Eight things you need to know about the impact of COVID-19 on Saratoga County's economy.
8 @ 8 is a newsletter filled with eight things you need to know on topics related to the economy in Saratoga County, New York. You can expect to see 8 @ 8 in your inbox twice a month. If you have content you'd like us to share or have a topic you'd like to see more of, let us know and we'll work to include it in a future edition! - The Saratoga Partnership Team
1. CDRPC Webinar: COVID-19 Economic Recovery - Capital Region Public Sector Impacts
As COVID-19 continues to take its toll on American lives, it also continues to wreak havoc on local business and economies. This webinar hosted on Thursday, May 14 at 10am by the Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) will feature Kate Baker from the NYS Small Business Development Center at the University at Albany, Laura Schultz from the Rockefeller Institute, and Shelby Schneider from Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. The panel will look at some of the economic impacts in the Capital Region, SBA and other federal funding assisting businesses, and what municipalities need to be thinking about as the Capital Region prepares to re-opn. Hint: It won't be business as usual. COVID-19 recovery will require creative collaboration and problem-solving, and doing things differently than they've been done before. Local elected or appointed officials, staff, and private business are all invited to attend this webinar focused on the Capital Region public sector. This webinar series will provide an opportunity for local government professionals from across the board to sharpen their skills, obtain credits, learn about trends and relations, meet the experts, and find out about funding opportunities. Click here to register for the May 14th webinar.
2. Plan Drafted for Saratoga County's Economic Recovery
The Saratoga County Chamber in collaboration with the Saratoga Partnership, Downtown Business Association, City Center, Discover Saratoga, and SEDC are drafting a plan for Saratoga County's economic recovery . “We’ve been sharing [the plan] with Federal, State, County and local officials. The development of this plan is in part a way for Saratoga County to demonstrate that we have a plan to safely reopen. The Governor has said this is a pre-requisite for businesses and we’re hoping that by doing this collectively with common operating procedures that we will position Saratoga County in a positive light,” Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber said. Shimkus also shared two key aspects of the multi-part plan. Recovery kits for small business have been created to include a startup supply of PPE for all business. They also have met with local restaurants and will be doing the same with hotels and retailers to develop common cleaning protocols that those businesses will pledge to follow once reopened. “Our focus is on making it crystal clear that health comes first in Saratoga County and that our local business community is united in working together to keep everyone safe so that we can reopen sooner,” Shimkus said. 
3. Regional Guidelines for Re-Opening New York
Governor Cuomo has shared regional guidelines for re-opening New York state. Included is information on CDC guidelines, priority industries for re-opening, business precautions, health care capacity and testing, and regional coordination. Click here for all of the guidelines. Here is a map of the 10 regions of the state and a list of counties within each region.
4. Times Union Virtual Job Fair
The Times Union and partners are hosting a virtual job fair from May 11 to May 25. Through this site, you can have access to all of the vendors at a physical job fair, but on your own time and from the comfort of your home. Schedule interviews with several different companies via a video conference line. Post your resume directly to the companies that you have interest in, or give it to all of the companies that attend. Click here to become an exhibitor or click here to attend the job fair.
5. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Funds Still Available
With over $100 billion in PPP funds still available from Round 2, the U.S. Small Business Administration is encouraging upstate New York small businesses and nonprofits to apply for PPP loans to help provide them eight weeks of payroll and certain overhead to keep workers employed. The second round, which kicked off April 27, has awarded 2,378,057 loans worth $181,158,888,644 as of close of business on Tuesday, May 5.   More than 900K of those loans, worth $57,296,660,188, were issued by small lenders. The average PPP loan size is currently $76,000, a $130,000 reduction from the Round One size, showing the dollars are further assisting mom & pops. SBA forgives the portion of Paycheck Protection loan proceeds used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest. Loan payments may be deferred for one year, and is retroactive from February 15, 2020, so employers can rehire their recently laid-off employees through June 30, 2020. “The Paycheck Protection Program is working. Small businesses are keeping their employees on payroll and earning salary,”  said SBA Atlantic Regional Administrator (and Saratoga Partnership board member) Steve Bulger  who oversees the federal agency’s operations in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
6. SBA to Make Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to U.S. Agricultural Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced that agricultural businesses are now eligible for SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs. SBA's EIDL portal has reopened as a result of funding authorized by Congress through the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act. The legislation signed into law by the President, provided additional funding for farmers and ranchers and certain other agricultural businesses affected by the Coronavirus. Learn more here.
7. What Commercial Real Estate Will Look Like As America Reopens
Even after the worst stage of the COVID-19 pandemic ends, how we use physical spaces will be transformed for the foreseeable future. That has sparked many discussions in the commercial real estate industry as to what a post-COVID-19 landscape will look like and what that will mean for the various sub-sectors in the industry. How we use buildings will change. That means layouts, density, and uses will have to evolve in order to allow for people to safely come back. There will be universal changes. Temperature checks might become the norm to enter any business. Masks could be required for a while. Hours of operation may be altered to allow for staggering the workday to reduce density. We will also see an increased premium placed on cleaning and hygiene. In other ways, though, it's not so much a re-imagination of commercial real estate, but an acceleration of trends that had already begun to emerge. Click here to see what Commercial Real Estate sub-sectors will look like post-COVID-19.
8. How Business Can Revitalize a Community After Crisis
After experiencing an earthquake, tsunami, and typhoon that devastated his work and living environments, Ryota Saito recognized his call to service. Saito not only helped his company rebuild after the disasters, but taught that company how they could rebuild the communities they were based in.
Here are six takeaways from Saito's experience rebuilding after crises.
  1. Serve communities and people.
  2. Don't ignore emotions during a crisis.
  3. Seek and accept help.
  4. Think about your legacy, even in the face of adversity.
  5. Identify what will make you stronger after this crisis - and take action.
  6. Anticipate the next crisis.
Read further in depth on Saito's takeaways and how business can revitalize a community after a crisis here .
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 information and resources on our website www.SaratogaPartnership.org , Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , and LinkedIn .

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