Business & Tech
NYC Small Business Services Issues COVID-19 Phase 4 Guidance
Phase 4 includes reopening for "Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment, Media Production, and Professional Sports Competitions with No Fans."
Press release from NYC Small Business Services:
July 20, 2020
Dear small business partner,
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
We are excited to share that today NYC has officially entered Phase 4 of reopening. This phase includes reopening for Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment, Media Production, and Professional Sports Competitions with No Fans.
The date for Higher Education, Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools, Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment, and Malls have not yet been determined.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Learn what your business needs to know to prepare for reopening:
Reopening Assistance is Available!
Check out our NYC Business Reopening Guide and NYC Restaurant Reopening Guide to find out how you can safely reopen your non-essential business.
If you have any questions, you can call our hotline: 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692).
You can also visit nycsmallbizcourses.eventbrite.com and search for "Reopening Guidelines" to sign up for an upcoming webinar to learn about State requirements, recommendations, and resources available to help businesses reopen in NYC. Upcoming workshops are available in Spanish.
¡Varios de los próximos talleres están disponibles en español!
Únete el 23 de julio y el 6 de agosto a las 10am a nuestros talleres virtuales donde ofreceremose más información sobre los recursos a los cuales puedes acceder para reabrir tu negocio.
中文讲座即将开始！
欢迎参加7月23日和7月30日早上10点举行的中文讲座，了解如何重启你的生意。
New Guidance for Restaurants
Governor Cuomo signed an executive order last week imposing requirements and restrictions on the sale of alcohol at bars and restaurants whose liquor licenses require that they also make food available to patrons. All restaurants and bars statewide must only serve alcohol to people who are also ordering and eating food, and all service at bar tops must only be for seated patrons who are socially distanced by six feet or separated by physical barriers.
Full Guidance from the State Liquor Authority
Additionally, as part of the "Three Strikes and You're Closed" initiative, any establishment that receives three violations will be shut down. Outdoor dining is for just that: outdoor dining. We do not approve outdoor bars where you set up tables for people to place drinks and then have a block party of 100 people mingling outside. Citizens can report violations to the State Liquor Authority at http://www.sla.ny.gov.
Have any questions? Call our hotline at 888-SBS4NYC.
Make sure that your food establishment is compliant
The NYC Department of Small Business Services offers no-cost virtual compliance consultations to help you understand how to comply with key City rules and regulations to avoid receiving common violations.
This program focuses on the Open Restaurants Program. Our virtual consultation walk-throughs will help you understand common compliance challenges faced by new or operating business owners in New York City related to the Open Restaurants Program.
Business owners are encouraged to request a consultation if they:
- have recently applied to Open Restaurants and are getting to ready to begin outdoor dining service;
- are actively participating in Open Restaurants but continue to have questions/concerns;
- and are planning to apply to Open Restaurants and would like to confirm the compliance of their proposed outdoor build-out and seating area setup.
We will not issue violations or fines - we are here to help you understand the rules!
Women Entrepreneurs: Do you need legal assistance?
WE NYC has partnered with Start Small Think Big and the COVID-19 Pro Bono Collaborative, a growing network of trusted top-tier law firms, corporations and other legal service providers across the country, to provide emergency response to help small businesses survive the economic impact of COVID-19.
This collaborative will provide remote legal and financial clinics and one-on-one sessions on the COVID-19 stimulus package and similar programs as well as COVID-19 related legal issues.
Looking for non-medical PPE?
If you would like to purchase additional masks or other non-medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the City has compiled a list of non-medical PPE manufacturers and suppliers. While the City of New York cannot endorse any of these companies, we hope that this list will be helpful to you.
Is Your Business Prepared?
From gas leaks and fires, to major hurricanes, flooding, and blackouts, NYC business owners face many challenges that can impact your operations and assets. The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is here to help guide you through the start of a business continuity plan. Join us on Thursday, August 6th for a webinar to start your business continuity plan.
You will learn how to:
- Stay in business: Identify your key business functions, employees, and documents
- Protect your investments: Understand how to protect your assets and navigate insurance processes
- Be ready for action: Create a business continuity plan for your business
This press release was produced by NYC Small Business Services. The views expressed here are the author's own.
