Filing for Federal Small Business Loan and Grant Assistance Begins Tomorrow!
A $349 billion Federal Paycheck Protection Program begins tomorrow, Friday, April 3rd. The Program will provide much-needed relief to millions of small businesses so they can sustain their businesses and keep their workers employed. This measure provides small business job retention loans to provide eight weeks of payroll and certain overhead to keep workers employed.

Starting Friday, businesses can go to a participating SBA 7(a) lender, bank, or credit union, apply for a loan, and be approved on the same day.  The loans will be forgiven as long as the funds are used to keep employees on the payroll and for certain other expenses.

The program will provide capital to businesses without collateral requirements, personal guarantees, or SBA fees. All loan payments will be deferred for six months. Most importantly, the SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest.
 
The new loan program will be available retroactive from Feb. 15, 2020, so employers can rehire their recently laid-off employees through June 30, 2020.

LOAN TERMS & CONDITIONS:
 
·     All businesses, including non-profits, Veterans organizations, Tribal concerns, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, and independent contractors, with 500 or fewer employees, or no greater than the number of employees set by the SBA as the size standard for certain industries are eligible.
·     Maximum loan amount up to $10 million
·     Loan forgiveness if proceeds used for payroll costs and other designated business operating expenses in the 8 weeks following the date of loan origination (due to likely high subscription, it is anticipated that not more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for non-payroll costs)

All loans under this program will have the following identical features:
o  Interest rate of 0.5%
o  Maturity of 2 years
o  First payment deferred for six months
o  100% guarantee by SBA
o  No collateral
o  No personal guarantees
o  No borrower or lender fees payable to SBA

The Paycheck Protection Program is specifically designed to help small businesses keep their workforce employed. Visit   SBA.gov/Coronavirus   for more information on the Paycheck Protection Program. Visit treasury.gov/cares  for more information on SBA’s assistance to small businesses.

Businesses across the country are being affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Fortunately, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that provides substantial financial relief for business and individuals. In this webinar, our tax experts will walk participants through the provisions in the recently enacted CARES Act and the impact on business and individuals.

Topics covered include:
·     Paycheck Protection Loan Forgiveness Program and the loan application process
·     Individual and business tax provisions of the CARES Act 
·     Other related provisions
WEBINAR DATES AND TIMES:

Thur., April 2
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Fri., April 3
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m

 
Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 3 p.m. EDT
Moderator:  Mike Bellaman, President and CEO, ABC National
 Speakers: Representatives from JLG, Southwire, Tradesmen International, United Rentals and Viewpoint
Hear from a panel of ABC’s strategic partners about how contractors and supply chain partners can collaborate with a win-win attitude to plan for and execute construction business continuity today, tomorrow and over the next few months as we battle COVID-19.
 

Date: Thursday, April 16
Time: 3 p.m. EDT
 Speakers: Matt Abeles, ABC National; Jeff Sample, eSUB; Karl Sorensen, Blue Collar Labs
Which technologies can help your business succeed during the coronavirus pandemic—and immediately improve your bottom line when you are back up and running at full capacity? Hear about collaborative technologies that will improve productivity and learn which solutions could work best for different contractors. Plus, discover simple tech solutions you can implement to jumpstart and help scale your business your business after we overcome the COVID-19 challenge.

 
With Stay at Home orders issued around the region, new federal regulations for paid family and sick leave, and the ongoing COVID19 state of emergency, contractors have numerous questions. ABC Heart of America Legal Counsel Denise Delcore, JD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, a Shareholder at Polsinelli, will address some of the most pressing concerns and assist members in understanding the implications of the new orders on you and your business.
 

Speakers: Jack A. Callahan, CPA , CohnReznick LLP; Cristi Lewis, CPA, CohnReznick LLP

COVID-19 has thrown world markets into a tailspin, and it’s time for construction to reposition and survive. This session will help contractors of all sizes understand critical considerations, including contractual issues, cash flow and overhead management, as well as where to look for opportunities for well-positioned, well-capitalized companies.


Moderator:  Mike Bellaman, President and CEO, ABC National
Speaker: Brian Robertson, Fringe Benefit Group 

Company owners and human resource managers will receive an overview of pressing employer regulatory and employee benefits issues related to the coronavirus pandemic and legislative response. Topics to be covered include special enrollment periods and well as premium grace periods for the fully insured, as well as self-funded group health plans and an overview of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice.
Cornerstone Training Institute
Offers 3 COVID-19 Training Courses
All courses offered at:
Cornerstone Training Institute  
460 State Street  
Rochester, New York 14608

2 Hour COVID-19 Awareness
This brief awareness level training is geared for employees that will be returning to the workplace and will be responsible for light cleaning and disinfection in their work space. The objective of this course is to raise the awareness of COVID-19 with factual information and simple steps that employees can take to avoid spreading the disease within the workplace and spreading it home
$65/pp (group discounts always apply)
 
April 9 8:00am-10:00am
April 9 12:30pm- 2:30pm
April 10 8:00am-10:00am
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4 Hour COVID-19 Disinfection Worker Certification
This half day session is geared toward janitorial, custodial, cleaning and remediation contractors and employees that are working diligently with the main focus of deep-cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and entire facilities. This training touches on Hazard Communications and Personal Protective Equipment, however, it is highly recommended that individuals that attend the class have some additional experience and training in a remediation field. This course isn't intended to meet and OSHA requirements.
$105/pp (group discounts always apply)
 
April 8 8:00am-12:00pm
April 9 12:30am- 4:30pm
______________________________________________________________

8 Hour COVID-19 Disinfection Supervisor Certification
This in depth, full day interactive seminar is the perfect event for building & grounds managers, property managers, construction project managers, custodial managers, remediation managers, and many more. We will cover in depth, the importance for creating and implementing an effective cleaning and disinfection regimen. We will discuss the various classifications of exposure (per OSHA) and how to manage this within your facility. The program will discuss what situations you might consider bringing in a professional decontamination/disinfection contractor, such as if there is a positive COVID-19 case in the workplace. The multitude of disinfection methods will be discussed in depth. We will also discuss a way to effectively communicate to all building occupants about the serious measure that the facility is taking.
$175 (group discounts always apply)
 
April 6 8:00am-3:30pm
April 7 8:00am-3:30pm
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To register, call 585-319-3625 or email dyehl@ctiny.com for information and to register
Empire Chapter Offers Supplemental Health and Safety Plan to Address Novel Coronavirus 
The personal safety and health of each employee is of primary importance. We believe that employees are our most important assets and that their safety at the worksite is our greatest responsibility. As such, the Empire Chapter is offering members a Supplemental Health and Safety Plan to address Novel Coronavirus  


How to Shut Down a Project
For guidance on shutting down a jobsite, please visit the links below:


If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Empire Chapter Statewide Director of Safety, Craft Training, and Workforce Development, Jason Ashlaw at
315-454-2320
For an overview of Phase 3 of the COVID-19 CARES stimulus relief bill and how it effects you and your business, click here.

Highlights include:

• A $350 billion forgivable loan program designed to ensure that small businesses do not lay off employees
• A 50% refundable payroll tax credit on worker wages will further incentivize businesses, including ones with fewer than 500 employees, to retain workers
• Looser net operating loss-reduction rules that will allow businesses to offset more
• A delay in employer-side payroll taxes for Social Security until 2021 and 2022
• Sole proprietors and other self-employed workers could be eligible for the expanded unemployment-insurance benefits the bill provides
• A portion of the $425 billion in funds appropriated for the Federal Reserve’s credit facilities will target small businesses
NYC DOB Halts Non-Essential Construction
Please see here for guidance on how DOB is implementing the ban on non-essential construction during the COVID-19 outbreak:


As part of the citywide response to the Coronavirus, the Department of Buildings (DOB) is continuing its efforts to immediately limit the amount of walk-in traffic to DOB offices.
Effective immediately, the following mandatory operational changes have been implemented:

Drop off boxes are available for the following services:
Application Processing
  • After Hours Variances
  • Certificates of Occupancy
  • Data Entry Corrections
  • Letters of Completion
  • Letters of No Objection
  • New and subsequent job filings
  • Permits and Permit Renewals
  • Post Approval Amendments (PAA)
  • Supersede Requests
  • Temporary Certificates of Occupancy
  • Temporary Use Permits
  • Withdrawal Requests

eFiling for Application Processing:
  • Permit renewals without changes must be processed in eFiling.
  • For initial non-Hub standard plan BIS jobs, upload plans in eFiling/eSubmit after the job is in AP Entire/D status.
  • Do not upload plans in eFiling/eSubmit for standard plan PAAs until it has been entered in BIS and the fees have been paid.

See the  Application Processing Service Notice  for more details. All applications need to be dropped-off or mailed to the borough office where the property is located.

New York Offers a Free Mental Health Hotline to Help with the Emotional Trauma of the Coronavirus
On Wednesday, Governor Cuomo announced the creation of a free mental health hotline for New Yorkers. It is staffed by thousands of mental health professionals, all volunteers.

Anyone can call the hotline and schedule an appointment with a mental health professional for free. Callers to the hotline will hear an introduction to the "New York State COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline," and then will be directed to a trained volunteer.

You can reach the hotline at 1-844-863-9314 .
Health Benefits for New Yorkers
New Yorkers without health insurance can apply for a health plan through  NY State of Health .  If you recently lost employer coverage, you must apply within 60 days of losing that coverage. Because of loss of income, New Yorkers may also be eligible for Medicaid, the Essential Plan or Child Health Plus