COVID-19 Resources

These times of uncertainty are when a sense of community is needed the most. We need to stand by each other and encourage one another not to give into the grip of fear and anxiety in the face of the unknown.

Together, with preparedness and positivity, we face the future.

We want to help our Members keep the public updated on hours and ways they can continue to patronize local businesses.

Members, please click HERE to fill out a form to send us your updated hours.

Click here for updates from Chamber member businesses.

Safely Reopening

Press Release — Warren County Tourism Businesses Form Commission to Plan Economic Recovery

Please review these resources for best practices and cleaning standards in the hospitality industry:

Local DRAFT Guidelines

Local businesses have come together to research best practices and produce the following guidelines using a variety of sources including the CDC and NYS Health Department. Click on the images below to view these documents by industry. Similar guidelines for Retail and Attractions will be releases shortly.

NY on Pause

New York will re-open on a regional basis as each region meets the 12 criteria necessary to protect public health as businesses re-open. New York State remains on PAUSE through May 15.

Click here to read more information about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to reopen New York.

UPDATED 4/1: Empire State Development has deemed specific real estate brokerage activities as essential. 

UPDATED 4/3: If you lost your job or health coverage or are unisured, click this link for the NY State of Health Official Health Plan Marketplace.

UPDATED 4/19: Gov. Andew Cuomo lifts restrictions on marriage licenses including:

• Waives the 60 days required to obtain a marriage license during the period of time that there exists a declared emergency in New York State;
• Permits those persons who were unable to marry within the time frame issued on the marriage license to obtain a second marriage license (and waives the fees), if necessary, mirroring the original marriage license that was obtained during the period of time a declared emergency existed in New York State; 
• Authorizes the issuance of a marriage license application, marriage license, or witnessing or solemnizing of the marriage ceremony, to be performed utilizing audio-video technology provided certain conditions are met.
• Read the full executive order here.

UPDATED 4/22: The Office of the NYS Comptroller has produced a COVID-19 Financial Survival Toolkit for New Yorkers. Click here to view it.

Loans & Economic Disaster Funding

• The Warren County Local Development Corp. has created a new loan program to help small businesses recover from economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $200,000 has been allocated for loans of up to $15,000 each with a 4% interest rate.  Repayment of a loan must be within 4 years, with loan payments deferred for the first two months. There is no prepayment penalty.
  Eligibility requirements include:
  • Applicants must be either sole proprietors, independent contractors, self-employed, or an LLC operating within Warren County. Cannot previously have received Payroll Protection Plan or other loans.
  • Businesses must have 20 or fewer full/part time employees.
  • Loans may be used for working capital, payroll, rent, utilities, mortgage and monthly expenses.
  No application cost, though a closing fee of up to $125 may be required.
  Click here to read more information.
• Adirondack Economic Development Corporation (AEDC): Disaster loans for working capital.  (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Oneida, Oswego, Lewis, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Warren, Washington counties)
• North Country Alliance COVID-19 Emergency Business Relief Program (Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton Counties) 
• Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Board COVID-19 Business Interruption Micro-Loan Program (Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren and Washington Counties)

• Adirondack North Country Association Small Business E-Commerce Development Support

• The Post-Star has launched a Local Marketing Grant program. This program offers matching marketing funds to local businesses whose livelihood has been impacted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Click here to read more.

• UPDATE APPLICATION PERIOD IS CLOSED. U.S. Chamber's Save Small Business Initiative: To extend a helping hand to small businesses suffering from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – in partnership with Vistaprint and a coalition of supporting companies, foundations, and philanthropic donors – is working to provide financial relief through the Save Small Business Fund.  This fund is a key pillar of the U.S. Chamber’s Save Small Business Initiative. For information on this grant program, visit : https://www.savesmallbusiness.com/

• GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR RESTAURANTS – Restaurant Strong Fund. Samuel Adams is offering a $1,000 grant to restaurant workers now in 20 states. Samuel Adams and The Greg Hill Foundation are bringing the successful Restaurant Strong Fund to 20 total states to aid the restaurant workers impacted by the Covid-19 closures. Following the success of the Massachusetts launch in mid-March, Samuel Adams is donating over $2,000,000 to kickstart funding in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont.
  Applications available up until Friday April 24th:
  Form:
  https://thegreghillfoundation.submittable.com/submit/163383/restaurant-strong-grant-application.
  REQUIREMENTS:
• Full-time restaurant employee (Min. 30 hours/week, can be multiple restaurants)
• Employed for 3 months or longer at the same location
• Worked in a restaurant, bar, cafe or nightclub
• Submit the last two pay stubs received

For NON-PROFITS

• Non-profits can apply for funds through the Tri-County United Way! They are getting these dollars into our local community quickly, by funding nonprofit partners and service providers working directly with those disproportionately impacted by this challenging landscape. Generous donations from residents continue to grow the fund, as the need for community support is expected to increase. So far, we’ve raised more than $20,000 thanks to generous philanthropic, individual and community gifts. They worked quickly to form a Response Fund Allocations Committee tasked with guiding and overseeing the Fund and created an online application process through which community-based organizations can apply for Funding. Click here to read more and to see the application.

• Stewart's Shops is offering grant funding to non-profits. At this time, they are encouraging nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 to reach out for additional help for sustainability. Grants will be given on a case by case scenario as they come in. There is no deadline for submission. Click here for an application.

Updated 4/12/20: A message from Empire State Development’s Division of Small Business & Technology Development:

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and the urgent need for professional assistance and advice for NYS based Small Businesses, we are leveraging the Business Mentor NY system as a method of connecting small businesses in need of help with the growing number of business professionals that are stepping up to volunteer to help in this time of crisis.

From around the state businesspeople are stepping up to act as Mentors that can guide small businesses through this crisis with financial and related advice on acquiring capital and applying for and leveraging various disaster resources including the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and the SBA Paycheck Protection Program.  This COVID-19 Volunteer Mentor Task Force is comprised of business people from various disciplines, and they have volunteered to try to help you!

Business Mentor NY is the state's first large scale, web-based, hands-on mentoring program geared to help entrepreneurs and established small businesses overcome challenges to grow.  Mentor volunteers act as pro-bono advisors or sounding boards for the small business owners that are looking for guidance. Providing a potential solution to accessing needed information and expertise through a streamlined process, enabled by technology.

It is as simple as visiting the website businessmentor.ny.gov and creating a 10-minute profile by clicking Join Now.

Simply use the search tool to select someone you think could help and start a conversation online.  Once you connect you communicate in whatever way you both choose.

For more information refer to the “Walkthrough for Business Seeking Help with COVID-19” document.

visit:  https://esd.ny.gov/business-mentor-ny-covid-19-assistance or https://businessmentor.ny.gov/learn-more/about for more information on Business Mentor NY.

Also you can visit:  https://esd.ny.gov/small-business-administration-sba-covid-19-loans for other live resources such as our Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers, NY Small Business Development Centers, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) around the state.

Together we will survive and move forward!

CARES Act

1. Question: My Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) was approved but the amount was lower than I was expecting, why is it lower?

1. Question: I read that the EIDL program provides up to $2 million per loan. Will it be possible to increase my loan amount?

UPDATED 5/13: Click here for the latest Frequently Asked Questions for Lenders and Borrowers for the Paycheck Protection Program from the SBA.

Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Calculator

UPDATED 4/29:  The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act was signed into law on April 24, 2020. The SBA resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders on Monday, April 27, 2020. 

The SBA will resume processing EIDL Loan and Advance applications that are already in the queue on a first-come, first-served basis. They will provide further information on the availability of the EIDL portal to receive new applications (including those from agricultural enterprises) as soon as possible.  Click here for more information.

SBA Debt Relief

As part of our coronavirus debt relief efforts, the SBA will pay 6 months of principal, interest, and any associated fees that borrowers owe for all current 7(a), 504, and Microloans in regular servicing status as well as new 7(a), 504, and Microloans disbursed prior to September 27, 2020. This relief is not available for Paycheck Protection Program loans or Economic Injury Disaster loans. Borrowers do not need to apply for this assistance. It will be automatically provided as follows:

• For loans not on deferment, SBA will begin making payments with the next payment due on the loan and will make six monthly payments.
• For loans currently on deferment, SBA will begin making payments with the next payment due after the deferment period has ended, and will make six monthly payments.
• For loans made after March 27, 2020 and fully disbursed prior to September 27, 2020, SBA will begin making payments with the first payment due on the loan and will make six monthly payments.

SBA has notified 7(a), 504 and Microloan Lenders that it will pay these borrower loan payments. Lenders have been instructed to refrain from collecting loan payments from borrowers. If a borrower's payment was collected after March 27, 2020, lenders were instructed to inform the borrower that they have the option of having the loan payment returned by the lender or applying the loan payment to further reduce the loan balance after SBA's payment.

Borrowers should contact their lender if they have any questions regarding this payment relief.

UPDATED 4/20: Intuit Quickbooks users can apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, though the $349 billion limite has been reached, these applications will be submitted if and when they are able.  Read on below:

"At this time, the Small Business Administration has stopped accepting applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans because the processed loan volume has reached the $349 billion level currently authorized by the CARES Act. We are actively monitoring the situation, and hope more funding will become available. We recommend that you complete your application now with QuickBooks Capital. If and when we are able, we will submit your application to the Small Business Administration. Given the large demand for any such additional funds and our funding capacity, not every qualified Paycheck Protection Program applicant will receive a loan." Click here for more information.

UPDATED 4/15: PayPal has been approved to provide access to Paycheck Protection Program loan. Click here to read more.

UPDATED 4/8: The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a new FAQ on the Paycheck Protection Program Loans. This includes questions related to seasonal businesses. 

UPDATED 4/3: On April 2, 2020 the SBA issued an interim final rule regarding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that contains material changes and additional guidance that borrowers must be aware of in order to properly apply for the PPP. Consistent with this rule, the SBA also released the final application for the PPP. 

Click here for U.S. Rep Elise Stefanik's Resource page on the CARES Act.

Click here for a Guide from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the CARES Act for small businesses

Click here for the SBA's Guide to Economic Injury Disaster Loans 

Click here for Resources for 1099 Workers during the Coronavirus Pandemic 

Click here for a Small Business Guide & Checklist for Emergency Loans under the CARES Act.

Click here to read a chart with loan options.

Click here for the National Restaurant Association CARES Act Executive Summar for Restaurants.

All non-profits including 501(c)6s now eligible for grants and SBA Disaster Loans

The Business Council has designed a one page breakdown of the Paycheck Protection Program as outlined in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) bill.

In addition, click here for Paycheck Protection Program Information Sheet from the U.S. Treasury.

Resource page from New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association

Some helpful articles on the CARES Act and SBA loans:

• Paycheck Protection Program Looks like a Very Sweet Deal for Employers (Forbes)
• SBA director to small biz: If you think you're going to need a disaster loan, start the application now (Albany Business Review)
• The Albany Business Review lowered its paywall for select COVID-19 coverage. Click here to read the free articles.

If you missed the SBA Cares Act information seminar,  you can still view a recording. Click HERE for a link to register. Once you register, you will be emailed a link to a recording.

This information session includes:

• Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Overview

• Paycheck Protection Program Overview

• Program Eligibility Requirements

• Application Processes

• Picking the Right Program for Your Business

Convention & Visitors Bureau Update:

Click here to read to a blog post from the virtual CVB meeting on March 30.

Click here to read a blog post from the virtual CVB meeting on April 16.

Click here for the Meetings Mean Business coalition updates.

Business & Employee Resources

Email Marketing

Click here to check out the Constant Contact Small Business Survival Support Kit for great tips to get through these challenging times.

Social Media:

Click here for Facebook's page on "managing through and building resilience during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

If you lost your job:

13 steps to take if you’ve lost your job due to the coronavirus crisis

Warren County:

• Click here for the NEW Warren County COVID-19 Response Page.
• Warren County Treasurer Michael Swan has put into place a new tax relief plan to help during the COVID outbreak.  Click here to read the statement.
• Warren County's Employment & Training Office staff members are ready to assist those who need help with employment issues in this difficult time, with Director Liza Ochsendorf and staff working remotely at this point. If you need help, call 518-743-0925. Online resources and assistance can be found at thejoblink.org/. 

• Warren County Employment & Training Administration opened its Metrix Online Learning platform to anyone in Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties for FREE! There are thousands of courses that are great for individuals and businesses.   

  Click here for instructions on how to get set up.

From the NYS Department of Taxation & Finance:

• Governor Cuomo has issued an executive order expanding the Tax Commissioner’s authority to abate late filing and payment penalties. This will allow the Commissioner to abate interest on quarterly and annual sales and use tax filings and remittances with a due date of March 20, 2020, for those who were unable to timely file and pay as result of the COVID-19 virus. To view the guidance issued, visit N-20-1, Announcement Regarding the Abatement of Penalties and Interest for Sales and Use Tax due to the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19. For additional information, visit Tax Department response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
• Governor Cuomo has issued an executive order (202.12) authorizing the Tax Commissioner to provide relief from certain tax filing and payment deadlines. In response, the Tax Commissioner has extended the April 15, 2020 due date to July 15, 2020, for New York State personal income tax and corporation tax returns originally due on April 15, 2020. In addition, the Commissioner is allowing taxpayers to defer all related tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. Click here to read the announcement from the Department of Taxation and Finance.

From the NYS Department of Labor:

• Click here for a link for Unemployment Assistance.
• The Shared Work Program allows staff to be partially laid off during a downturn in business.  Once a company is approved for Shared Work, staff can collect a partial UI benefit while working reduced hours.  Staff do not have a "work search requirement" as they are still employed. Click here for more information.
• Click here for Paid Sick Leave Guidance for mandatory or precautionary quarantine.
• DOL Rapid Response Services — Click here to view a Fact Sheet on Rapid Response Services. Help for Businesses Facing Cutbacks with programs like Shared Work, New York State Warn Act. Rapid Response is a service offered to businesses and workers affected by cutbacks and site closings, providing early job placement assistance and other service resources. 
  Contact for businesses: Richard Grossi, Statewide Rapid Response Coordinator. Phone: (518) 457-9880 Email: Richard.Grossi@labor.ny.gov 
• DOL Shared Work Program — Click here to view a Fact Sheet on the Shared Work Program. An alternative to laying off workers during business downturns by allowing them to work a reduced work schedule and collect partial Unemployment Insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks. Instead of cutting staff, you can reduce the number of hours of all employees or just a certain group. 

Cleaning Protocols from the NYS Department of Health

• COVID-19 Approved Cleaning Products
• General Building Cleaning Guidance
• Cleaning Guidance for non-healthcare settings.
• Office spaces/meeting rooms -- Clean and disinfect door handles, hard-surface chair arms, and telephones daily.
• Lunch/break rooms -- Clean and disinfect lunch tables and chairs regularly (at least once daily).
• Restrooms -- Establish a regular cleaning schedule for surfaces such as floor mats, doors, countertops, partitions, wall-mounted hardware, toilets. Disinfect at least daily.
• Counters, displays, vending machines, POS/self-checkout --  Clean and disinfect surfaces multiple times per day.  
• Cleaning product options:
• http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/covid19.pdf
• Premixed bleach solution at 10%  (3.2 ounces of any over-the-counter chlorine bleach per quart of water) -- Wiped on with a clean cloth and allowed to quickly air dry.  At the end of business applied as a light mist and let to air dry.

The Business Council of New York State:

• Click here to access The Business Council Webinar with guidelines for employers.
• Click here to access The Business Council Webinar with information on PFL/ADA/FMLA/Workers’ Compensation/NYS Short-term disability – managing an employee’s leave status while out sick.

Restaurant Employee Relief Fund:

The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund was created to help restaurant industry employees experiencing hardship in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Through this Fund, grants will be made to restaurant industry employees who have demonstrated being financially impacted by COVID-19, whether through a decrease in wages or loss of employment. These grants will be made on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability of funds. 100% of the Fund’s proceeds will go to providing grants to restaurant workers. This Fund is operated by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, whose mission is to attract, empower and advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workers. APPLY FOR A $500 GRANT STARTING THURSDAY, APRIL 2.

Click here for more information.