Government links for information + resources
Last Updated: June 2020
UPDATES
Open businesses must have the NY Forward Safety Plan onsite and available for DOH inspectors.
Employers required to provide free of charge masks to essential workers
Properly made cloth masks are acceptable. Check here for CDC recommendations on making homemade masks.
DCA is extending certain license expiration dates.
Federal Aid Programs
The CARES Act signed into law by the federal government includes two new grant and loan programs. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Initial applications for the EIDL are now open in a streamlined form which can take only 10 minutes. Within the initial EIDL application form is an emergency advance grant for up to $10,000 to be delivered within 3 days. Acceptance of the grant is not contingent on being approved or accepting the loan and does not need to be paid back. This is an effort to give small businesses immediate support. More details below. Find information on all forms of aid from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance Grant
The EIDL is the standard loan from the SBA of up to $2 million for small businesses during disaster scenarios. Within the pre-application for the loan there is a grant of up to $10,000 for small businesses. The application takes approximately 10 minutes if you have your gross revenue and costs of goods sold for 2019 and 2020 on hand. If you send in the initial application all you need to do is check a box certifying you would like the $10,000 advance grant. If approved you should receive the money within 3 days. This advance is separate from approval for the loan. You are not obligated to take the EIDL loan if later approved and not obligated to pay the grant money back if subsequently denied for the loan.
Click here for information on eligibility and how the grant money may be spent.
You must be eligible for the EIDL loan to apply for the grant. Eligibility requirements have been loosened so click here for that information.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
Once you complete the pre-application for the loan in the button above, you will subsequently receive the full application for the EIDL loan. The loan of up to $2 million has a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and requires a credit history acceptable to the SBA, demonstration of the ability to repay the loan, and collateral for loans greater than $25,000. Real estate tends to be the collateral of choice for the SBA when available. The repayment timeline can be up to 30 years. Here is a FAQ sheet for the EIDL and accompanying grant and here is a video providing background and basic information on the loan.
Paycheck Protection Program
The Paycheck Protection Program is a new loan as part of the CARES Act that provides up to 2.5 times your average monthly payroll costs in order to cover payroll, rent, various types of operating costs, etc. The main idea of this loan is to keep employees on payroll during COVID-19 and if businesses keep all employees or rehire all employees up to 100% of the loan can possibly be forgiven. The amount of the loan that is forgiven will be reduced proportionately by the reduction of number of employees and of wages.
Click here for a complete explanation from the US Chamber of Commerce.
If you receive the EIDL grant and then opt into the PPP loan the $10,000 will be taken from the total amount forgiven.
This loan is only available through some lenders. Check with your bank or lender to see if they are accepting applications.
Private Grant Opportunities
Many large corporations and not for profits have launched grant programs to support a variety of businesses. See if any of these private grant opportunities are a good match for your business.
Save Small Business Fund — US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The Save Small Business Fund is a grantmaking initiative offering short-term relief for small employers in the United States and its territories.
Funded by corporate and philanthropic partners, the Save Small Business Fund is a collective effort to provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers as possible.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and advertising credits to help small businesses during COVID. Grant money can be used to maintain workers, pay rent costs, connect with more customers, and cover operational costs. To be eligible businesses must be a for-profit company, have between 2 and 50 employees, have been in business for over a year, and have experienced challenges from COVID-19. Most Grand Street businesses should qualify.
In order to win the grant you must explain how you will use the grant to give back to your business or the community. That can be as simple as keeping our Brooklyn local employees working or keeping our neighborhood stocked with fresh food.
Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund
Thanks to a $2.5 million investment from Verizon, LISC is offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps. Businesses with entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital are especially encouraged to apply.
Funds can be used to pay for rent and utilities, meeting payroll, paying outstanding debt to vendors, or other immediate operational costs.
Apply for a COVID-19 Business for All Emergency Grant
Hello Alice is offering $10,000 grants being distributed immediately to small business owners impacted by coronavirus, as part of their broader mission to ensure Business for All. In addition to funding, grant recipients will receive ongoing support from the Hello Alice community.
Salesforce Care Small Business Grants
As part of Salesforce’s commitment to small businesses and giving back to the community, Salesforce is partnering with Ureeka to offer eligible small businesses the opportunity to receive a $10,000 grant to help them through the COVID-19 outbreak. Click below to see if you are eligible and how to continue with an application.
Useful courses + webinars
Multilingual webinar series with NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer.
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce with the US Small Business Administration.
Jackson Lewis COVID daily briefings ~20 minutes.
US Chamber of Commerce discusses the PPP.
Who qualifies? What materials are need for PPP (TD Bank)
Is the PPP a good idea for you? Critique of the CARES Act shortcomings from Forbes.
NYC Hospitality Alliance with the "Business Interruption Group" (BIG)
Employers:
OSHA requirements for reporting COVID employee exposure + standards for protecting workers.
Is your business considered “essential”?
Plastic Bag Ban Enforcement Postponed—Enforcement on the ban on single-use plastic bags has been delayed.
Sign up your employees for text message training on working safely during COVID-19.
Consider the NY State Shared Work program as an alternative to laying off workers.
Create gift cards through Help Main Street or dining bonds.
State Liquor Authority is granting bars + restaurants the ability to return alcohol bought between 3/1 and 3/17 to their wholesaler or manufacturer. “Wholesalers and manufacturers are not required to accept returns for credit, but if they do, they are required to do so for everyone. In other words, wholesalers and manufacturers are not allowed to pick and choose which bars and restaurants they accept returns for credit from, and which they do not.”
Businesses with liquor licenses may sell alcoholic beverages other than beer at this time—such as ready-to-go cocktails and wine.
“The alcohol must either be in its original container (e.g., a sealed bottle of wine) or in a sealed container (e.g., a mixed cocktail poured into a to-go cup with a tight fitting lid).
Wine and spirits must be sold together with food. Beer and cider does not need to be sold alongside food. So a customer must make a food order in order to buy wine or spirits, but does not need to make a food order to buy beer or cider. The food must be consistent with the menu that you originally submitted to SLA.
If you are a bar or restaurant delivering alcohol yourself (i.e., not via a third-party service) it can be done on foot, by bicycle, or in any vehicle owned, leased, or rented by your business or an employee, as long as you have a copy of your liquor license in the vehicle.”
NYC Finance sales tax late penalties + interest waived. Request an extension.
Employees:
Financial Assistance for DACA Recipients Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
For bartenders: Emergency grants from the United States Bartenders Guild. You do not need to be a member of the guild to apply.
Restaurant Strong Fund Grants of $1,000 funded by Samuel Adams.
NYC Office of Nightlife survey for Nightlife Workers, Freelancers, and Businesses Impacted by COVID-19.
Resources for artists and freelancers including grant information from Grant Space.
Below are updated resources to help you and your business stay safe and prevent the spread of germs. This is a rapidly changing situation, visit the NYC Health website for more up-to-date information, including FAQs for employers.
For ongoing information from the City please click here or sign-up for updates by e-mail.
Please let us know if your business is providing any special offers such as free delivery for us to share on social media (@grandstreetbid).