Stop worrying about what you can’t do and start doing what you can

We’re Still Open HV is a new local resource for brick and mortar businesses in the Hudson Valley to let the community know that they are “still open” and to share what modifications they have made to stay open during the COVID crisis.

You can search for restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, retail businesses, among others, to find out what those businesses are offering, link to their social media and websites, and support local business.

This is a completely free directory for local businesses being impacted by the coronavirus. Click below to get your business signed up.

Distribution of Cloth Face Masks

Putnam County has indeed received a limited supply of masks from the State of NY. We are currently distributing these based upon a distribution mandate from the State of NY. As of this morning we have opened ordering to Municipalities and Businesses within Putnam County.P

If there is specific information you feel is relevant to your need for these masks, you may use the comments section to detail that information. For example: “Business employs at risk (elderly or health compromised) individuals.”  Please be as specific as possible to assist us in determining need.

Cloth Face Covering Ordering and Pick Up Procedure 

EFFECTIVE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2020

ALL ORDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED USING THE FOLLOWING

CLICK HERE to submit an order.

Orders will be processed and distributed based on the following table.

No other means of submission will be accepted or processed.

ORDER PLACED	PROCESSED ON	PICK-UP ON
BY MONDAY  7 AM	MONDAY	TUESDAY  10 AM – 5 PM
BY WEDNESDAY 7 AM	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY 10 AM – 5 PM

You will be notified by email when your order has been processed and is ready for pick up.  Do not call to check the status of an order.

If you have any questions please email  CASEY.QUAKE@PUTNAMCOUNTYNY.GOV

You MUST have your confirmation with you in order to pick up.

When you arrive at the Bureau of Emergency Services (112 OLD RT.6, CARMEL) to pick up your order please pull up to the front of the building, REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE and call 845-808-4000 EXT 41604.

DO NOT ENTER THE BUILDING.

 Your order will be brought outside to you by a member of our staff.

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NFIB Letter to Governor Cuomo Re: NYS Economic Reopening & Small Business (click to read PDF)

As public health officials and indicators guide decision making for the reopening and recovery of New York’s economy by geographic regions and individual business sectors, NFIB encourages an open and accessible dialogue with state and local governments with welcomed input from the private sector.

Phased, industry-specific, and geographic economic re-start considerations:
• Allow industries primarily functioning outdoors to reopen and expand beyond essential work – landscapers, construction, car washes, pavers, builders, etc.
• Utilize geographic health data, population density, and industry transmission risks as guideposts to intelligently open parts of New York’s economy when safe.
• Consider businesses with the capacity to ensure social distancing such as offices, warehouses, and low-volume retailers for opening ahead of other businesses with higher inherent risks.
• For employers with more customer or employee density, consider strategies to initially limit the number of employees/customers in confined areas and encourage the development of creative solutions to meet social distancing guidelines, including space utilization and staggering shifts.
• For businesses with a limited number of individuals in their establishments at any one time, and where it is difficult to consistently remain six feet apart, allow for intensified cleaning, protective wear, and limit cash transactions.
• Allow non-essential businesses that are primarily family-based businesses, or with limited employees, and very negligible direct customer interaction to open.

Avoid new burdens that disproportionately negatively affect small businesses:
• Prevent significant increases in workers’ compensation premiums. Do not allow COVID-19 to be considered a presumptive occupational illness for workers’ compensation purposes. New York’s Independent Compensation Insurance Rating Board (NYCIRB) indicated such a proposal would cause workers’ compensation system costs to increase exponentially to over $30 billion.
• Protect the Governor Cuomo’s landmark property tax cap, rejecting new exclusions, and loopholes.
• Provide strong civil liability protection from COVID-19 claims for currently operating businesses deemed essential and for additional classes of small businesses as their operations are brought online. The Governor has taken action to provide reasonable liability protections to the state’s medical professionals under Executive Order 202.10 and additional protections were granted to medical facilities as part of the budget process.
• Postpone implementation of the Farm Worker Fair Labor Practices Act.
• While increased testing capacity is an essential component for New York’s public health and economic response to COVID-19. Requiring on-site medical testing to be conducted by small
businesses is not a realistic goal. The availability of supplies, cost, training, and liability concerns would add up and keep small businesses closed.
• A one-size-fits-all approach to cleaning protocols and protective equipment requirements particularly while supplies are limited, should be avoided. Small businesses are inherently more committed to the health and wellbeing of their community and customers, but requirements and guidance must recognize the limitations of independent businesses.
• State agency enforcement for any new health and labor standards must be flexible and focus on compliance rather than punishment and revenue.

State-specific actions to assist and support a smooth and complete economic recovery:
• Delay for as long as possible payments of sales tax, property tax, fees, and government loans, and waive any interest and penalty assessments.
• Pass Small Business Tax Cuts, A.6309-A/S.5954-A, which reduces the corporate tax rate and increases the tax deduction for pass-through entities (LLCs, LLPs, S-Corps, sole proprietors). Also consider a broader application as proposed in S.943.
• Increase current state tax deductions, such as salary, wages, and other compensation as a cost of doing business, which will lower overall small business income tax bills.
• Establish an extended sales tax holiday period once retail operations have resumed to incentivize consumer spending.
• Provide cash grants and zero percent interest loans through Empire State Development or other state agencies to help small businesses pay their bills – mortgages, rent, debt service, utilities, facilities and equipment costs, insurance, money owed to vendors, payroll, etc.
• Utilize Empire State Development as a clearinghouse of information regarding new and updated executive orders; supplemental agency guidance; to-be-developed health, sanitation, safety and on-site density protocols; and all existing and future business assistance and relief information and programs.
• Develop and implement a uniform, accessible, efficiently communicated system of announcing, explaining, and enforcing all new executive orders and state directives pertaining to public health and economic recovery.
• Protect small businesses from Unemployment Insurance premium hikes by enacting A.10297 (Zebrowski).
• Strictly enforce Labor Law § 593(2) to ensure that employees return to work if offered their former positions as businesses begin to reopen. This will assist workforce retention and protect the Unemployment Insurance system from fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Allow small businesses and sole proprietors licensed by the Department of State to extend the expiration of their license and suspend fees for one year for renewals.
• Grant flexibility for continuing education requirements for manufacturers, retailers, installers, mechanics, and professional service firms.
• Suspend completion requirements and penalties for non-compliance with the Workplace Safety and Loss Prevention Program.
• Use federal monies, likely to flow through the state for economic recovery, with a clear priority on those businesses most impacted by the shutdown order.
• New government spending that is not directly tied to COVID-19 recovery must be avoided.
• Allow for expansion of workplace safety programs and aid to cover materials and items used to protect employees and customers from exposure to COVID-19.

This list is preliminary and incomplete. NFIB will continue to communicate with its membership across New York State and partners in the business community to gather policy proposals and reforms that will give small businesses and New York’s communities the greatest opportunity for a full, fast, and safe economic recovery.

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SBA will now be reviewing PPP loans over $2M

Joint Statement by Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Administrator Jovita Carranza on the Review Procedure for Paycheck Protection Program Loans

WASHINGTON – U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza issued the following statement today on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP):

“The Paycheck Protection Program is providing critical support to millions of small businesses and tens of millions of hardworking Americans. 

“We have noted the large number of companies that have appropriately reevaluated their need for PPP loans and promptly repaid loan funds in response to SBA guidance reminding all borrowers of an important certification required to obtain a PPP loan.  To further ensure PPP loans are limited to eligible borrowers, the SBA has decided, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, that it will review all loans in excess of $2 million, in addition to other loans as appropriate, following the lender’s submission of the borrower’s loan forgiveness application.  Regulatory guidance implementing this procedure will be forthcoming.

“We remain fully committed to ensuring that America’s workers and small businesses get the resources they need to get through this challenging time.”