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

August 25th, 2020

Quotes of Day

	“We have fought hard to deliver critical federal funds to public transit systems across New York, including Huntington’s bus system, to provide essential workers and local residents with reliable public transit options throughout this unprecedented health and economic crisis. We must continue to invest in sustaining our public transit systems because a vibrant bus system is fundamental to recovering from this crisis and rebuilding our communities and economy.” - Hon. Charles Schumer, United States Senator
	“This CARES Act funding will ensure that the HART bus system can continue providing crucial public transportation services for riders who rely on safe and sanitary transit during the pandemic. The busing system in the Town of Huntington is central to the economy and workforce, and we must ensure they have the resources needed to combat the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. I’m proud to have secured these funds in the CARES Act to help our communities recover.” - Hon. Kirsten Gillibrand, United States Senator
	“We are not just the Martin Luther King Center because we really try to live out the dream and not judge people by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Like Martin Luther King said, ‘life begins to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ Life matters to us and we’ve been speaking to the community to try to find out what we can do to help.” - James Hodge, Long Beach MLK Center Board Chairman
	“Communities across Long Island will use this project as a template. It is a prime location, just a mere walk to the railroad in Hicksville. It meets all the criteria to create a renaissance in downtown Hicksville. It’s the best of the best of transit-oriented development and offers what millennials to empty nesters desire, a new mixed-use home near public transportation, shopping, fine restaurants, entertainment, and all that Long Island has to offer.” - Hon. Joseph Saladino, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor
	“When I got on the Village Board, Mayor Mike Lavorata said let’s provide a plan, a blueprint, for the Village to move forward. One of our first steps in achieving that was our walkability study. We are working with Greenman-Pedersen on our masterplan which has just been completed. We are ready to take Lindenhurst to the next level.” - Hon. Richard Renna, Lindenhurst Village Trustee

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The 2020 Long Island Smart Growth Awards will be held virtually on September 3rd at noon. Vision has begun delivering the awards to projects and individuals on site. We will be spotlighting each honoree in our upcoming newsletters.

The next three are summarized here:

MLK Community Center, Long Beach - Revitalizing Communities

Thursday, August 13th, Vision Long Island traveled to the City of Long Beach for stop number 10 of the 2020 Vision Long Island Smart Growth Award tour to present the Revitalizing Communities award to the MLK Community Center.

The MLK Community Center, a community-based organization that has operated out of its Riverside Boulevard location since 1982, is committed to improving the health, human welfare, and educational attainment of underserved youth, families, and individuals in the Long Beach community. The organization sponsors innovative programming and support services, including cultural enrichment, youth empowerment, and hands-on learning opportunities. Programs also include recreational activities, STEM Education, recidivism training and a variety of adult/senior programs.

“We are so excited to be at the MLK Community Center today,” stated Eric Alexander, Vision Long Island’s Director. “This Center has been the centerpiece of this neighborhood within Long Beach for so long, whether helping during Hurricane Sandy, the Coronavirus, or administering to its many other community services.”

In attendance at the presentation was Michael Passantino, Vision Long Island board member and principal at Trinity Solar. Mr. Passantino congratulated MLK Center Board Chairman James Hodge on receiving this award, stating, “It is well deserved.” Mr. Passantino, one of the leaders of The Pink Tie Foundation, noted that a week prior, members of The Pink Tie Delivery Donation Program presented to the Community Center a check and hundreds of pounds of food to help the Center support its local community.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Center, Mr. Hodge thanked Vision Long Island for recognizing the work of the MLK Community Center. “We look at things holistically, and try to meet the needs of the community,” he explained. “We engage in need assessments, so when natural disasters or emergencies happen, we shift from the day to day things we do, like afterschool, educational, and recreational programs, to connecting residents with what they need.” Regarding the pandemic, Mr. Hodge discussed the issue of food insecurity. Food insecurity was already a problem in the community, he explained, and it only grew more drastically as the pandemic took hold. “So, we started feeding hundreds of people, giving them healthy food because of underlying conditions. We wanted to give more vegetables; food that would help build the immune system.”

“We are not just the Martin Luther King Center,” Mr. Hodge clarified, “because we really try to live out the dream and not judge people by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Like Martin Luther King said, ‘life begins to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ Life matters to us and we’ve been speaking to the community to try to find out what we can do to help.”

Vision applauds the MLK Community Center for its extraordinary mission and community work.

You can watch the award presentation here.

WorkSmart Hicksville, G2D Development & Town of Oyster Bay - Revitalizing Communities

Monday, August 17th, Vision Long Island traveled to Hicksville for stop number 11 of the 2020 Vision Long Island Smart Growth Award tour to present the Revitalizing Communities award to G2D Development and the Town of Oyster Bay for the WorkSmart project in downtown Hicksville.

WorkSmart, located at 35 Broadway, is a Coworking Office Space which allows professionals to work together in a common community. The workspace, which has transformed a vacant downtown office building, is adjacent to the LIRR allowing for a quick express train to NYC. It offers small businesses and entrepreneurs furnished office space with flexible terms, private offices, dedicated workstations, collaborative spaces, and conference rooms. Eighteen apartments span the upper floors, including three studios, three one bedrooms, and twelve two bedrooms. Building amenities include a landscaped roof-deck and on-site Wellness Center.

“Hicksville is a really special community,” stated Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island. “This is a downtown that is revitalizing thanks to this project we are honoring here today.”  He noted, “We have spent a lot of time with the Hicksville Downtown Revitalization Committee trying to get projects like WorkSmart going.” Elissa Kyle, Vision Long Island’s Sustainability Director, piloted this pursuit on behalf of Vision, along with the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, the Hicksville Community Council and many other local groups.

“When we started working with the Hicksville Community back in the winter of 2010,” Ms. Kyle explained, “this building, which is in the core of downtown, right by the train station, across from a park, was vacant. Getting life and vitality into this building, people and activity on the sidewalk, is part of what can help spread revitalization to other properties around this area and beyond.”

Greg DeRosa and Alison DeRosa, of the G2D Group, were on hand to describe the award-winning project and to accept the award. Greg DeRosa stated, “This was a vacant building that we were able to convert to 18 apartments and a shared WorkSmart office concept on the first floor. It is starting to show a lot of demand based on what is happening in Manhattan and the five boroughs. We are seeing a lot of people coming out to Long Island.” He continued, “We would like to thank the Town of Oyster Bay for its support of this project. We think that this project will be one step forward in a major effort to increase the vibrancy and the appeal of downtown Hicksville.”

“This project has gone very well,” Alison DeRosa added. “Our apartments are fully occupied. We have a waiting list and hopefully we will have other projects like this to serve and support the community.”

“Clearly we have a project that is working,” Mr. Alexander stated. “At the hearings for this project there was no opposition. There has been support from the IDA, the Hicksville Downtown Revitalization Committee, even state government. Shepherding that support, leading and managing the town through challenging times, has been Joe Saladino, Supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay, along with the Town Council, who kept this project going.”

Accepting the Revitalizing Communities award on behalf of the town of Oyster Bay, Supervisor Saladino stated, “I would like to thank Eric Alexander and his team for their vision for Long Island. It has been exceptional far and near, especially here in Hicksville. I also want to thank and congratulate Greg DeRosa and Alison DeRosa for their foresight, knowing the type of project that is cutting edge, state of art and the type of project the public wants.” Supervisor Saladino also thanked the town’s team that helped put this together. “We are so proud to be part of all the revitalization in downtown Hicksville.”

“Communities across Long Island will use this project as a template. It is a prime location, just a mere walk to the railroad in Hicksville. It meets all the criteria to create a renaissance in downtown Hicksville.” The Supervisor continued, “It’s the best of the best of transit-oriented development and offers what millennials to empty nesters desire, a new mixed-use home near public transportation, shopping, fine restaurants, entertainment, and all that Long Island has to offer.”

Vision would like to thank G2D Development and the Town of Oyster Bay on receiving this well-deserved award. Vision Long Island’s 2020 virtual LI Smart Growth Awards will be held on September 3rd at noon.

You can watch the award presentation here.

Lindenhurst Walkability Study, Greenman-Pedersen Inc & Village of Lindenhurst - Revitalizing Communities

Tuesday, August 18th, Vision Long Island traveled to the Village of Lindenhurst for stop number 12 of the 2020 Vision Long Island Smart Growth Award tour to present the Revitalizing Communities award to Greenman-Pederson, Inc. and the Village of Lindenhurst in recognition of the Downtown Lindenhurst Walkability Improvement Study.

The Village of Lindenhurst has embraced the notion of a revitalized downtown. The Downtown Walkability Improvement Study, enabled by a grant from Suffolk County, has played a crucial role in this endeavor. Improving walkability goes far beyond building or widening sidewalks. It relates to all transportation modes and, therefore, includes improvements to the cycling infrastructure and network, public transit and car use.

The Village of Lindenhurst selected Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI), a Long Island-based transportation planning and engineering firm, to develop the walkability study. GPI placed high emphasis on not just informing, but properly engaging citizens and stakeholders in the study process. With the help of the Lindenhurst Economic Development Committee, the Lindenhurst Village Board unanimously adopted the Downtown Walkability Improvement Study on August 13th, 2019.

“These honorees are being acknowledged for their work on walkability,” stated Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island. “This is more important than ever with coronavirus. More people are out walking and biking and they need safe spaces to do so… All their hard work has led to new restaurants, new development and safe walking and biking in the Village.”

“Walkability is a key component in revitalizing a downtown,” stated Frank Wefering of Greenman-Pedersen. “How to engage the community was important. We conducted a lot of walk audits, at least six, we held mobility events and public meetings. The community is really on board and supporting this. Overall, it’s a great project and it's hopefully a blueprint for other towns and villages on Long Island.”

Elissa Kyle, Vision Long Island’s Sustainability Director, affirmed, “This project went above and beyond where a lot of villages go as far as trying to improve walkability, going beyond just safety, but also quality of life issues, making places safe for people.” She continued, “This project looked holistically at the whole Village and asked how do we make it so people feel comfortable and safe walking around.”

“We are really excited to be here,” Village of Lindenhurst Trustee R.J. Renna stated. “When I got on the Village Board, Mayor Mike Lavorata said let’s provide a plan, a blueprint, for the Village to move forward. One of our first steps in achieving that was our walkability study.” Trustee Renna noted, “We are working with Greenman-Pedersen on our masterplan which has just been completed. We are ready to take Lindenhurst to the next level.”

Deputy Mayor Maryann Weckerle explained, “We are thankful and grateful to Vision Long Island for this award, to working with the great Greenman-Pedersen, to all the sponsors of this award, to all the organizations we work with, the Chamber of Commerce, the BID, and this fantastic administration.”

Congratulations to all. Vision Long Island’s 2020 virtual LI Smart Growth Awards will be held on September 3rd at noon.

You can watch the award presentation here.

Senators Schumer and Gillibrand Announce over $11.5 Million in Bus Funding for NYC & Long Island

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $11.6 million in federal funding for Suffolk County and the New York City Department of Transportation. This funding was awarded through the Department of Transportation’s Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Program and will be used to purchase new buses, rehabilitate worn equipment, and construct busing facilities.

For years Vision and the LI Lobby Coalition have been seeking additional subsidy for the bus systems on Long Island including NICE bus, Suffolk Transit, HART Bus in Huntington and Long Beach's service to avoid further service cuts or to restore past routes.  NYS has assisted with small increases two of the last three budgets to their credit. 

This year the Federal government, led by Senator's Schumer and Gillibrand, stepped forward with tens of millions of dollars total with NICE bus and Long Beach earlier in the year, and now HART bus and Suffolk Transit. 

The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program awarded $1,600,000 to the County of Suffolk and $10,000,000 to the New York City Department of Transportation. These funds will support revitalization projects and will help purchase new buses and necessary equipment for transportation facilities in New York City and Long Island.

$2,479,097 in federal funding will go to the Town of Huntington, to be used for the Town of Huntington HART Bus system’s operating expenses during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The COVID-19 crisis has had a major impact on public transportation systems throughout the state, which has resulted in a dramatic drop in ridership. This funding will ensure that those who rely on the Town’s buses can continue to safely ride public transit as our communities begin to rebuild and recover from this crisis. The Town of Huntington operates buses that serve its residents, including disabled persons and non-driving senior citizen residents. The grant is 100% federal funds with no local match required.

“We have fought hard to deliver critical federal funds to public transit systems across New York, including Huntington’s bus system, to provide essential workers and local residents with reliable public transit options throughout this unprecedented health and economic crisis,” said Senator Schumer. “We must continue to invest in sustaining our public transit systems because a vibrant bus system is fundamental to recovering from this crisis and rebuilding our communities and economy.”

“This CARES Act funding will ensure that the HART bus system can continue providing crucial public transportation services for riders who rely on safe and sanitary transit during the pandemic,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The busing system in the Town of Huntington is central to the economy and workforce, and we must ensure they have the resources needed to combat the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. I’m proud to have secured these funds in the CARES Act to help our communities recover.”

New York Liquor Authority Issues Dancing and Karaoke Restrictions

As New York State begins to reopen, the New York State Liquor Authority has issued restrictions on activities that will be allowed in local bars and venues.

Those restrictions cover a wide variety of activities, including comedy shows, dancing, darts, pool, cornhole, karaoke, and exotic dancing.  Live music has also been curtailed as the board issued new guidelines earlier this week.  Venues are no longer allowed to have live music shows with ticket holders but can hold “incidental” shows.  The restrictions are not sitting well with some business owners. 

“I have to say: Who’s asking the why?” said Dan Palladino, a small business owner from upstate New York. “Where are these regulations coming from? We know that our cases are declining, yet we continue to come out with more and more regulations, putting a tourniquet on businesses.”

Businesses are already suffering and a number of bars and establishment rely on entertainment just as much as food and liquor to generate income.  The loss of appeal is a time when the economy is looking to rebound is devastating for some businesses. 

Some owners are trying to cope by cutting back or eliminating advertising in an effort to limit crowd sizes.  Others are having to reinvent their businesses in order to remain solvent as they try and get through the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic.

You can read more at Syracuse.com.

Pink Tie Delivers to Central Islip and Valley Stream

The Pink Tie Delivers team were out last Wednesday for two stops in Central Islip and Valley Stream both of which included food and financial donations. 

The first delivery was to the Central Islip Civic Council where we were joined by Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Receiver of Taxes Alexis Weik. Debra Cavanaugh from the CI Coalition of Good Neighbors and CI Civic Council Director Joan Crescitelli provided an update on the work of the group meeting many community needs.

The second stop was to the Holy Name of Mary Parish Outreach. Parish Outreach longtime Director Sr. Margaret Kelly gave an update on the food needs of local residents and Village of Valley Stream’s Tom McAleer was on hand to assist as well.

The Pink Tie Delivers team for these drops included 1st Equity Title, Trinity Solar, National Grid and Vision LI. 

The Pink Tie Delivers team continues to learn a lot from our fellow neighbors on these deliveries If you haven’t jumped in to help with food insecurity, we can tell you that there is a need across Long Island.

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 us at contact@pinktie.org

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.

Live music events include:

Tues. 8/25 at 6pm – AUDITION NIGHT II spotlightny.com/audition-night-at-spotlight/
Tues. 8/25 at 4pm – Essential Workers Night *25% off for Essential Workers*
Wed. 8/26 at 6pm – Kieran Black
Thr. 8/27 at 6pm – Kavi itskavi.com/
Fri. 8/28 at 6pm – Doug Pfeifer www.facebook.com/steelrib/
Sun. 8/30 at 3pm – Chelsea Takami chelseatakami.com/
Mon. 8/31 at 4pm – Industry Night *25% off for Industry Workers*
Tues. 9/1 at 6pm – Trivia Night II Hosted by DJ Orland from 94.3 The Shar

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 27
East End Trio

September 3
Carlos Pavan

September 10
Columbus Circle

LIA to Discuss Impact of COVID-19 on Long Island Small Business

The LIA Small- & Mid-Sized Business Committee will discuss the impact of Covid-19 on Long Island’s small business community as our region recovers from the pandemic. The Small and Mid-Sized Business Committee advances positions that support the great majority of Long Island's business community; our small- and mid-sized businesses.

Please join us to hear from a panel of experts who will discuss financial resources and assistance programs, as well as the issues facing Main Street and additional ways we can help support our downtowns. Panel experts will include Erica Chase, Director, Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale State Collece, Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island and LI Main Street Alliance, and Dennis Grossman, President of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Register in advance for this meeting here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Upcoming SBA Webinars

Tues. Sept. 1st at 10:30am “PPP Forgiveness Application update”

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckcOmppzgjGNDNpviv3gzovrOdJGqGrbLH

Learn about PPP Flexibility Act Seven changes of PPP, SBA New Announcements on August 11th, the Most Common FAQs, the Revised PPP Forgiveness Application SBA Form 3508 and Instructions, and the new SBA Form 3508EZ and Instructions.

• Flexibility Act PPP’s Seven changes
• Covered Payroll Period and Alternative Covered Payroll Period;
• Cash Compensation for employee and owner-employee/Self-employee/General Partners;
• Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Calculation;
• FTE Reduction Safe Harbors 1 and 2;
• FTE Reduction Exception;
•   Eligible Payroll and Non-Payroll Costs;
• SBA Form 3508 Calculation, Schedule A, Worksheet and instructions; 
• SBA Form 3508EZ and instructions;
• Documents Must to be Submitted with the Forgiveness application Required for PPP Forgiveness;
• Documents Borrower Must Maintain.
• checklist for using SBA Form 3508EZ and Forgiveness Application Form 3508EZ and instructions.

Thurs. Sept. 10th at 9:30am “Expand Your Business to Global Market”

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpfumprT0oHNwGJZzKlGgIn7vuyU8xNgYC

95% of the consumers are outside of US. Join the webinar to learn Why, How, and Where, to sell to the Global Market. This presentation is intended to be a guide for a small business to help determine if exporting as business strategy make sense and whether the basic ingredients for export readiness are in place.

• Why to Export?
• Exporting Myths;
• Exporting Advantages;
• Federal Government Exporting Assistance;
• Are You Ready to Export;
• U.S. Free Trade Agreements;
• International Markets Resources;
• Legal Considerations
• How to Finance Your Sales
• 3 SBA International Trade Loan Guaranty Programs;
• Counseling & Assistance.

LICH to Host Housing Discrimination Training

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless is honored to host Long Island Housing Services in their presentation of this important workshop on Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination.

This FREE online training will take place September 24, 9:30AM to 11:30AM.

Presented by Long Island Housing Services and hosted by the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, this training will provide a history of fair housing and the federal, state and local fair housing laws.  The training will include the different types of housing discrimination that are prevalent in Long Island, including racial discrimination, discrimination against individuals with disability, and source of income discrimination. Participants will learn to identify and report housing discrimination, including how to file a complaint.

Presenters: EJ Torres and Harriet Spiegelman

This event is FREE, but tickets are required to reserve a spot. You can access tickets by using the link below, beginning August 20, 2020 at 5PM: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/housing-discrimination-training-tickets-117665652133

The 8th Annual Car Free Day Long Island will take place on September 25

With the many challenges facing Long Island communities, it would have been easy to take a year off. However, the shutdown took cars off the road and brought fresh clean air to Long Island, inspiring Car Free Day to elevate the conversation about trading gridlock for cleaner communities.  

Once again, we ask you to help Long Island and join over 3,100 cities, towns and villages in 50 countries around the world in celebrating Car Free Day by encouraging employees and citizens to drive less and instead telecommute, walk, bike, ride a train, bus or other creative ideas. Last year, 5,821 Long Islanders pledged to be car free or car-lite saving 64 tons of CO2 emissions.

As we get closer more and more events for the day will be revealed.  In the meantime, please visit carfreedayli.com to take the pladge and download a toolkit to help you spread the word!

AARP Accepting Entrants for Make Your Move Entrepreneurship Contest

The AARP is now accepting entrants for its annual Make Your Move Entrepreneurship Contest, a sweepstakes designed to help people with their small businesses.

The contest offers an opportunity for people to receive tools and advice from business leaders and peers who are going through the same thing as them.  They will be able to share their own experiences while receiving valuable feedback from other business owners.

There will also be a chance to earn a one-on-one video chat with the Shark Tank’s Daymond John as well as a $5,000 prize for their business.

You can read more on the contest and how to enter here.

Minority Owned Womens Business "Brave Is" Scholarship

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is offering scholarship opportunities for women business owners of color, with preference given to women aged 45+. The two scholarship programs, proudly sponsored by AARP, will offer attendance to the NAWBO Virtual Women’s Business Conference or the opportunity to host a booth in the virtual exhibit hall for a month during the event.

These scholarship opportunities will provide a unique opportunity for recipients to engage with a large network of successful women business owners across the country and promote their businesses to a wider audience.

The two components:

Six (6) Booth Scholarships plus attendance to the WBC
Twelve (12) Attendee Scholarships for WBC

All recipients will receive:

• One-year NAWBO membership for non-members or Leadership Academy Registration for current members
• Closed roundtable discussions with recipients at conference *by invitation only
• Extended accountability groups six (6) months after WBC facilitated by NAWBO
Timeline for Both Scholarships:

Applications will be accepted Monday, August 17 - Tuesday, August 25.  The winners will be notified via email.

Criteria:
Must be a Woman-Owned Minority Business
Preference given to 45+ WBO’s

You can fill out a scholarship form to apply for this opportunity here.

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

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.

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