Reopening Nassau

Re-Opening Nassau 
What Businesses Need to Know

NASSAU COUNTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Nassau County Restaurant Recovery Grant Program

• On November 18, 2020, County Executive Laura Curran established the Restaurant Recovery Grant Program (RRGP) to assist full-service restaurants with a grant award of either $5,000 or $10,000, depending on their number of full-time employees. 
• Building on the success of the program, the County Executive announced on March 31, 2021 that the eligibility criteria for the RRGP has been expanded to include banquet halls with catering staff – including meeting halls run by charitable and religious organizations – which operate under food service permit by the Nassau County Department of Health.
• Further details on the program is available on www.nassaucountyny.gov/restaurantrecovery. 
• Click the link above to view the list of eligible businesses APPROVED to receive grant funding. 

Boost Nassau Small Business Loan Program

• NY Forward “Boost Nassau” loan fund is a business recovery loan program aimed at supporting Nassau County’s small businesses, Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) and nonprofits struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak. The “Boost Nassau” program ensures that $10 million will be available for businesses located in Nassau County by leveraging funding from the State’s NY Forward Loan Fund.
• The “Boost Nassau” loan program makes funding available to For Profit and Not-For-Profit Employers, with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, that did not receive a PPP greater than $500,000 or EIDL greater than $150,000 for COVID-19 impacts.
• Further details on the program, eligibility, and how to apply is available on www.boostnassau.net, and here.
• On January 27, 2021, County Executive Laura Curran invited small businesses and nonprofits to attend a free webinar to learn more about the low-interest loans offered by the “Boost Nassau” loan program. Watch here.
  

Status Update as of 3/31/21

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is pleased to open the portal below to accept more applications for the Restaurant Recovery Grant Program (RRGP). In addition to full-service restaurants, banquet halls with catering staff – including meeting halls run by charitable and religious organizations – are eligible to apply. Further details on the program is available here.

If you have not already begun the application process and would like to APPLY, click here: https://zoomgrants.tools/zgf/nassaurestaurantrecovery

Eligible businesses that have been APPROVED to receive Restaurant Recovery Grant Program (RRGP) funding are shown in the list ELOW. These businesses will receive a direct email from the Restaurant Recovery team this week, requesting confirmation of bank details so that the grant can be disbursed. Please watch for the email from nassaurestaurants@ndconline.org. 

Eligible Businesses that have applied to the RRGP but do NOT see their business on the below list must get in touch with the Restaurant Recovery team immediately to complete their applications at nassaurestaurants@ndconline.org and 1-646-825-9617.

For any questions, please contact the Restaurant Recovery team at nassaurestaurants@ndconline.org and 1-646-825-9617.

Open Streets Pilot Program - Making it Easier for Businesses to Utilize Street Space

• With Nassau County’s new Open Streets Pilot Program, we are making it easier for Villages, Towns and Cities to temporarily close County roads to vehicles to allow businesses to utilize sidewalk and/or street space fronting their business to increase their capacity while maintaining social distancing. This will help address reduced indoor capacity requirements under the NY Forward phase-in reopening, which limits the number of customers indoors and may impact revenue. Continuing the County’s efforts to support the revival of our downtowns and business districts, the County will be fast tracking permitting approvals for temporary road closures, with a decision within a week of receiving an application. To apply, visit: www.nassaucountyny.gov/OpenStreets.

NEW YORK STATE CLUSTER ACTION INITIATIVE

Per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.68, areas of New York State may be required to comply with enhanced public health restrictions based on identified clusters of positive COVID-19 cases. The safety protocols and restrictions for the “Cluster Action Initiative” are issued by NY State as outlined below.

Cluster Zones per NY State

The New York State Department of Health identifies whether an area is a “Cluster Zone” according to cluster-based cases of COVID-19 at a level that compromises the State’s containment of the virus.

Activities will be restricted according to three (3) zone designations intended to control further spread of the virus: 

• Red Zone (cluster itself), 
• Orange Zone (warning zone), or 
• Yellow Zone (precautionary zone).

• Cluster Zone Maps per NY State

  There are no cluster zones identified in Nassau County at this time. The latest maps of cluster zones throughout New York State can be viewed here.

  Cluster Zone Restrictions per NY State

  Restrictions ONLY apply to areas located within Cluster Zones, or COVID-19 Hot Spot Zones, as identified by New York State.

  • Restrictions according to red, orange, or yellow clusters zone are outlined here. 
  • Find out if you are located in a Cluster Zone, or COVID-19 Hot Spot, by using the address lookup tool here. 
  • Review Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) related to the State’s Cluster Action Initiative here.

• Businesses in Orange or Red Cluster Zones Identified by NY State

  For business or entities that operate or provide both essential and non-essential services, supplies or support – only those lines and/or business operations that are necessary to support the essential services, supplies, or support are exempt from the workforce reduction restrictions within a cluster zone.

  If businesses and other entities are permitted to operate within the Cluster Action Initiative, they must continue to follow the relevant industry-specific guidelines provided by New York State on the NY Forward website, or find specific guidance linked on this webpage below.

  • Confirm if your business is subject to public health and safety restrictions by using the state’s business lookup tool here.
  • Determine if any in-person workforce reductions per the Cluster Action Initiative apply to your business type here.

• Additional Resources from NY State

  • Review NY State’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide for the Cluster Action Initiative here. 
  • For questions not covered in the state’s FAQ guide, please contact New York State’s Regional Control Room for Long Island by sending an email to linyf@esd.ny.gov.

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  NEW YORK STATE INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC REOPENING GUIDELINES

  Gym and Fitness Center Reopening In Nassau County During The Covid-19 Public Health Emergency

  New York State allowed Gyms and Fitness Centers to reopen in Nassau County beginning on August 24, 2020. Click here for more information.

  Phase One

  As of May 27, 2020, business categories and guidelines for each include:

  • Construction
  • Non-Food Related Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Commercial Fishing Services and For-Hire Vessels
  • Retail (Curbside and In-Store Pickup)
  • Manufacturing
  • Wholesale Trade

• Phase Two 

  As of June 10, 2020, business categories and guidelines for each are outlined below:

  • Office-Based Work 
  • Real Estate Services 
  • Essential and Phase II Retail – In-Store Sales 
• 
  
  • Holiday Shopping Advisory
• 
  
  • Vehicle Sales, Leases, and Rentals
  • Retail Rental, Repair, and Cleaning
  • Commercial Building Management
  • Hair Salons and Barbershops
  • Outdoor and Take-Out/Delivery Food Services
  • Libraries

• Phase Three

  As of June 24, 2020, business categories and guidelines for each include:

  • Restaurants/Food Services
  • Personal Care Services

• Phase Four

  As of July 8, 2020, business categories and guidelines for each include:

  • Higher Education
• 
  
  • Higher Education Athletics
• 
  
  • Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment
  • Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment
  • Media Production
  • Professional Sports Competitions With No Fans
  • Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools
  • Malls (food court seating areas may reopen in accordance with the state guidance for Restaurants/Food Services effective August 20)
  • Gyms and Fitness Centers
  • Movie Theaters
  • Gaming Facilities
  • Indoor Amusement and Family Entertainment
  • Professional Sports Competitions With Fans
    
  • Small & Medium Scale Performing Arts & Entertainment
  • Large Scale Performing Arts & Entertainment

• Additional industries and institutions permitted to operate are outlined below and new state guidelines for each can be found here.

  • Child Care and Day Camps
  • Lake and Ocean Beaches
  • Religious and Funeral Services
  • Racing Activities
  • Dentistry
  • Auto Racing
  • Professional Sports Training Facilities
  • Public Transportation
  • Sports and Recreation
  • Trade Schools and Private Instruction
  • Private Auto Transportation
  • Holiday Donations and Charity Drives
  • Catered Events

• Look Up if Your Business Can Reopen:

  Use the New York Forward Business Reopening Lookup Tool
  Updated List of Essential Businesses and State Guidance available here

  Prepare to Reopen

  • Mandatory Protocols & Guidelines: 
    Before reopening, every business must meet specific mandatory requirements. NY State has published "summary guidelines" including both the mandatory and recommended protocols and detailed "final interim guidance" for each business category listed in Phase One.  The guidelines for each sector can be found here.
  • Submit an Affirmation to NY State:
    Businesses must confirm that they agree to operate in compliance with the detailed guidance. A link to the affirmation form is located at the end of the detailed guidance and found here.
  • Prepare a Written “Safety Business Plan”:
    Every business must have a written plan outlining how it will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
    Create your plan using NYS Business Re-Opening Safety Plan Template and CDC Businesses and Workplaces Re-Opening Guidancewhich includes:
    • Wellness Checks for employees and customers
    • Disinfection and Cleaning Routines
    • Social Distancing
    • PPE supply for employees and customers

• Reopening Resources & Questions

  • Reopening FAQ
  • For more info on Governor Cuomo’s Re-Opening Plan, visit Forward.ny.gov

• Contact Us

  • If you’re a business located in Nassau County and have a question about reopening not answered on this page, please email us at: econdev@nassaucountyny.gov
  • For additional support, the Nassau County Outreach Offices have bilingual staff available to answer questions about reopening:
    • Office of Minority Affairs
      Executive Director: Lionel Chitty
      minorityaffairs@nassaucountyny.gov
      MWBE certification and information available. Services are available in Haitian Creole.
    • Office of Hispanic Affairs
      Executive Director: Amy Flores
      NCHispanicAffairs@nassaucountyny.gov
      Information available in Spanish.
    • Office of Asian American Affairs
      Executive Director: Farrah Mozawalla
      AsianAffairs@nassaucountyny.gov
      Information available in Urdu, Hindi, Mandarin, Bengali and Arabic.

• Report a Complaint 

  • As businesses are eager to reopen, following NY State and CDC guidelines is imperative to the health and safety of our community and will allow us to continue to the next phase.  Residents can report a complaint or concern about a business failing to comply with the new safety guidelines by emailing reopensafe@nassaucountyny.gov.