presented by Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance July 9th, 2021
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Quote(s) of the Week
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#ShotToReunite Announces Winning Artwork for Island-Wide Public Health Awareness Campaign
Patchogue & Westbury: The #ShotToReunite coalition organized two events on Monday to release the winning artwork from their Call to Artists- that solicited works of art to be used in a campaign to boost confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine. The competition attracted over 150 submissions and resulted in six images that will be displayed in downtowns throughout Long Island and on social media. As an island-wide effort, the coalition covered their ground and organized a Suffolk County event- hosted at the Patchogue Arts Council and a Nassau County event hosted at the newly opened Westbury Arts. Executive Director of the Patchogue Arts Council, Beth Giacummo stated, “Patchogue Arts Council is excited to be a part of the #ShotToReunite campaign! Using the arts as a catalyst for change is at the heart of our mission and the way that we approach our service to the community. Now more than ever we will see the arts utilized to engage conversations, reunite, heal, and revitalize our communities. We are honored to work in collaboration with all of the other organizations, local government, and individuals that have seen this project come to fruition. Just a couple of months ago we put out the challenge for artists to create impactful and encouraging imagery for the #ShotToReunite campaign and as always, they rose to the occasion and responded with smart and creative entries. It made choosing finalists very difficult, but we are really happy to now see this work translated into the final poster campaign and now sharing it with the communities of Long Island.” The coalition formed earlier this year while the COVID-19 Vaccine was just rolling out- and demand exceeded the supply. The group formed to support the eventual need to reach out to communities and individuals to help overcome skepticism toward the vaccine. With the recent announcement of the state reaching a major vaccine milestone, ahead of schedule, the campaign will prioritize their engagement efforts in communities with lower vaccine rates.
“Yesterday’s announcement from the Governor – lifting pandemic restrictions as a result of New York reaching the 70% vaccine threshold – validates the tireless work that went into the development of the COVID-19 vaccine and the determination of those involved to ensure the vaccine is accessible to all. This is a tremendous victory for our state and particularly for our region, as Long Island’s 75% vaccination rate exceeds the state’s overall rate. With this exciting development coming on the heels of the announcement of the #ShotToReunite winners, there is a clear path for this public health awareness campaign to focus on, which is outreach in communities with lower vaccination rates. Congratulations to the winning artists and to all those who participated. These creations will support this extended push to reach and encourage the remaining people who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to roll up their sleeves and get their shots,” said Rob Calarco, Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature who emceed the Patchogue event. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced the winning submissions at Westbury Arts, which was attended by four of the six winning artists as well as coalition member Marc Courtade of Huntington Arts Council, “We proudly support this coalition of organizations and artists, united to bring us closer to normalcy. The arts are a catalyst for economic growth and social change, moving forward to improve our quality of life. Joining the coalition to help connect efforts to Long Island’s downtowns was Eric Alexander, founder, LI Main Street Alliance, "This campaign brings public art to communities that have lower vaccination rates. Local businesses and downtown chambers can now help spread the word and the inspiration." The winning images can be seen at the shottoreunite.org website for municipalities, community leaders, businesses, nonprofits and others to access and print for public display and/or to utilize digitally, including on social media. A number of the selected pieces will also be produced to distribute to business chambers and civics across Long Island. Richner Communications Launches Long Island Choice Awards
Richner Communications Inc. and Herald Community Newspapers have launched a brand-new program - the Long Island Choice Awards - to help shine a light on Long Island’s best community businesses. The Long Island Choice Awards is a multi-platform “readers’ choice” style program that recognizes exceptional local businesses throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties in 12 groups and 249 categories. From restaurants to home services, shopping to family attractions, health and beauty and beyond, selections are in the hands of the L.I. Herald print and digital audience, allowing them to nominate and then vote for their favorite local businesses. Winners of the Long Island Choice Awards will represent the finest of everything Long Island has to offer. The process is simple. The public submits nominations of their favorite businesses and organizations for consideration by visiting LIHerald.com or lichoiceawards.com/nominate between July 14 and August 6. The top five nominees in each of the 249 categories move on to the Voting Round, where winners will be selected by the voting public. All nominations and voting are run by an independent third party, so the nominees and winners are truly in the hands of the voting public. Once the votes are tallied, by the independent third party, winners will be invited to a gala-style live awards show celebration where the top three finalists and winners will be announced. A glossy Winners Magazine will be distributed at the event and distributed and mailed throughout Long Island. In addition, all winners and finalists will be showcased with advertising and editorial coverage year-round in the new Long Island Choice Awards section of LIHerald.com. The Long Island Choice Awards presents a wonderful opportunity for local businesses to get the recognition they deserve. Please reach out to Felice Cantatore at 516- 972-7055 or email fcantatore@liherald.com with any questions, and good luck in the Long Island Choice Awards! |
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Affordable Housing Project Underway at Garvies Point
On July 1st, community leaders helped break ground on a new, $32.3 million, affordable housing development at Garvies Point in Glen Cove. The project will consist of two four-story buildings with 55 energy efficient apartments which are affordable based on area median income. Developed by Georgica Green Ventures, LLC, the project includes six units that will be fully adapted for individuals with a mobility impairment and three units adapted for tenants with a hearing or visual impairment. The United Spinal Association and Cleary School for the Deaf will provide tenant referrals for the accessible units. The development, located at 100 and 200 Dickson St. in Glen Cove, will consist of two buildings. Building A will be over 28,000 square feet with 24 units. Building B will be over 30,000 square feet with 31 units. Units will consist of four studios, 16 one-bedroom, 29 two-bedroom, and 6 three-bedroom apartments. A portion will be made available to families and renters depending on their income compared to the median average. The apartments will be open to anyone meeting the requirements and will be chosen by lottery. Amenities will include laundry rooms, bike storage, a children's playroom, gymnasium, community room, and on-site parking. The development's design is consistent with the historic character of the neighborhood's waterfront area while also meeting Enterprise Green Communities Criteria and US Green Building Council LEED Silver Certification. The project is estimated to be completed in 18 to 20 months. "This project is a great example of how government can partner with the private sector to provide affordable places for people to live while delivering much needed economic development for our communities. I look forward to continuing our revitalization efforts and attracting more investments into Glen Cove," stated Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. Glen Cove Mayor Tim Tenke noted, "Residents will be able to enjoy acres of public amenities and waterfront access right in their backyard, within walking distance of the City's vibrant downtown. Units will remain affordable for decades to come, securing housing for all sectors at the Glen Cove Waterfront." "It's great to see this portion of the Garvies Point development moving forward," said Vision Long Island Placemaking Director Elissa Kyle. "This will help bring a significant number of affordable places to live within a short walk of the waterfront parks and downtown Glen Cove." State support for the project includes the allocation of federal low-income housing tax credits that will generate about $13.4 million in equity and $7.7 million in subsidy from the state Homes and Community Renewal. Additional financing includes an $8.4 million subsidy from Barings and $900,000 in Nassau County HOME funds. Check out coverage by Long Island Business News and Long Island Press. Governor Cuomo’s announcement is available here. The Cornerstone to Boost Westbury Downtown Thanks to LIRR Proximity
Terwilliger & Bartone Properties is embarking upon its next Transit Oriented Development proposal. The project, The Cornerstone Westbury, would be a 60,550-square-foot project, 1000' from the Westbury train station, and promises to aid efforts to boost the downtown area. The Cornerstone Westbury, a $23 million dollar project, is a proposed residential community which would replace a former produce warehouse, located at 461 Railroad Avenue, with a multistory structure with 72 rental apartments, including eight with below-market rents. It would be the first project in Westbury’s transit-oriented development district, which was established in 2019 to support a larger effort to boost the downtown area by attracting young commuters and increasing foot traffic in the heart of the Village. In late May, Newsday reports, the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency agreed to begin negotiations for tax breaks with Farmingdale-based Terwilliger & Bartone. A sales-tax exemption of up to $818,500 is being saught to help with the purchase of construction materials, equipment and furnishings. There is also a request for up to $136,900 off the mortgage recording tax. "Without the IDA's assistance, the project will not be economically feasible because of unpredictable real estate taxes and high construction costs. We would have no choice but to abandon the project," said Daniel P. Deegan, Terwilliger & Bartone's real estate attorney. Terwilliger & Bartone has constructed three apartment buildings near the LIRR station in Farmingdale and is working on another in Lynbrook on the site of the old Capri Motor Inn. Anthony Bartone, the company’s managing partner, noted that all three projects were supported with tax breaks from the Nassau IDA. “Eight [affordable units] is a good start, but I think we can do better,” IDA secretary Timothy Williams stated. According to the proposal, most of the 72 apartments will be studios and one-bedroom apartments. Mr. Williams voiced concern about the possibility of the completed project being sold and the status of the tax aid. According to Terwilliger & Bartone, construction could begin late 2021 and be completed in 18 months. The project is estimated to employ 70 construction workers and create one permanent management job, the IDA application reveals. Check out the entire Newsday article by reporter James T. Madore, and you can find more information on Terwilliger & Bartone website here. Five Story, Mixed-Use Building Proposed in Riverhead
A multi-story mixed use zoning code was introduced to Riverhead in January of this year when the Riverhead Town Board voted unanimously to create a new overlay district in the area around Railroad Avenue. The new district allows for increased density for parcels with a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet. The purpose of the Railroad Avenue Urban Renewal Area Overlay District is to spur redevelopment of that area. G2D Development Group has submitted the first application under this newly-adopted Railroad Avenue Overlay District. The site of the proposed project, the long vacant Long Island Diagnostic Imaging building on the corner of Osborn Avenue and Court Street, would see the development of a five story, 50-foot building with ground floor offices and apartments on the upper floors. According to G2D, which is the same company that is currently building The Shipyard, a five-story building on 331 E. Main Street, the newly proposed apartments would be market-rate. The project was discussed at a Riverhead Town Board work session in July, the Riverhead News-Review reports. A total of 39 residential apartment units are proposed on the second through fifth floors, 27 of which would be one-bedroom apartments. There would be four studio apartments and eight two-bedroom units. The studio apartments are 681 square feet; the one-bedrooms are 1,150 square feet; and the two-bedroom apartments are 1,190 square feet, according to the applicant. Parking would be provided on site for 35 of the 39 stalls. The 35 stalls are for residential tenants and the other four are for ground floor office space. G2D is seeking to opt into the town’s parking district, which would allow for the use of town parking lots for its renters. Greg DeRosa, CEO of G2D, stated, “We thought this would be a good fit and would supplement what we were already doing in Riverhead. We really like some of the things we’re seeing in Riverhead,” the Riverhead News-Review reports. The application will need to go before both the Town Board and the Town Zoning Board of Appeals. Read the Riverhead News-Review article here. YouOffice Hosts 2nd Small Business Pop-Up Event in Glen Cove
YouOffice, located at 50 Glen St. Glen Cove, held its second successful Pop-Up event on Saturday, June 19th. Collaborating with First City Project, this small business pop-up event and art collective brought in shoppers eager to support local small businesses and artists. More than 30 vendors and 13 artists participated. Vendor products included art, fashion, wellness, home decor, handmade goods, and more. YouOffice, which sits in the heart of the Glen Cove business community, surrounded by shops and restaurants, offers boutique office suites and coworking space which cater to small businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups. Pop-Up vendors and artists filled YouOffice suites during the event, and it was so successful, a third event is scheduled for July 31st. For more coverage of the June 19th event, see LI Herald’s article here. |
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Live Summer Concerts Coming to Freeport’s Nautical Mile
The Long Island Arts Council at Freeport will be hosting live, free summer concerts at the Esplanade on the Nautical Mile. The concerts are held Thursday nights from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. Attendees need to bring their own chairs. Concerts are rain or shine, and location is determined at 6 PM the night of the concert. You can find updates, possible changes, and rain date location (the tented outdoor area across the street from BrewSA) here. Summer Concert Line-Up • July 15 - Banjo Rascals (co-sponsor Freeport Memorial Library) Kings Park Monday on Main Begins July 12th
Beginning Monday, July 12th, the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting Summer Nights in The Park – Monday on Main. The event will be held on Main Street in Kings Park from 6 PM to 9 PM. Events include: • Live bands all evening Fun for the entire family. Live Music Returns to the Glen Cove Village Square
The Glen Cove Downtown Sounds committee has announced its annual concert series will take place live this summer with a diverse array of artists scheduled to perform on nine Friday evenings in July and August. Beginning July 2nd, bands will be performing in person on the Village Square stage. Produced by the Glen Cove Business Improvement District (BID), Downtown Sounds began in 1997 with local jazz musicians playing at the intersection of Glen and School Streets. “After two years, the Glen Cove BID and the Downtown Sounds Concert Committee are thrilled to be able to present live music for the enjoyment of our community and benefit of our businesses,” said Patricia Holman, Executive Director of the BID. “This year more than ever, we have a diverse lineup that will appeal to a wide range of musical tastes.” This year’s artists will be performing on the Downtown Sounds stage, as opposed to the show mobile that has been used in recent years. In addition to better sound quality, restoration of the stage presentation increases the space available for dancing. The program includes: Downtown Sounds 2021 will be live in-person concerts, but will still be live-streamed through Facebook Live, and broadcast on large screen TVs throughout downtown. Concerts start at 7 PM. You can find more information here. Free Outdoor Concert Series in Westbury
Thursday Nights in the Piazza! Westbury Arts is launching its free outdoor summer concert series, with live, in-person concerts held in the village’s central plaza: The Piazza Ernesto Strada located at 200 Post Avenue in Westbury. All the concerts are held on Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm. Here is the line-up: July 15 - Bachatu (high energy bachata) Sponsored by Jeff Horan, State Farm In case of rain, concerts will be held at the Westbury Community/Senior Center at 360 Post Avenue in Westbury. For more information, contact info@westburyarts.org or 516-400-ARTS (2787) LICH to Host Blood Drive on July 12th
The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH) is hosting a blood drive on July 12th from 2 PM to 8 PM at 600 Albany Avenue, Amityville. Long Island is currently experiencing a blood shortage and donations will be incredibly impactful, As an extra incentive, a T-shirt for this drive will be given. Please take the time to register at the link below in order to maintain social distancing, and ensure that there is enough help for the day. LICH was originally founded in 1985 as a grassroots local advocacy effort to bring non-profits and other community partners together to unite around the cause of homelessness, seeking to expand and enhance services to meet local needs. Thank you in advance. You can register here. Learn more about the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless here. Upcoming Workshops
The SBA will be offering several Workshops in the upcoming weeks Lead by SBA’s Economic Development Specialist Elaine Powell-Belnavis, these workshops will cover the following: • Latest updates of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and PPP Forgiveness. You can register for each of the workshops at the below links: Thurs. July 15, 2021 at 9:30am (SBA and York College SBDC) Tue. July 20, 2021 at 7:00pm (SBA and Finkelstein Memorial Library) East End Arts to Hold Annual Street Painting Festival September 5th
East End Arts’ 25th Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival will be held Sunday, September 5th, from 12 PM to 5 PM throughout downtown Riverhead and on the green at East End Arts at 133 E. Main Street, Riverhead. Since 1972, East End Arts has been enriching communities through the arts by way of creating a vibrant arts community on the East End which enhances individual and professional artistic development, stimulates community enrichment, economic development, and cultural tourism while encouraging a wide range of artistic expression through education, exhibition and performance, and collaboration across the community. Artists, musicians, and lovers of the arts, young and old, will gather along the Peconic River for this day-long celebration of the arts, centering around the Street Painting Festival, fashioned after the Italian street painters "Il Madonnari", a street chalk art form dating back to the 16th century, as well as activities and entertainment for everyone. Street painting squares sponsored by businesses, families, and individuals are used as a canvas for inspirations in chalk. Happenings include: • Street Painting For more information, contact Monique Parsons at mparsons@eastendarts.org or 631-727-0900 x303. You can find more information East End Arts here. Registration is now open for vendors, sponsors, & artist squares. Rain date is Monday, September 6th, from 2 PM to 5 PM. |
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EmPower Solar Seeks Solar Installers
EmPower Solar seeks top quality construction professionals to become Solar Installation tradesmen. EmPower Solar view’s solar construction as a unique emerging trade which incorporates both electrical and carpentry trades. Installers participate in both “on the job” and formal training programs. EmPower Solar departs significantly from its competition through focus on workplace satisfaction, customer service, top quality installation, focus on safety, multiple training programs, benefits, and much more. KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIESThe following responsibilities are to be performed with guidance and training from Site Manager and additional EmPower representatives.
Candidates should be hard-working, passionate, dependable, creative, organized, planning-oriented, problem solvers, and detail-oriented. The ideal candidate has excellent attention to detail and a strong work ethic.
For more information on the position and how to apply, please visit this website. |
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The NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Opened June 1, 2021
The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. Seven communities that received funding for emergency rental assistance directly from the federal government opted to administer their own programs. Residents of the Towns of Hempstead, Islip and Oyster Bay must apply with their local programs for emergency rental assistance and are ineligible for assistance from the state-administered Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Town of Hempstead: https://www.lihp.org/herapintake.html Eligibility: New York residents are eligible for ERAP if they meet all of the following criteria: • Household gross income is at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). These income limits differ by county and household size. A household may qualify based on current income or calendar year 2020 income that is at or below 80 percent AMI. There are no immigration status requirements to qualify for the program. Households eligible for rental arrears may also be eligible for help paying utility arrears at the same rental unit. Priority Applications: For the first 30 days of the program, priority will be given to households in the following order: 1.Households with income at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) that also include a household member who: • Is currently unemployed for at least 90 days; or 2. Households with income at or below 50 percent AMI 3. Households with income at or below 80 percent AMI that also include a household member who: • Is currently unemployed for at least 90 days; or 4. Households with income at or below 80 percent AMI After the first 30 days, applications for all eligible households will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as funds remain available. Benefits: Households approved for ERAP may receive: • Up to 12 months of rental arrears payments for rents accrued on or after March 13, 2020. Payments will be made directly to the landlord/property owner and utility company on behalf of the tenant. Tenant applicants will be notified of the amounts paid on their behalf. If a landlord is difficult to locate or does not otherwise provide information needed to complete the application, funds will be held for up to 180 days to allow sufficient time to locate the landlord and collect required information as well as to provide tenant protections and maximize landlord participation. Please note: Once the application is started, all questions must be answered and the application signed and saved to submit the application. There currently is no way to save a partially completed application. Applicants are encouraged to gather all the information needed before starting an application including income of household members and rental amounts. NYS Coronavirus Relief Grant Program Opens for Small Businesses
The NYS Legislature has approved $800 million in grants for small businesses across New York. Applications are now open for anyone who is eligible to apply. The following is from New York State’s website: The New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations in the State of New York who have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant awards will be calculated based on a business’s annual gross receipts for 2019 (see below for more information). Grant amounts and calculations are subject to change by Empire State Development. Annual gross receipts: $25,000 – $49,999.99: Award is $5,000 / business Eligible Businesses Include: Small businesses, Micro-businesses, and For-profit independent arts and cultural organizations (collectively, “Eligible Applicants”) must be currently viable and have begun operation on or before March 1, 2019, and continue to be in operation as of the date of application (maybe shuttered due to COVID restrictions). See the FAQ section below for definitions of business categories above. Eligible Applicants will be required to show loss of gross receipts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols which resulted in business modifications, interruptions, or closures. Small businesses and Micro-businesses must: 1. Have 2019 or 2020 Gross Receipts of between $25,000 and $500,000 per annum More information on the grants as well as a guide on how to apply is available here. Funding To Support Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
On July 1st, New York State announced the availability of $110 million in new funding to support community-based investments designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of local and regional transportation systems, while promoting safety and mobility. This initiative funds projects that create new and enhance existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities, improve access to public transportation, create safe routes to schools, convert abandoned railway corridors to pedestrian trails and help reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. In addition, these funds may be used by municipalities to support activities that meet requirements of the Clean Air Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Projects will be selected through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria that include public benefit, air quality improvement, and finance and/or delivery innovation. Projects must be related to the surface transportation system and provide full access to the public. Applications for funding may be developed by any municipality or non-profit incorporated group, but projects must be sponsored either by a municipality, a state agency or public authority eligible to administer federal transportation funds. Eligible project activities include: • Constructing new/enhancing existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The funds, made available to the State through the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the New York State Department of Transportation, are provided through the Transportation Alternatives Program and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. These programs will provide up to 80 percent of project-related cost, with the remaining 20 percent provided by project Sponsors. The New York State Department of Transportation will be accepting applications for this funding opportunity through September 29, 2021. You can find theapplication, program guidance, and workshop schedules here. The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Offering Four Rounds of Grants
Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued and expanded to the present day, NYSCA will make available $105 million in critical arts and cultural funding. The grants will aid in the arts sector's multi-year recovery from COVID-19 and spur the revitalization of New York's creative economy, which fosters $123 billion annually in economic activity and supports more than 500,000 jobs statewide. There will be four rounds of funding, with $20 million already committed to multi-year awards in the first round. Each round is designed to address the most urgent needs of organizations and artists within New York's nonprofit creative sector. Restart NY: Rapid Live Performance Grants ($10 million): Support will directly address the area of the arts sector hardest hit by COVID-19, and reinvigorate near term, in-person performance opportunities. This funding will prioritize the recovery of New York's unparalleled performance organizations, venues, artists, and groups. This $10 million opportunity offers both direct support from NYSCA and regrant support through NYSCA's Partnerships and Statewide Community Regrants program. Grants of $5,000 and $10,000 will be available for eligible performing arts organizations for planned performance programming in 2021. Support provided through the Community Regrants Program, which will focus on reviving performance on a very local level, will be administered by NYSCA partners statewide. The goal of this regrant support is to reach small, local organizations that do not receive direct grants from NYSCA. Round 1 guidelines and portal for direct NYSCA Rapid Live Performance Grants will open on June 16. Application portal will close July 1. Expanded Access to Funding ($15 million): Support will expand NYSCA's current network of valued regrant partners to reach New York's vast and diverse community of artists and organizations. Funding will be distributed through NYSCA Partnerships and Statewide Community Regrants. Increased support at the local level will ensure more communities, organizations, and individuals will have access to NYSCA funding. Round 2 guidelines will be posted June 16, 2021. Application portal will open on July 19 and close August 2. Organizational and Individual Artist Recovery ($40 million): Support will broaden individual artist assistance and deliver extremely flexible funding for organizations through a streamlined application experience. Grants offered in this round will greatly expand eligibility and encourage new applicants across a wide spectrum of artistic and cultural practices. Priority will be given to applicants that serve historically underrepresented communities. Round 3 guidelines will be posted on June 16. Application portal will open July 19 and close September. Capital Funding for the Arts ($20 million): Support will assist organizations in making improvements to address health and safety issues in their spaces and venues among other needs. Any New York State nonprofit arts and culture organization is encouraged to apply. Round 4 guidelines and application portal will open in September. You can find more information here. PSEG LI is Helping the Local Economy Weather COVID
PSEG Long Island is proud to announce funding for the Outdoor Spaces program has been renewed for a limited time. More than $2 million in grants and discounts were provided last year to help more than 1,000 local businesses and organizations meet the ever-evolving challenges of COVID-19 and continue to thrive. “PSEG Long Island knows that small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our communities and our local economy,” said John Keating, manager of Economic and Community Development at PSEG Long Island. “Even before the pandemic transformed all of our lives, we were offering grants and discounts to encourage foot traffic in downtown commercial districts and bring businesses into empty storefronts. We evolved our programs to address the new realities our commercial customers are seeing, and the response has been enormous.” PSEG continues to offer Main Street Revitalization grants and Vacant Storefront discounts to businesses. In 2020, the company also began offering “Outdoor Spaces” grants to local chambers of commerce to help transform sidewalk areas and plazas with the seating, lighting and heating needed to keep customers dining and shopping locally. Limited funding for this grant program will be renewed for 2021 on a first come, first served basis. The program will offer funding of up to $5,000 to a Chamber of Commerce or Business Improvement District. Applications will be accepted until June 1, 2021. Here is a breakdown of PSEG Long Island’s 2020 support of local businesses: Small Business First • Supplemented PSEG Long Island’s already significant energy efficiency rebates with $1.8 million in PSEG Long Island Economic Development funding, allowing most projects to be done with no customer cost. Outdoor Spaces • PSEG Long Island approved 29 applications, representing a total of more than $125,000. Main Street Revitalization • More than $254,000 was provided to businesses and organizations through standard Main Street Revitalization grants in 2020, supporting upgrades and projects at restaurants, arts centers, breweries and more. To learn more about all the programs PSEG Long Island offers to support local businesses, please visit this site. SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Applications
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has a splash page for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) application portal in anticipation of opening applications for the much-anticipated critical economic relief program on Thursday, April 8, 2021. “Help is here for venue operators hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBA has worked diligently to build the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program from the ground up to assist and address the diverse eligibility requirements of each type of applicant and we will open for applications on April 8th.” SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said. “This vital economic aid will provide a much-needed lifeline for live venues, museums, movie theatres and many more.” The SVOG program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act, which appropriated $15 billion for it. The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, appropriated an additional $1.25 billion, bringing the program funding to a total of $16.25 billion, with more than $16 billion allocated for grants. To ensure eligible venues do not miss a window to receive assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program, the American Rescue Plan Act also amended the SVOG program so entities that apply for a PPP loan after Dec. 27, 2020, can also apply for an SVOG, with the eligible entity’s SVOG to be reduced by the PPP loan amount. The PPP loan applications have been updated to reflect this. For more information, click here for the dedicated SBA SVOG portal: https://www.svograntportal.sba.gov/s/ NY Forward Loan Fund
New York State has opened pre-applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund. Loans from this fund are available to small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords in New York State. New York Forward loans must be fully repaid over a 5-year term with fixed annual interest rates of 3 percent for small businesses and landlords. Small businesses may apply for the lesser of $100,000 or up to 100% of the average monthly revenues in any 3-month period from 2019 or the first quarter of 2020. This loan can be paid back over five years with first year being interest only. However, if small businesses have received either a PPP loan or an EIDL loan from SBA, they would not be eligible to apply. NYS has set a goal of 18% of total funds under this Program for Long Island Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as industries and regions reopen however, priority for New York Forward Loans will be given to industries and regions that have been reopened. Resources are available to assist in preparing applications for small businesses, landlords and nonprofits in industries and regions that have not yet reopened. To view more details, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, click here: If you need technical assistance through this process, please contact an Entrepreneurial Assistance Center near you and inform the counselor that you need help for the NY Forward Loan application. You can find your closest contact center here. |
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