NYS has Issued Guidance by Industry Sector for Phase I Reopening

Industry Guidelines for phase one of re-opening are now posted online. In addition, the site includes a link for business to read and affirm detailed guidelines for each industry sector, and a printable business safety plan template. Please note: Businesses that are operating now as essential businesses still need to read and affirm their guidance and print/utilize the safety plan template .

Each re-opening business must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. A business may fill out the template below to fulfill the requirement, or may develop its own Safety Plan. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on the premises of the business and must made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.

The Chamber strongly recommends reading/digesting the guidance, ensuring that you are prepared for reopening, and having your plan in place and ready to share - prior to taking any steps towards reopening. Do not submit the attestation until your business is ready to adhere to the guidelines. Any non-compliant businesses will potentially put their own business at risk by opening prior to meeting the guidelines - and be aware that you could have complaints filed against you for doing so.

Business owners should refer to the State’s industry-specific guidance for more information on how to safely operate; a summary of this guidance and industry sector breakdowns is included below.
Retail Trade/Curbside Pickup Guidelines
Phase One includes delivery, curbside, and in-store pickup service only for the following businesses:
  • Clothing Stores
  • Direct Selling Establishments
  • Electronics and Appliance Stores
  • Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses
  • Furniture and Home Furnishing Stores
  • Florists
  • General Merchandise Stores
  • Health and Personal Care Stores
  • Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores
  • Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores
  • Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores
  • Used Merchandise Stores
  • Shoe Stores
  • Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument and Book Stores
  • Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers
Construction Guidelines
Construction Industry Sector including:
  • Building Equipment Contractors
  • Building Finishing Contractors
  • Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
  • Highway, Street and Bridge Construction
  • Land Subdivision 
  • Nonresidential Building Construction
  • Residential Building Construction
  • Utility System Construction
Agriculture, Forestry, & Fishing Guidelines
Ag, Forestry & Fishing Sector including:
  • Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production
  • Other Animal Production
  • Other Crop Production
  • Support Activities for Animal Production
  • Support Activities for Crop Production
  • Support Activities for Forestry
Manufacturing Guidelines
Manufacturing Sector including:
  • Apparel Manufacturing
  • Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
  • Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing
  • Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
  • Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
  • Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
  • Machinery Manufacturing
  • Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
  • Paper Manufacturing
  • Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
  • Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
  • Printing and Related Support Activities
  • Textile Mills
  • Textile Product Mills
  • Wood Product Manufacturing
  • Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
Wholesale Trade Guidelines
  • Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers
  • Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers
  • Furniture and Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
  • Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
  • Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
  • Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers
  • Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers
  • Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
  • Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers
  • Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
  • Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
Please Note : Essential Businesses that have been operating will need to read and affirm the appropriate industry sector guidance and utilize the safety plans to continue operating.
> We are awaiting further guidance for any industry sectors not represented in the Phase I list, and will share it in our next update.
> Additionally, information for Phase II industry sectors will be shared as soon as it is available. Beginning to use these guidelines/plans to formulate your plans is strongly encouraged.
Tompkins County Officials to Conduct Another Town Hall - Friday @ 5 p.m.

County Administrator Jason Molino and the Emergency Operations Center Team will be doing another Q&A/Town Hall this Friday at 5pm.

The group will be addressing your questions (submit ahead of time below), and also provide updates from NYS.
Important PPP Updates
(Summarized by Chuck Schwerin of TCAD with information from Forbes.com)

1. For complete forgiveness, ensure you are using at least 75% of the funds on payroll.
2. Payroll amount is based on the average monthly payroll for 2019.
3. If you extend an offer to an employee who rejects it, you may want to ensure the correspondence is in writing for future reference. 
4. You don't have to have the same employees or job descriptions - they are looking at payroll spent, not the details.
5. The rules allow for some variance between the approved and non-approved expenses due to miscalculations or an unforeseen issue, such as an employee quitting. That variance will be converted into the two-year note at 1% interest with a six-month deferral of the first payment. But, the borrower is certifying on the PPP loan application that they will use at least 75% on payroll and the other 25% on rent, utilities, and interest payments. 
6. Be prepared to document that you spent the funds on payroll, either through paystubs or a payroll service.
7. Contact your lender to know how to prepare for the certification process and avoid unwanted surprises.

Additional PPP Updates from SBA this morning:

 
Still have questions?

Our team is here to help.
 
Just call the Chamber at 607-273-7080, or email us at info@tompkinschamber.org . For specific need areas:
 
Ritza Francois, Membership Referrals & Support
Carly Hansen , Operations/Account Assistance
Diane Hemly , Bookkeeper - AP/AR Questions
Ryan Shehu , COVID-19 Resource Coordinator for Chamber/CVB
Jennifer Tavares, Financial/Economic Support - Communications & PR
David Walton, Event & Program/Sponsor Inquiries