Governor Cuomo Announces Orange and Yellow
Micro-Cluster Zones in Erie and Niagara Counties
Today Governor Cuomo announced an expansion of the micro-cluster region in Western New York. The changes include the following:

The City of North Tonawanda and parts of the Town of Wheatfield, south of Niagara Falls Blvd. have been added to the yellow micro-cluster area with these restrictions:
  • House of Workshop: 50% capacity
  • Non-Residential Mass Gatherings: 25 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
  • Businesses: Remain open
  • Dining: Indoor and outdoor dining allowed, maximum four people per table
  • Schools: Remain open, 20% of staff, students must be tested on a weekly basis

Most of Erie County has moved to an orange micro-cluster designation with the following restrictions:
  • Houses of Worship: 33% capacity or 25 people maximum
  • Non-Residential Mass Gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
  • Businesses: Closing high-risk, non-essential businesses such as gyms, fitness centers and classes, barber shops, hair salons, personal care services, etc.
  • Dining: Outdoor dining only, four person maximum per table. Takeout and curbside allowed
  • Schools: Move to remote learning. May reopen if testing of staff/students is completed

Click here, and enter your address to see if you are impacted by these changes. The state will also be updating maps on this page to further highlight the affected areas.
Niagara County Is Once Again Offering a FREE
Virtual Business Workshop to Area Businesses

We Are Here to Help You Succeed


The Niagara County Center for Economic Development is proud to partner with
our federal, state and local economic development partners to offer a
FREE workshop to all established and emerging businesses in Niagara County.
This workshop will provide valuable information about available programs that can assist as you look to recover during the COVID-19 pandemic and grow your business.
 
This virtual seminar is scheduled for
Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. 
 
Topics to be Covered
SBA Loans Including Economic Disaster Assistance Loan
New York Forward Loan Fund
Programs to Lower Your Electricity Costs
Information on Real Property & Sales Tax Incentives
The importance of a Business Plan
Land and Buildings for Sale or Lease
Grants to Hire and Train Your Workforce
 
This workshop is FREE, but pre-registration is required to receive a link to join.
Click on the Register Here link below to get signed up!
Niagara County Emergency Services Offering Face Masks and Hand Sanitizer Tomorrow
Niagara County Emergency Services will be offering masks and hand sanitizer at two more drive up locations tomorrow. The items will be available from 9am to 11am at Newfane Town Hall, 2737 Main Street, Newfane, NY and from 1pm to 3pm at the Public Safety Training Facility, 5574 Niagara St. Ext., Lockport, NY. The prepackaged bags will each contain five cloth masks and four mini bottles of hand sanitizer. No pre-registration is required. There will be a one bag per car limit.
Webinars and Training Assistance
New York State has partnered with Coursera to offer over 4,000 online courses, for free, to all New Yorkers. These courses may prove valuable to upskill your existing workforce, retrain individuals in new responsibilities, or assist job seekers in advancing to their next career move.
Courses focus on High-Growth and In-Demand Industries like Advanced Manufacturing, Technology and Healthcare. Click here to learn more about the partnership, review course descriptions or to register for upcoming classes.
Buffalo Manufacturing Works is excited to sponsor EWI's first automation info session

A Customers Journey Through Automation

During this webinar, experts from EWI will address the following topics:
Common challenges for getting started in automation solutions
How to address workforce gaps when taking steps in automation
The resources available for you to begin the automation journey
Key milestones along the journey

The webinar, hosted by EWI’s Dominic Myers, will take place on
Thursday, November 19, 2020 from Noon until 1:00 p.m.

While there is no charge to attend to webinar, registration is required.
Click on the Register Here Link below to reserve your spot.

Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Stay engaged to Keep Up to Date on the Latest Developments

Continue to look for emails from our office in the coming days and weeks updating you on the latest reopening news and what assistance is available to help you through this difficult time. Our staff is working hard to compile a complete list of guidelines, safety protocols and programs that are available. We will also share upcoming webinars and training that you can participate in to assist with your reopening. To learn more, be sure to visit our website and bookmark it. Once there, look for the COVID-19 tab.
Sincerely,

Niagara County Center for Economic Development
(716) 278-8750