Dear Friends,
Throughout the pandemic, New York’s frontline and essential workers risked their lives to save lives and keep our city running. And this week, we were proud to celebrate and thank these #HometownHeroes with a ticker tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes. We are so incredibly grateful for the dedication and hard work of these New Yorkers, including our own City workers at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).
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REOPENING UPDATES
Unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear face coverings in most public settings. And everyone, whether vaccinated or not, must wear face coverings on public transit and in certain settings, such as health care, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters.
“Fully vaccinated” means two or more weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or full doses of the COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (e.g., AstraZeneca, Oxford).
Arts and Entertainment
The updated New York State Department of Health regulations state that "large-scale indoor event venues with more than five thousand (5,000) attendees shall require patrons who are not fully vaccinated to wear face coverings consistent with this section; may require all patrons to wear a face covering irrespective of vaccination status; and may deny admittance to any person who fails to comply." Venues must apply this requirement consistent with the ADA and NYS and NYC Human Rights Law, and other laws, meaning that people who are not medically able to tolerate a face covering must be provided a reasonable accommodation. Individuals or entities that violate the regulations are subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 for each violation.
The application for City Artist Corps grants is live and applications for the Cycle 2 open on July 6 at 10am and will close on July 20 at 10am. (Applications for Cycle 3 open on July 27 at 10am and close on August 10 at 10am.) A program of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York Foundation for the Arts with support from MOME, City Artist Corps Grants are intended to support NYC-based working artists who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The program will distribute one-time $5,000 grants to over 3000 artists to help sustain their practice and engage the public across New York City’s five boroughs this summer beginning July. Artists working in any discipline are eligible to apply.
Open Culture performances continue to roll out in neighborhoods across the city. The program, which runs through October 31, allows ticketed, socially distanced, outdoor performances at nearly 200 street locations throughout the five boroughs. The NYC Open Culture Program Resources page offers tips for planning and preparation for Open Culture events, links to best practices and protocols for live performance developed by unions and performing arts organizations. MOME has updated the Open Culture Roadmap: Tips for a Successful Performance in the Street to reflect recent changes in State law and guidance.
Nightlife
Meanwhile, the City commenced the legal process to make the Open Restaurants Program permanent. You can read more about the process on the NYC Department of City Planning’s website, including the proposed change to the Zoning resolution to remove geographic restrictions on where sidewalk cafes can be located in New York City.
The updated New York State Department of Health regulations state, "Employees of food service establishments who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask or face-covering at all times while at their place of work. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees." Individuals or entities that violate the regulations are subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 for each violation.
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NYC BUSINESS QUICK START
NYC Business Quick Start is a new interagency initiative led by NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to cut red tape and support NYC businesses with opening or reopening. The program will provide small businesses a sole point of contact to help navigate City regulations, guarantees a 48-hour response to all small business inquiries and will cut processing time by 50 percent. NYC Business Quick Start is a collaboration between several key agencies including SBS, Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
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STATE ASSISTANCE
Applications for the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program are live. The Grant Program provides $800 million in assistance for small businesses (including small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations), experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Flexible grants up to $50,000 can be used for operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, personal protective equipment, or other business expenses incurred during the pandemic. Over 330,000 small and micro businesses are potentially eligible for this program, including 57 percent of the State’s certified MWBEs. Application materials Help is available by phone at 877-721-0097. |
The NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) began accepting applications on June 1. Eligible low and moderate-income households can get up to 12 months of their back rent paid, 3 months of future rent, and other assistance. There are no immigration status requirements to qualify for the program. NYC’s Human Resources Administration website offers information about the program, as well as a list of organizations that can help New Yorkers with their applications. |
Moratorium Updates: The ban on commercial and residential evictions, foreclosure proceedings, credit discrimination and negative credit reporting related to the effects of the pandemic extends until August 31, 2021. The moratorium that prevents utility companies from disconnecting utilities to residential households and small businesses that are struggling with their bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic extends until December 22, 2021.
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FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
The National Endowment for the Arts is providing American Rescue Plan Grants to eligible organizations nationwide. These funds are intended to help support jobs in the arts sector, keep the doors open to arts organizations nationwide, and assist the field in its response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other Arts Endowment funding programs that offer project-based support, Rescue Plan funds are intended to support specific operating costs only. Cost share/matching funds are not required.
The Arts Endowment encourages applications from a variety of eligible organizations including: organizations that serve populations that are underserved, such as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by ethnicity, economics, geography, or disability; organizations with small and medium-sized budgets; organizations from rural to urban communities; and organizations that may be applying for federal support through the Arts Endowment for the first time. For more information and to apply, visit the NEA’s webpage.
Eligible small businesses, nonprofits, sole proprietors and independent contractors can still apply for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Learn more about EIDL, the Targeted EIDL Advance and Supplemental Targeted Advance.
As of July 6,2021, SBA awarded Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) to over 300 New York City applicants. A list of recipients is available on SBA's website. See SBA’s FAQ if you have applied but have not yet been notified of an award. For more information and to view applicant resources, visit the SVOG website. For SVOG application portal technical support such as a password reset, browser suggestions, or how to use the multi-factor authentication with an app and the QR code, applicants can call 1-800-659-2955 or, for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, 1-800-877-8339 and follow the prompts to SVOG assistance.
As of June 30, 2021, SBA approved Restaurant Revitalization Fund applications for about 9,775 applicants from New York State and a total of $3,667,054,114 in funding. This was the second highest amount of RRF funding after California. You can see data about the awards here: Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Report, with Approvals through 06/30/2021 (sba.gov).
NYC live-performance venues, businesses, and non-profit organizations applying for SVOG and other federal assistance can access free technical assistance through Curtains Up NYC, a program partnership of MOME and NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS). Trained counselors are also available for virtual, one-on-one sessions. Information is available on the Curtains Up NYC webpage or 888-SBS-4NYC.
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COVID-19 UPDATES
The NYS Department of Labor issued guidance on the use of paid sick leave for COVID-19 Vaccine recovery time. This guidance states that Labor Law section 196-b allows employees to use sick leave for the recovery of any side effects of the COVID-19 vaccination and section 197-c allows leave to receive vaccinations.
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• Free transportation to vaccination appointments in NYC is available for city residents 65 and older and those with disabilities who have no other way to get to a vaccination site. To arrange for transportation, call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692).
• NYC residents who cannot leave their home can sign up for an in-home vaccination online or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692). |
As of June 25, the New York State Travel Advisory is no longer in effect. Travelers arriving in New York are no longer required to submit traveler health forms. All travelers, domestic and international, should continue to follow all CDC travel requirements.
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