COVID-19 Update + Resources for Re-Opening Saratoga County
Saratoga County Continues Phase I of Re-opening
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS GUIDANCE

In preparation for the Saratoga-Capital Region to begin Phase II of re-opening, we want to share the following important details to assist your business.

In Phase I businesses which have been open for over a week now include Construction, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, Retail - (Limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop off), Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade.

Industries in phase two — all office-based jobs, real estate services, retail - in-store shopping, and limited barbershop and hair salon services — may be able to start reopening Wednesday, June 3rd if the number of new COVID-19 cases remain low. The other phases will be able to follow in two-week periods.


Read and Affirm Guidance For Detailed Guidelines:




  • You do NOT as of this time need to file your plan with any federal, state, region, county or local agency. Your plan needs to be in writing and made available should any state or local health agency inspect your facility. While some in the region are inviting employers to sign an online pledge form indicating you agree to follow certain safety rules, you do NOT need to do so. It is voluntary at this time.

  • New York State has changed it's COVID 19 testing rules to allow any individual who is returning to work in Phase 1 to be tested. Please click here for more details. While a number of employers we've spoken to plan on having their employees tested, you are not currently required to do so. 

Phase 1 reopening is good news for every employer as the clock now starts ticking toward a Phase 2 opening. While it is generally noted that there will likely be 14 days in between each phase, the Governor has indicated this could be adjusted depending on how our health care system is impacted by these changes over time.  This means we all have to be responsible and vigilant in following all of the safety protocols as recommended by the CDC and others to stop the spread of this virus .

As we've done with our five partners in Saratoga County from the start of this pandemic, we will continue to collaborate as we all lead the way sharing with all of you any additional guidance or news about any changes to current rules and regulations.
COVID-19 Resources

Reopening Guidelines







This tool will help you determine whether or not your business is eligible to reopen, and the public health and safety standards with which your business must comply.

The State will be issuing new safety and operating guidelines for businesses, including essential businesses and non-essential businesses that are permitted to reopen. Industry-specific guidelines are currently available for business sectors in Phase One: construction; agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; retail trade; manufacturing; and wholesale trade. Those requirements can be found here.


  • Any business with a pending inquiry must refer to the updated guidelines or the New York Forward website to determine the status of your business. If your business is included in the list of essential businesses, you do not need confirmation of such by ESD. ESD will not be responding to individual requests for determinations.

All Businesses that are currently open regardless of if you have been deemed essential previously or are a Phase 1 business, MUST read and affirm the detailed guidelines for your industry.

Workers in office buildings may be at risk for exposure to the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019. Office building employers, building owners and managers, and building operations specialists can take steps to create a safe and healthy workplace and protect workers and clients.








Funding Resources

Have you recently been awarded or applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)? This webinar will take you through the basics of managing your EIDL. Sign up for the June 2nd webinar being held from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. The NYFLF targets the state's small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. The NYFLF is specifically timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan. These loans are available to small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords that did not receive a loan from either the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for COVID-19 in 2020.

The NY SBDC will be hosting a live webinar reviewing the New York Forward Loan Fund on Friday, May 29th from 10:00-11:00 a.m.

New York State Contact Tracing

Contact tracing is the process of contacting all people who've had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Contact Tracers have been hired and trained to work with state-of-the-art software to gather information on the spread of the infection. Your participation is confidential.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will get a call from a public health representative to identify any contacts you have had. This form can help you identify your contacts so you will be ready for the call.


Join the Contact Tracing Team: Apply here to become a Contact Tracer , Team Supervisor , or Community Support Specialist .

Other Resources






Please be advised that both the guidance and the lookup tool are regularly updated. Industry partners are encouraged to continue to check their status for updates.
Please visit our website for up to date resources for businesses and individuals impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) . If you have questions or need immediate assistance, please email us at needbizhelp@saratogapartnership.org call 518.871.1887.