Dear Friends,
Earlier this week, we celebrated the reopening of the Power Station at BerkleeNYC, which was made possible by a public-private partnership with Berklee, philanthropist Pete Muller, the NYC Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME). We are so proud to have supported the preservation of this iconic studio, which has been the birthplace of so many legendary recordings by artists from all over the world, and now has an expanded role in preparing the next generation of musical talent. |
COVID-19 UPDATES
Key to NYC
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
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• Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Recipients: Anyone 18 or older who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago can now get a booster shot of any of the three types of vaccines authorized in the U.S.
• Pfizer and Moderna Vaccine Recipients: The following people are now eligible for a booster shot of the vaccine, if they received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago:
○ People 65 or older
○ People 18 to 64 and either have an underlying medical condition or a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure due to their job (for example, health care workers) or where they live or frequently visit (for example, a homeless shelter)
○ People living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility |
People ages 12 and older are eligible for the vaccine. (Note: People who are between 12 and 17 years of age are eligible only for the Pfizer vaccine.) In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that the COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future.
The federal government is committed to providing children age 5 through 11 with access to COVID-19 vaccines if authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). And the City and State are ready to make those vaccines available. But as of this week, the federal government has not yet authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for children age 5 through 11. For the most accurate information about vaccines and children under age 12, visit the CDC’s website.
People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (meaning they have a weakened immune system) are now eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine 28 days after the completion of their two-dose vaccine series. Find more information on the NYC Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine webpage.
Reminder: 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. |
Face Coverings
Travel
On October 25, President Biden and the CDC formally announced the U.S will lift travel restrictions for fully vaccinated foreign national air travelers effective November 8. The United States’ new international air travel policy replaces the existing country-by-country restrictions, putting in place a consistent approach worldwide. For more information and FAQs on the new international air travel policy visit the U.S. Department of State’s website.
Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan
New York State requires all employers to implement an Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan. Employers can find the regulation with requirements for the plan and anti-retaliation requirements and templates for the plans in English and Spanish on the NYS Department of Labor website (under Resources, near the bottom of the webpage). This plan is different than the Key to NYC implementation plan, so be sure to review the NYS DOL guidance carefully. |
RESOURCES
Arts and Entertainment
Monday, November 1 is the deadline to apply for grants from the NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre, a program in partnership with New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). The NYC Women’s Fund was created to address the underrepresentation of female-identified creatives in the entertainment industries. Since the program’s launch in 2018, MOME has awarded $3.5 million to 157 film, theatre, and music projects. Information about the program, including a schedule of informational sessions, is available on the NYC Women’s Fund website.
Americans for the Arts has released two new versions of their COVID-19 Impact on the Arts surveys that arts organizations and artists/creative workers should respond to: |
1. A Survey of Arts and Cultural Organizations and Creative Businesses gathers information about the challenges facing the arts sector in the relief/recovery and re-opening processes. All types of arts and cultural organizations are invited to participate in this survey:
• Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across all artistic disciplines (including service organizations)
• Government arts agencies, departments, divisions, programs, and facilities
• For-profit and commercial creative businesses
• Programs that operate under the umbrella of a parent organization or fiscal agent
• Unincorporated programs/collectives
2. The Impact of COVID-19 on Artists and Creative Workers Survey is designed to assess the creative and social, as well as financial and professional, impact of COVID-19 on artists and creative workers across disciplines. All types of creative workers are invited to participate in this survey: practicing artists, culture bearers, educators and teaching artists, creative entrepreneurs, and hobby artists. |
A.R.T./New York announced three grant programs providing flexible, general operating support to small theatres: |
Nightlife
Propane heaters are no longer allowed in Open Restaurants. The NYC Department of Small Business Services will be providing grants up to $5,000 for restaurants with annual revenue of $1 million or less, which may be used to swap out propane heaters for either electric or natural gas radiant heaters. (We will provide more information when it is available.) Electric radiant heaters are allowed on both sidewalk and roadway. Natural gas radiant heaters are allowed on the sidewalk only.
The deadline for applying for an All-Night Permit for New Year’s Eve is Tuesday, November 16. Read more on the State Liquor Authority’s webpage.
The Office of Nightlife, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health and Backline, has launched Elevate Nightlife to connect the nightlife community directly with mental health resources and services. As part of the Elevate Nightlife Mental Health Initiative, people who work in the nightlife industry in New York City can participate in a free and confidential weekly mental health support group moderated by a Backline Care licensed therapists, every Monday at 4pm. |
NYC BUSINESS QUICK START
NYC Business Quick Start provides 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. The program 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). For more information, visit the NYC Business Quick Start website or call 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692). |
STATE ASSISTANCE
The New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery 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 help is available by phone at 877-721-0097.
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FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
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). Earlier this month, the SBA announced that it improved the EIDL program to better meet the needs of small businesses, especially those hardest hit industries and smallest entities that still need relief. Among other changes, the SBA has increased the amount of funding that can be borrowed from $500,000 to $2 million for qualified applicants. Learn more about EIDL and the Targeted EIDL Advance and Supplemental Targeted Advance.
Almost 850 NYC-based applicants received Shuttered Venue Operator Grants (SVOG) according to the SBA’s September 20, 2021 report. New York State applicants have received a combined total of $1,720,433,006 as of October 25 — more than any other state. SVOG supplemental awards are currently being made to those who received an initial grant and illustrated a 70% loss when comparing 2021’s first-quarter revenues to the same in 2019. 425 New York State businesses have already been awarded supplemental grants. Supplemental award applicants can choose to apply for any amount up to 50% of their original SVOG amount, with a $10 million cap of the initial and supplemental awards combined, according to the law. The supplemental awards also allow SVOG recipients to extend the time to use their grant funds for expenses accrued through June 30, 2022 and lengthen their budget period to 18 months from the initial grant’s disbursement date. For more information, visit the SBA website.
The American Rescue Plan extends a number of critical tax benefits, particularly the Employee Retention Credit and Paid Leave Credit, to small businesses. Find out more on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s website.
Borrowers may be eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. The SBA launched a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA. The new forgiveness platform will begin accepting applications from borrowers on August 4, 2021. Information about PPP loan forgiveness is available on SBA’s website.
The arts, entertainment, and hospitality industries were hit hard by the pandemic, with high unemployment rates. Many workers are experiencing housing insecurity and challenges with rent and mortgages. Please visit the federal Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s webpage to find help, whether you are a renter, homeowner, or landlord.
GENERAL ELECTION
General elections are next Tuesday, November 2. Early voting began October 23. Visit the NYC Board of Elections website for more information.
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