COVID-19
Resources, Information, Grants, and Short-term Relief
Links to resources that may be helpful to you or your organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
News & Updates
1/19/21
Following are details about resources being made available through the newly passed federal Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 - Watch this space for more information.
Read this Syracuse.com article about a change in how hours and days are counted for NYS Unemployment benefits, in an effort to encourage part-time work.
Arts Midwest COVID-19 Resource Roundup: January 2021: Includes reports such as NEA's The Art of Reopening: A Guide During COVID-19, and webinar listings such as Revisioning Relevance with Nina Simon– January 27, 2021, 9am CST
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SECOND DRAW PAYCHECK PROTECTION LOANS
A new round of Paycheck Protection Loans has been announced. The Small Business Administration has opened the Paycheck Protection Loan Portal for Community Financial Institutions* as of 1/11/21, for First Draw PPP Loan Applications. (The Second Draw application portal for CFIs opened 1/13/21 and applications for other financial institutions will open soon.)
Please note: According to the Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Loans Overview, Second Draw PPP Loans can be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations. Also, according to current information, an applicant for the Second Draw PPP loan who received a First Draw PPP loan should have used all of their first draw loan, on eligible expenses. Please consult SBA, your lender, accountants, etc. on how this applies to your situation.
See sba.gov/ppp for more Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) information, documents and forms.
Please also see, from the SBA:
Top-line Overview of First Draw PPP (sba.gov)
Top-line Overview of Second Draw PPP (sba.gov)
PPP Guidance from SBA Administrator Carranza on Accessing Capital for Minority, Underserved, Veteran, and Women-owned Business Concerns
*Information from SBA on PPP lenders: Per the Economic Aid Act, a Community Financial Institution (CFI) is one of four types of lenders.
Types of CFI Lenders:
Community Financial Development Institution (CDFI)
Minority Depository Institution (MDI)
SBA Certified Development Company (CDC)
SBA Microloan Intermediary Lender
A list of participating PPP lenders: Paycheck Protection Program - Participating Lenders (sba.gov)
SBA Microlenders: List of lenders (sba.gov)
SBA Certified Development Companies: Small Business Administration (sba.gov)
PPP and Tax Relief Provisions for Employers: Information by the National Law Review about second PPP Loan eligibility, changes in loan forgiveness, covered costs, loan amount flexibility, plus details on tax treatment of covered PPP loans, deferred payroll taxes, credits for Paid Leave and Family Sick Leave, and more.
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Unemployment Relief: Interested in how the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 will affect Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Insurance? Here's an article by the National Law Review outlining the updates: Unemployment Relief in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021.
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Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (also called SOS - Save our Stages)
An SOS (Save Our Stages/Shuttered Venue Operators) grant program is to be administered through the Small Business Administration for the following entities ". . .(i) a live venue operator or promoter, theatrical producer or live performing arts organization operator, (ii) a talent representative, (iii) a movie theatre, or (iv) a “relevant” museum.
We especially urge those considering SOS to attend a workshop and read the guidelines carefully because a PPP application could impact on your eligibility for SOS. If so, you will need to determine which program would be most beneficial. (Information about upcoming workshops will be posted here as we receive it.)
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2020 News Archives
Help Locating NYS Services: NYS recently launched the "Find Services" web application, developed in partnership with Google.org, to assist New Yorkers in locating appropriate services with one streamlined web application. This can be helpful for those whose income has been affected by COVID-19 as well as those in need for other reasons.
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).
SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Information Sheet
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness FAQ's (courtesy of Americans for the Arts website)
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application
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.
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.
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.
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 #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
New York State Department of Labor Quick Guide
- Web page: https://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/cares-act.shtm
- What you need to know PDF: https://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/pdfs/cares-act-need-to-know.pdf
- COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for Employers
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
Artist Funding
Actor's Fund: To be eligible for The Actors Fund, you must have entertainment industry earnings over $6,500 for three out of the last five years (2015-2020). Income from teaching does not qualify. Dancers, comedians and comedy professionals must document three years of recent earnings of at least $2,000 a year
Adolf and Esther Gottlieb Foundation
Alliance of Artists Communities: Resources
American Society of Journalists and Authors Writer’s Emergency Assistance Fund
American Poets Fund- Emergency Funds
CERF+ List of Emergency Funds for Artists
Comprehensive List of Funding Opportunities from 3Arts
Directors Guild Foundation
Dramatists Guild Foundation
Emergency Grants for Visual Artists
Emergency Relief Programs – Alliance of Artist Communities
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
GoFundMe relief for NY/NJ/PA artists
Max’s Kansas City Project (NY)
Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund
Musician's Emergency Relief Fund
New York Foundation for the Arts
Queens Council on the Arts - list of various funds for individual artists
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Emergency Medical and Legal Fund
Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights
Also see NYS Department of Labor Resource Guide at the top of this list
Other Artist Resources
NYSCA COVID-19 Resource Page In addition to funding resources, this page lists information on legal resources, virtual workspaces, digital tools for artists, stress management, and more
Webinar/Panel: Artists in a Time of Global Pandemic
Arts Organization Funding
Central New York Community Foundation Impact Grant
Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties
HNY CARES Emergency Relief Grants
501c3 organizations in NYS with humanities mission & budgets under $500,000
The Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Response Fund - The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area's community-wide fund to support organizations responding to human services needs in Herkimer and Oneida counties resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
NYCON: Nonprofit Resources
Onondaga Small Business Development Center - Resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including a county specific resource list for Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, and Seneca Counties
Also see NYS Department of Labor Resource Guide & NEA CARES Act Funding at the top of this list.
Other Funding
Discussions & Webinars
If you missed any of 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 following webinars, and more:
Artists and Presenters in the Virtual Classroom: Working with Schools in the Time of COVID-19,
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
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
Other Arts Organizations Resources
Arts Ready Alert – Preparing for the Potential Impact of Coronavirus
Grantmakers for the Arts Resource List
Lawyers Alliance for New York: ”Protecting Your Nonprofit from COVID-19”
National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness & Emergency Response
National Endowment for the Arts: COVID-19 FAQ Response
NYCON: Nonprofit Resources
NYSCA COVID-19 Resource Page In addition to funding resources, this page lists information on legal resources, virtual workspaces, digital tools for artists, setting up an emergency fund, stress management, and more
TSNE MissionWorks Resource List - COVID-19 related informational articles on a variety of topics for nonprofits
General COVID-19 Information & Resources:
Department of Labor CARES Act Information
COVID19 Effect Preparation Worksheet
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 Advice for the Public