COVID-19 Resources for Small Businesses

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Resources for Small Businesses

The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, along with the rest of City government, continues to do whatever we can to keep media, entertainment, and nightlife businesses informed about the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resources.

  • Do you need general COVID-19 information? Visit the NYC COVID-19 Citywide Information Portal for information about testing, vaccinations, masks and face coverings, and more.

  • Are you seeking to hold an event on a City street? Visit the Mayor’s Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management Cultural Events Portal for information about open spaces to host events, the NYC Open Culture Program, and applications for outdoor event permits.

  • Are you a for-profit independent arts or cultural organization or an independent arts contractor (like a musical group) seeking a grant? Visit nysmallbusinessrecovery.com for information about New York State grants to small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations, including independent arts contractors, in the State of New York who have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Are you a nightlife business or worker seeking assistance from the City? Visit the Office of Nightlife webpage for information and resources including an archive of Town Calls on the impact of COVID-19 on media, entertainment, and nightlife businesses and workers.

  • Do you need help starting a business in New York City? Visit the NYC Business Quick Start website. Quick Start is an interagency effort led by the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to cut red tape and position NYC as the most business-friendly large city in which to open or reopen a business. SBS offers a wide range of free webinars for small businesses 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.

  • Do you need a business mentor? NYC Department of Small Business Services offers three mentorship programs to provide industry experts as guides for current and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow a business in a post-COVID era: Small Business Mentors NYC, Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) Mentors, and BE NYC Mentors for Black entrepreneurs.

  • Do you need information about worker protection laws in NYC? The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) an FAQ 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.

  • Are you looking for supplies to keep your workers safe? 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.

  • Do you want to hire a Woman- or Minority-Owned vendor or contractor? Visit the Online Directory of NYC Certified MWBE Businesses.