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Federal
With the recent passage of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act many businesses have questions about what assistance programs they may qualify to receive, how they can apply and how much capital they may be able to access.
FIRST, if you think you are going to need assistance from the SBA, start preparing right away. Prepare your previous 12 months of payroll (wages, tips, health care benefits, and insurance). This will be one of the basis to determine SBA assistance.
NEXT, apply for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Advance Loan of up to $10,000. This advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application. This is a forgivable loan and your advance will not have to be repaid.
IF NEEDED after the advance loan, apply for the SBA Coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loan. These low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to (a) small businesses or (b) private nonprofit organizations that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has provided some clear and concise guidance on this process, click here for more.
Your local Small Business Development Center at SUNY Geneseo is available for application assistance.
Recent Webinars
SBA Lending Programs Webinar April 7, 2020 SBA Economic Disaster Loan Webinar
State
State
- No. 202.8: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency
- New York State Department of Health Coronavirus Resources
- Empire State Development: Guidance for New York State Businesses Related to COVID-19
- NY, NJ, CT Announce Regional Approach to Combatting COVID-19
DOH guidance on Employees Face Coverings when Interacting with the Public
Local
Updates from Empire State DevelopmentHere is a link to the latest Information from Empire State Development in the form of an FAQ fact sheet regarding "Essential" business!
UPDATE: Guidance for “essential” businesses has been updated on the ESD website and includes additional exempt industries:
https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-
executive-order-2026 REMINDER: If your business is part of an exempt industry/function on the essential list then you do NOT have to submit an application.
REMINDER: Even if your business is deemed essential, please take all practical steps to reduce density by allowing remote working and implementing social distancing.
REMINDER: To help keep up with the quickly changing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, below are some important resources related to the economic impacts for businesses and workers…
- Governor Cuomo Executive Orders reducing in-office workforce by 100% for non-essential businesses percent:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-2026-continuing- temporary-suspension-and- modification-laws-relating- disaster-emergency
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-2027-continuing- temporary-suspension-and- modification-laws-relating- disaster-emergency - Businesses able/interested in supporting the pandemic response with needed supplies or products should send an email:
COVID19supplies@esd.ny.gov - ESD has set up a web portal and FAQ page for individuals and businesses with business-related COVID-19 issues and questions on this website with all COVID-19 info:
https://esd.ny.gov/esd-covid-19-related-resources - SBA has approved a statewide disaster declaration for New York. Eligible small businesses may now apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) online at:
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela - DOL has been working hard to keep up with the new demand for Unemployment Insurance and has institute new rules that include extended ours and restrictions about when to file based on your last name:
https://labor.ny.gov/pressreleases/2020/march-17- 2020-1.shtm - DOL is also reminding businesses of its Shared Work Program that can provide an alternative to laying off employees during business downturns by allowing workers to work a reduced work schedule and collect partial unemployment insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks. Instead of cutting staff, you able to reduce the number of hours of all employees or just a certain group:
https://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/employerinfo/shared-work- program.shtm
Below is the main NYS page for all COVID-19 information:
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home From Livingston County Government Officials
Business Owners,We are here to help businesses through this public health pandemic and subsequent economic upheaval.For general business-related questions including those involving essential versus non-essential mandates, please email Bill Bacon at wbacon@co.livingston.ny.us or call 245-3215.For employee-related questions, please email Ryan Snyder at rsnyder@co.livingston.ny.us or call 784-0516.Livingston County Chamber members are encouraged to email Laura Lane at laura@livingstoncountychamber.com or call 243-2222. Prior UpdatesLocal Resources and Small Business Assistance
We are extremely fortunate to have a strong business resource system here in Livingston County.The Small Business Development Center is available to help your business navigate the SBA disaster relief loan process. They can be reached at 245-5429. Here is the link to the overview of the loans.https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance You can also call the SBA directly at 1-800-659-2955 or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba. gov Livingston County Health Department COVID-19
The Livingston County Health Department has a special page dedicated specifically to COVID-19 with up-to-date information and resources.
Additional up-to-date information and resources dedicated specifically to COVID-19.
Unemployment Information
Resources for Employees Affected by LayoffsAs more businesses and their employees are impacted by layoffs due to COVID-19, remember to share with employees the resources available from the NYS Department of Labor. NYS is waiving the 7-Day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines. Locally, you can contact David Carman at 243-6901 or email him david.carman@labor.ny.usADVISORY: NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IMPLEMENTS A FILING SYSTEM AND EXTENDS HOURS TO ADDRESS THE INFLUX OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS AND MAKE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT FOR CLAIMANTS ~ update as of 12:15pm on 3/18/2020 from NYS DOL
Providing Unemployment Insurance benefits is DOL’s number one priority and everyone who is entitled to UI benefits will receive them in a timely manner. To that end we are implementing a new more efficient filing system based on the first letter of the applicants last name (alphabetical order). Here is the step-by-step process for filing;
A - F : Monday
G – N : Tuesday
O – Z : Wednesday
Missed your day : Thursday and Friday
Filing later in the week will not delay payments or affect the date of an individual’s claim, since all claims are effective on the Monday of the week in which they are filed.We are also extending filing hours as follows:
Monday through Thursday 8 am to 7:30 pm.
Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Saturday 7:30 am to 8:00 pm.
Here is a step by step process to file a claim.
Health Insurance
Special Enrollment Period for Health InsuranceThe NYS of Health Marketplace has announced a special enrollment period to access health insurance. Laura is available to help you remotely access a qualified health plan. Please email her (laura@livingstoncountychamber) or call the office 243-2222 ext. 6 to schedule a remote appointment. The special enrollment period runs through April 15 and will provide for an April 1st effective date of coverage.
Chamber
Our Office
At this time, our staff is conducting business remotely and we are hard at work figuring out how to best serve our businesses and our community during this time. When you call the office you’ll get an auto-attendant which will connect you with the team member remotely (585) 243-2222.General Planning, Preparation and Additional Business Resources
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: 5 Ways to Manage Small Business Coronavirus Concerns When Employees Can't Work From Home
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: 5 Resources to Help Your Small Business Survive the Coronavirus
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Coronavirus Workplace Tips for Employee
- Business Council for NYS - Managing Coronovirus
- NFIB: How Small Business Can Prepare from NFIBReady.Gov: Business Continuity planning resources from Ready.Gov
- Facebook: Facebook Business Resources
- Google: Small Business Resources from Google
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