Downtown Syracuse Business Owners and Employers,
 
Congratulations to the downtown retail businesses and construction projects that have reopened since May 15 th , when Central New York qualified to begin Phase One of the New York Forward reopening plan! A list of downtown retailers and restaurants currently offering curbside service is available  here  – and we’ll continue to make updates as more businesses reopen. If you do not see your open business listed, please email  mail@downtownsyracuse.com  so we can add it to the list! Be sure to include hours of operation and any special offerings.

As we await word on whether Central New York will qualify for  Phase Two re-opening  – including  professional services, retail, administrative support, and real estate/rental & leasing  – resources are available to assist business owners with reopening plans.

 
City of Syracuse Curbside Pick-Up Zones
Effective today, the City of Syracuse has rolled out a  new pilot program for curbside pickup zones  to facilitate retail and restaurant business downtown. The two initial zones are located along the 100 block of E. Water St. and the 300 block of S. Franklin St.; customers can easily find free, short-term parking at these locations to pick up products and meals purchased at businesses in Hanover and Armory Squares, respectively.

 
Funding Opportunities
  • New York Forward Loan Fund: New York State has made roughly $4 Million available in low-interest loans for Central New York small businesses, non-profits, and landlords. The New York Forward Loan Fund provides maximum loans of $100,000, with interest rates of 2-3% and a five-year repayment term. Priority will be given to industries and regions that have been reopened, and application review begins June 1. Small businesses and nonprofits in industries and regions that have not yet reopened are encouraged to prepare a pre-application in advance by accessing resources available here. To learn more about the New York Forward Loan Fund, click here.

  • U. S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The PPP still has funding available for small businesses that retain/rehire or demonstrate a good-faith effort to rehire staff. If you wish to begin preparing your application, download a copy of the PPP borrower application form (Spanish version) to see the information that will be requested when you apply with a commercial lender. Click here to view a list of lenders participating in the PPP by state. The PPP loan forgiveness application is also available now, and may also help business owners decide whether to apply. Even if you do not meet the loan forgiveness criteria, interest rates are capped at 1% with a 2-year term and six-month repayment deferral, making this an attractive commercial loan option. For more information, please click here.
 
Reopening Resources
For businesses in industries scheduled to reopen in Phase Two, Three, and Four, the following resources may help you prepare:

  • New York Forward website -- Once your business is eligible to reopen (click here to check eligibility), visit New York Forward’s industry reopening website to (1) read through the Summary Guidelines for your industry, (2) sign an online affirmation that you understand the Detailed Guidelines for your industry, and (3) print your Business Safety Plan. Businesses may start working on their safety plan now, using the online template.

  • Reopening Toolkits – Various organizations and industries (e.g. real estate, restaurant, retail) have released guidance to assist businesses with reopening plans:
  • CenterState CEO has released a Reopening Toolkit and Checklist.
  • Restaurant owners can sign up to attend a free webinar on June 1 from 2-3pm with Melissa Fleischut, president & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association.
  • In case you missed it: View the recording of the webinar “Keeping Workers Safe as Businesses Re-open: Lessons From the Front Lines” – featuring downtown’s own David Hoyne of Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub & Restaurant – by clicking here.
  • To review previous Downtown Business Resource emails from the Downtown Committee – covering topics such as “Consumer Confidence” and “Getting Your Business Online,” please click here and scroll to Business Resources.
 
Please reach out to us with questions, ideas, or additional resources by emailing  mail@downtownsyracuse.com . We look forward to seeing you in Downtown Syracuse and would love to hear from you on your reopening plans!