December 22, 2021 | Newsletter

Dear Nightlife Community, 

As we make our way into another holiday season under extraordinary circumstances, we want to make sure that nightlife businesses and workers are aware of some helpful resources to support you during this challenging time.  

Please read below to find out more about these programs, including: free hotel rooms if you become infected with Covid-19 and cannot self-isolate, free and affordable health care regardless of income or immigration status, free delivery of vaccinations and booster shots to your venue staff, and the NYC Small Business Resilience Grant. 

We encourage everyone to keep doing your part keeping yourselves, staff and patrons safe: get vaccinated, get $100 for getting your booster shot before December 31, wear face coverings indoors, avoid crowded spaces if you have health risks, and if you’re sick, get tested and stay home. More tips for a safer holiday season are available from the NYC Department of Health.

With New Year’s around the corner, it is a time of new hope and new energy. We have come this far and will continue to move forward until we make it through. 

Wishing you all a very healthy, happy and safe holiday season and a better new year!
  
Ariel Palitz
Executive Director, Office of Nightlife
Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment     

BUSINESS UPDATES
Temporary Liquor Licenses Law for New York City

This week, NY State Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that allows for temporary retail permits to be issued for bars and restaurants opening in New York City, putting these businesses on the same footing as businesses in the rest of the state. Additional legislation also allows for new temporary permits to be granted for New York wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries awaiting final approval on their manufacturing license, allowing them to operate and serve while their application is pending. Learn more about these changes here

COVID-19 RESOURCES & INFORMATION

Get Vaccinated and If You Are Already Vaccinated, Get Your Booster. 

It has never been easier to get a COVID-19 vaccination in NYC. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine.  
Get Tested 

Testing remains an important part of reducing the spread of COVID-19. All New Yorkers should get tested for COVID-19 if they have symptoms or were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19. Here are some resources to help you find a location near you: 

*Note that new testing locations are being added this week*  


Image of Key to NYC Posters for Indoor dining, entertainment and fitness facilities

Get Your Booster, Get $100

Recently announced $100 incentive for anyone who gets a COVID-19 booster at a City-run site or at a SOMOS Care clinic. This is a limited time opportunity - through 12/31/21. To learn more, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives page.
Get Your Employees Tested On

Get Your Employees Tested On-Site

Zeel is also offering free COVID-19 first shots, second shots, and booster shots, delivered to your home, office, or venue and paid for by The NYC Health Department. All NYC residents and workers age 18 and above are eligible. Visit zeel.com/vaccine to learn more.  
NYC CARE

NYC Care: Access Free or Low-Cost Healthcare 
  
If you need medical care, NYC Care is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance regardless of immigration status or income. All NYC Care services are provided through NYC Health + Hospitals. To learn more and enroll, call 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273) or visit www.nyccare.nyc.

As an employer, you are a key partner in helping your employees stay healthy and safe, download the NYC Care: Employee Tool kit
   
FREE Hotel to self-isolate
Take Care: Safely separate at a Free, Private Hotel Room
  
If you test positive and need to self-isolate from family or roommates, you may be eligible for the Covid-19 Hotel Program. A medical provider will assess your situation and then refer you to a hotel if appropriate to help you self-isolate, free of charge, for up to 14 days. The program includes food, linens, and local phone service for eligible New Yorkers. To learn more, visit the Covid-19 Hotel Program webpage or call 844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692) between the hours of 9am and 9pm. 
Wear a Mask 

  • As of December 13: Masks must be worn in all indoor public places unless the business or venue has implemented a requirement that all individuals be fully vaccinated, according to an order of the NYS Department of Health. Please refer to the State’s Frequently Asked Questions for more information.    
  • Businesses and venues may opt to require both masking and proof of vaccination. NYC Department of Health Commissioner Chokshi issued an advisory to strongly
    encourage all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask when indoors and in a public setting in New York City.   
   
Key to NYC

Under the Key to NYC Program, proof of vaccination is required for indoor dining, indoor fitness, indoor entertainment, and certain meeting spaces.  
  
The City expanded requirements for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for children as follows: 

  • As of December 14: Children ages 5 to 11 are required to have proof of vaccination for the public indoor activities covered under Key to NYC. They must show they have received at least one (1) dose of a vaccine.
  • Starting December 27: People 12 and older participating in public indoor activities covered under Key to NYC will be required to show proof they have received two (2) vaccine doses, except for those who have received the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 
Image of NYC Vaccination Poster for Businesses to download

Download: Vaccination Required Poster

Place the Vaccination Required Poster for Businesses in a place that is clearly visible to people before they enter your business. Download: Vaccination Required Poster for Businesses (pdf)
Image of Key to NYC Posters for Indoor dining, entertainment and fitness facilities

Download: Key to NYC Policy Template

Have a written plan for implementation of the Key to NYC policy available for inspection on request; include how you will check the vaccine status of both staff and patrons before they enter, or immediately upon entry, to your business. Download: Written Implementation Protocol Template (MS Word).
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & OTHER RESOURCES
money sign


NYC Launches $100M Small Business Resilience Grant  
  
The NYC Small Business Resilience Grant is a $10,000 grant which can be used for payroll and benefits, mortgage, rent, utilities, and other operating costs to help eligible small businesses recover from the economic hardships that occurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more, visit: covidresilience.nyc, or call 888-959-6471
NYS $800M COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant
NYS $800M COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant  

New York State continues to accept applications to the Grant Program for small businesses (including small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations), experiencing financial hardship due to the 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. To learn more or apply, visit nysmallbusinessrecovery.com or call 877-721-0097.    
Restaurant Resiliency Program


NYS Restaurant Resiliency Program 

The State also announced the Restaurant Resiliency Program, which sets aside $25 million to provide grants to restaurants that offer meals and other food-related items to New Yorkers within distressed or underrepresented communities. The program will provide New York's regional food banks with the funding to source meals from qualified restaurants to be delivered to emergency feeding programs, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. To learn more, call (800) 342-3009 or visit: agriculture.ny.gov/restaurantresiliency
NYC Business Solutions

NYC Business Solutions

NYC Business Solutions Center experts are available to help you identify additional financing available, including financing from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or local philanthropic financing if you are a nonprofit. To learn more call the NYC Business Hotline 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692) or visit: nyc.gov/business 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...WATCH NOW
Watch Now: Narcan behind every bar webinar
NARCAN® Behind Every Bar: Naloxone Training Webinar 
  
The presence of fentanyl in NYC's drug supply has dramatically increased unintended consumption, causing the number of overdose deaths to rise. Due to this increase, the Office of Nightlife and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have launched the NARCAN® Behind Every Bar campaign. This effort encourages venues, staff, and security to learn how to use naloxone, a medication that can help save a life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose, and obtain free Overdose Rescue Kits by mail to have on hand in case an overdose occurs. 
  
To learn about NARCAN® and how you can sign up to receive free Overdose Rescue Kits, watch the video of this training webinar.  
WATCH NOW: NARCAN WEBINAR (YOUTUBE)
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