COVID-19 Resources for Small Businesses

Resources for Small Businesses

MOME Nightlife Town Calls for Businesses: Office of Nightlife held a "Town Call" for Owners and Managers in the nightlife community featuring representatives from NYC Department of Small Business Services, Small Business Administration (SBA) NY District Office, and the NYC Hospitality Alliance. All Town Calls can be accessed on the Office of Nightlife website. Additional Resources for Nightlife Community.

Small Business Services provides guidance for NYC Small businesses affected by COVID-19.

Information and guidelines for business reopening is available at NYC.gov/nycbusiness. Under the State’s New York Forward plan, each business must develop a written Safety Plan for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Businesses may fill out this template or develop their own Safety Plan, which must be conspicuously posted on site and made available to the New York State Department of Health or New York City health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.

Free Webinars for Small Businesses: The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) offers a wide range of free events, courses, and mentor sessions to provide information about requirements and guidelines to re-opening, emergency preparedness, financial assistance, certification for minority and women business owners, regulatory changes, employee support, licensing, inspections, and more. They also have a small business hotline—888-SBS-4NYC or 888-727-4692—to answer questions about the latest guidelines and regulations.

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) offers information about reopening requirements and health and safety guidelines for the workplace, including FAQs for NYC Workers and an update about workplace laws for employers and employees to stop the spread of COVID-19. In addition, they have set up a Worker Protection Hotline at 311 or 1-212-436-0381 for questions about reopening or to report an employer that is not following reopening requirements.

Free face coverings for small businesses: DCWP and SBS also are working with business-serving partner organizations throughout the five boroughs to distribute free face coverings citywide to small businesses and their employees.

The NYC PPE + Reopening Supplies Marketplace provides a one-stop-shop for easy-to-access suppliers of (i) face masks and coverings, (ii) face shields, (iii) gloves, (iv) cleaning and disinfectant products, (v) physical barriers and portable furniture, and (vi) other supplies needed for re-opening. It represents both local and national suppliers and manufacturers to provide a wide range of order minimums.

U.S. Small Business Administration offers COVID-19 Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources including:
- SBA Express Bridge Loans: Enable businesses with existing relationships with an SBA Express Lender to borrow as much as $25,000.
- Small Business Debt Relief: SBA will pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of 6 months; and pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to small businesses with 500 or fewer employees, sole proprietors, self-employed persons, and independent contractors to help cover fixed operating costs for an 8-week period of time, portions of which may be forgiven if the company maintains its payroll. Technical support is available from Small Business Centers here.
The COVID-19 Small Business Remote Legal Clinic (the CV-19 Clinic) of the New York City Bar Justice Center's Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project will offer free legal consultations to small business owners to help them understand and act upon options available under the federal government's COVID-19 stimulus package and other opportunities available through federal, state and local programs.

The NYC Office of the Comptroller has compiled a list of private grants and financial assistance to help small businesses navigate the crisis.