Hello Business Owner,
Good news! New Rochelle and the rest of the Mid-Hudson Region entered phase 4 of reopening today, July 7. As we move through the phased reopening with cautious optimism, please remember to enforce the guidelines for your place of business.
1) Here are the guidelines for each industry in the Phase Four Re-Opening.
Remember, each business owner must submit the NY State Read & Affirm Detailed Guidelines for their Industry online, plus maintain a Business Safety plan onsite.
Higher Education - including community and junior colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, medical schools, and technical schools.
Higher Education Summary Guidelines
Read & Affirm Detailed Higher Education Guideline
Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment - including outdoor zoos, botanical gardens, nature parks, grounds of historic sites and cultural institutions, outdoor museums, outdoor agritourism, local agricultural demonstrations and exhibitions.
Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment Summary Guidelines
Read & Affirm Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment Guidelines
Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment - including museums, historical sites, aquariums, and other related institutions or activities.
Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment Summary Guidelines
Read & Affirm Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment Guidelines
Media Production - including all activities undertaken in motion picture, music, television, and streaming productions on set, on location, or at any production or recording site.
Media Production Summary Guidelines
Read & Affirm Media Production Guidelines
Businesses looking to find out if they are eligible to reopen can use the New York Forward Business Reopening Lookup Tool.
2)The deadline for New York State personal income tax and corporation tax returns has been extended from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020.
3) Rebound New Rochelle is accepting applications for business grants
This new program can provide $5K, $10K or higher grants to qualifying New Rochelle small businesses to help them persist and transition to the new normal. Sponsored by the City of New Rochelle in partnership with the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), the Business Council of Westchester (BCW) and members of the private sector, including the City’s master developer, RXR Realty.
Businesses interested in applying for a grant can apply through the City’s new online portal, Rebound New Rochelle to determine eligibility. The portal is available in English and Spanish. Upon review, applicants will then be directed to complete a full application. Funds can be used for rent, staffing, working capital or other critical needs. Businesses and microenterprises applying for the program must:
demonstrate a financial need
be willing to share financials
be in good standing with the City
have a physical location in New Rochelle
Additionally, business guidance to help drive success and manage those funds efficiently will be available through the RXR Volunteer Portal and through The Acceleration Project (TAP).
4) PPP Extension Bill—Gives Small Businesses Another 5 Weeks to Apply Through August 8th
The Paycheck Protection Program resumed accepting applications July 6, 2020, at 9:00 AM EDT in response to the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act. The new deadline to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan is August 8, 2020.The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses. Some $130 billion in loan money allocated to the $670 billion program remains unspent. Small businesses can apply through their primary lender but many businesses report greater success with non-bank lenders including:
https://www.lendio.com/covid-relief/sba-paycheck-protection-program-loans/ (matches lenders to borrowers)
https://www.kabbage.com/paycheck-protection-program-loans/
https://pursuitlending.com/pppapply/
Learn about PPP Loan Forgiveness
Download instructions for the Paycheck Protection Program EZ Loan Forgiveness Application
Download the Paycheck Protection Program EZ Loan Forgiveness Application (06-16-2020)
5) Outdoor dining options abound
Restaurants interested in expanding outdoor seating options should contact Lisa Davis for assistance. Seating on the sidewalk or public way require a Sidewalk Café permit. New seating on private property require an outdoor dining permit through the Bureau of Buildings. The fees have been waived but the permit is still required to ensure safety standards are met.
Main St. is the newest location for New Ro Eats with a “parklet” for seating outside 4 Main St. favorites.