TODAY's DOSE

Tuesday August 3, 2021

N.Y. Governor Holds Covid-19 Press Briefing

Live: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Holds Covid-19 Briefing | NBC News

A Checklist of Things Americans Need to Do to Enter Canada, Beginning August 9th

With the border opening Aug. 9 for discretionary travel, Americans will find that it’s not so easy getting into Canada anymore.

Gone are the days of simply showing a passport or enhanced New York state driver’s license and answering a few questions before being waved through a checkpoint. With the coronavirus pandemic still a threat to national health, fully vaccinated U.S. citizens going to Canada for non-essential activities must take some extra steps.

When arriving at the Canadian border, Americans must not be showing any COVID-19 symptoms, which include a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever or chills, fatigue or weakness, muscle or body aches, new loss of smell or taste, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting) and “feeling very unwell.”

If asymptomatic, the following are requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:

Pre-entry test
Quarantine plan in case they don’t get the exemption
Arrival test
Requirements checklist

FURTHER DETAILS

NYS Launches $35 Million Restaurant Return-to-Work Tax Credit Program

Restaurant Return-to-Work Tax Credit program, designed to help expand employment opportunities for workers and provide relief to COVID-impacted restaurants. Created as part of the New York State FY 2022 Budget, the program offers a tax credit for the rapid hiring of restaurant workers to reduce the restaurant industry's pandemic-induced economic difficulties. Qualifying restaurants could receive a $5,000 tax credit per net new hire, totaling up to $50,000 in tax credits per business.

The Restaurant Return-to-Work Tax Credit is available to small, independently-owned restaurants in New York City, or in areas that were designated as an Orange Zone or Red Zone for at least 30 consecutive days by the New York State Department of Health during the state of emergency related to COVID-19. Eligible restaurants will need to demonstrate COVID-related losses and show proof of hiring at least one full-time worker at the restaurant.

Recognizing the need for restaurants to receive this assistance quickly in the economic wake of COVID-19, a "Fast Track" option will allow restaurants to claim the tax credit as an advance payment ahead of filing their 2021 tax returns. Under this option, restaurants will be evaluated based on their net new job growth during a truncated period, from April 1 to August 31, 2021.

DETAILS & APPLICATION HERE

North Country Making Final Push for Universal Broadband

After plenty of fits and starts, North Country officials believe they see a path to universal broadband coverage with help from federal grant money targeted to wiring those whose remote locations have made connection infeasible.

In May, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced today the availability of $288 million in grant funding for the deployment of broadband infrastructure, part of a federal CARES Act for Covid relief.

But a final obstacle is knowing exactly who and where these unserved people are located. As such, anyone who is unserved or underserved is being asked to contact their town supervisors to be put on the map.

MORE DETAILS

Paul Smith's College Marks 75 Years

For three-quarters of a century, Paul Smith's College has opened doors to education and opportunity for men and women from around the region, the nation, and the world.

The 75th Anniversary was celebrated on campus last week alongside Alumni Summer Reunion festivities.

The "College of the Adirondacks" began as a co-educational, two-year liberal arts institution in 1946 with over 150 students enrolled to study in the Forestry and Resort Management program.

An undaunted first class of students excelled at their studies, and after four semesters, began to manage Paul Smith's Hotel, which was part of the campus in those early years.