COVID-19

Small businesses, nonprofits and residential landlords that received Paycheck Protection Program amounts of $50,000 or less may now be eligible for a low-interest loan from New York Forward Loan Fund to support reopening (not a forgiveable loan). 

Mohawk Valley Economic Development District (MVEDD) CARES Act Revolving Loan Fund Opens: The CARES Act Revolving Loan Fund is a new economic recovery loan program designed to alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund provides low interest loans (up to $200,000) to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in Montgomery, Fulton, Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego and Schoharie counties.

Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness FAQ's (courtesy of Americans for the Arts website)

The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, signed into law on 6/5, provides borrowers more flexibility for loan forgiveness. The loan covered period was extended from 8 weeks to 24 weeks.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application

The Americans for the Arts Action Fund shared the following news:

On June 8, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced the expansion of the Mainstreet Lending Program to small and medium-size businesses. While these types of loans are not the forgivable type and were previously only available to major corporations, the terms may be attractive and provide much more flexibility for use of funds. $75 billion is being made available for these loans through the CARES Act. 

Reopening Resources

NYSCA offers a Reopening and Recovery resource page featuring NYS and federal guideline links plus a variety of alliance and consortium industry guideline resources. NYSCA's website also includes a NYSArts Now Reopening page with a list of NYS cultural organization venues now open or opening soon. 

New York Forward - Phase 4 information
To view full guidelines, click here.

Arts, culture and heritage agencies and groups that are planning events and activities should refer to the New York Forward Business Reopening LookUp tool for guidance on eligibility to reopen, restrictions, industry-specific public health and safety guidelines, an affirmation form and business safety plan. 

Low risk outdoor includes outdoor zoos, botanical gardens, nature parks, grounds of historic sites and cultural institutions, outdoor museums, outdoor agritourism, local agricultural demonstrations and exhibitions; and other similar institutions/activities.

Low risk indoor includes indoor museums, historical sites, aquariums and other related institutions

Agencies that these guidelines apply to must go to the link and view the summary guidelines, read and affirm the guidelines and then prepare a safety plan that they will keep at their place of business.

Discussions & Webinars

If you missed the live webinars from The Arts Center at Purchase College, recorded presentations of The PAC in Your Living Room virtual coffee hour are available online, including The Role of the Agent in the Time of COVID-19, Necessity is the Mother of Invention: Success in Presenting the Performing Arts Online, Funding for the Performing Arts: Surveying the Regional Landscape in the Time of Social Distancing, and Keep the Arts Thriving: How Can Artists, Agents, and Institutions Work Together in Revenue-Free Models During This Time of Social Distancing (text summary), and more.

Bond, Schoeneck and King offers recorded and weekly webinars on a variety of COVID-19 related topics for businesses, such as reopening, best practices, liability, employment law, and more.

NYSCA Presents offers free webinars for cultural workers, artists and creatives. Current recorded webinars: Guiding Board Members and Continuing Your Mission During COVID and Beyond, Moving your Content into the Digital World: Legal Guide for Individual Artists and Arts Organizations, Arts Online: COVID Communications and Beyond, and Debunking the Top 5 Fundraising Myths in the Time of COVID-19

Mid-Day Meditation at The Actors Fund; 12 pm - 12:30 pm Monday through Friday; Free; Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)  

Reopening Resources

New York Forward - Phase 4 information
To view full guidelines, click here. 

Low risk outdoor includes outdoor zoos, botanical gardens, nature parks, grounds of historic sites and cultural institutions, outdoor museums, outdoor agritourism, local agricultural demonstrations and exhibitions; and other similar institutions/activities.

Low risk indoor includes indoor museums, historical sites, aquariums and other related institutions

Agencies that these guidelines apply to must go to the link and view the summary guidelines, read and affirm the guidelines and then prepare a safety plan that they will keep at their place of business.

Arts, culture and heritage agencies and groups that are planning events and activities should refer to the New York Forward Business Reopening LookUp tool for guidance on eligibility to reopen, restrictions, industry-specific public health and safety guidelines, an affirmation form and business safety plan. 

NYSCA offers a Reopening and Recovery resource page featuring NYS and federal guideline links plus  a variety of alliance and consortium industry guideline resources. 

NYS offers the Find a Test Site Near You tool, an online resource to find a free COVID-19 testing site. The site also states that:   "Individuals who have questions regarding eligibility or access for testing should call the New York State COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or visit the NYSDOH website https://covid19screening.health.ny.gov."

Onondaga County Economic Development Office:

economicdevelopment@ongov.net (315.435.3770) - General #

reopen@ongov.net (315.435.2210) # for reopening questions

Economic Development Office Reopen
https://www.ongoved.com/reopen-a-business/

Guide to Reopening Theatrical Venues (2nd draft edition), by the Performing Arts Center Consortium Advisory Committee on Reopening

CDC Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes

Empire State Development FAQ on Business Forward and Business Reopening

Centerstate CEO free webinar series - Keeping Workers Safe as Businesses Re-open:  Lessons from the Front Lines

Centerstate CEO Back to Business Re-Opening Toolkit