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

August 12th, 2020

Quotes of Day

	“They’ve never done [outdoor dining and public spaces] like this where it’s just been kind of rededicated space for a period of up to four months. That’s never happened before.  Some are saying, had we not done this, they probably would’ve had to shutter their doors altogether.” - Richard Vandenburgh, the co-owner of a local brewery and president of the Patchogue Business Improvement District
	“When the ‘Car Age’ happened across the country and Long Island, we accommodated the car over the built environment. We sacrificed a lot of our downtowns and our gathering places." - Eric Alexander, Vision Long Island Director
	“Over the past five years, we have worked tirelessly to protect the environment and improve water quality for Long Islanders on the South Shore. We will now be able to help further protect the Long Island Sound as we begin to operate and maintain the Glen Cove facility.” - Nadine Leslie, CEO of Suez North America

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Watch us on YouTube

Join us on LinkedIn

View us on Instagram

Visit our website

Outdoor Dining and Spaces Gaining Steam on Long Island During Pandemic

Vision was happy to see the latest cover story in Newsday featuring the shift towards the outdoor dining, more walking, biking, and fresh air experiences in our downtowns and local neighborhoods. 

As a community we now have an opportunity to rethink how we use Main Streets, side streets and public space in general to make our business districts truly the center of town.   For years the needs of the automobile was the primary force behind a retreat from community public space, but we can now see past that thanks to the present conditions.

More and more restaurants are opening outdoor spaces in order to safely serve hungry customers.  Some local gyms are using empty parking lots for outdoor fitness classes.  We’re also seeing more downtowns closing local roads in an effort to provide outdoor spaces for these businesses, which has been met with cheers from local owners.

“They’ve never done anything like this where it’s just been kind of rededicated space for a period of up to four months,” said Richard Vandenburgh, the co-owner of a local brewery and president of the Patchogue Business Improvement District. “That’s never happened before.  Some are saying, had we not done this, they probably would’ve had to shutter their doors altogether.”

If there was any benefit from the Coronavirus shutdown it may just be that it forced us to act creatively in our local communities.  Over 50 business districts now have some sort of outdoor dining and over a dozen shutting down streets and parts of parking lots and just about everyone out walking around and more biking.

“When the ‘Car Age’ happened across the country and Long Island, we accommodated the car over the built environment,” said Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island. “We sacrificed a lot of our downtowns and our gathering places.  It’s a natural progression, only it happened in an unnatural fashion.”

Hopefully this crisis can spur innovation while giving Long Islanders a chance to take a critical eye to the car-centric lifestyle we live that can, at times, be a detriment to the health of local downtowns.  With residents eager to safely leave their homes and visit local spots, hopefully some of these changes will be permanent once we move past the current health crisis.

This story reinforces the work of the participants from the recent Long Island Complete Streets Summit. Activities such as increased walking, biking, outdoor dining, and public space continue to be a favorite of most Long Islanders. The consensus of complete streets planners and advocates is to keep this momentum going.

Check out the full story at Newsday.

After Tropical Storm, Questions over Communications

Residents across Long Island are expressing frustration with communication after Tropical Storm Isaias caused widespread outages and downed wires in our region.

Local officials are comparing this to the last major storm to cause such widespread issues on Long Island: Superstorm Sandy.  They noted that while the damage was comparable, they had more difficulty getting through to someone at PSEG than they did during Sandy.  More than a few had to call and use their status as elected officials to speak with someone and mail a list of residents who were desperately in need of power.

PSEG has acknowledged the failure on their part, stating that they feel like they were prepared for the damage but not the needed communication aspect of the storm.  Still, PSEG Long Island Director Dan Eichorn said he believes that an outside probe of the agency’s communications will find that the utility did a “satisfactory” job.

As of Wednesday, around 15,500 Long Islanders are still without power as they wait for crews to restore it for them. 

PSEG is hardly the only major utility company to have issues after Isaias tore up the East Coast last week.  Complaints have also spread to Optimum and Verizon for taking so long to restore internet and phone services after the storm.  A lack of communication remains the biggest complaint as customers continue to await some sort of ETA on when utilities will be restored.

You can read more at Riverhead News Review.

Here is PSEG Long Island's full update for August 12th, 2020:

• As of 6:29 a.m., PSEG Long Island reports 15,528 total customers without power. Approximately 1,700 of that total are outages reported during the storm period, which impacted 420,000 customers. The total number includes new outages resulting from this morning’s weather activity.
• Today’s work plan will focus on the remaining storm-related outages, which we expect will be completed tonight.
• PSEG Long Island currently has more than 6,500 lineworkers, tree trimmers and other personnel working around the clock, in 16-hour shifts, until every customer is restored.
• New outages not directly related to the storm continue to be reported and assessed, as on any non-storm day. They will be restored as safely and quickly as possible.
• Due to the extended power outage, PSEG Long Island will open five customer outreach centers today. The centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or while supplies last), providing free water and ice. To ensure we maintain the physical distancing necessary for the safety of our employees and customers, the centers will offer drive-thru service.

The locations open Wednesday, August 12 are:

- Patchogue - 460 E Main St
- Brentwood - 1650 Islip Ave
- Greenlawn -  288 Pulaski Rd
- Roslyn Heights - 250 Willis Ave
- Babylon - Babylon Town Hall - 200 E Sunrise Hwy

• 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.

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.

Town of Babylon Offers Rebates for Businesses making Online Improvements

The Babylon IDA has announced that it will offer businesses rebates up to $100 to help offset costs of improving their online stores.

The money will be made available to owners who are in need of a photographer or photography equipment that can be used to improve websites and online capabilities.  This digital presence grant is part of the Babylon is Back initiative, and can be applied for through the Babylonisback.com website.

“We know so many businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic and we understand the importance, now more than ever, that having an online presence means for them and their customers,” said Babylon is Back director Matt McDonough.  “We hope that this rebate can ease some of the financial burden on these efforts and jumpstart the process for broadening a much needed online presence.”

You can read more at litimes.org.

Pink Tie Delivers to Smithtown and Long Beach

The Pink Tie Delivers team was out last Friday for two stops in Smithtown and Long Beach both of which included food and financial donations. 

The first stop was Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle where their food pantry volunteers told us of the increase in demand being up 2.5 times over the pre Coronavirus shutdown.  This was a new pantry for us to deliver and happy to see the good work done for the community.

The second stop was a return to the Long Beach Martin Luther King Center.  Their Board Chairman and staff provided an update to the ongoing needs and their food program was operational during the visit accessed by local residents.

WSP Engineers sponsored the drop and Borusso Law was on hand to assist as well.  Great to reconnect with the important work of the Center.  The Pink Tie Delivers team for these drops included WSP, Borusso Law, 1st Equity Title, Late Night Chauffers, Trinity Solar, National Grid and Vision LI. 

With the storm damage and power loss due to the Tropical Storm it is even more important to help folks with food donations. The Pink Tie team has been learning a lot from our fellow neighbors and the wonderful food pantry volunteers.

For more info on how you can take part in the doorstep donation program or join the Delivers Team, check out pinktie.org or please email contact@pinktie.org

Suez North America Assumes Control of Glen Cove Treatment Plant

Suez North America has officially taken over operations for the Glen Cove Water Reclamation Facility, which had previously be run by Inframark.

“Over the past five years, we have worked tirelessly to protect the environment and improve water quality for Long Islanders on the South Shore,” said Nadine Leslie, CEO of Suez North America. “We will now be able to help further protect the Long Island Sound as we begin to operate and maintain the Glen Cove facility.”

The plant, which is owned by Nassau County, is a 5.5 million gallons-a-day wastewater treatment plant and serves about 27,000 people.  The move comes in the wake of the present contract with Inframark expiring on July 31st. 

Suez is already operating and maintaining the county’s Cedar Creek and Bay Park Waters Reclamation Facilities.  It has been in control of those facilities since January 2nd, 2015.

You can read more at Long Island Business News.

National Fair Housing Alliance calls on HUD to Uphold the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Regulation

The following is an op-ed from the National Fair Housing Alliance

In a monumental setback for civil rights, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today published its new Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice rule in the Federal Register. The rule will take effect in 30 days. HUD employed stealth and questionable tactics to adopt this as a final rule, completely bypassing the standard public notice and comment period. This new rule, which replaces the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) regulation, effectively removes all oversight by HUD and eliminates any meaningful requirement for jurisdictions to show they are addressing racial and other disparities. This blatant rollback of a long-standing and fundamental civil right comes at a time when our nation faces a triple pandemic — the COVID-19 health crisis, the ensuing economic crisis, and the crisis of racism that has plagued us for centuries.

The President has said he wanted to eliminate the 2015 rule to “save the suburban dream.” Instead, this move will harm our communities — suburban, urban, and rural — by eliminating the tools they need to create stronger, healthier, and more diverse neighborhoods and the obligation to work actively toward that goal in order to receive federal housing funds.

Simply put, this new rule is a travesty and an affront to the millions of Americans now protesting discriminatory practices, lack of enforcement of civil and human rights laws, systemic racism, segregation, and other structural barriers that act as roadblocks to advancement for people of color and other marginalized groups. The new rule will take this country backwards by perpetuating segregation and further entrenching systemic racism and structural inequality. It will also increase housing instability, which is particularly harmful now as the nation battles a devastating public health crisis that has hit under-resourced communities of color the hardest.
Ian Wilder, Executive Director of Long Island Housing Services, Inc. previously stated that "It is unspeakable that while the nation is mourning the loss of civil rights giants Rev. C.T. Vivian and Congressman John Lewis, the Trump Administration is undermining the Fair Housing Act, one of our nation's key civil rights laws. Instead of gutting existing civil rights protections, the Trump Administration should follow the lead of Congress which is contemplating how to honor Lewis by strengthening civil rights laws to meet the new challenges of this century."

When Congress passed the Fair Housing Act in 1968, it intended for HUD to take active steps to end housing discrimination, dismantle housing segregation, and tackle systemic racism to expand access to opportunity for everyone. The 2015 regulation was put in place to implement this important mandate by giving local jurisdictions and community stakeholders the process and data needed to identify and redress local barriers to fair housing. The Trump administration’s new rule does none of that. Instead, it adopts a new definition of fair housing that blatantly ignores issues of residential segregation and structural racism that the Fair Housing Act seeks to address; sets an embarrassingly low bar for what it means to “affirmatively further” fair housing; drastically lowers record keeping requirements for jurisdictions; strips HUD of any monitoring or oversight responsibility for jurisdictions’ AFFH activities; and removes any reference to the Assessment of Fair Housing, a plan that was required under the 2015 regulation.

AFFH is designed to support thriving, diverse communities, and it benefits us all; eliminating it will hinder progress that could help strengthen the fabric of our nation and make this a land of opportunity for everyone. That’s why we’re calling on the Trump administration to rescind its new rule now and reinstate the 2015 AFFH regulation.

AFL CIO Members Should Download Free Union Strong App

This is a reminder that the local labor movement is using the Union Strong App for member communication. This App helps all trade unionists and allies stay up to date on union news, information, events and updates.

For those who have not yet gotten the App, this is super easy and takes just 2 minutes. Text lifed to 471-77 to get it right away.

When you get the App, you’ll get push notifications right to your smartphone:

• Connect directly to the Long Island union movement
• This is the super-easy way to stay up to date
• Information delivered right to your phone - ALL notifications, updates, event information & more

Click the AllAboard link to get the FREE App now: https://unionstrong.app.link/lifed

This will connect you directly to the Long Island Federation of Labor!

Important Note: Be sure to enable notifications to ensure that you get Union updates immediately!

Movie Night at Great Neck Plaza, August 13th

Great Neck Plaza BID is proud to present Movie Night on North Middle Neck Road, when they will be showing the movie “Yesterday.”  The event will take place on August 13th and will be located between Grace Avenue and Maple Drive on North Middle Neck Road.

The event will begin at 6:30 when outdoor dining will be available.  The movie itself will begin at sundown, estimated around 8:30 pm.  Seating will be limited to 60 seats and social distancing will be enforced.

East Meadow Reopening Day, August 15th

The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, InHouse Design, & CLK Properties bring The LARGEST outdoor screen in Nassau County to East Meadow for August 2020!

On August 15th, 2020, there will be a screening the newest version of “THE LION KING" for an exclusive group of vehicles on the biggest screen in NASSAU COUNTY, over 40’.  The location at 90 Merrick Avenue in East Meadow is private, quiet, and extremely spacious allowing every car to have 2 parking spots.  There is a rain date of August 23rd.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early, eat dinner before the show, and bring loads of snacks for the show.  Bring blankets chairs, pillows and anything that will allow you to feel comfortable and at home during this Safe & Sound Mobile Theater Experience.  Guests are also encouraged to support the local restaurants and businesses in the area.

DJUSA will be handling the entertainment for pre-show festivities.

Tickets can be purchased for the event here.  Tickets are Non-Refundable.

Spotlight at The Paramount is All New this Summer

Enjoy delectable burgers, salads, live local music performed streetside plus food and drink specials every day at the Paramount’s Spotlight concerts this summer.

Make your indoor / outdoor table reservations through OpenTable OR call 631-637-1225. Food delivery available via UberEats & GrubHub.

Also, be sure to check out the newest art exhibit - Quarantine Art - on display all Summer long at Spotlight @ The Paramount! For more info, and the latest lineup of live music, visit spotlightny.com.

Upcoming events include:

Saturday, 8/1/20
Brian Ripps @ 6pm
Doors: 1pm

Islanders Game @ 4pm
Mets Game / Yankee Game

Sunday, 8/2/20
Chelsea Takami @ 3pm
Doors: 1pm

Mets Game / Yankee Game

Monday, 8/3/20
Industry Night
*25% Off for Industry Workers*
Doors: 4pm

Rangers Game
Mets Game

Tuesday, 8/4/20
Essential Workers Night
*25% Off for Essential Workers*
Doors: 4pm

Islanders @ 12pm / Rangers Game @ 8pm
Mets Game

Wednesday, 8/5/20
Evvan @ 6pm
Doors: 4pm

Islanders Game @ 12pm
Mets Game / Yankee Game

Thursday, 8/6/20
Luke Buck @ 6pm
Doors: 4pm

Rangers Game
Yankee Game

Friday, 8/7/20
Dudley Music @ 6pm
Doors: 4pm

Islander Game
Mets Game / Yankee Game

Saturday, 8/8/20
Rocco of the Snow @ 6pm
Doors: 4pm

Rangers Game
Mets Game / Yankee Game

Glen Cove Downtown Sounds Free Concerts

As a way to bring people into the downtown, the Glen Cove Downtown B.I.D. in 1997 created its first free concert series Jazz in The Square. It was a hit. During the following years, the concert series evolved to accommodate a variety of musical styles that broadened its appeal to residents and visitors alike. Today, the event – now known as Downtown Sounds – is jointly produced through a partnership between BID and the City of Glen Cove.

The Downtown Sounds Concert Series will be different this summer, but for six Friday nights in July & August, virtual concerts will be livestreamed through Facebook Live, and all are invited to enjoy the concerts on large screen TVs while dining outdoors at downtown restaurants. Please note, you must be dining at a restaurant to view the concerts on the TVs - no lawn chairs will be permitted, as no large gatherings are allowed under the current executive order by New York State Gov. Cuomo.

The Downtown Sounds lineup for 2020 will include:

Aug. 7: La Sonora 495

Aug. 14:  TBD

Aug. 21: The Doobie Others

Aug. 28: TBD

You can read more on this event and the acts here.

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
Carlos Pavan

September 10
Columbus Circle

LICH Seeks Full-Time Administrative Assistant in Amityville

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless is seeking applicants for a Full-Time Administrative Assistant for our main office in Amityville.  The employee in this position assists the executive and administrative staff in the administration of agency operations. This position requires attention to detail and strong communication skills, in a small office working environment that requires separation of duties and internal controls.

Essential duties include (but are not limited to):

-              Receive calls and direct to appropriate staff; greet visitors, direct them to appropriate staff of agencies within the building; ensure visitors sign in and follow protocols
-              Correspondence: open, distribute and file agency correspondence; type and send letters, agency agreements, etc., and maintain files
-              Maintain privacy of confidential records, correspondence and/or files
-              Make copies and maintain documentation for contracts and/or billing, as assigned
-              Maintain agency Outlook address book
-              Draft and send emails, respond to inquiries, etc.
-              Assist in maintenance of and contributions to social media platforms
-              Coordinate agency/office activities and schedules
-              Develop and distribute fliers, informational materials and other documents
-              Communicate effectively in writing, orally and with others to understand and convey information, in a manner consistent with job functions
-              Attend meetings and take/prepare minutes, materials, as assigned
-              Other duties as assigned
Minimum Requirements:
-              Proficiency and experience using Microsoft Office suite applications and social media applications
-              General knowledge of office management practices and procedures
-              Ability to operate standard office equipment, including but not limited to computer, phones, copy machine/scanner, etc.
-              Must be able to exercise independent judgment and initiative to carry out job functions with or without direct supervision or instruction
-              Must be able to work effectively under time constraints to meet deadlines and manage a number of different tasks concurrently
-              Must be able to complete work accurately and with attention to detail.
-              Must maintain acceptable attendance and timeliness standards.

Must have a commitment to organization’s mission and goals. Must be self-motivated; must be able to work effectively with diverse people and personalities and as a member of a team.

Benefits after probationary period will be available. These include paid time off (vacation, holiday, sick, personal), medical insurance for the employee (premium paid by LICH), Dental and Vision insurance optional, Life Insurance for the employee and Simple IRA plan (with employer match).

 Please see attached job description for more information. This position is for an employment opportunity in Suffolk County, NY. Hours of operation are 9AM – 5PM EST, and employees will be required to maintain such hours.

Interested parties should submit a resume and salary requirements via email to gguarton@addressthehomeless.org 

Please do not call the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless regarding this position.  Questions should be submitted via email only.

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.

Today's Sponsor

Mill Creek Residential

Mill Creek Residential develops, builds, acquires and operates high-quality apartment communities in desirable locations coast-to-coast. While they are a national company, they immerse themselves in chosen markets – living and working in the communities where they operate. They combine a deep understanding of each market with 30+ years of expertise and a fresh innovative approach to the apartment industry, to build relationships and places in which people thrive – creating real and enduring value for residents, investors and associates.

Since starting in 2011, they have developed more than 20,000 apartment homes across 90+ communities and acquired more than 2,500 apartment homes in some of the nation’s best apartment markets. They expect to deliver an additional 5,000+ homes to a growing portfolio. They are proud of their people, the places they build, and the relationships they have with stakeholders across the country.