For guidance on phased reopening of businesses please visit the comprehensive New York Forward website: https://forward.ny.gov/

To review industry-specific public health and safety guidelines visit the New York Forward Business Reopening Wizard

 Financial Assistance:

NY Forward Loan Fund The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.  The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. ​

For general information click here: https://esd.ny.gov/nyforwardloans-info

NY Forward Small Business Lease Assistance Partnership  
The New York Forward Small Business Lease Assistance Partnership is a public-private partnership between Empire State Development, the nonprofit Start Small Think Big, and the New York Bar Association to help avoid business evictions. The initiative provides both small businesses and commercial landlords with pro bono legal services, and the information needed to reach a mutually agreeable lease renegotiation.

Main Street Lending The Federal Reserve's Main Street Lending Program is offering loans starting at $250,000 for businesses with 15,000 or fewer employees or 2019 annual revenues of $5 billion or less.

The loans are offered by participating banks, and may cover working capital expenses, including payroll cost, rent, utilities and mortgages. Unlike the Paycheck Protection Program, Main Street Lending loans are not forgivable. Companies will have five years to pay it off. Please contact your local bank to see if they participate.

Small Business Administration Programs (SBA) To contact the SBA Hotline call 1-800-659-2955  Click HERE to visit SBA website information  for the most current information regarding federal programs such as the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP)