July 7, 2021 | Newsletter
NYC Office of Nightlife
Business News, Guidelines & Updates


  • The New York State of Emergency expired June 25 and the New York State Department of Health updated its regulations regarding face coverings on June 23, 2021. 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 continue to provide, at their expense, face coverings for their employees. A violation of this requirement is subject to a maximum fine of $1,000. Fully employees and patrons may take off their face coverings if they wish.


  • The Open Restaurants text amendment entered public review on June 21, 2021. Like all proposed changes to the Zoning Resolution, it will be reviewed by Community Boards and Borough Presidents with public meetings for New Yorkers to learn more and give their feedback. This process is anticipated to move in parallel to legislative changes necessary to facilitate the permanent Open Restaurants program. Referral by the City Planning Commission begins a 90-day window for public review. Contact your local Community Board for more information about when they will be holding a hearing.

  • The State Liquor Authority is allowing licensees that are currently part of NYC’s Open Restaurants Program to continue serving alcohol on outdoor City property while NYS Assembly Bill A7733 / Senate Bill S6353 awaits adoption. This legislation, if signed, would allow restaurants participating in the Open Restaurants Program to continue serving alcohol on City property for one additional year after the law is adopted. 

  • The default period in a recent law protecting commercial tenants from personal guarantees in commercial leases expired June 30, 2021. Business operators may contact the Commercial Lease Assistance Program for free legal assistance related to commercial leases, or MEND NYC to request free mediation services with their landlords.

Download: New COVID-19 Poster
If you're not fully vaccinated please, wear your mask. Except when seated. It's up to you New York. Stop the spread. #maskup

 
The Office of Nightlife has created a new poster for food service venues that operators can download and post at their front door and throughout the venue to remind unvaccinated guests to wear face coverings.

Upcoming Event 
Hospitality Hire 

Is your bar or restaurant business struggling to find staff? 

Join the new Hospitality Hire webinar series. NYC Small Business Services can help you to learn more about Hospitality Hire, a no-cost recruitment resource from Workforce1. Meet your Front-of-House and Back-of-House hiring needs by:

  • Sourcing job seekers through its candidate databases, paid advertisements (at no cost to you) and through local partner organizations;
  • Recruiting and screening candidates based on your needs—and referring the most qualified to your restaurant; and Scheduling interviews.
Register for Webinar: Thursday, July 8 | 10:00 - 10:30am
Can’t join but have immediate hiring needs? Submit a request for hiring assistance.
Additional Staffing Resources

The NYC Hospitality Alliance and the NYC Employment & Training Coalition (NYCETC) have compiled a list of organizations that provide job placement and workforce development services for various jobs within the city’s hospitality sector, and other industries. Learn more about how these organizations can assist businesses in identifying talent and expanding their pool of potential candidates.

NYC Resources

NYC City Artist Corps: $5K Grants

The application for City Artist Corps grants is now live and applications for the Cycle 2 open on July 6 at 10am and 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.

NYC Business Quickstart 

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).  
Economic Assistance Programs

Residential Tenant Rental Assistance

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 who can help New Yorkers with their applications.

Commercial Tenant Business Grant

Applications for the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program are now 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
National Endowment for the Arts

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.
Restaurants Revitalization Fund

Due to overwhelming demand, the SBA has announced that it has closed the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The program’s online platform will close on July 14, 2021.
Office of Nightlife Report
Last month, the Office of Nightlife was excited to release our inaugural report detailing our first three years of work establishing the office, setting priorities, and rolling out an agenda of initiatives, before and during the pandemic. The report also includes recommendations for the future that address business recovery, quality of life, safety, equity, harm reduction, and cultural preservation. 

Read the full 160-page report here: on.nyc.gov/NightlifeReport2021

Night Owl: Outdoor Patron Etiquette 101
Hey Night Owls! 

Keep an eye out for the new Office of Nightlife Outdoor Patron Etiquette 101 campaign in subway cars and bus shelters throughout the city! 

Tag us @nycnightlifegov and use the hashtag #NYCNightOwl to share your night out and how you socialize responsibly!
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