Dear Friends,
The Key to NYC program, requiring proof of vaccination for indoor activities, went into effect on August 17. The mandate applies to indoor performing arts venues, nightlife establishments, movie theaters, restaurants and other venues listed in the guidance materials. Enforcement will begin September 13.
Today, the Mayor issued Emergency Executive Order No. 226, revising the previous Key to NYC requirements concerning proof of vaccination. Emergency Executive Order No. 226 includes changes in the exemption for nonresident performers and nonresident individuals accompanying them and the definitions of “contractor,” “covered entities,” “indoor entertainment and recreational settings,” and “indoor food services” among other things. The full text of the Mayor’s Emergency Executive Order No. 226 is available on the main portal for Key to NYC-- www.nyc.gov/keytonyc—which also includes links to the following documents: |
Note: The FAQ will be updated regularly, so please be sure to refer often to the Key to NYC portal. The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) also will continue to provide additional updates as they become available.
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 UPDATES
People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (meaning they have a weakened immune system) are now eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine 28 days after the completion of their two-dose vaccine series. Find more information on the NYC Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine webpage.
On August 18, the CDC announced that it is prepared to offer booster shots for all Americans beginning the week of September 20 and starting 8 months after an individual’s second dose. (We will keep you informed as more information is available.)
It’s never been easier to get a vaccination. People ages 12 and older are eligible for the vaccine. (Note: People who are between 12 and 17 years of age are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.) In addition, the Centers for Disease Control announced that the COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future.
Reminder: Labor Law section 196-b allows employees to use sick leave for the recovery of any side effects of the COVID-19 vaccination and section 197-c allows leave to receive vaccinations. |
• Vaccinations are available at some schools throughout August; see the list of dates and locations on the Department of Education’s website. (The first week of NYC public school starts on September 13!)
• Free transportation to vaccination appointments in NYC is available for city residents 65 and older and those with disabilities who have no other way to get to a vaccination site. To arrange for transportation, call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692).
• NYC residents who cannot leave their home can sign up for an in-home vaccination online or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692). Even if you received your first dose of Pfizer or Moderna through a different program, such as a clinic or mobile vaccination site, you can still receive the second dose at home. |
New York City is offering incentives to encourage more New Yorkers get vaccinated. Adults who receive their first vaccine dose at New York City-run sites are now eligible to receive a $100 pre-paid gift card, free tickets, or memberships, and can enter a competition to win exclusive prizes. Anyone who has received a COVID-19 vaccine at any time can take advantage of discounts and giveaways from other NYC businesses by showing their CDC vaccination card.
Travel
The New York State Travel Advisory is no longer in effect. Travelers arriving in New York are no longer required to submit New York State traveler health forms. All travelers, domestic and international, should continue to follow all CDC travel requirements.
As of August 9, American citizens and permanent residents of the United States, who currently reside in the U.S. and who qualify as fully vaccinated travelers, will be able to enter Canada for discretionary travel. For more information, see Canada’s official website. |
REOPENING UPDATES
Arts and Entertainment
Applications are open for the third round of grants from the NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre, a program in partnership with New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). Qualified applicants can apply for finishing grants through November 1, 2021.The NYC Women’s Fund was created to address the underrepresentation of female-identified creatives in the entertainment industries. Since the program’s launch in 2018, MOME has awarded $3.5 million to 157 film, theatre, and music projects. Information about the program, including a schedule of informational sessions, is available on the NYC Women’s Fund website.
The third and final cycle of applicants for City Artist Corps grants closed on August 10. A program of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York Foundation for the Arts with support from MOME, City Artist Corps Grants are intended to support NYC-based working artists who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Keep an eye out for City Artist Corps activities throughout the five boroughs that are happening until October 31.
Open Culture performances continue to roll out in neighborhoods across the city. The program, which runs through October 31, allows ticketed, socially distanced, outdoor performances at nearly 200 street locations throughout the five boroughs. The NYC Open Culture Program Resources page offers tips for planning and preparation for Open Culture events, links to best practices and protocols for live performance developed by unions and performing arts organizations.
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• Restaurants participating in the Open Restaurants Program before July 7, 2021, must follow the SLA’s instructions for “Licensees Already Utilizing Municipal Property” by providing notification that includes a copy of the authorization from NYC DOT and a diagram of the restaurant’s use of City property to SLA by October 5, 2021.
• Restaurants applying to participate in the Open Restaurants Program on or after July 7, 2021, must follow the SLA’s instructions for “New Applicants for Municipal Property.” Specifically, new applicants must provide notice to the applicable community board. Thirty days after providing the notice, a new applicant must send proof of receipt of the notice along with a copy of the authorization from NYC DOT and a diagram of the restaurant’s use of City property. |
NYC BUSINESS QUICK START
The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has launched a new interagency initiative to cut red tape and support NYC businesses with opening or reopening. NYC Business Quick Start provides small businesses a sole point of contact to help navigate City regulations, guarantees a 48-hour response to all small business inquiries and will cut processing time by 50 percent. The program is a collaboration between several key agencies including SBS, Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). For more information, visit the NYC Business Quick Start website or call 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692). |
STATE ASSISTANCE
New York State has launched the New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit to support the entertainment and tourism industries in New York City. The program will offset some of the costs associated with producing a show, including production costs for sets, costumes, wardrobes, makeup, technical support, salaries, sound, lighting and staging. Eligible companies can receive tax credits of 25% of qualified production expenditures. First-year program applicants can receive up to $3 million per production, with second year applications being eligible for up to $1.5 million. More information on the program, including the program guidelines and application, is available on Empire State Development’s website.
Applications for the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program are live. The Grant Program provides $800 million in assistance for small businesses (including small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations), experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Flexible grants up to $50,000 can be used for operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, personal protective equipment, or other business expenses incurred during the pandemic. Over 330,000 small and micro businesses are potentially eligible for this program, including 57 percent of the State’s certified MWBEs. Application help is available by phone at 877-721-0097. |
The NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) began accepting applications on June 1. Eligible low and moderate-income households can get up to 12 months of their back rent paid, three months of future rent, and other assistance. There are no immigration status requirements to qualify for the program, and the State recently announced a new streamlined application process for New York’s rent relief program to help eliminate potential barriers for eligible New Yorkers to receive funding. NYC’s Human Resources Administration website offers information about the program, as well as a list of organizations that can help New Yorkers with their applications. |
Moratorium Updates: On August 3, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control issued an order extending the federal ban on certain residential evictions until October 3, 2021—this order applies in New York City and other counties with substantial and high transmission rates of COVID-19. The New York State ban on evictions, foreclosure proceedings, credit discrimination and negative credit reporting related to the effects of the pandemic extends until August 31, 2021. The moratorium that prevents utility companies from disconnecting utilities to residential households and small businesses that are struggling with their bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic extends until December 22, 2021. |
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
New Shuttered Venue Operators Grant applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, August 20, 2021. Later in August, the U.S. Small Business Administration will open the program for supplemental SVOGs for 50% of the original award amount, capped at a total of $10 million (initial and supplemental combined). Details will be announced at a later date. As of August 17, New York State applicants received more funding than any other state: 1267 grants totaling $1,309,263,186.96. A complete list of grant recipients is available on SBA’s website. See SBA’s FAQ if you have applied but have not yet been notified of an award. For more information and to view applicant resources, visit the SVOG website. For SVOG application portal technical support such as a password reset, browser suggestions, or how to use the multi-factor authentication with an app and the QR code, applicants can call 1-800-659-2955 or, for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, 1-800-877-8339 and follow the prompts to SVOG assistance.
The National Endowment for the Arts is providing American Rescue Plan Grants to eligible organizations nationwide. These funds are intended to help support jobs in the arts sector, keep the doors open to arts organizations nationwide, and assist the field in its response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other Arts Endowment funding programs that offer project-based support, Rescue Plan funds are intended to support specific operating costs only. Cost share/matching funds are not required.
The Arts Endowment encourages applications from a variety of eligible organizations including: organizations that serve populations that are underserved, such as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by ethnicity, economics, geography, or disability; organizations with small and medium-sized budgets; organizations from rural to urban communities; and organizations that may be applying for federal support through the Arts Endowment for the first time. For more information and to apply, visit the NEA’s webpage.
The American Rescue Plan extends a number of critical tax benefits, particularly the Employee Retention Credit and Paid Leave Credit, to small businesses. Find out more on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s website.
Borrowers may be eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. The SBA launched a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA. The new forgiveness platform will begin accepting applications from borrowers on August 4, 2021. Information about PPP loan forgiveness is available on SBA’s website.
The arts, entertainment, and hospitality industries were hit hard by the pandemic, with high unemployment rates. Many workers are experiencing housing insecurity and challenges with rent and mortgages. Please visit the federal Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s webpage to find help, whether you are a renter, homeowner, or landlord. |
NYC HOMECOMING WEEK
NYC Homecoming Week continues through Sunday, August 22 with free concerts, movie screenings, NYC Restaurant Week, Summer Streets, cultural activities, public art, and more throughout the five boroughs. “WE LOVE NYC: The Homecoming Concert" takes place on Saturday on the Great Lawn in Central Park. Produced by New York City, Clive Davis and Live Nation, and presented by Anheuser-Busch, Citi® and Expedia®, the historic, once-in-a-generation concert will feature music icons and contemporary artists spanning musical and entertainment genres and will air live worldwide exclusively on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and on CNNGo. For the complete schedule of events, visit the NYC Homecoming Week website.
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