Dear Friends,
Earlier this week, the NYC Department of Small Business Services announced a new $100M NYC Small Business Resilience grant program to provide immediate funding to small businesses in the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food sectors and in low to moderate income (LMI) communities to help them recover from the pandemic. The program is designed to reach the communities and sectors hardest hit by COVID. Eligible businesses can apply now to receive a $10,000 grant, which can be used for payroll and benefits, mortgage, rent, utilities, and other operating costs.
Businesses that would like to apply for the grant must: |
• Have been in operation before October 1, 2019
• Demonstrate revenue loss between 2019 and 2020
• Not have received a federal grant from the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant program or the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
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Businesses can learn more about the NYC Small Business Resilience Grant at covidresilience.nyc.
COVID-19 UPDATES
1. Key to NYC
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• Starting December 14, children ages 5 to 11 will be required to have proof of vaccination for the public indoor activities covered under Key to NYC. They must show they have received at least one dose of a vaccine. • Starting December 27, people 12 and older participating in public indoor activities will be required to show proof they have received two vaccine doses, except for those who have received the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
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Note: The NYC COVID Safe app has been updated to allow parents to upload their children’s vaccination information on the same account.
2. New Vaccine Requirement for Private Sector Businesses
Starting December 27, all employees at private sector businesses must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This requirement will not be limited to businesses in certain industries or based on company size. The City will announce additional guidance for businesses on December 15.
Mask Guidance
In light of the Omicron variant and rising cases, Governor Hochul announced that as of December 13, masks must be worn in all indoor public places unless the business or venue has implemented a requirement that individuals be fully vaccinated. “Fully vaccinated” means 14 days past an individual's last vaccination dose in their initial vaccine series (14 days past the second shot of a two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine; 14 days past the one-shot Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine). The State also accepts WHO-approved vaccines for these purposes.
Businesses and venues may opt to require both masking and proof of vaccination. NYC Department of Health Commissioner Chokshi issued an advisory to strongly encourage all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask when indoors and in a public setting in New York City. The advisory applies to individuals over the age of two years who are able to medically tolerate wearing a mask. The advisory does not apply in cases where an individual is actively performing an activity that cannot be done while wearing a face covering such as actively eating or drinking or performing, including playing music, delivering a speech, and acting in a theater.
Remember: Masks are required on public transit and at indoor train stations, regardless of vaccination status. And New York State mandates universal mask requirements at NYS-regulated child care facilities, residential congregate programs, and certain other NYS-licensed or NYS-regulated facilities.
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available for all fully vaccinated people 18 and older, as well as 16 and 17 year olds who received the Pfizer vaccine. The NYC Department of Health recommends a booster shot for eligible individuals who received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
Your booster shot can be any of the three authorized or approved vaccines. If you are not sure whether to get a booster shot or which type of vaccine you should get for your booster, talk to your health care provider. Please read this FAQ about booster shot recommendations.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is available for children ages 5 to 11. The vaccine dose for this age group is smaller than the dose given to people 12 and older. Children can get vaccinated at their doctor’s office, pharmacies and vaccine sites across the city. For more information, please read the FAQ about the vaccine and children.
People who are immunocompromised: |
• There has been no change to the August guidelines about third doses for people with underlying conditions like organ transplants or active cancer. Adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days ago, and are moderately to severely immunocompromised, are still eligible for a third dose of the vaccine, as part of their initial vaccination series. • Eligible New Yorkers can access third doses citywide and need to attest to their eligibility. |
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. |
Travel
Travel may involve crowds and going to places with high levels of COVID-19. The NYC Department of Health recommends avoiding travel if you are not fully vaccinated. Everyone who is traveling should get tested before they leave New York City and before they return home. Also, wear a mask, follow CDC travel guidance and stay at a hotel when possible.
In light of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the federal government is prohibiting entry of certain travelers into the United States, with some exceptions. As of December 6, all international air travelers (regardless of vaccination status) must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 1 day of arrival in the U.S. For guidance about traveling to the United States from a foreign country by airplane, refer to this helpful new flow-chart from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. For guidance about traveling to the United States from a foreign country by land or ferry, see the Department of Homeland Security’s guidance and FAQ. The CDC has announced plans to ease restrictions on international cruise travel starting January 16, 2022.
Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan
New York State requires all employers to implement an Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan. Employers can find the regulation with requirements for the plan and anti-retaliation requirements and templates for the plans in English and Spanish on the NYS Department of Labor website (under Resources, near the bottom of the webpage). This plan is different than the Key to NYC implementation plan, so be sure to review the NYS DOL guidance carefully. |
RESOURCES
Arts and Entertainment
MOME and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs have partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health to offer mental health resources for creative workers, including a list of resources for performing arts professionals and a webinar on “Promoting Mental Health for Creative Workers” featuring a discussion on mental health resources for NYC creatives. A recording of the program is available on YouTube.
The New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA) announced virtual office hours to answer questions about the Capital Funding for the Arts program, starting December 9. Guidelines and an FAQ for the Capital Funding for the Arts program are available on-line. Support in this round will assist organizations facing health and safety issues in their spaces and venues, among other needs. Facilities program and capital support will be available in this round. Any New York State nonprofit arts and culture organization is encouraged to apply. Applications are due January 14, 2022. |
A.R.T./New York announced three grant programs providing flexible, general operating support to small theatres: |
The application deadline for each of the three A.R.T./New York programs is 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.
Nightlife
Join the Office of Nightlife and the NYC Department of Health for Narcan Behind Every Bar: Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Training on Thursday, December 16, 2021 from 3:00 to 4:30. The presence of fentanyl in NYC's drug supply has dramatically increased the number of overdose deaths. This webinar will teach venue owners and workers about the steps they can take to prevent an opioid overdose and save lives. Please register in advance.
Elevate Nightlife is a program of The Office of Nightlife, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health and Backline, to connect the nightlife community directly with mental health resources and services. As part of the Elevate Nightlife Mental Health Initiative, people who work in the nightlife industry in New York City can participate in a free and confidential weekly mental health support group moderated by a Backline Care licensed therapists, every Monday at 4pm.
NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) is conducting a public survey to inform the future design rules for the permanent Open Restaurants program. In addition, they will be hosting in-person and remote roundtables throughout this fall and winter. These discussions will offer opportunities for New Yorkers to share their thoughts on how Open Restaurant structures should be designed to ensure that the final program rules balance creativity, feasibility and cost as they seek to enhance comfort and safety for all New Yorkers. More information is available here.
Propane heaters are no longer allowed in Open Restaurants. The NYC Department of Small Business Services will be providing grants up to $5,000 for restaurants with annual revenue of $1 million or less, which may be used to swap out propane heaters for either electric or natural gas radiant heaters. (We will provide more information when it is available.) Electric radiant heaters are allowed on both sidewalk and roadway. Natural gas radiant heaters are allowed on the sidewalk only. |
NYC BUSINESS QUICK START
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
On November 8, Governor Hochul announced a new recovery package and campaign called, “Bring Back Tourism, Bring Back Jobs.” This comprehensive strategy will support unemployed workers and struggling businesses in the critically important tourism and hospitality sector, which was New York's third-largest industry prior to the pandemic; incentivize the rehiring of these critical workers; and jumpstart demand for the State’s tourism and hospitality attractions. The package consists of the following programs: |
• $100 million in one-time payments to support hardest-hit tourism workers: Under the Tourism Worker Recovery Fund, the State will issue one-time payments of $2,750 to as many as 36,000 qualified workers in tourism sector industries. New Yorkers who are eligible will be contacted directly from the State via text or email. More information is available on the New York State Department of Labor website. • $100 million in grants to encourage tourism employers to rehire staff: Qualifying tourism businesses will be eligible for grants of up to $5,000 per net new full-time employee, or $2,500 per net new part-time employee, hired to offset their labor costs. More information, including a sign-up for program-related email alerts, is available on the Empire State Development (ESD) website. It is anticipated that arts and cultural organizations and entertainment businesses will qualify for program funding when ESD releases detailed eligibility criteria in the coming weeks. |
On December 6, Governor Hochul announced that New York State is the first state in the nation to receive U.S. Department of the Treasury's approval to launch its Homeowner Assistance Fund, a program that will provide up to $539 million to help eligible homeowners avert mortgage delinquency, default, foreclosure, and displacement. The State will accept applications beginning Monday, January 3, 2022.
NYC homeowners at risk of being displaced from their communities can get help from the expanded Homeowner Help Desk. You can call 1-855-HOME-456 or stop by a Help Desk event. Support includes helping homeowners resolve housing challenges due to COVID-19, managing a home as a small landlord, understanding a home’s flood risk, and more. |
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
Eligible small businesses, nonprofits, sole proprietors and independent contractors can still apply for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Earlier this month, the SBA announced that it improved the EIDL program to better meet the needs of small businesses, especially those hardest hit industries and smallest entities that still need relief. Among other changes, the SBA has increased the amount of funding that can be borrowed from $500,000 to $2 million for qualified applicants. Learn more about EIDL and the Targeted EIDL Advance and Supplemental Targeted Advance and how you can take advantage before December 31, 2021.
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.
Made in NY Award Presentation at 2021 MUSE Awards
MOME will present Tony Award-winner Patina Miller with the Made in NY Award for her contributions to New York City theatre and television at the 42nd annual New York Women in Film and Television MUSE Awards. The virtual event takes place on Thursday, December 16 at 1pm. More information is available here.
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