COVID-19 INFORMATION & RESOURCE HUB
Recent COVID 19 Updates
Effective 12/13/21, masks must be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. Click here for complete details about how to be in compliance.
In December, COVID-19 vaccination proof requirements are expanding to include younger children and to require full vaccination. Get complete details and updates here.
Get data summaries for NYC neighborhoods to see how COVID-19 is affecting your community. Click here and enter your zip code.
Vaccine proof for indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment required for children aged 5-11. The program now requires two vaccine doses for New Yorkers over age 12. Click here for the latest information.
Free Covid-19 testing is widely available throughout Brooklyn. A number of resources can assist in scheduling PCR or rapid-antigen tests, click on any of the items listed below to find one near you:
- NYC COVID-19 Finder
- NYC Health+Hospitals
- New York State COVID-19 Testing Sites
- A number of pharmacies offer convenient Covid-testing options, including CVS and Walgreens
- Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp both offer testing options.
COVID-19 Resources
- Visit NYC.gov/coronavirus for details and updates from the City of New York
- Visit https://forward.ny.gov/ for details and updates from New York State.
- Businesses and business owners can get information and resources to reopen safely, protect their staff and customers, run their business, and get financial assistance during the COVID-19 health emergency by visiting NYC Business online, NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), or NYC 311 online.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, New York City has launched Key to NYC, which requires certain establishments to verify that staff and patrons are vaccinated against COVID-19. Click here to view complete details.
If your business has a positive COVID-19 case to report, go to the NYC case reporting website here.
For information on applying for New York State's paid COVID-19 quarantine leave or Paid Family Leave and disability benefits during quarantine, click here.
Workers who have COVID-19 or were in contact with someone with COVID-19 can get sick leave (time off) regardless of immigration status. State and local laws let workers take time off to care for themselves or a family member.
Reminder: Under NYC law, parents can use leave to take kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Employers cannot mistreat or punish workers for using or asking for sick leave.
Click here for complete details.
Announcements
We are proud to announce the launch of a $2.5MM EXCELerate Loan Fund supported by the Social Justice Fund of the Joe & Clara Tsai Foundation to provide zero and low-interest loans to Black, Immigrant, and other Persons of Color (BIPOC). These will be "character-based" loans and will not use a credit score rating to determine eligibility:
- Recovery loans: up to $15,000 at 0% interest
- Restart loans: $15,000-$100,000 at 2% interest
Learn more and apply here: https://www.brooklynchamber.com/services/financing/
If you have damage or need assistance, please send us a note at [email protected] or register for the small business resource network at www.nycsmallbusinessresourcenetwork.org
The Workforce Committee facilitated a webinar on adapting to the changing workplace on September 9th.
Watch the webinar HERE
Thank you to Jason Klimpl and Andrew P. Yacyshyn at Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP for your contribution to our discussion.
Grants
This program will provide grants between $5,000-$50,000 and will be calculated based on a business' annual gross receipts for 2019. Reimbursable COVID-19 related expenses must have been incurred between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021.
You are eligible if you are a PPP, EIDL, or SVO grant recipient but NOT if you received funds through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
Find out more at: https://nysmallbusinessrecovery.com/
Residential Rent Relief Application Opened June 1
The emergency rental assistance program (ERAP) will assist households behind on their rent, and those at risk of homelessness or housing instability and that earn at or below 80 percent of area median income. During the first 30 days, the program will prioritize the unemployed, those with income at or below 50% AMI and other vulnerable populations. Click here more information.
Brooklyn Chamber in the Field
Our team led by President and CEO Randy Peers has conducted 35+ commercial corridor visits, and continues to go out all across Brooklyn bringing crucial recovery services to small businesses. Check us out in our newsletter, the Buzz, to see our work in the field.