NEW For Thursday, June 10, 2021
Webinar & Details on NYS Small Business Recovery Grant Program
Webinar Details: The NYS COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations who have experienced economic hardship due the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When: June 25, 11 A.M. to noon

Presenter: Huey-Min Chuang, Senior Director of Business and Economic Development at Empire State Development

What will be covered:
  1. What is the grant program?
  2. Who is eligible to apply?
  3. How do you apply?
  4. What amounts will be awarded if eligible?
  5. What is the required documentation?
  6. Use of funds?
  7. How can you get assistance if you need help with the application?
  8. Next steps.

Sponsors: KeyBank and SDG Law

Register: Click here

Program Details:
  • The application portal for the $800 million New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program is now open and accepting applications. More information and the application process can be found HERE.

  • This aid could be used to help employers finance operating expenses incurred during the pandemic between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021 and can be used to cover:
  • Payroll costs,
  • Commercial rent or mortgage payments for NYS-based property,
  • Payment of local property or school taxes, 
  • Insurance costs,
  • Utility costs,
  • Costs of personal protection equipment (PPE) necessary to protect worker and consumer health and safety,
  • Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) costs,
  • Other machinery or equipment costs, and
  • Supplies and materials necessary for compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols

  • Eligible small businesses are defined as:
  • Those with 100 or fewer employees,
  • Organized under the laws of New York State, 
  • Is independently owned and operated, and not dominant in its field.   
  • Eligible “for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations” are independently operated live-performance venues, promoters, production companies, or performance-related businesses located in New York State with 100 or fewer employees, excluding seasonal employees.

  • Eligibility requirements include:
  • Entities must have begun operation on or before March 1, 2019 and continue to be in operation as of the date of application (maybe shuttered due to COVID restrictions), 
  • Have to show a reduction in gross receipts of at least 25% from 2019 to 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols which resulted in business modifications, interruptions, or closures.  
  • Show gross receipts between $25,000 and $500,000 for 2019 and 2020, and 
  • A positive net profit for 2019.  
  • They must not have qualified for assistance programs under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 or other available federal COVID-19 economic recovery or business assistance grant programs above certain thresholds (received more than $100,000 of a PPP grant or loan).

  • Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000 based on the entity’s annual gross receipts.

  • Interested businesses are urged to submit applications as soon as possible, due to limited funding. This is not a “first come, first serve” program. Instead, applications will be evaluated based on business attributes set by the legislature, and priority will be given to socially and economically disadvantaged business owners including, but not limited to, minority and women-owned business enterprises, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses, or businesses located in communities that were economically distressed prior to March 1, 2020.
Dutchess County Small Business Micro-Marketing Assistance Program:
 
Title: Small Business Micro-Marketing Program
 
What: Dutchess County Government, Think Dutchess, Dutchess Tourism and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to launch a “Micro Marketing” COVID recovery program. This program will provide support for small, independent businesses in Dutchess County to learn marketing best practices and funding to promote their business on digital platforms to increase visibility and expand their customer base.
 
Eligibility: Businesses operating exclusively in Dutchess County with 20 or less employees affected by the pandemic — either forced closed or with limited operations based on state Covid restrictions.
 
Informational Webinar Recording: The recorded webinar provides details about the program and explains how businesses can participate in it. You may watch the recording HERE.
 
Application: To apply click HERE.
 
Full Press Release: Click HERE.

UPDATED Guidance:
  • The guidance has been updated by the state in regard to offices. The full guidance can be found HERE. The following changes have been made:
  • Certain occupancy limits have been removed or updated
  • A distinction has now been made in masking and social distancing requirements between vaccinated and unvaccinated employees
  • Requires an employer's adherence to hygiene and cleaning and disinfection requirements as advised by the CDC and NY Department of Health

  • The guidance no longer requires employers to ask about symptoms, close contact, or COVID-19 infections that occurred in the last 14 days. Instead, the new daily health screening questions properly reflect the most current CDC and New York State Department of Health isolation and quarantine guidelines for COVID-19.

  • The following three screening questions are required to be asked daily:
  1. Are you currently experiencing, or recently experienced (in the last 48 hours), any new or worsening COVID-19 symptoms?
  2. Have you had close contact (being within six feet for at least 10 minutes over a 24-hour period) or proximate contact (as determined by health authorities) in the past 10 days with any person confirmed by diagnostic test, or suspected based on symptoms, to have COVID-19?
  3. Have you tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 10 days?
COVID resources for your organization
Business Resources:
  • NYS Small Business Development Center has published a list of micro-grant and micro-loan programs for pandemic relief. View it HERE.
  • The U.S. Small Business Association has created a streamlined webpage of federal resources which you can find HERE. It includes:
  • Funding options
  • Tax credits and tax filing help
  • Contracting assistance
  • And more!
  • 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
  • NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2020 NYS Community Development Block Grant Program competitive application for Public Infrastructure, Public Facility and Community Planning projects and open round application for Economic Development and Microenterprise activities.
  • CDBG Economic Development, Small Business & Microenterprise Application materials are available now. Applications for Open Round Economic Development and Microenterprise applications will be accepted throughout 2021 with rolling awards.
  • $17 Million in Funding Available for New York Communities' Climate Goals
  • NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities Program Can Help You Reach Your Community’s Climate Goals
  • Learn more about how the program works or connect with your Clean Energy Community Coordinator to get started
  • Find a Coordinator here
Funding Assistance:

Technical Assistance for Businesses:
 
Resources for Employers/Employees:
 
Resources for Individuals:
  • New Tool to Help New Yorkers Access Critical Social Service Benefits Here
  • For Job Seekers:
  • NYS Department of Labor’s Jobs Express website
  • SUNY Online Training Center – Free skill-building, college prep, and employment certification programs with one-on-one career coaching
  • Free Online Platform for New Yorkers to Learn New Job Skills, Earn Certificates & Advance Their Careers: Create a free account with Coursera HERE
  • Dutchess One Stop Career Center - Free employment-related services for employers and job seekers including job postings, job fairs, resume help, interview skills, and online trainings with Coursera. For individuals that meet the eligibility requirements, funding assistance for training and on-the-job training opportunities are also available. Transportation assistance (defensive driving courses, DMV registration, auto insurance assistance and more) is offered for qualified individuals

Hudson Valley list of local PPE suppliers: CLICK HERE
Representative Contacts
County Representatives:
County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro, County Executive (R)
Phone: 486-2000
Fax: 486-2021
 
County Legislature A. Gregg Pulver, Chairman (R)
Carolyn Morris, Clerk
Toll Free: 866-694-4800
Phone: 486-2100
Fax: 486-2113
 
County Clerk Bradford Kendall, County Clerk (R)
Toll Free: 866-694-4700
Phone: 486-2120
Records Room: 486-2125
Fax: 486-2138
 
Comptroller Robin Lois, Comptroller (D)
Phone: 486-2050
Fax: 486-2055
 
Sheriff's Office Adrian Anderson, Sheriff (R)
Phone: 486-3800
Sheriff’s Tip Line: 845-605-2583
NYS Sheriffs' Victim Hotline: 888-846-3469

State Representatives:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (D)
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390

State Senators:
Pete Harckham (D, WF) - 40th District
Albany Office 
188 State Street, Legislative Office Bldg
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-2340
 
Susan Serino (R) - 41st District
Albany Office 
617 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-2945

 
State Assembly Assemblymembers:
Kevin A. Cahill (D) - District 103
716 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-4436
District Office:  
1 Albany Ave., Governor Clinton Bldg., Suite G-4,
Kingston, NY 12401
845-338-9610
 
Jonathan G. Jacobson (D) - District 104 
435 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5762
District Office: 
154 North Plank Road, Suite 2
Newburgh, NY 12550
845-562-0888
 
Kieran Michael Lalor (R) - District 105
531 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248 
518-455-5725
District Office:
1075 Rt. 82, North Hopewell Plaza, Suite #1
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
845-221-2202
 
Didi Barrett (D) - District 106
553 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5177
District Office:
12 Raymond Avenue, Suite 105
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
845-454-1703
 
Federal Representatives:
President Joseph Biden (D)
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
 
Federal Senate Representatives:
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D)
478 Russell
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-4451
Fax: 202-228-0282
 
Charles E. Schumer (D)
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-6542
Fax: 202-228-3027
 
Federal Congressional Representatives:
Sean Patrick Maloney (D) - 18th District
2331 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-5441
Fax: 202-225-3289
District Office
123 Grand Street, 2nd Floor
Newburgh, NY 12550
Phone: 845-561-1259
Fax: 845-561-2890

Antonio Delgado (D) - 19th District
1007 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5614
To view the Dutchess Business Notification Network website and see previous emails, important documents, and other resources available, click HERE.
 
If you have any questions regarding the information in this notification, please email [email protected].
 
If you were forwarded this email but would like to be added to the email list, please let us know by clicking HERE.
To view our website and see previous emails, important documents, and other resources available, click HERE.
If you were forwarded this email but would like to be added to the email list, please let us know by clicking HERE.
Dutchess Business Notification Network | [email protected]