In Case You Missed It… A Message from the Chairwoman – A Pre-Holiday Rally for Restaurants & Retail | News

With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to ease, restaurants, shops, and attractions throughout Putnam County have pulled out all the stops to make residents and guests feel safe and secure as they once again venture into the community. The Putnam County Business Council is grateful to the area businesses and non profits who are supporting the fight against COVID-19 by safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all who live, work and play in our beautiful region.

All businesses are required to follow CDC and N.Y. State Department of Health guidelines, including:

Putnam’s economic recovery will depend on our ability to draw people back to the businesses that make our county so vibrant and appealing. These businesses need our help. They need our cooperation and support. All the responsibility does not lie with the business owners. We all need to comply in hopes of avoiding another shut down. Many businesses will not survive that.

We have an idea! Before the holiday season, we want to launch a promotional video campaign to showcase Putnam Restaurants, followed by Retail Shops. The community needs to see how our businesses have adapted and invested to make their businesses safe and convenient. The video will be promoted via social media ads and showcased on our website and via email blast. It will also be referenced here, in our weekly Business Column, and shared by our tourism, economic development and chambers of commerce partners.

Since our organization does not have the resources to finance this campaign on its own, we have come up with a win-win solution. When you become a member of our leadership team at the Executive Level or above ($295 or more), you will automatically earn a spot in the video and, depending on the level you choose, you will be included as a registered participant in the Putnam County Business Council’s first ever Restaurant Week in 2021 ($500 value).

This offer is valid through October 15th, 2020. In addition to membership, those interested in sponsoring either or both events, should get in touch with us as soon as possible.

We look forward to connecting with you to discuss this opportunity and how we can help to get you back in the black!

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association for the Self-Employed, the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, applauded last week’s announcement by the Small Business Administration and the Department of Treasury of a simplified loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under $50,000, but called on both sides of the aisle to come back to the negotiating table immediately to provide relief for small businesses hurting throughout America.

“The announcement by the Administration of a simplified process of loan forgiveness for small businesses who accessed $50,000 and less in PPP loans is an incredibly welcome sign,” said Keith Hall, president and CEO of NASE. “We are thrilled about this new SBA and Treasury interim guidance to help small businesses during a time many of them are looking at the last quarter of estimated tax payments and year-end accounting.

“This newly announced guidance is a welcome step, but it can’t be the last step this year to help the American small business community who are desperate for critical relief now. Therefore, it’s imperative the Administration and Congress come back to the negotiating table and work together to provide the immediate financial relief for the American people and our nation’s small business community.”

Last month, NASE – along with other major small business groups and their allies – called on Congress to pass a standalone small business relief package that will assist the most fragile small businesses and their employees ranging from an additional loan program to expedited loan forgiveness. The letter sent to Congress includes a package of key small business priorities.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to place so many small businesses in a distressed situation barely hanging on and reeling from the financial fallout. Small business owners across our country, in every town and county in America, are struggling each day to keep their doors open and safely serving their customers and protecting their employees and themselves. Congress and the Administration need to return to the bargaining table and save the ingenuity of the true entrepreneurship in our country exemplified in our nation’s small businesses,” Hall concluded.

NASE has also developed a COVID-19 Resource Page for the small business community offering supportive resources and information.

Upcoming Webinar: The US Small Business Administration is offering a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Below are links to the latest coronavirus news impacting New York State.