presented by Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance

August 6th, 2020

Quotes of Day

	“The Coronavirus Pandemic has taken a huge toll on downtowns across the nation, particularly here in New York where we experienced the painful COVID-19 surge this spring. We’re thrilled … to announce another step on the ‘Road to Recovery,’ as we launch ‘Operation Downtown,’ to encourage the closure of streets in downtown business districts to encourage outdoor dining and entertainment in a safe and socially distant manner during the pandemic.” - Hon. Don Clavin, Hempstead Town Supervisor
	“We’ve been working with restaurants on Wall Street and New Street who reached out to see if we would close the streets to help supplement these restaurants’ current dining capacities and help make up for the lost revenue from the shutdown." - Hon. Chad Lupinacci, Supervisor, Huntington Town Supervisor
	“Creating parklets will give our local restaurants and eateries additional space to accommodate more customers, which will be good for business. The Town is always looking for new ways to help our residents dine local and support the businesses in our community.” - Hon. Judi Bosworth, Town of North Hempstead
	“The growth is coming from community solar. This year, undoubtedly, there’s been a dent in consumer sentiment.  Even though more and more homeowners are thinking about home improvement, it can’t be what it was when the economy was surging.” - EmPower Chief Executive David Schieren

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Watch us on YouTube

Join us on LinkedIn

View us on Instagram

Visit our website

Wantagh

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Chris Carini and Town Clerk Kate Murray came together with members of the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce on July 21st in front of the famed Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall to unveil “Operation Downtown,” an initiative that encourages temporary street closures to help promote outdoor dining in a safe and socially distant manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The officials and business owners announced that the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its first street closure on Thursday, July 23rd, along Railroad Avenue and Grove Street, just east of Wantagh Avenue and north of Sunrise Highway. The popular hub of restaurants and businesses is closed to vehicular traffic on Thursdays from July 23rd through October 29th from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. until further notice.

“The Coronavirus Pandemic has taken a huge toll on downtowns across the nation, particularly here in New York where we experienced the painful COVID-19 surge this spring,” Supervisor Clavin said. “We’re thrilled … to announce another step on the ‘Road to Recovery,’ as we launch ‘Operation Downtown,’ to encourage the closure of streets in downtown business districts to encourage outdoor dining and entertainment in a safe and socially distant manner during the pandemic.”

“Reopening our economy is so critical to the future of America’s largest township,” Councilman Carini added. “By encouraging street closures and promoting outdoor dining, we’re doing our part to assist business owners as they adjust to the changes spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Cathy McGrory Powell, president of the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, stated, “The Chamber was happy to assist John Murray Jr., owner of Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall, with his idea to help the Railroad Avenue restaurants boost their business. Businesses helping each other, that’s what Wantagh is all about.”

“We hope that this ‘Operation Downtown’ provides an economic boost to local businesses and also provides local families with safe dining and recreation options during the summer and early fall months,” Supervisor Clavin added. “We encourage Chambers and business organizations in other communities to participate in this program and consider a street closure in their downtowns. We may be closing down the street but we are certainly open for business!”

A Sampling of Wantagh Restaurants with Outdoor Dining

Corry's Ale House
3274 Railroad Ave.
(516) 809-7818

Craft Kitchen & Tap House Wantagh
1885 Wantagh Ave.
(516) 781-2700

Holy Smoke Grill
3357 Merrick Rd.
(516) 557-2754

Little Kitchen
3252 Railroad Ave.
(516) 785-0029

Margarita's Café
753 Wantagh Ave.
(516) 595-7278

Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall
3232 Railroad Ave.
(516) 783-7500

New Wave Seafood
1847 Wantagh Ave.
(516) 783-4900

Ridgewood Station Tavern
3231 Sunrise Hwy.
(516) 636-5160

Snaps American Bistro
2010 Wantagh Ave.
(516) 221-0029

Tavolo Kitchen + Pizza
1919 Wantagh Ave.
(516) 308-4892

Thai Coconut
3266 Railroad Ave.
(516) 900-1168

Wantagh Inn
3264 Railroad Ave.
(516) 785-0809

Huntington

Weekend dining has recently expanded in Huntington Village. As of July 18th, sections of Wall and New streets are being closed every Saturday and Sunday for outdoor dining. On-street parking has been prohibited on both streets between Gerard Street and West Carver Street from 4 a.m. Saturday through 4 a.m. Monday.

“We’ve been working with restaurants on Wall Street and New Street who reached out to see if we would close the streets to help supplement these restaurants’ current dining capacities and help make up for the lost revenue from the shutdown,” Town of Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci told Newsday.

This additional Al Fresco dining not only benefits those restaurants located on Wall and New, but all Huntington Village restaurants as the Town created a take-out dining area where patrons of restaurants across the entire Village can enjoy take-out meals while seated at one of the Town’s socially-distanced picnic tables. Alcohol consumption is prohibited in Town-designated areas and masks are required when not eating or drinking.

Jack Palladino, owner of Christopher’s on Wall Street, told News 12 the new area for outdoor dining could help make up for losses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are trying to make up for four months of lost business.” Palladino added, “We’ve gone through three plus months of limited and or no indoor services at all for restaurants, so with this added seating maybe we can make up for some lost revenue.” Supervisor Lupinacci explained, “Fortunately, the street layout in the village supported this type of ongoing ‘street dining’ area.” The closures are planned through Labor Day.

Kudos to local restaurants and the Town of Huntington for working hard to meet these challenging times.

Huntington Village Restaurants

Bar Petite
56 Stewart Ave, Huntington
(631) 759-7619

Bee ORGANIC
24 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 470-1924

Bistro Cassis
55 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 421-4122

Burgerology Huntington
308 Main St, Huntington
(631) 923-2441

Cafe Buenos Aires
23 Wall St A, Huntington
(631) 603-3600

China King
67 E Main St, Huntington
(631) 423-0301

Christopher's
8 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 271-0111

Curry Express
762 Park Ave, Huntington
(631) 271-6400

Di Raimo Pizzeria
76 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 673-5755

Eatalia
34 New St, Huntington
(631) 629-4551

Faz's Tex-Mex Grill
28 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 271-4333

Finnegan's
5 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 423-9696

Golden Globe Diner
365 Main St, Huntington
(631) 421-1508

Hatch
286 Main St, Huntington
(631) 424-0780

IMC Restaurant & Bar
279 Main St, Huntington
(631) 824-6222

Joanina
35 Gerard St A, Huntington
(631) 549-2727

Kai Poke
328 Main St, Huntington
(631) 888-3188

Kashi
12 Elm St, Huntington
(631) 923-1960

KuraBarn Japanese Restaurant
479 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 673-0060

La Nonna's
75 E Main St, Huntington
(631) 923-1389

Little Vincent's Pizza
329 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 423-9620

Marty's Gourmet Seafood
266 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 673-1888

Mazzar Grill
106 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 470-0756

MB Ramen
335 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 923-3176

Ming Star
764 A Park Ave, Huntington
(631) 427-8159

Mission Taco
371 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 614-8226

Munday's
259 Main St, Huntington
(631) 421-3553

Neraki Greek Mediterranean Grill
273 Main St, Huntington
(631) 385-3474

New Wave Burrito Bar
24 Clinton Ave, Huntington
(631) 923-2622

New York Panini
9 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 271-3540

Oaxaca Restaurant
385 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 547-1232

Old Fields Barbecue Huntington
15 New St, Huntington
(631) 923-1515

OM Organics Grab & Go
201 E Main St A, Huntington
(631) 673-7020

Pancho Villa’s
311 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 549-0022

Panera Bread
345 Main St, Huntington
(631) 271-3824

Piccolo
215 Wall St #2060, Huntington
(631) 424-5592

Porto Fino
395 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 673-1200

Punta Cana Dominican Grill
376 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 546-1445

RaCha Thai Cuisine
255 Main St, Huntington
(631) 824-6881

Rosa's Pizza
313 Main St, Huntington
(631) 425-7694

Si Yuang Kitchen
232 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 351-1833

Skorpio's Restaurant
340 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 549-8887

SoBol
339 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 923-2058

Southdown Pizza
211 Wall St, Huntington
(631) 421-2323

Stella Blue Bistro
188 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 425-2583

Sur
314 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 470-6300

Thai Thai Villa
14 New St, Huntington
(631) 424-3422

Thai-USA
273 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 427-8464

TOA Asian Fusion
369 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 673-7377

Tutto Pazzo
84 New York Ave, Huntington
(631) 271-2253

Vauxhall
26 Clinton Ave, Huntington
(631) 425-0222

North Hempstead Announces Program to Allow “Parklets” for Local Businesses

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board have announced the expansion of the Town’s “Lift Up Local” outdoor dining and business recovery initiative to include a “parklet” program designed to further assist local restaurants and food service establishments.

A parklet is an extension of a sidewalk that can be used to create extra space and amenities for people using the street. The new initiative will allow participating restaurants to create parklets on the street in front of their businesses, which will permit parking spaces adjacent to storefronts to be used as outdoor dining areas. The program will also give restaurants the option to expand their outdoor dining service to the entire sidewalk provided a safe, and ramp accessible, pedestrian pathway is maintained within the parking lane. Parklet permits are available free of charge.

“Creating parklets will give our local restaurants and eateries additional space to accommodate more customers, which will be good for business,” said Supervisor Judi Bosworth. “The Town is always looking for new ways to help our residents dine local and support the businesses in our community.”

The Town, working with the Supervisor’s internal Business Recovery Response Workgroup, developed the parklet idea as another way to help businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19.  The Workgroup, which includes members of the Town Board, collaboratively discusses ideas that are suggested by community organizations, businesses, and individual residents with the goal of improving the quality of life for everyone in North Hempstead.  The Workgroup also implemented the “Lift Up Local” initiative, which allows businesses the opportunity to close streets for outdoor dining and retail use, and provided outdoor dining tables in Town parks.

Businesses interested in creating a parklet can submit a permit application to the Town’s Building Department, which can be obtained by calling 311 or visiting https://www.northhempsteadny.gov/content/16253/16261/16263/31912.aspx.

Solar Projects Experiencing Disruptions Thanks to COVID-19

Solar energy contractors across Long Island, some of whom have been hard hit by the COVID-19 economic shutdown, are beginning to see a slow return of business as they adjust to a new way of doing business.

This comes at a time when companies are seeing a boost to commercial and municipal projects while residential demand is slowing.  Residential in particular slowed down by a fair amount during the shutdown but is now starting to see a slow rebound as projects begin to come back online.  That upward trend began in the month of June.

May saw only 83 projects in the entire month compared to 437 in 2019.  This was a record low for the past 2 years.  June saw a rebound to 316 completed projects in comparison to 459 in 2019, which was only a 31% decline.

Meanwhile, commercial projects have seen an increase in new projects, partially thanks to new programs being introduced by LIPA for community and municipal programs.  Commercial applications went up when compares to last year after LIPA tweaked an existing program to offer more incentives.

A lot of companies are using the crisis as a pivot point to work towards changing some internal paactices.  For example, SUNation Solar Systems, which is based in Ronkonkoma, is learning new ways to make sales.  They ended their contract with an outside company that conducted door-to-door sales and will instead switch to an internal model.  Also, while they have hired back a majority of their workers who were laid off during the worst of the pandemic, they will not return to pre-crisis numbers.  There will also be more of a focus on commercial sales, which seem more likely to withstand a financial crises.

That seems to be true for EmPower Solar of Island Park as well, which is seeing more and more growth on the commercial side of the business.

“The growth is coming from community solar,” said EmPower chief executive David Schieren.  “This year, undoubtedly, there’s been a dent in consumer sentiment.  Even though more and more homeowners are thinking about home improvement, it can’t be what it was when the economy was surging.”

This showed when EmPower completed its largest project in recent memory, a 1.45 megawatt ground-mounted system for Estee Lauder’s Melville campus.  The project also included 12 electric vehicle charging stations.

You can read more at Newsday.

PSEG Long Island Provides Update for Damage from Tropical Storm Isaias

• PSEG Long Island continues to make strong progress, restoring approximately 305,000 customers affected by Tropical Storm Isaias by noon today.
• The storm, which was one of the strongest to hit the service area in years, affected approximately 440,000 customers. Fewer than 135,000 customers remain without power.
• PSEG Long Island estimates 85% of customers will be restored by end of day Friday, with the remainder restored by end of day Saturday. More than 2,000 lineworkers, tree trimmers and other personnel are working around the clock, in 16-hour shifts until every customer is restored.
• Due to the large number of crews from other utilities brought into our service area before Tropical Storm Isaias, power restoration is progressing faster than can be displayed on the outage map. The map will fluctuate as we refine the data.
• While we have experienced issues with our communications systems, at no time did these challenges impact restoration efforts.
• Because of the extent of the outages, PSEG Long Island has opened new customer outreach centers today. These centers are open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. (while supplies last), providing people with free water and ice. To ensure we maintain the physical distancing necessary for the safety of our employees and customers, these centers will offer drive-thru service.
• The locations are:
• Hicksville, 175 E. Old Country Road
• Roslyn, 250 Willis Ave. (Roslyn Heights)
• Patchogue, 460 E Main Street
• Brentwood, 1650, Islip Ave.
• Woodmere, Five Towns Shopping Center – 253-01 Rockaway Blvd.
• More than 3,000 fallen trees or large limbs have been reported. PSEG Long Island tree crews and contractors have already cleared more than 500 locations. They will continue to work nonstop to continue to clear debris.
• PSEG Long Island is assisted by workers from New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Alabama, Kansas and Missouri. Many arrived before the storm began and were immediately available to start restoration work yesterday afternoon.

• Crews will work to restore critical facilities first, followed by outages affecting the largest numbers of customers, and then address outages affecting small numbers or individual customers.
• In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have adapted our storm and safety procedures to follow public health guidelines and industry best practices. We thank our customers for their patience as we operate under these unusual circumstances to safely restore power as quickly as possible.

• Our goal, always, is to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. We ask our customers for a fair amount of patience and to know we will be there just as soon as it is safe.

For More Information

• VIDEO: Aug. 5 update with PSEG Long Island President & COO Daniel Eichhorn
• Flickr image gallery

Customer Safety:

• Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines and immediately call 911 to report downed wires.

• Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Don't drive over – and don't stand near – downed power lines.

• Downed lines will be hard to see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.

• The safety of PSEG Long Island’s customers and employees is the company’s top priority. We ask that customers remain in their homes while crews are working nearby. If customers must speak with our crews, we ask that they practice responsible physical distancing and remain at least 6 feet away to ensure the health of everyone involved. 

Other important safety notes:

• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space.

Americans’ Underestimation of the Racial Wealth Gap is Hurting Financial Equality

According to a recent study, more and more White Americans are unaware of the growing racial financial gap in the country.

The study found that a majority of White Americans are under the impression that things are getting better for Black Americans as progress is made across the country.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  Even as record wealth is being generated in America, black families regularly only generate around $10 in wealth for every $100 generated by a white family.  But when surveyed, most Americans thought that number was closer to $90 for $100.

"Americans — they're inaccurate about the racial wealth gap's magnitude," said Michael Kraus, social psychologist at the Yale School of Management. "Our national survey found that 97% of Americans are overestimating racial equality."

The problem with this lack of knowledge is that it creates a system where it becomes difficult, near impossible to address the ongoing wealth disparity if Americans can’t recognize it.  Black Americans are more likely to face stricter lending practices from banks and financial institutions due to race.  They are denied mortgage loans much more often than white people.  There is also evidence of modern day redlining practices, which are the routine denial of credit to nonwhites, in 61 metro areas.

Exacerbating this is also the fact that Black Americans continue to face prejudice in the job market.  They are underrepresented in high-paying jobs while the opposite is true in low-paying jobs.  Black Americans are also promoted far less often and are paid less on a regular basis.

These practices all add up over time and contribute to the ongoing wage gap.  On average, White Americans will earn $1 million more than Black Americans throughout their lifetime according to a 2019 study.  All of this means that Americans will need to get educated and honest about the wealth gap if they ever expect to fix the problem.

"If you believe that we automatically move toward equality you will be more likely to endorse the use of symbolic and cosmetic actions for justice,” said Mr. Kraus.  “Only when you view racial justice as a constant struggle, one that we all might lose, can you see how much commitment is necessary for real change, and similarly, how cosmetic changes won't get the job done."

You can read more at Business Insider.

A Sad Day for Huntington Housing

Roger Weaving is president of the Huntington Township Housing Coalition

Last week, the Town Board effectively ended all building of apartments in Huntington Village by passing amendments to the C6 Zoning that unnecessarily increase the parking requirements and limit upper floors to 150% of the ground-floor footprint.  These added cost burdens make it impossible to build affordable housing for our residents, and indeed, will likely make it impossible to build any more apartments at all.

The Town has known since their 2008 master plan that we need at least 10,000 more homes and at least 2,000 affordable homes.  With land in limited supply, the only way we can approach these numbers is the kind of developments that involve apartments, and apartments need sewers to handle the density.  As it happens, the changes in the law passed in 2017 have already stopped new developments from being filed as the existing parking requirements are too onerous.

Effectively banning further development by increasing parking requirements even further in one of the few sewered areas of town is a slap in the face to the workers of Huntington.

The timing is especially poor coming in the midst of the pandemic.  Among the lowest paid jobs on Long Island are home health care workers, phlebotomists, and medical, dental, and nursing assistants- our front-line workers against COVID-19.  Nor will it help the very people who make our village vibrant:  cashiers, retail sales clerks, and just about every occupation in a restaurant are also listed among the lowest paid.  Housing is not like the Field of Dreams; workers will come where the jobs are whether we build housing or not.  By not providing affordable housing we force people to crowd together in apartments, exacerbating the chances of contagion.  If they find affordable housing farther away, then they add to the traffic problems and require parking near work.  It’s much better to create housing closer to where they work.

We call on the town to present a plan of action to create the 10,000 homes their own plan said we need.  We agree with the three-story limits on buildings and with the need to take adequate protections of our water in the ground and in the bay.  Throwing up barriers to creating housing without presenting a plan on where and how it should be built is an inadequate response that harms our residents most in need, and makes us all poorer as a result.

2 Days left in SBA Payroll Protection Program

There are just 2 days left before the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program closes out on August 8th. 

Folks should read James Madore from Newsday's cover story on an overview of the program based on SBA data.  Interesting to see but not surprised that lawyers, doctors and other business services have the highest enrollment while small business eateries have much lower rates. 

Also, here is some more coverage from a recent press event on increased outreach for the PPP Loan from David Winzelberg at LI Business News.

So let’s review, if you haven't applied yet here are some resources to access:

SBA Payroll Protection Program

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program#section-header-0

Please contact the financial institution that your business utilizes to see if they are participating in this program

If your current financial institution does NOT participate, you can click the following link for a list of lenders participating in the Paycheck Protection Program by state.

https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/PPP_Lender_List_200625.pdf

FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE YOU CAN CONTACT THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:

• Asset Enhancement Solutions have webinars EVERY business day on the SBA’s PPP Program at 10am and 2pm. You can register here.

The LI African American Chamber has multiple webinars in the coming days on this program in the evening.

So APPLY APPLY APPLY!!!

https://www.newsday.com/business/coronavirus/ppp-loan-database-sba-1.47567876

Long Island Arts Council at Freeport Hosting Live, Free Concerts

The Long Island Arts Council at Freeport will be hosting live, free summer concerts at the Esplanade on the Nautical Mile.  Events will take place Thursday nights from 7pm to 8:30pm

COVID-19 requirements that must be followed

•             Attendees need to bring their own chairs
•             You must set up your chairs six feet apart from other attendees
•             You must wear a mask - The Arts Council will have customized face masks for sale with all proceeds going to our programs and services

Here's the line-up of performers. Please check our website for updates, possible changes, and rain date location.

Aug 13
Sparkle on Stage

Aug 20
Robert Bruey

Aug 27
East End Trio

September 3
TBA

September 10
TBA

NYSERDA, Affordable Solar and Storage Predevelopment and Technical Assistance (Predevelopment Program)

The Predevelopment Program provides grants to address barriers to solar installations serving low-to-moderate income (LMI) households living in rental housing, multifamily buildings or other households not served by traditional on-site residential solar. Individual awards will not exceed $200,000. Funding to proposals through this solicitation will offset costs for predevelopment and technical assistance work needed to implement solar installations for multifamily affordable housing and/or shared solar (Community Distributed Generation) installations that benefit LMI households.

- Eligibility: Applications must be submitted by or include the documented participation of any of the following: owners, providers or managers of regulated multifamily affordable housing, community land trusts, land banks or portfolios of single-family affordable housing; local government agencies; Community Development Corporations (CDC), Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) or other community organizations providing services to LMI households and/or demonstrating an LMI constituency; and prior recipients of Predevelopment Program grants seeking to replicate and expand upon the success from a prior completed Predevelopment

Program project.

- Funding: Up to $10.65 million is available with individual awards not to exceed $200,000.
- Deadline: Continuous through December 31, 2024, or until depleted
- Contact:
Email: affordablesolar@nyserda.ny.gov
Website: www.nyserda.ny.gov/funding

NYSERDA, NY Green Bank, Paycheck Protection Program

NY Green Bank is a state-sponsored specialized financial entity working with the private sector to identify, address and alleviate market barriers preventing the widespread deployment of clean energy across New York State. As part of New York’s support for businesses during this challenging time, NY Green Bank, a division of NYSERDA, has been approved to offer loans to eligible applicants under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). To qualify for a PPP loan, the applicants must satisfy NY Green Bank’s mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York State and to sustain its momentum in meeting the climate and clean energy goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The loan proceeds must be used to cover payroll costs, and eligible mortgage interest, rent and utility costs over the 24-week period after the loan is made; and employee and compensation levels must be maintained. Completed applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis in the order they are received.

- Eligibility: At least 60% of the loan amount to be forgiven must have been used for payroll and payroll-related expenses. See the website and below for additional eligibility criteria.

The following entities affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) may be eligible:

- Any small business concern that meets SBA’s size standards (either the industry based size standard or the alternative size standard), sole proprietors, independent contractors and selfemployed persons;

- Any business with a NAICS Code that begins with 72 (Accommodations and Food Services) that has more than one physical location and employs less than 500 per location; and

- Any business, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 501(c)(19) veterans organization or Tribal business concern (sec. 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act) with the less than 500 employees or that meets the SBA industry size standard if more than 500.

- Funding: Eligible payroll costs are capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee.

- Deadline: August 6, 2020

- Contacts: Trond Rokholt
(Designated Contact 2) at 203-550-4006; or (iii) Lindsay Drogin (Designated Contact 3)  at 212-971-5342, ext. 4111.
Email: sba.loan@greenbank.ny.gov
Website: https://portal.greenbank.ny.gov/CORE_Solicitation_Detail_Page?SolicitationId=a0rt000000uU2EhAAK

Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program (NLG-L)

This program supports projects that enhance the quality of library and archive services by advancing theory and practice. Successful proposals will generate results such as new tools, research findings, models, services, practices or collaborative approaches that can be widely used, adapted, scaled or replicated. All applications must designate one of the following project categories: Lifelong Learning, Community Catalysts or National Digital Infrastructures and Initiatives.

- Eligibility: Either a unit of state or local government or a private, nonprofit organization that has nonprofit status and be located in one of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia or U.S. territories. Additional criteria is listed in the website.

- Funding: 40 awards for up to three years will be made with amounts varying by category: Planning Grants up to $100,000; National Forum Grants up to $150,000; Project Grants up to $1,000,000 and Research in Service to Practice Grants up to $750,000.

- Deadline: October 2, 2020

- Contacts: Jill Connors-Joyner
Email: jconnors-joyner@imls.gov;
Sarah Fuller
Email: sfuller@imls.gov;
James Neal
Email: jneal@imls.gov;
Ashley Sands, PhD
Email: asands@imls.gov
General email: imls-librarygrants@imls.gov
Website: https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/national-leadership-grants-libraries

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize (the Prize) elevates the compelling stories of places where residents are working together to transform education, jobs, transportation, housing and more so better health flourishes for all. A Culture of Health recognizes that where we live—such as our access to affordable homes, quality schools, good jobs and reliable transportation—affects how long and how well we live.

Through the RWJF Culture of Health Prize application process, a community comes together to tell its inspiring stories of collaboration, action and results. Communities should understand they are applying for a prize and not a grant. The Prize recognizes work that has already been accomplished, so there is no required workplan or budget.

- Eligibility: A community must be a geographically defined jurisdiction in the U.S. that falls into one of the following categories:

- County, parish, borough, city, town, village or other municipality with a publicly elected governing body;

- Federally recognized tribe or a state-designated Indian reservation;

- Native Hawaiian organization serving and representing the interests of Native Hawaiians in Hawaii; or

- Region defined as geographically contiguous municipalities, counties and/or reservations.

- Awards: Up to 10 winning communities receive $25,000 and a prize package of communications materials about their community, communications guidance and help in promoting their successes.

- Deadline: Oct. 15, 2020, 3pm ET

- Contact:
Phone: (608) 890-2045
Email: info@cohprize.wisc.edu
Website: www.rwjf.org/content/rwjf/en/library/funding-opportunities/2020/2021-culture-ofhealth-prize.html

NYS Launches Rent Relief Program

The COVID Rent Relief Program will provide eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance.

The Covid Rent Relief Program is not first come, first served. Applications will be accepted throughout the two-week application period. HCR will prioritize eligible households with “greatest economic and social need” accounting for income, rent burden, percent of income lost and risk of homelessness.

The rental assistance payment will cover the difference between the household’s rent burden on March 1, 2020 and the increase in rent burden for the months the households is applying for assistance. Households can apply for up to four months in rental assistance.

Eligible households must meet the following criteria:

• Before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, household income must have been below 80% of the area median income, adjusted for household size. You can find your county’s area median income, based on your household size: www.hcr.ny.gov/eligible-income-limits-80-ami-county
• Before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, the household must have been paying more than 30% of gross monthly income towards rent.  Gross income includes wages as well as any cash grants, child support, social security, unemployment benefits, etc.)
• Applicants must have lost income during the period of April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.

HCR has created a dedicated call center to provide residents with help Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Call the COVID Rent Relief Program Call Center at 1-833-499-0318 or email at covidrentrelief@hcr.ny.gov

You can apply for assistance and check FAQ’s here.

New York State Accepting Applications for 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 that did not receive a loan from either the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for COVID-19 in 2020. 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.

Wear the Mask!

Look let’s be honest - no one wants to wear a mask.

With that said they are the reason many small businesses we care about can stay open, many social activities still function in some form or the reason you can see a friend or colleague. There would likely still be government mandated “stay at home” orders if we didn’t have the opportunity to wear these masks.

For the significant swath of people out there who don’t wear them given these conditions I sincerely ask “why”? Do you think you are immune, that you won’t really get sick, that government is making all of this up, or that mask wearing orders are just used as a scheme to control people? Even if any of the reasons are even slightly true hopefully we can recognize that we can’t go back to the old normal - which we all want - without dealing with obvious and simple things like wearing masks.

With all the radically serious things going on in the world, our nation, NYS, LI and our local communities that include health, economic and racial crisis and divisions we are going to complain about wearing masks?

We don’t have to wear these forever - but if we dont’t wear them now the implications for your friends, neighbors and colleagues as well as our local economy and our freedoms could be far worse.

Please wear the damn mask!

Here is a short public service announcement that hits on some of these themes.

Today's Sponsor

Greenview Properties

Over the past two decades, Greenview Properties has been masterfully instilling stunning architecture, lifestyle amenities and unsurpassed quality and value into thousands of area residence.

Greenview Properties reputation is beyond compare. A premier builder, urban renewal developer and property management firm, Greenview has left a mark of quality and design excellence all over Long Island. Recognized with countless awards for architecture, construction and design, Greenview Properties continues to strive for excellence, focusing on smart growth revitalization in downtown urban areas, spectacular rental neighborhoods, luxury condominiums and beautiful mixed-use and senior housing communities.

Through vision and Dedication to excellence Greenview endeavors to continue their tradition of fine craftsmanship, impeccable design, and unsurpassed service.