May 22, 2020
We are Finding a Prism of Ways to Celebrate
With the season upon us, our graduations, birthdays, memorials, engagements, weddings and Celebrations of Life are looking safer—and smaller. Yet any size event is made that much more memorable with food.
That’s why our Downtown Restaurants are stepping up to provide an international array of authentic flavors for your new kind of parties. Whether it is a Zoom event or a backyard small group of 10, we have more than a dozen of our Downtown Restaurant chefs providing you with a selection of Social Distancing Event Menus in the NRBID’s promotion that begins today.
We are pleased that we can help make it easier for you to celebrate, honor and remember. And we know your meals will be delivered with side dishes of gratitude and joy.
Click here for your full selection of our Downtown Restaurant’s group-sized menus.
Put the Memorial Back in Memorial Day. Take a Virtual History Tour this weekend.
It is always important to learn who in history preceded us with honors. As we remember those who fought and gave their lives for our Country this weekend, why not take a virtual tour of the New Rochelle City Monuments and Memorials.
On Saturday May 23 at 4:00pm, City Historian Barbara Davis will be leading a live tour called Supreme Sacrifice: A Virtual Tour of New Rochelle’s Monuments & Memorials. This Zoom tour will include narration, archival and contemporary photographs, history and time for questions and answers.
Click here to register and get the Zoom link.
Preparing your Reopening Plan
As we wait for our City’s time to re-open, our local businesses can prepare for the sunnier days ahead by applying for outdoor dining permits and making sure their businesses are registered with the city.
Merchants, if you need protective masks for your business, the New Rochelle Downtown BID may be able to help. We have secured some through a number of city, county, state and federal programs. Email newrochelledowntownbid@gmail.com for more information.
Who’s open? Who’s delivering?
Make sure to click here for the latest hours and offerings of our New Rochelle Downtown restaurants and merchants. We continue to update the list regularly to give you the latest updates on businesses’ hours and information.
New Rochelle continues to have free parking throughout the City.
Information and resources for our NRBID Business Owners and Community:
Business Promotion Opportunities
- Facebook Page Shops is a just-announced initiative by the social media giant’s business sector that offers merchants a new way to sell online. Click here for more information.
- List your business on the WCBS 88 Newsradio Open for Business List Click here to fill in your business’s information on this regional blog.
- Town Planner will list your business discounts, specials and events for free. Click here to sign up for an account.
- New Rochelle United will help list or create your gift cards and get your community to like and sign up for your social media accounts.
- Westfair continues to invite all local restaurants to participate and share recipes, messages, take-out services and any other important information for the Westchester public to know. Click here
- News12 is asking Westchester based businesses to sign up so that they can let people know you are open. Click here
- Minuteman Press of New Rochelle continues to offer free local advertising on their local site to stimulate business and help all of fellow local businesses and neighbors overcome the economic effects of the current COVID-19 crisis. Click here for more information.
Direct Business Coaching Opportunities
- Virtual Coaching Sessions through the Womens Enterprise Development Corporation (WEDC) are part of the organization’s commitment to assist small business owners with guidance and resources during this period of uncertainty. Schedule Session Here
- Coaching Sessions on eCommerce through The Westchester County Office of Economic Development. For a free coaching session, Contact them here and put eCommerce in the subject line.
Grant Information
- National Restaurant Association Restaurant Employee Relief Fund Grants Restaurant employees may be eligible for a $500 grant from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) Employee Relief Fund. Staff may be eligible for a $500 one-time grant if they: Worked on a part- or full-time basis in the restaurant industry for at least 90 days in the past year (this includes food delivery). Have had a primary source of income in the restaurant industry for the last year. Have experienced a decrease in wages or loss of job on or after March 10, 2020, which these grant funds will help offset. Live in the United States, an overseas U.S. military base, or any U.S. territory. Are over the age of legal majority in their U.S. state or territory. Grants will be awarded as soon as possible to those individuals who meet the eligibility criteria.The grants are subject to availability and are limited to one per person. Click here to apply.
- Restaurant Strong Fund Grants for Restaurant Workers The Samuel Adams Company with the support of the Greg Hill Foundation, is donating over $2,000,000 to kick start the Restaurant Strong Fund across 20-states to aid restaurant workers affected by COVID-19 closures. To qualify for grant assistance, applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements: Complete Application Form. Be full-time employee (Minimum of 30 hours total per week, can be multiple restaurants). Be employed for 3 months or longer at the same location. Worked in a restaurant, bar, cafe or nightclub located in New York Click here to learn moreand Click here to apply.
- Restaurant Workers Community Foundation is an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for restaurant workers. They have information online Click here.
- Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Program application for financial assistance for Restaurant workers. Click here.
Local Resources
- For the City of New Rochelle COVID19 Information sheet click here and guidelines summary of safety practices for owners/operators of retail grocery stores, supermarkets, bodegas, bakeries, specialty markets click here.
Westchester County Resources
- Westchester County Economic Development has a new page for all webinars, events and business help listings, click here. For their Facebook page click here.
- ArtsWestchester has put together a list of resources for artists in all disciplines who may need funding. For a list of opportunities click here.
New York State Resources
- The New York State Re-opening Phases Plan from Governor Cuomo is here.
- Updated Essential Business Guide Read the updated guidance on what is considered an “essential” business here.
- New York State Department of Labor Pandemic Unemployment checklist for qualifying. New Yorkers seeking to file an unemployment insurance claim should visit labor.ny.gov or call the Telephone Claim Center at (888) 209-8124.
- Empire State Development – Global NY Loan Fund The Global NY Loan Fund is open to New York State companies seeking financing to create or expand direct exports, or to serve as suppliers to larger exporters. Loans are available to purchase equipment, inventory, working capital to support foreign accounts receivable, export lines or credit, or long-term financing. ESD is also offering interest-free loans for Distilled and Fermented Beverage industry businesses to promote New York State’s thriving beverage industry on a global scale. More information here.
- Find more information about the new NYS COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave law here.
- Sign up for email updates from NYS here.
Federal Government Resources
SBA Paycheck Protection Program
- For information on the SBA Paycheck Protection Program visit the SBA. The latest $484 billion relief package included an additional $310 billion for the PPP.
- To find a lender click here.
- For help completing your SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan and/or Paycheck Protection Program applications, click here.
- Para los dueños de negocios que hablan español los cuales necesitan ayuda para completar la solicitud de SBA para el Programa de Protección a su Salario deberán ir a: http://volunteernewyork.org/vvc
- To volunteer to help business owners fill out documents for loans click here to send an email and put “volunteer” in the subject line.
- Video-discussion from US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand with Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation on CARES ACT and future legislation designed to get economy back to work, click here.
- Just-updated Guide to Federal Funding sources from Senator Kirstin Gillibrand available here.
- Small Business Guide to the CARES Act: Prepared by the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship with answers to many Frequently Asked Questions available here.
- Internal Revenue Service Guidelines on Tax Payment Deferrals
- Federal Small Business Administration Assistance Loans
Please be sure to share this weekly newsletter with your friends, employees, customers, and clients by recommending they subscribe to it by signing up here.
Please do make sure you Friend us, Like us and Share us on Facebook (@nrbid) and Instagram (@nrbid).
Stay healthy and safe,
Karel Littman,
Executive Director
New Rochelle Business Improvement District (NRBID)
NewRochelleDowntownBID@gmail.com