Advocacy – Putnam County Business Council

SBA closes Restaurant Revitalization Fund program | SBA Announces Extension of $100 Million Grant ‘Community Navigator Pilot’ Program Proposals

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 15:21:23 +0000

SBA closes Restaurant Revitalization Fund program

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is announcing the closure of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Through the American Rescue Plan Act, the SBA launched the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. SBA received over 370,000 applications from restaurant owners across the United States.

The program provided critical funding to over 105,000 restaurants representing $28.6 billion dollars. The program supported 3,777 small restaurants with gross receipts of less than $50,000 in 2019.

Due to overwhelming demand, the SBA was unable to fund all qualified applications with the original appropriation provided in the American Rescue Plan Act. Those applicants who have not received funding as of this email will have their applications held within the application platform to allow for processing in the order received if additional funds are provided by Congress.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund application platform will remain open for the next two weeks to allow applicants to check their status, address payment corrections, or ask questions. The SBA will disable access to the platform on July 14, 2021.

SBA Announces Extension of $100 Million Grant ‘Community Navigator Pilot’ Program Proposals

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has extended the application date for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program.

SBA will now accept proposal submissions through July 23, 2021 and anticipates making award decisions by September 2021.

This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach the nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.

The Community Navigator Program will have a significant impact in revitalizing small businesses through a Hub and Spoke “Navigator” featuring a lead “Hub” – at the center of a network of “Spoke” organizations that deploy trusted community advocates to work with small businesses during recovery.

These networks leverage the business development expertise of the central hub organization and the community credibility of spoke organizations to better connect critical resources with small businesses, with the priority focus on those owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Competitive grant awards will range from $1 million to $5 million for a two-year performance period.

Applicants have until July 23, 2021 to submit their applications at grants.gov.

Eligible applicants are County governments; Native American tribal governments; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status; City or township governments; State governments; as well as Economic Development Organization or Similar Organization, SBA Resource Partners, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers, SCORE, Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), Community Development Financial Institutions, and Nonprofit Colleges and Universities.

Performance periods are projected to commence in September 2021. Those eligible to apply must meet and demonstrate abilities to support requirements of this funding opportunity.

For more information on the Community Navigators Initiative, please visit

www.sba.gov/navigators

COVID-19 Restrictions Lifted | Save the date!, join us for Putnam County Business Council’s Nonprofit Committee In-person Event – June 21, 2021 7:45 AM

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 16:39:13 +0000

COVID-19 Restrictions Lifted as 70% of Adult New Yorkers Have Received First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

Governor Cuomo today announced that COVID-19 restrictions are lifted immediately as 70 percent of New Yorkers aged 18 or older have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination series. The State’s health guidance and New York Forward industry specific guidelines—including social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing—are now optional for retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and personal care services, among other commercial settings.

Unvaccinated individuals continue to be responsible for wearing masks, in accordance with federal CDC guidance. Consistent with the State’s implementation of the recent CDC guidance, masks are still required for unvaccinated individuals. Further, the State’s health guidelines continue to be in effect for large-scale indoor event venues, pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and health care settings per CDC guidelines.

Not only do we have the lowest COVID positivity rate in the United States of America, we have hit 70 percent vaccination ahead of schedule.

Read the full announcement HERE

Please Join us for the Putnam County Business Council’s Nonprofit Committee In-person Event June 21, 2021 7:45 AM

Join us for Putnam County Business Council’s Nonprofit Committee In-person Event!

DATE: TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2021

TIME: 7:45 AM

New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program | REPLAY of the COVID-19 Vaccine & Wellness Roundtable for Employers

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 16:04:27 +0000

New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program

The application portal for the $800 million New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program is now open and accepting applications.

https://nysmallbusinessrecovery.com/

Governor Cuomo’s press release on the program is available here; it also highlights legislation expected to be finalized today that would exempt these grants from NYS income-based taxes. https://tinyurl.com/dhbezn57

Program requirements and application instruction are all online. Eligible small businesses are defined as:

Those with 100 or fewer employees, organized under the laws of New York State, is independently owned and operated, and not dominant in its field.
Eligible “for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations” are independently operated live-performance venues, promoters, production companies, or performance-related businesses located in New York State with 100 or fewer employees, excluding seasonal employees.

Eligibility requirements include:

Entities must have begun operation on or before March 1, 2019 and continue to be in operation as of the date of application (may be shuttered due to COVID restrictions), have to show a reduction in gross receipts of at least 25% from 2019 to 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols which resulted in business modifications, interruptions, or closures.

Show gross receipts between $25,000 and $500,000 for 2019 and 2020, and a positive net profit for 2019.

They must not have qualified for assistance programs under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 or other available federal COVID-19 economic recovery or business assistance grant programs above certain thresholds (received more than $100,000 of a PPP grant or loan).

Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000 based on the entity’s annual gross receipts.

Interested businesses are urged to submit applications as soon as possible, due to limited funding. This is not a “first come, first serve” program. Instead, applications will be evaluated based on business attributes set by the legislature, and priority will be given to socially and economically disadvantaged business owners including, but not limited to, minority and women-owned business enterprises, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses, or businesses located in communities that were economically distressed prior to March 1, 2020.

All program information, including a program FAQ, detailed information on application requirements, and other program information is available here. https://nysmallbusinessrecovery.com/

REGISTER for the NYS Covid-19 Small Business Recovery Grant Program – June 16, 2021 11:00 AM

Join us for a webinar on the NYS Covid-19 Small Business Recovery Grant Program!

DATE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021

TIME: 11:00 AM

REPLAY of the COVID-19 Vaccine & Wellness Roundtable for Employers

In case you missed it, here is the replay of the COVID-19 Vaccine & Wellness Roundtable for Employers presented on June 8, 2021.

If you attended, or are just watching for the first time now, we hope you will reach out to us with any questions you might have.

This presentation is hosted by Marj Ciucci, Senior Benefits Consultant with Lawley and Clare Hunter, Clinical Account Executive with Lawley-Arxcel.

Topics discussed include:

Vaccine hesitancy | CLICK HERE for Dr. Parkerson’s presentation, “What is Vaccine Confidence?” | CLICK HERE for pandemic information
An update on the COVID-19 vaccine as of June 2021 | 00.02.08
Employer strategies | 00.25.44
Employee/employer vaccine discussion | Employer strategies related to mental health | 00.47.20

VIEW webinar HERE

Please Join us for the Putnam County Business Council’s Nonprofit Committee In-person Event | June 21, 2021 7:45 AM

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 16:03:06 +0000

Please Join us for the Putnam County Business Council’s Nonprofit Committee In-person Event | June 21, 2021 7:45 AM

Join us for Putnam County Business Council’s Nonprofit Committee In-person Event!

DATE: TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2021

TIME: 7:45 AM

REMINDER TO REGISTER – COVID-19 Vaccine & Wellness Roundtable for Employers, 8th June | Emergency Rental Assistance Program Available to Putnam County Tenants and Landlords

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 14:32:26 +0000

REMINDER TO REGISTER – COVID-19 Vaccine & Wellness Roundtable for Employers, 8th June

Join Lawley and Arxcel for an in-depth discussion with leaders and stakeholders in healthcare, manufacturing, and education about the issues surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.

This webinar will be broken into 4 sessions and will include the following:

* An overview of vaccine hesitancy

* Update on COVID-19 vaccine

* Employer Strategies Discussion

* Employee/employer vaccine discussions

DATE: TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021

TIME: 12 PM

Emergency Rental Assistance Program Available to Putnam County Tenants and Landlords

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell is pleased to announce that the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is now available for tenants in Putnam County who have been unable to pay their rent due to loss of income as a result of COVID-19.

If you or a member of your household lost income or received unemployment benefits due to loss of work due to COVID-19, you may be eligible.

To see if you are eligible, and to apply for these funds visit OTDA.NY.GOV/ERAP or call (844) NY1 Rent (844 691-7368).

If you are having difficulty completing the on line application, Hudson Valley 2-1-1 will be able to assist you. To get special help call (914) 993-3719.

Contact Information:

Michael Piazza

Michael.Piazzajr@dfa.state.ny.us

(845) 808-1500 ext. 45201

Theresa M. Oliver

Confidential Secretary to the County Executive

(845) 808-1001 ext. 49201

Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Now Open | Get Voting – Its not too late

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 17:01:22 +0000

Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Now Open

The eleventh round of the CFA is now open with over $750 million in funding available through more than 30 state programs.

Since 2011, the first year of the REDC initiative, the CFA has enabled businesses, municipalities, not-for-profits and members of the public to apply for multiple sources of funding from dozens of state agency programs through a single application, for projects that create jobs and help to revitalize communities.

All of the 2021 guidelines and resources documents can be found on the MHREDC website at https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/mid-hudson, including:

2021 Available Resources Guide – This year there are over 30 programs available through nine state agencies.
2021 REDC Guidebook – Learn more about the 11^th round of the REDC initiative.
2021 CFA Program Webinars – Find recorded webinars for all funding programs available in this year’s REDC round.
2021 CFA Application Guide

CFA Deadline for many programs: 4:00 PM SHARP on July 30, 2021

Note: The deadline does not apply for open enrollment programs, which will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis.

Attend an upcoming Virtual CFA Information Session!

Information sessions are hosted by ESD team members ready to answer questions about the CFA process. Register for an upcoming event below:

June 2, 2021 at 12pm – Register HERE
June 8, 2021 at 9:30am – Register HERE
June 17, 2021 at 9am – Register HERE
June 22, 2021 at 12pm – Register HERE

Get Voting! – 94th Assembly District Best in Business 2021. Closing date has been extended to 30th June

We are proud to announce a brand-new initiative this year in honor of our extraordinary local businesses. This past year, we witnessed businesses continue to proudly serve our communities with dedication despite facing incredible challenges. This has inspired us to launch Best in Business 2021 to recognize these amazing local establishments.

We are looking to highlight businesses that demonstrate their dedication to the people of the 94th Assembly District. These businesses would be described as having excellent customer service, curating valuable relationships within their communities, and going above and beyond for their customers. If you have a local business/businesses you feel fit this description you can use the submission form below to submit your vote to recognize and honor them within their respective categories.

Voting is open exclusively to local residents in the 94th Assembly District for the towns of Carmel (including the hamlet of Mahopac/Mahopac Falls), Patterson, Putnam Valley, Yorktown, Somers and Southeast (including the village of Brewster). Each resident may only vote once per category and will be automatically entered in a drawing to receive a donated gift card from one of several local businesses.

Voting has been extended until June 30th!!!.

VOTE HERE

Rent and Small Business Relief Grant Applications

Please use the following programmatic guides and contact information as guidance for upcoming rent and small business relief grant applications. Be advised that this information is for Members’ Office use only.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

Applications open Tuesday, June 1^st at 9am:

Program and Application Overview: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/Emergency-Rental-Assistance/

Agency Contacts:

Judi West

Director, Intergovernmental Affairs

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

518-474-7420 | Judi.West@otda.ny.gov

Kenneth A. Crannell

Director, External Affairs

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

518-474-9730 | kenneth.crannell@otda.ny.gov

Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program

Applications open date TBD:

Program and Application Overview: https://esd.ny.gov/pandemic-small-business-recovery-grant-program

Agency Contacts:

Brad Austin

Director, State Legislative Affairs

Empire State Development

518-292-5272| Bradley.Austin@esd.ny.gov

Pravina Raghavan

Executive Vice President, Small Business Services and Community Economic Development

Empire State Development

646-618-2569| Pravina.raghavan@esd.ny.gov

If you or your staff have any additional questions, please contact Isa Puello, Secretary to the Speaker for Intergovernmental Affairs, at 518-898-8551 or puelloi@nyassembly.gov. You may also reach the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs via email at intergov@nyassembly.gov or call us at 518-455-3791.

$3.5 Billion in Assistance for Small Businesses | MEMORIAL DAY Events & Festivities PUTNAM

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:01:43 +0000

$3.5 Billion in Assistance for Small Businesses

$800 Million Small Business Recovery Grant Program to Provide Funding to Small Businesses to Help Them Recover From the Economic Impact of the Pandemic; Online Applications Accepted Starting June 10

Phase Two of the Reimagine, Rebuild, Renew Campaign Launched on Tuesday, May 25 to Make Small Businesses and Residents Aware of the Many Relief and Recovery Programs Available

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $3.5 billion in assistance for renters and small businesses experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The small business recovery grant program makes up to $800 million in funding available for small businesses to help them recover from the economic impact of the pandemic. Applications for the program will be accepted starting June 10 for small and micro businesses and small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations to help them recover from the economic impact of the pandemic. Flexible grants up to $50,000 will be made available to eligible small businesses and can be used for operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, personal protective equipment, or other business expenses incurred during the pandemic. Over 330,000 small and micro businesses are potentially eligible for this program, including 57 percent of the State’s certified MWBEs.

Governor Cuomo also announced that starting Tuesday, May 25, phase two of the Reimagine, Rebuild, Renew campaign will launch to make small businesses and residents who have been financially impacted by the pandemic aware of the many relief and recovery programs that are available in New York State. Print ads will run in local community newspapers across the state and social media ads will be featured on Facebook and Linked in with additional digital video ads advertised across the internet.

“New Yorkers and small businesses in every corner of the State were devastated by the pandemic, and as we continue to recover and rebuild we need to make sure they have the resources they need get back on their feet and succeed in a new, reimagined economy,” Governor Cuomo said. “This critical funding will help ensure New Yorkers who are experiencing financial hardship through no fault of their own will not be thrown onto the streets, while also providing stability for small businesses so they can help play a role in New York’s economic resurgence.”

Small Business Recovery Grant Program

The small business recovery grant program will provide funding to small and micro businesses and small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations to help them recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, with priority being given to socially and economically disadvantaged business owners, including minority- and women-owned business enterprises, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses, and businesses located in economically distressed communities.

Grants will be for a minimum award of $5,000 and a maximum award of $50,000 and will be calculated based on a New York State business’ annual gross receipts for 2019. Reimbursable COVID-19 related expenses must have been incurred between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021 and can include:

Payroll costs
Commercial rent or mortgage payments for NYS-based property
Payment of local property or school taxes
Insurance costs
Utility costs
Costs of personal protection equipment (PPE) necessary to protect worker and consumer health and safety
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) costs
Other machinery or equipment costs
Supplies and materials necessary for compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols

ESD has created a website – NYSBusinessRecovery.ny.gov – to highlight the various resources available to support small businesses seeking pandemic relief. The website will be continuously updated as more details and funding information as it becomes available.

The ESD Board of Directors approved $10 million in technical assistance grants for New York’s statewide Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers and Small Business Development Centers to help small businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations secure COVID-related financial assistance and grants available through existing state and federal programs.

This network of service providers will work directly with small businesses, guiding them through available funding sources and helping them navigate the application process. Recognizing that pandemic-induced economic hardship has disproportionately affected micro and small businesses, and that application processes can be difficult to navigate – especially due to a language barrier – the partners will use these funds to hire or contract more staff for one-on-one, direct counseling services. Education materials and applications will be offered in 12 languages in addition to English. This support, along with increased technical assistance staffing, will position these providers to better assist businesses and organizations in applying for funding through the New York State’s COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, or any other available federal economic recovery program, catalyzing our state and local economies as more businesses and communities reopen.

MEMORIAL DAY Events & Festivities PUTNAM

Dropping Mask Requirements, While Welcome, Leaves Many Questions | Consolidated Funding Application Workshops/Info Sessions

Wed, 26 May 2021 17:26:59 +0000

Dropping Mask Requirements, While Welcome, Leaves Many Questions

According to NPR news, large US retailers such as Target, Walmart and Costco have all dropped their mask rules for fully vaccinated people, except where state or local laws apply. “Face coverings will continue to be strongly recommended for guests and team members who are not fully vaccinated,” Target said in a statement to NPR.

At both the state and federal level, compliance basically falls to an honor system, since it becomes very hard for places of business to police such activities. Large companies such as Walmart have said (according to NPR) that workers simply have to answer a vaccination question on a daily health assessment to be eligible to go maskless. Fully vaccinated employees no longer have to wear masks. Throughout the pandemic, small businesses at least were able to point to state or local laws requiring mask usage, which made it easier to obtain compliance. As things change, they are now left to their own devices. If during COVID you had to quarantine your business you know how difficult this can be. Plus, liability for anyone who gets sick is still unclear. COVID is not covered by insurance.

Independent shop and restaurant owners, for example, now have to figure out a course between safety versus revenue needs and concerns and the recent CDC ruling has small businesses once again struggling to operate. First of all, not everyone is comfortable leaving the mask off. Second, while the state allows the honor system to dictate who is and who isn’t required to wear a mask, it only does so while the venue (such as a restaurant) is occupied at the roughly 50 percent capacity limit of the six-foot spacing required at the height of the COVID-19 crisis. To fully occupy a restaurant, the owners must either (1) require everyone to show proof of vaccination at the door, (2) segregate the establishment into vaccinated and non-vaccinated sections, or (3) require mask usage of all patrons. As you can see, these are problematic choices, indeed.

The Excelsior Pass is a possible solution, as would be a government mandated vaccine, but again both of these create additional problems. For one, many remain skeptical of the vaccines and are reluctant to get them. For another, the idea of a government-controlled list that separates people into an acceptable group versus an unacceptable one is likewise fraught with concern. There are no easy answers, but the public seems to be expecting them as they return to some pre-COVID dining and shopping habits. The best advice seems to remain patient until the situation becomes more clear.

Jennifer Maher

Founding Chairwoman

Putnam County Business Council

Consolidated Funding Application Workshops/Info Sessions

The eleventh round of the Consolidated Funding Application is now open with over $750 million in funding available through more than 30 state programs.

Beginning June 2 the Empire State Development (ESD) staff will begin offering virtual CFA information sessions. These workshops will be hosted by ESD team members ready to answer questions about the CFA process.

In addition, there are 25 recorded webinars currently available on demand.

VIEW webinars HERE

SBA Grants for Organizations Help Underserved Communities

SBA Launches ‘Community Navigator Pilot’ Program Application

$100 million competitive grant program to strengthen outreach to businesses in underserved communities enacted through the American Rescue Plan

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is accepting applications for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program. This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach our nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans. SBA will accept applications through July 12, 2021, and anticipates making award decisions by August 2021. The Biden-Harris Administration has made delivering equitable relief to hard-hit small businesses a top priority and will continue to take steps to ensure equitable distribution of relief.

“The Community Navigator Pilot Program is a crucial addition to our SBA programs because it helps us to connect with small businesses that have historically been underserved or left behind. These businesses – the smallest of the small in rural and urban America, and those owned by women, people of color, or veterans – have suffered the greatest economic loss from this pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “We’ll be using a hub and spoke model in local regions across the nation to bridge the gap between local entrepreneurs and SBA’s resources and programs. If we’re going to build back better, we need to ensure that all entrepreneurs have the support they need to recover.”

In February 2021, Congress met to provide a blueprint on assistance to small businesses with provisions under the American Rescue Plan. Members of Congress met with constituents to discover at local levels, the impact of the pandemic and the effect it is having on businesses that may have been left out in early rounds of relief.

“I’ve spoken to small businesses in every corner of Arizona. Far too many of them, especially tribal and minority-owned businesses and those in rural communities, have been unable to get the support they need,” said Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. It’s why I fought to include the Community Navigator Program in the American Rescue Plan because it will help meet Arizona small businesses right in their communities, including providing assistance for Spanish-speakers, and get them the relief they need to keep their doors open and workers on payroll.”

“As someone proudly representing one of the most diverse congressional districts in the country, I am glad the Community Navigator Pilot Program will soon be launching,” said Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia. “We have already seen the difficulties diverse communities face in accessing critically-needed relief resources, from securing PPP funds to rental relief. Through targeted outreach to small businesses in underserved communities, we can ensure that everyone is able to take advantage of the resources offered by the American Rescue Plan.”

The Community Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity will be open to applications from nonprofit organizations, state, local, and tribal governments, SBA resource partners, and other organizations. Selected partners will engage in targeted outreach for small businesses in underserved communities to help small businesses get the resources and support they need to get back on track as the economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our small business owners—especially those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, people of color, women, veterans, and Native Americans—they need us the most, and they need us now,” said SBA Associate Administrator for the Office for Entrepreneurial Development Mark Madrid. “This initiative underscores our Agency’s commitment to connecting distressed small business resources with SBA resources and grant funding.”

“The SBA understands the importance of partnering with organizations as well as smaller, local institutions that are already embedded in the fabric of the Main Street business communities they serve,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Women’s Business Ownership Natalie Madeira Cofield. “Community Navigators are the backbone of aiding underserved and underrepresented communities across the nation with recovery.”

Making a Difference in Underserved Small Business Communities.  Key in this initiative are partners and people in the community, serving as a two-way information stream, enabling enterprising business owners to receive the help needed from the SBA. Serving as the foundation of America’s economy, these underserved businesses have areas of concern that need to be addressed. Community Navigator Pilot will provide counseling, networking, and the assistance needed during this time of economic recovery.

Competitive grant awards will range from $1 million to $5 million for a two-year performance period. Applicants have until July 12, 2021, to submit their applications at grants.gov. Performance periods are projected to commence in September 2021. Those eligible to apply must meet and demonstrate abilities to support the requirements of this funding opportunity.

For more information on the Community Navigators Initiative, please visit www.sba.gov/navigators.

The Memorial Day Tire Event at Park Ford Of Mahopac

May 19th marks the return to near normal

Thu, 20 May 2021 15:56:28 +0000

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced that Wednesday, May 19, 2021 will mark the return to near normal that we’ve all been longing for when the fully vaccinated can remove their masks in public settings, and restaurants, gyms and other businesses can be open to full capacity for customers who are vaccinated.

“I want to say ‘Thank you’ to the people of Putnam County,” County Executive Odell said. “All your hard work – the isolation, the closures, the social distancing, the great care we took to protect others from getting sick – it all paid off and we did it. It’s been a very long road, but now we’re back.”

County Executive Odell was among a bipartisan group of six county executives who had urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday to adopt the CDC’s guidelines and allow those who are fully vaccinated to stop using masks in most settings.

“New York needs to follow the science-backed guidance of the CDC,” read the statement from County Executive Odell, Orange County’s Steven M. Neuhaus, Rockland’s Ed Day, Dutchess’ Marc Molinaro, Suffolk’s Steve Bellone and Pat Ryan of Ulster County. “As we continue to see active cases, hospitalizations and deaths steadily dropping day by day and more people receiving vaccinations, the Governor should implement the CDC’s common-sense guidance.”

Odell noted that even President Joe Biden said the CDC’s guidance on May 13 made a “Great day for America.”

The next day, the governor announced that New York State would allow fully vaccinated people to go unmasked indoors and out as of Wednesday. Those who are not yet vaccinated will still be required to wear masks and social distance in all public places, the CDC and state guidelines say. And everyone – vaccinated or not – must still be masked on public transportation and in schools, nursing homes, homeless shelters, correctional facilities and healthcare facilities.

Private businesses are free to follow the CDC guidelines or maintain their own mask requirements. The state will no longer impose capacity or social distancing limits on restaurants, if they ask customers for proof of vaccination, such as the Excelsior pass or vaccination card. Otherwise, social distancing requirements apply.

County Executive Odell said that Putnam County employees who are vaccinated can return to work unmasked. Those who have not yet been vaccinated must be respectful and protect themselves and other unvaccinated people by wearing a mask. Anyone who is exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 must still isolate themselves and present proof of a negative Covid-19 test before returning to work.

As of Tuesday, 62.7% of all Putnam residents over the age of 15 have had at least one dose of the vaccine and 45.1% have been fully vaccinated.

Leaders throughout Putnam County government said they were excited about the lifting of restrictions for their vaccinated staff and clientele.

“The County Clerk and DMV offices have been open serving our customers throughout the pandemic, but now our fully vaccinated customers may visit our offices without masks if they choose as per CDC guidance,” Putnam County Clerk Michael C. Bartolotti said. “The appointment system implemented during the pandemic greatly improved our customer experience when visiting our offices. Given the success of the appointment system, we have decided to keep it in place for the foreseeable future.”

Neal Sullivan, Deputy Chair of the Putnam County Legislature, said he couldn’t wait until the Legislature resumed its in-person meetings.

“I’m looking forward to hearing from and actually seeing our constituents at our Legislative meetings,” Deputy Chair Sullivan said. “I’ve missed the public feedback and hearing people’s viewpoints. It’s been hard to have meaningful dialog over audio calls and computer.”

The governor’s executive order regarding remote governmental meetings remains in place through June 9. Barring another extension of that order, Sullivan expected normal Legislative meetings to return then.

Perhaps no one in the county was more excited about the lifting of capacity and mask restrictions for the fully vaccinated, than Michael Cunningham, Director of the Office of Senior Resources said.

The county’s senior centers in Carmel, Mahopac, Putnam Valley and Philipstown were among the first institutions closed when the coronavirus pandemic struck in March 2020. Seniors have been “chomping at the bit” to return to the centers and see their friends ever since, Director Cunningham said. “Since we closed last March, the first question we’ve heard from every senior is ‘When are you opening up again?’” he said. “And as much as our seniors have missed coming here, our staff has missed seeing them. We are all looking forward to welcoming them back on Monday when we reopen.”

Cunningham estimated that more than 90% of the seniors who regularly use the centers have been vaccinated.

County Executive Odell reiterated that the lifting of mask restrictions is only for the fully vaccinated.

“There are plenty of vaccinations available,” she said. “The county Department of Health is holding clinics frequently, now you can even just walk in without an appointment. Pharmacies have them, doctor’s offices have them. The vaccines are safe and effective. It’s only because of vaccines that our life is getting back to normal. I urge everyone to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

For more information on vaccination clinics, see putnamcountyny.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/

For state regulations on specific industries, see forward.ny.gov/

Government Affairs Council Update | New York State to adopt New CDC Guidance on mask use and social distancing for full vaccinated individuals

Tue, 18 May 2021 16:03:33 +0000

Government Affairs Council Update – Upcoming Events

Two Government Affairs Council meetings have been scheduled for the next few weeks. Join us for a discussion of last-minute legislative issues as the session comes to a close.

DATE: Monday, May 24

TIME: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

DATE: Monday, June 7

TIME: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Impact of Indian Point Closure

With the shutdown of the final electric generating unit at the Indian Point Nuclear Energy Center on, April 30, New York State and the New York Metropolitan area specifically, embarked on a new and uncertain era in maintaining and assuring an adequate and reliable electric power supply.

Richard Ellenbogen and John Ravitz have spent the last 10 years looking closely at the impact of closing of shutting down the source of some 25% of the Metro region’s power, and the political, societal and economic consequences that come with it. Rich, who is a BCW member, serves on the BCW’s Gas Moratorium Task Force and was one of the first businesses to receive the Green Business Certification from the BCW’s Green Business Partnership Program.

The accompanying opinion piece, which was distributed to the media, offers an honest, readable and provocative look into what the future holds. So far, the Op-Ed has been published by several prominent media outlets including Crain’s New York.

Below are links to the coverage.

Crain’s New York

Journal News

Poughkeepsie Journal

Middletown Times Herald-Record

Hudson Register Star

Click here to read the full Op-Ed

New York State to adopt New CDC Guidance on mask use and social distancing for full vaccinated individuals

Governor Cuomo announced that beginning Wednesday, May 19^th, 2021, New York State will adopt the CDC’s “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People“ for most business and public settings.

Consistent with the CDC guidance, Pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and healthcare settings will continue to follow State’s existing COVID-19 health guidelines until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated.

Please find the announcement from the Governor’s Office here.