Updated March 20, 5PM: Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced he is signing the "New York State on PAUSE" executive order, a 10-point policy to assure uniform safety for everyone. It includes a new directive that all non-essential businesses statewide must close in-office personnel functions effective at 8PM on Sunday, March 22. View guidance on essential vs. non-essential services here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-issues-guidance-essential-services-under-new-york-state-pause-executive-order
Updated March 20, 10AM: In the ongoing effort to try to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and encourage social distancing, Governor Cuomo has, under the power vested in him by his March 7 state emergency declaration, announced that as of tomorrow (Saturday, March 21) at 8 p.m., all barbershops, hair salons, tattoo or piercing parlors and related personal care services will be closed to members of the public. This also includes nail technicians, cosmetologists and estheticians, and the provision of electrolysis, laser hair removal services. This updates the list of businesses that the governor previously ordered closed, including: Restaurants and bars (now at delivery and take-out only), bowling alleys, movie theaters, and malls. “Essential” businesses - including groceries, banks, pharmacies, and medical and health care facilities - are allowed to remain open, but on-site workers must be limited to 25 percent of the over-all workforce.
Empire State Development releases guidance for determining whether a business is subject to a 75% workforce reduction:https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed an executive order yesterday directing businesses that are unable to implement work from home policies to decrease their in-office workforce by 75 percent. With that said, exemptions to the 75% reduction will be made for essential service industries, including shipping, media, warehousing, grocery and food production, pharmacies, healthcare providers, utilities, banks and related financial institutions, and other industries critical to the supply chain.
Businesses unsure if they are included within in exempt categories but still believe they are providing essential services or functions can request a waiver from these reductions by completing the form attached, also available online:https://esd.ny.gov/sites/default/files/Request%20for%20Designation%20Form_0.pdf
Thursday, March 19: The SBA has approved a statewide disaster declaration for NY. Eligible small businesses may now apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
Please review the fact sheet with important information about the declaration and EIDL requirements at this link:https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Declarations/DeclarationDetails?declNumber=6063499&direct=false
Businesses can take advantage of free assistance offered by SBA’s network of Resource Partners for help with preparing their loan applications. They may visit www.sba.gov/local-assistanceto find local help.
The NYS Small Business Development Center network recommends submitting a request for assistance online at http://nyssbdc.org/appointment.html.