Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order #44 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
Order here: https://special.usps.com/testkits
Categories
Penalties Under Review
Mayor Adams has signed the “Small Business Forward” Executive Order to reform existing business regulations, with the goal of ensuring local businesses face fewer needless fines and penalties.
The Executive Order builds upon Local Law 80 and calls on the Department of Buildings, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Sanitation, Fire Department, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to review business regulations with the goal of reducing fine schedules and allowing for cure periods or warnings for first-time violations.
Within three months, each Agency will identify the 25 violations that are responsible for the greatest number of summonses and fines issued to small businesses and submit the following:
Recommendations for which violations should be reformed via a) elimination, b) fine schedules scaled back, c) allowance of a First Time Warning, and/or d) allowance for a Cure Period for first-time violations.
If no reform action is recommended for a violation, provide an explanation as to why the status quo should be maintained (e.g. serious health or safety risk)
Identify the necessary actions for reform (e.g. rule-making, City legislation, State legislation, etc.)
All enforcement agencies should immediately review and update their violation tracking systems, inspection procedures and trainings, and the language on their summons tickets in order to ensure that they are prepared to introduce cure periods and first-time warnings for violations in compliance with this EO.
The establishment of an Inter-Agency Working Group – which includes each enforcement agency and to be chaired by a Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development and the SBS Commissioner – to review Agency submissions and oversee the ensuing business regulatory reform process.
Categories
COVID Testing
The BID has arranged for another COVID testing Day. On Saturday, January 15, at 3955 East Tremont Avenue, testing services will be available from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Free Masks and sanitizers will be distributed.
The Throggs Neck BID arranged for COVID testing on January 6, on the corner of Lamport and East Tremont Avenue. Trace and tracking services were provided, as well. Numerous masks were provided for free.
The BID was concerned over the long lines at local private testing sites, and the lack of official city “pop-up” sites within the Throggs Neck community.
Photo: BID Director Bob Jaen with NYC Health and Hospitals testing and tracing staff
Due to the overwhelming response, the application for the NYC Small Business Resilience Grant has been paused. Businesses should check covidresilience.nyc https://covidresilience.nyc/ or updates if additional funding becomes available.
Businesses that already began applications should complete their application as soon as possible.
If applicants have questions about how to complete their application, they should review the application guide or contact the call center at 888-959-6471.
For assistance with the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program and other business financing options, visit nyc.gov/financingassistance to request a one-on-one consultation with a representative from one of our NYC Business Solutions Centers.
Thanks to the efforts of Throggs Neck BID Director Bob Jaen, a pop-up COVID test center will be coming to the Throggs Neck area next week. Watch this space for details.
Categories
More COVID Rules
REMINDER!
| Indoor Dining, Indoor Fitness, and Indoor Entertainment and Certain Meeting Spaces Children: Starting December 14, children ages 5 to 11 are required to have proof of vaccination for the public indoor activities described here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines-keytonyc.page They must show they have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Children ages 5-11 only need a single dose up until January 28, 2022. Beginning January 29, 2022, 5-11 year olds will need to show proof of a full regimen of a COVID-19 vaccine, just like individuals who are 12 and older. People 12 and older: Starting December 27, people 12 and older participating in indoor activities will be required to show proof they have received two vaccine doses, except for those who have received the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If your business is covered by this requirement, you are required to check the vaccination status of all staff and customers 5 and older. You may not permit entry to anyone 5 and older who has not received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless an exception in the Executive Order for Key to NYC or the Frequently Asked Questions document applies. You can allow customers to use the bathroom or for another reason that will take a small amount of time (for example, less than 10 minutes). Businesses that do not comply with this policy will be subject to fines. To implement this policy: NEW: Fill out the Affirmation of Compliance With Key to NYC Worker Vaccination Requirements certificate and post it in a public place. Place the Vaccination Required Poster for Businesses (PDF) in a place that is clearly visible to people before they enter your business Become familiar with the accepted proofs of vaccination listed here. Develop a written implementation plan that will be available for inspection. This should include how you will check the vaccination status of staff and customers before they enter — or immediately after they enter — your business. Help your staff get vaccinated: Consider hanging posters about the COVID-19 vaccines in break rooms and provide information about where to get vaccinated. If you are a small business and have questions about this policy, call the SBS hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692). |
| All Other Private Sector Businesses Starting December 27, employers must ensure that all workers who enter the workplace or come into contact with the public during the course of their work beyond a quick and limited purpose show proof of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. Workers will have up to 45 days to produce proof of a second dose in a two-dose vaccination series. Those who have not provided proof of at least one dose or applied for a reasonable accommodation on religious or medical grounds by the deadline must be excluded from the workplace. Additional information about the new vaccination requirement for private sector businesses can be found at nyc.gov/vaxtowork starting on Wednesday, December 15. |
| Indoor Face Covering Guidance On December 10, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced masks are required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. This major action to address the winter surge comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise statewide and is in alignment with the CDC’s recommendations for communities with substantial and high transmission. The State Health Commissioner issued a determination solidifying the requirement. You can read the State Health Commissioner’s December 10, 2021 Determination Letter. More details can be found in the State’s FAQs. https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/frequently-asked-questions-proof-full-vaccination-or-mask-requirement-businesses-and-venues If you have any questions, please call the SBS hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC. |
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce reminds all thatIf you received a PPP you are required to apply for forgiveness. There is a 5-minute application that has to be completed in order to have this money completely forgiven, otherwise it becomes a loan in which the SBA and IRS will require to be repaid. We urge everyone who received a PPP loan to apply for forgiveness to avoid having to repay whatever money they received. For more information, go to: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program/ppp-loan-forgiveness
The Board of Directors and the staff of the Throggs Neck BID wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2022. The Throggs Neck BID will continue to do all that it can to add on to the many achievements, including brighter lighting, improved sanitation, more security, distributing free masks and sanitizers, and better appearance that we brought to the community in 2021.
The award winning CROSSTOWN DINER is offering a 10% discount if you order online! Go to https://store1.geomerx.com/crosstown/
Check out their extraordinary CATERING MENU for all your holiday needs! Check it out here
Details of the Small Business Resilience Grant from the NYC Department of Small Business Services:
This new grant is designed to help NYC’s small businesses offset operational expenses to mitigate economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This grant program will provide $10,000 grants to eligible small businesses in:
- Low-to-moderate income (LMI) areas
- The arts, entertainment, and recreation sectors; and/or
- The accommodation and food services sector
Examples of appropriate uses for a grant include:
- supporting payroll and benefits costs
- costs to retain employees
- mortgage, rent, or utilities costs
- other operating costs.
This program will be administered by Lendistry.
Details: https://covidresilience.nyc/