation of disputes and accept photos as reasonable proof of loss so businesses don't have to wait for police reports. More information is available at dfs.ny.gov. Effective in September 2020 Paycheck Protection Program receipients are eligible to receive low-interest loans from the New York Forward Loan Fund.
   

New York State Council of the Arts -

• NYSCA FY2022 Funding Opportunities | NYSCA $105 million arts and cultural funding grants provided by the New York State Council on the Arts. There are four funding rounds:

  - Round One: Restart NY: Rapid Live Performance Grant

  - Round Two: Expanded Access to Funding

  - Round Three: Organizational and Individual Artist Relief

  - Round Four: Capital Funding for the Arts
   

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets - 

• Governor Kathy Hochul announced the opening of the web-based application portal for hemp farmers seeking to obtain a conditional license to grow adult-use cannabis in the 2022 growing season. The license was made possible by a law the Governor signed last month.
   

New York State Department of Financial Services -

• The New York State Department of Financial Services’ Disaster and Flood Relief Resource Center provides information to consumers impacted by Tropical Depression Ida.
   

New York State Department of Health - 

• New York State Excelsior Pass - The Excelsior Pass is secure, digital proof of your COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results. The Pass is only accepted in New York State by participating business and venues.
   
• FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is available for families of coronavirus victims.
   
• The Department's COVID-19 Vaccine: Get the Facts website details the phases of vaccine distribution and how to determine your eligibility.
   
• The Department's COVID-19 Test Site Finder will help you locate a test site near you.
   

New York State Department of Labor - 

• Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation allowing employees facing potential layoff to petition employers to participate in a Shared Work Program. Under this amendment to labor law, the majority of employees may submit a request for a Shared Work Program in writing to the employer before the layoff or within 10 days of the layoff. The employer then has seven days to respond and is not required to implement the program. 

• The New York Health and Essential Rights Act [NY HERO Act] was signed into law on May 5, 2021. The law mandates extensive new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the NY HERO Act is to protect employees against exposure and disease during a future airborne infectious disease outbreak. On September 6, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the designation of COVID-19 as an airborne infectious disease under the HERO Act. This designation requires all employers to implement workplace safety plans. 

• NY State Minimum Wage Increases on December 31, 2020
   

New York State Liquor Authority - 
 

New York State Office of Children and Family Services -
 

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance - 

• Beginning Thursday October 7, 2021 at 9:00 AM, applications will be accepted for the Landlord Rental Assistance Program (LRAP) which provides rental assistance for landlords whose tenants are unwilling to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program [ERAP]. Assistance may be provided for households with rent up to 150 percent of the Fair Market rent [FMR] for the county where the property is located.

 

Office of the New York State Comptroller - 

• The Office of New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has issued a new report The Retail Sector in New York City: Recent Trends and the Impact of COVID-19.

• Arts, Entertainment and Recreation in New York City: Recent Trends and Impact of COVID-19 | Office of the New York State Comptroller February 2021 report from the NY State Comptroller's Office.

• New York City Restaurant, Retail and Recreation Sectors Still Face Uphill Recovery is a new report from the Office of New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many businesses in retail trade, restaurant, and arts, entertainment and recreation closed. This January 2022 report examines the damage the pandemic has inflicted on those sectors, and considers the distribution of federal funds for businesses in the City, particularly for businesses in low- and moderate-income communities and in historically underutilized business zones.

• New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced the launch of new online dashboards – New York City Industry Sector Dashboards - to track data for key industry sectors in New York City on a regular basis, providing policymakers and the public with a look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the City and how its recovery is progressing. These dashboards follow a series of reports - released over the past two years - that track economic data and the effect of the pandemic on selected critical sectors and help identify areas of weakness as well as positive developments.

 

NYC Government

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment - 

• The NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment [MEND] has issued a new report - New York City Digital Games Industry: 2021 Economic Impact Study examining  New York City's role in the growing video game industr

 

NYC 311 - 

• Excelsior Pass: New York's COVID Vaccine website - New York State’s Excelsior Pass provides secure, digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results. The Pass is only accepted in New York State.

 

NYC Analytics - 

 

NYC Business -

• Reopening Plain Language Industry Guides

               - Find out when and how you can safely reopen your non-essential business.

              - Guidance and resources to safely reopen your bar or restaurant.

               - Get free face coverings and find non-medical PPE for you and your employees.

               - If you have any questions, you can reach out to via the hotline, 888-SBS-4NY

• Restored Funding for the City's Commercial Lease Assistance Program - The Commercial Lease Assistance Program provides assistance to small businesses in New York City needing help with a commercial lease issue.
   

NYC Business Solutions Center - 

• NYC Business Solutions Center experts are available to help you identify additional financing available, including financing from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or local philanthropic financing if you are a nonprofit.
   

New York City Council - 
 

New York City Commission on Human Rights - 
 

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection - 

• NY Consumer Affairs-COVID-19 Workers Rights- has created a Business Reopening Guide with information for workers. This guide contains information regarding what safety protocols your employer must follow, workplace laws, and other city resources. Additionally, they have published a Worker Rights Page. This page contains many important updates for employees in multiple languages.

• NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law - DCA

• Paid Safe and Sick Leave · NYC311
   

NYC Department of Cultural Affairs - 

• The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs has put together this list of information and resources related to public health, funding for organizations, funding for artists, preparedness resources, and more. Have questions or suggestions for additional resources? Send an email to pr@culture.nyc.gov.
   
•  COVID-19 Impact on Nonprofit Arts and Culture in New York City- Report prepared by SMU DataArts for the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
   

NYC Department of Environmental Protection -

• The New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) NYC Green Infrastructure Grant Program offers green roof retrofit funding for private property owners in New York City. The goal of the Green Infrastructure Grant Program is to incentivize private property owners to retrofit their roofs with green roofs to manage stormwater runoff. DEP hosts quarterly public workshops to explain the eligibility requirements of the program and guide users through the online application.
   

NYC Department of Finance - 

• New York City has established a temporary program allowing you to pay a reduced amount to resolve eligible Environmental Control Board (ECB) judgments issued by City agencies and adjudicated by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). The FAIRER (Fines and Interest Reduction Enabling Recovery) Program is a three-month program that allows respondents or payors to resolve outstanding Environmental Control Board (ECB) judgments. The program runs from September 20, 2021 through December 20, 2021.
   

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - 

• COVID-19 Resources for Businesses and Nonprofits

• COVID-19 Testing Locations - NY City

• COVID-19 vaccines - NYC Department of Health​

• The NYC Commission on Human Rights has issued two fact sheets detailing the equitable implementation of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Key to NYC  which requires customers and employees to show proof of vaccination before engaging in certain indoor activities. One fact sheet is for customers and employees; the other for businesses.

• The Pandemic Response Institute will focus on: building or strengthening technologies and systems to support real-time data collection and sharing; drive cutting-edge research on public health innovation and create capacity to rapidly scale technological solutions in future public health emergencies; pilot community-based partnership models and workforce training programs that improve emergency preparedness and advance health outcomes across all communities; and center racial equity in all activities of the Institute and address gaps in health infrastructure that have disproportionately caused harm to communities of color and others facing structural inequities.
   

New York City Department of Small Business Services - 

• The Department of Small Business Services has released a new report – Supporting NYC Small Business Recovery and Growth - describing the agency’s rapid response and mobilization during the pandemic to create a Small Business Recovery Plan, focused on promoting equitable economic growth, lowering operating costs, cutting red tape, and helping businesses to increase revenue through innovation.

• NYC Business Quick Start is an interagency effort led by the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to cut red tape and position NYC as the most business-friendly large city in which to open or reopen a business. Key features include: a concierge service where businesses have a sole point of contact to help navigate City regulations; a public dashboard; guaranteed 48-hour response to all small business inquiries; and cutting processing time by 50 percent.

• Visit the New York City Department of Small Business Services' COVID-19 Assistance and Guidance for Businesses web portal.

• Employee Ownership with Owner to Owners- If you are thinking of selling your business or know someone who may benefit from doing so, it’s time to explore Employee Ownership with Owner to Owners—a new city-funded business support program. Selling all or part of your business to your employees can be a viable exit option that offers a fair market rate and provides significant tax benefits.

  A companion service – Owner to Owners [O2O] Hotline [an Employee Ownership NYC initiative] - is a rapid response business support service connecting business owners seeking to sell or employees interested in buying a company with local ownership transition experts. Business owners taking full advantage of the program can access services worth $10,000 or more in the private sector, all while building a viable plan for the future. The Hotline number is 646-363-6592.

  These initiative’s business support services are provided by member organizations of the New York City's Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI). These services are funded by the NYC City Council in coordination with the NYC Department of Small Business Services to help your business succeed.

• New York City's Shop Your City' Challenge -   an initiative of the the New York City Department of Small Business Services - encourages New Yorkers to take a break from big box retailers and shop at local small businesses.

• SMALL BUSINESS HOTLINE -The Department of Small Business Services launched a hotline number small business owners can use to get answers for questions they have about reopening their businesses. To reach the hotline, dial 888-SBS-4NYC or 888-727-4692.

• The Neighborhood Challenge: Tech Forward is an initiative of the NYC Department of Small Business Services in partnership with the NYC Economic Development Corporation, Urban Tech Hub @ Company, and CIV-Lab. The Neighborhood Challenge: Tech Forward is designed to crowdsource solutions to support the City's commercial district and small storefront businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Department of SBS and its partners are seeking proposals to pilot innovative, tech-enabled solutions from startups, technologists, and innovators across the globe.

• NYC Restaurant Resource Guide for NYC Business- Details pdated guidelines and rules for dining operations have been developed by New York State.

• NYC Means Business: Training for Your Employees new initiative from the NY City Department of Small Business Services. This program provides small business owners and their employees with training in digital literacy, marketing tools, online security, and COVID-19 safety.

• Open Storefronts Program- The NYC Department of Small Business Services's  Open Storefronts Program, permits storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions, and provide queuing areas.  Building on the success of the Open Restaurants and Open Streets programs, Open Storefronts provides safe spaces for small businesses to rebound in challenging economic times. Businesses can visit the Department of Transportation Open Storefronts website for eligibility requirements.  They can also view DOT’s Open Streets: Restaurant guide for complementary information. 

• The new Reopening & Recovery Checklist for Small Businesses can help you make critical decisions regarding your business. You can schedule a one-on-one session with a New York SBDC office to answer your questions.

• Updates to the Payroll Protection Program –The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)  If your business is still in need of funding, please contact your local lender or local SBA branch today for more information on how to apply.  Have questions? Visit nyc.gov/financingassistance.

• Need Help Recruiting Staff?  The Workforce1 team can help you hire the right employees at no cost. With a pool of 100,000+ candidates, they can identify qualified individuals to meet your needs in essential services, such as food services, healthcare, manufacturing, pharmacy retail, transportation, and warehousing.  Click here to learn  more. Services include: Sourcing job seekers through a candidate database; Paid advertisements (at no cost to you), and through local partner organizations; Recruiting and screening candidates based on your needs—referring the most qualified to your business; and Scheduling interviews.
   

• Virtual Compliance Consultations -The NYC Department of Small Business Services offers no-cost virtual compliance consultations to help you understand how to comply with key City rules and regulations to avoid receiving common violations. This program focuses on the Open Restaurants Program. The virtual consultation walk-throughs will help you understand common compliance challenges faced by new or operating business owners in New York City related to the Open Restaurants Program. Request a Consultation.

• According to the NYC's Assistance & Guidance for Businesses Impacted Due to Novel Coronavirus page, application intake in the NYC Business Continuity Loan Fund has paused due to overwhelming interest.
   
• If you would like to be updated about any new local, state or federal financial assistance programs that become available, please provide your information here.
   

NYC Department of Transportation - 

• NYC Open Restaurants -. The site details how to apply for outdoor seating; sitting requirements; required documents; how to apply online; and a open restaurant map & dashboard covering the five boroughs.
   

NYC Economic Development Corporation - 

• Mayor de Blasio and the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced a plan to double the City’s $500 million investment in life sciences to $1 billion as part LifeSci NYC, a commitment launched to create jobs and establish New York City as the global leader in life sciences. This expanded initiative is expected to generate 40,000 jobs. Funding, space, and talent are the key resources of this initiative for companies and for job seekers. Note the inclusion of the ElabNYC entrepreneurship program, the LifeSci NYC Internship Program, and the New York Bioforce workforce development program.
   

NYC Health + Hospitals - 

• NYC launches program for people suffering from "Long COVID" launch of this new service from NY City's Health + Hospitals to serve people suffering Long COVID symptoms.

• The Pandemic Response Institute's focus is on: building or strengthening technologies and systems to support real-time data collection and sharing; drive cutting-edge research on public health innovation and create capacity to rapidly scale technological solutions in future public health emergencies; pilot community-based partnership models and workforce training programs that improve emergency preparedness and advance health outcomes across all communities; and center racial equity in all activities of the Institute and address gaps in health infrastructure that have disproportionately caused harm to communities of color and others facing structural inequities.
   

NYC Human Resources Administration - 
 

NYC Office of Citywide Event Coordination & Management -
 

NYC Office of the Mayor - 

• New York City Mayor Eric Adams has released a new report – Renew, Rebuild, Reinvent: A Blueprint for NYC’s Economic Recovery – detailing his administration’s vision for the future of New York City’s economy at this moment in time.

• COVID-19 Relief Package Laws.  The new laws support struggling small businesses by imposing limits on third-party food delivery services, extending the suspension of sidewalk cafe fee collection, and protecting commercial tenants from harassment and personal liability.

• On January 4, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams signed the “Small Business Forward” Executive Order to reform existing business regulations, ensuring local businesses face fewer needless fines and penalties. The Executive Order builds upon Local Law 80 and calls on the Department of Buildings, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Sanitation, Fire Department, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to review business regulations with the goal of reducing fine schedules and allowing for cure periods or warnings for first-time violations.
   

NYC Office of Administrative Trials & Hearings [OATH] - 

• MEND - Mediating Establishment & Neighbor Disputes - provides FREE mediation and conflict resolution services to address quality of life issues affecting City residents and businesses in the nightlife industry (including restaurants).
   

NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission - 

• Taxi Medallion Owner-Driver Relief Fund for financially troubled taxi medallion owner-drivers. TLC's Resource Center, which offers a range of free financial counseling and legal assistance for TLC Licensees, as well as connecting them with government benefits and health and wellness resources, has already served nearly 800 licensees. TLC Licensees in need of these services can call 311 or visit nyc.gov/taxi to make an appointment.

• Driver Resource Center - NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission web portal that details FREE financial counseling, legal services, and other resources for taxi/for hire drivers.
   

Office of the City Comptroller - 

• The New York City Comptroller COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Fund Tracker publishes available information on how federal stimulus funds are spent to give the public access to granular information and allow detailed analysis.

• Making the Grade 2021: NYC Agency Report Card on M/WBE's annual report from the Office of NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer that evaluates how well the City is creating economic access and opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. Previous reports are avilable here.

• Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses at Risk: Impact of COVID-19 on New York City Firms is a comprehensive  analysis released by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer.  Click here for report.

• New York By the Numbers: Monthly Economic and Fiscal Outlook

• The Office of the New York City Comptroller has launched the COVID-19 Recovery Center – a multilingual, comprehensive guide to navigating the many federal, state and city relief programs that New Yorkers may qualify for.
   

WE NYC - 

• WE Legal | WE NYC -new initiative from WE NYC in partnership with Start Small Think Big and the Pro Bono Collaborative. This initiative provides women entrepreneurs a range of support and services that target negotiation and legal protection.
   

Metropolitan Transportation Authority [MTA] -
 

Additional Resources - 
 

Westchester County Economic Development - 
 

​New Jersey -
 

World Trade Organization - 

• The World Trade Organization (WTO), has released their report  on COVID-19 and world trade in which international trade is projected to drop by 13% in a best-case scenario and 32% in a worst-case scenario. Click Here for report.

 

Non-Profits, Private Support, Grants and Other Relevant Info

• Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator is dedicated to helping build sustainable equity and growth for Black entrepreneurs by enabling their success as sellers. You can grow your business with access to financial support, strategic business guidance and mentorship, and marketing and promotional support.

• The Amber Grant | Grants for Women in Business | WomensNet -grant program sponsored by WomensNet. $10,000 grants are awarded monthly. The application deadline is on a rolling basis. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

• Ascend NYC is a partnership effort among the Business Outreach Center [BOC] Network, the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative [BCDI] and BOC Capital Corp. Ascend NYC’s initial focus is on the Bronx community through an investment of $1 million dollars from JP Morgan Chase. This investment will connect a cohort of 13 Bronx-based small business entrepreneurs to management education, market opportunities, and capital through a network of partners. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

• Asian Americans For Equality Video on Applying for UI  - Video Assistance for how to applly for unemployment benefits.

• Boost with Facebook - Business Resource Hub: Build Resilience during Challenging Times. The Hub provides FREE tools and tailored guides to help small businesses stay open and connected to their customers during the COVID-19 crisis.

• The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and the Office of the Bronx Borough President have established the Bronx Business Continuity Loan in an amount between $25,000 and $100,000 to help keep businesses going through the foreseeable future.  Contact either: Rafael Roger, Loan Office, at telephone: 347-524-4739/email: rroger@boedc.org or Pedro Barry, Loan Office, at telephone: 347-297-0071/email: pbarry@boedc.org.

• Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce - Bring Back Brooklyn Fund Loan and Grant Program provides grants for PPE and deep cleaning, and no-interest recovery loans.

• Business Center for New Americans - #NYC Reopening Micro Loan Program:  COVID-19 program sponsored by BCNA designed to help NYC businesses with loans that are eligible for the CARES Act payment forgiveness plan.

• Comcast announces the launch of its Comcast Rise program. If your business qualifies, you’ll have the opportunity to receive marketing consultations, media placements, commercial creative production services, or technology services from Effectv and Comcast Business. See the Official Contest Rules website. The Comcast RISE program is initially geared towards the Black-owned business community. As Comcast RISE is a multi-year initiative, future services and funding will be open to other underrepresented groups.  Recipients are chosen on a quarterly basis.

• Creative Capital offers a comprehensive list of arts resources during the COVID-19 outbreak that includes online workshops, national, state, and local grants, other resources, and useful information.

• DoorDash's Restaurant Disaster Relief Grant - To help restaurants recover in times of critical need, DoorDash has partnered with Hello Alice to create the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund. The fund supports restaurants impacted by natural disasters like fires, floods, and hurricanes, and provides relief through $10,000 grants Applications for the winter funding round are being accepted through January 31, 2022.

• Dream Big Awards | U.S. Chamber of Commerce program sponsored annually by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to honor the achievements of small businesses and highlight their contributions to America's economic growth. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

• eBay Up and Running Accelerator Program - Get Your Business Up and Running, register as a new business seller and receive a Basic Store for free for three months! Plus, pay no selling fees on up to 500 orders when you sign up. An eBay Store is your all-in-one online business solution to get more out of the eBay marketplace and millions of buyers.  Applications accepted on a rolling basis..

• Fearless Fund / The Tory Burch Foundation are partnering again to launch the Women of Color Grant Program along with The Cru. They will award up to 150 deserving small businesses $10,000- $20,000. In addition, grantees will be awarded access to a peer network to help them continue to build and grow their business. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

• Freelancers Union - The Freelancer Relief Fund - offered by a subsidiary of the Freelancers Union - provides assistance up to $1,000 per household to cover lost income and immediate expenses.

• Grow with Google OnAir FREE virtual workshops to help you get the most out of digital tools. Whether you own a small business or you’re searching for your next job, Grow with GoogleOnAir experts and partners will teach you digital skills that can help you grow. Some resources are available in Spanish.

• Goldman Sachs- Small Businesses on the Brink – a new Goldman Sachs survey of small businesses – provides an overview of the continuing difficulties faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners.

• Google - Google's new Grow With Google service designed to help you learn practical digital skills with FREE video lessons. The site provides links to tips and tools for job seekers & students, for small businesses, for veterans and military families, for educators, for developers, and for startups. The site can be used as a companion to Google's Here to Help Small Business..

• Google - Here to Help Small Businesses is a Google for Small Business service. The site provides the opportunity to explore FREE tools and resources to get online, to connect with customers, and to build digital tools. There are separate sections for businesses and individuals. 

•  Hebrew Free Loan Society Small Business Loan - Intended to help entrepreneurs launch or expand a small business or to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19. The loans are interest-free and require no application fee, origination fee, or collateral. Borrowers will repay these loans in equal installments over 24-36 months, and modifications will be available if needed. There is a three-month grace period before repayments begin.

• ​The Hello Alice Small Business Funding Center assists small business owners and entrepreneurs with a variety of grant and business loan opportunities.

• Questions can be sent to alice@helloalice.com. Hello Alice now has a variant on the program - the Business for All Grant - making grants available up to $50,000 in addition to the ongoing $10,000 emergency grant.  Click here for details

• Informed Immigrant has a list of resources available for those impacted by COVID-19.  Resources are separated by state and include national resources and resources for students. There is a Know Your Rights page, a DACA information page and a website to find a service organization near you for legal assistance.

• KKR Small Business Builders grant opportunity from KKR in partnership with Hello Alice. COVID-19 recovery grants up to $10,000 are available to selected small businesses. Visit the website for more details re eligibility requirements. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

• The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce has published its updated resource guide detailing the eligibility requirements for various grants currently available for small businesses. The objective of these grants is to promote an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by providing critical financial relief to small businesses in New York City. 

• The National Basketball Association [NBA], the WNBA, and the G-League - in partnership with LegalZoom - will create a small-business grant program – Fast Break for Small Business - targeted to businesses owned by people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Applications from small business owners across the country for $10,000 grants and $500 in LegalZoom services are now being accepted. Applications close on November 23, 2021. The application period will reopen during the 2022-2023 NBA season.

• Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project - The Small Business Remote Legal Clinic is a service from the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project and the City Bar Justice Center. The Clinic is an opportunity for New York City’s entrepreneurs and small businesses to receive pro-bono legal advice. Topics include: loans & grants, contracts & force majeure clauses, employment law matters, real estate and commercial leasing issues, and insurance matters.  Click here for details.

• The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) - in partnership with the  Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) - is accepting applications for the NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre. The program will offer grants of up to $50,000 to awardees in categories such as Fiction, Documentary, Music and Theatre Production in an effort to encourage and support the creation of female-led projects in New York City. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

• The NYC Small Business Resource Network -At the core of the Network are 22 dedicated Small Business Specialists embedded within the five local chambers of commerce. These specialists will work directly with local entrepreneurs in the hardest hit communities, helping them gain access to a range of programs and services. The Network will focus on minority-, women- and immigrant-owned businesses who have limited access to assistance they need to survive the pandemic.

• Robin Hood Relief Fund initiative by Robin Hood. Funding is available - on a rolling basis - to all frontline 501 (c) (3) organizations responding to COVID-19 needs in New York City. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Click here to apply.

• Visit SCORE NYC 's Small Business Resilience Hub-SCORE  for remote mentoring, resilience training and other support resources.

• SOGAL Grants for Black Women and Nonbinary Entrepreneurs-SOGAL has partnered with Winky Lux, bluemercury, and twelveNYC to award three $10K and five $5K cash grants to Black women and nonbinary entrepreneurs. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

• Southern Opportunity And Resilience (SOAR) Fund- The Fund targets small businesses and nonprofits outside the New York Metropolitan area but it's good to be aware of these kinds of programs. SOAR provides flexible, affordable capital and free business support services to small businesses and nonprofits across the South and Southeast to help them navigate and rebuild from the COVID-19 crisis.

• Start Small Think Big helps under-resourced entrepreneurs create thriving businesses in underserved areas by providing high-quality legal, financial and marketing services, at no cost. This site is filled with information for Small Business owners to navigate during this time.

• The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Small Business Growth & Recovery Fund is a new initiative from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. The Fund offers US-based small businesses up to $20,000 each - which does not need to be repaid - along with virtual training and mentorship. Visit their website for more details and to sign up to receive information about the next funding round..

• Think Chinatown Resources in Chinese for Chinatown Businesses and Organizations: 新型冠狀肺炎病毒(Covid-19)危機：華埠商業和團體的資源

• Unemployment Insurance Relief - New York State Bar Association new website established by the Association to assist unemployed New Yorkers needing support.

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce - via SCORE, - provides a template that businesses can put up in their windows or doors to share with clients their response to COVID-19.  (Note: you must download to customize.)

• The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program will teach you strategies other businesses are using to get ahead, and you’ll learn how to be more digitally savvy. The Small Business Digital Ready program provides personalized content, coaching, networking, and more. 

• Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) serves New Yorkers who are unable to access an attorney due to low household income or underserved socioeconomic background. VOLS has shifted to remote operations and offers an extensive list of COVID-19 resources on its website. Small business owners are facing suspension of their operations and challenges paying the rent or supporting their employees. New Yorkers in legal need can contact VOLS for support through their Small Business/Microenterprise Project at (347) 521-5729.

• Volunteer of Legal Service Unemployed Workers Project -During the COVID-19 crisis, the VOLS Unemployed Workers Project provides much needed support and guidance to New Yorkers.Trained attorneys are available to answer questions about the various unemployment programs’ eligibility requirements, payment amounts and will help you navigate the process of filing for benefits.
   

• Important Links at a glance

• Central Covid Webpage
• COVID-19 Data in New York 
• Empire State Development Business pandemic Recovery Initiative
• Guidance for Determining Whether a Business Enterprise is Subject to a Workforce Reduction Under Executive Order 202.6
   

Research Reports

• Building an Inclusive Economy in NYC: Boosting College Attainment | Center for an Urban Future (CUF) -This new report from the CUF details the deep divide in educational attainment by race and geography and how this effects our economy and employment.

• A Call for Action and Collaboration - Partnership for New York City
  A report that chronicles the impact to date of COVID-19 on NY City and the metropolitan area.

• The Center for an Urban Future’s new report – No Small Relief: Strengthening New York City’s Most Vulnerable Small Businesses - offers a blueprint for helping New York City’s minority-owned businesses make a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, their report urges Mayor-elect Adams and the incoming City Council to set a goal of creating 10,000 new Black- and Latino-owned businesses over the next five years and establish a Technical Assistance Corps that would bring door-to-door counseling to every small business operating in a low- or moderate-income neighborhood by the end of 2022. 

• The Center for an Urban Future’s new report – RE: New York City - outlines some 250 proposals for the future of the city and draws on the ideas of over 175 New Yorkers.

• The Center for Urban Future asked two dozen small business owners and small business experts for specific recommendations on how City and State policymakers could help small businesses right now. The result is a report with more than 50 concrete ideas: Supporting Small Business Through Coronavirus: Ideas From Experts and Leaders Across NYC. The responses reinforce how small businesses today face urgent cash flow challenges and need support in the form of grants and loans to stabilize their finances, support their workforces, and be in a position to reopen on the other side of this crisis.

• The Center for Urban Future report:  Bearing the Brunt: Where NYC's Hard-Hit Sector Workers Live. Research shows that the impacts are not equally dispersed across the city: workers in the most hard-hit sectors—including restaurants, hotels, retail, and personal care services—predominantly live in lower-income neighborhoods outside Manhattan.

• New York’s Untapped Entrepreneurship Opportunity - a new Center for an Urban Future report - details the growing number of New York City Housing Authority residents starting businesses but finds that more city support is needed to fully tap the entrepreneurial potential of New Yorkers living in public housing.

• Fiscal Recovery Fund, part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The National Association of Counties report - State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds includes county by county allocation estimates. The Fiscal Policy Institute's report - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: New York's Share of the Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund - details this information for New York State.

• Global Mayors COVID-19 Recovery Task Force: C40 Mayors Agenda for a Green  & Just Recovery Report.

• Global State of Small Business Report published by Facebook in partnership with the World Bank and OECD. A survey of 30,000 small business leaders across 50 countries and regions during the COVID-19 crisis.

• December 2020 Rent Report | NYC Hospitality Alliance-A survey of businesses across the city found that a growing number of businesses could not pay rent in July.

• New York’s Life Sciences Industry Enters High-Growth Phase for Investment & Job Creation this new report from the Partnership Fund for New York City.

• The Partnership for New York City's March 2021 Return to Office Survey Results is now available.

• Rebooting NYC: An Urban Tech Agenda for the Next Administration – published by the Urban Tech Hub @ Cornell Tech - is an applied research initiative dedicated to proactively identifying challenges facing New York City that can be addressed with existing urban technologies. While the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep existing social, economic and racial inequities in the city, it also accelerated the adoption of new technologies in unexpected ways. This report is the product of over 100 interviews with tech and civic leaders, current and former government officials, and everyday New Yorkers, that focused on the challenges that technology can address in improving both the performance of urban systems and social equity in the city.

• Recovery Signs, New Lows: NY Employment by Industry since the Outbreak of Coronavirus | Center for an Urban Future (CUF) Click here for report.

• Return to Office Survey Results - Partnership for New York City  - The Partnership 's reports are available from July 2020 to the present.

• ​Stark Disparities in Employment and Wages for Black New Yorkers | Center for an Urban Future (CUF) - new research report from the Center for an Urban Future.

• Surviving the Winter: Helping NYC’s Small Businesses in the Months Ahead report by the Center for an Urban Future.

• UPSKILLING FOR AN EQUITABLE RECOVERY: HARDEST-HIT NEW YORKERS MOST VULNERABLE TO AUTOMATION this new report by the Center for an Urban Future. The report details how many of the New Yorkers hit hardest by job losses firing the COVID-19 crisis are also the workers most vulnerable to automation.