Monday June 22, 2020
Hello Chamber Members and Partners,

Here are the latest updates and resources for businesses and employees during this uncertain time.

Send us any questions or updates you may have, we are here to help provide information, connect the dots and assure those in the North Country that we will get through this together.

Onward and Be Well!
GOVERNOR CUOMO UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON STATE'S PROGRESS
Today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available at  forward.ny.gov .
 
The Governor announced that global public health experts cleared the Mid-Hudson Valley to enter Phase 3 of reopening tomorrow. Long Island is on track to enter Phase 3 of reopening Wednesday. Business guidance for Phase Three of the state's reopening plan is available  here .
 
"In New York, we've been following the science and the data and the metrics from day one. We have the best numbers that we've had since this started today in New York,"  Governor Cuomo said.  "Yesterday, we only had ten deaths, down from a high of 800. We have about 1,000 people in our hospitals, which is one of the lowest numbers we've had since this began. Because of the changes New Yorkers made, we now have the lowest transmission rate in the United States of America."
 
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
 
  • Deaths: 10, lowest since March 21st  
  • Hospitalizations: 1,122 (down from 1,142 the day before)
  • ICU Hospitalizations: 330
  • ICU Hospitalizations that are Intubated: 228
  • Total Discharges: 69,710
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Join the  North Country Chamber of Commerce  and Jennifer Bosely, Executive Director of the  USDA's Farm Service Agency  in Clinton/Franklin/Essex Counties, for an informational webinar on the  USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program  (CFAP). 

  • Date: Tuesday, June 23rd
  • Time: 7:00pm

Topics to be covered include:
  • Presentation/Overview of the Program
  • Eligible Applicants/Commodities 
  • How to apply and more!
Clinton County DMV Set to Open
Effective Wednesday, June 24, the Clinton County Department of Motor Vehicles will be open by appointment only. It will be by appointment only and county residents can make an appointment by calling 518.565.4789.

The office has been closed to the public since March 23, and there are many residents who are trying to schedule appointments, they are asking that residents exercise patience when making an appointment.
They request that only the customer who is bringing in the transaction enter the department and are asked to wear a face covering and practice social distancing.

The Department of Motor Vehicles has taken the safety precautions by installing plexiglass and floor markings to protect their employees and customers.

The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

** Many transactions can be done on the New York State DMV website and help you save time and frustration. Click here for more information.
The Hamilton County IDA Offering Micro Grants
The Hamilton County IDA will be offering $500 Micro Grants to businesses to reimburse the purchase of PPE. Please see the attachment for more information.

These micro grants will be available on a first come, first serve basis and will only be available to 20 businesses.
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING REMINDS NEW YORKERS TO REMAIN VIGILANT AGAINST COVID-19 SCAMS
New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) reminds New Yorkers of all ages to stay aware of scams surrounding the  novel coronavirus . Scams have become even more sophisticated in recent years.
 
Scammers are using  email ,  text messages ,  social media , and the  telephone  to steal and defraud.

  • Phishing and supply scams
  • Contact tracing scams
  • Economic relief scams
  • Government grant scams
  • Charity scams
  • Provider scams
  • Bank/FDIC scams
  • Investment scams disguised as “research reports”
  • Shopping scams

What to Do if You Have Been Scammed
Report it. Reporting scams to law enforcement is important to help establish accurate statistics on how many people have been affected, which determines how many resources the FBI and other law enforcement will devote to breaking up fraud rings.
WEBINAR: New York Forward Loan Fund
The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, including MWBEs, nonprofits, and small landlords that have been excluded by other relief and recovery efforts, as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.

  • Date: Wednesday, June 24th
  • Time (Two Sessions): 10:30am or 11:30am
Member Spotlight: LC DRIVES
LC Drives , a valued North Country Chamber of Commerce member and a NAmTrans cluster company, was recently featured in  the Electric & Hybrid Marine Technology International June 2020 publication.

A press-release  from LC Drives states in part, "With increasing environmental regulations initiated by many of the world's leading industrial nations, the marine industry is engaged in an ongoing effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions via the adoption of more efficient and reliable propulsion and auxiliary power solutions."

The release goes on to say, "Historically, one of the key constraints on the large-scale deployment of electric propulsion in marine applications is the lack of physical space to accommodate the necessary equipment. LC Drives addresses this issue with its unique approach to machine design and manufacturing, resulting in unparalleled powered densities."

Electric & Hybrid Marine Technology International  is the world's first publication that is solely dedicated to electric and hybrid marine technologies, from small boats to cargo shipping and naval fleets.
To help the North Country reopen safely and meet the state and local mandates, T he North Country Chamber of Commerce has created a comprehensive list of resources to navigate state and local requirements. Check out the home page for details. There is also a series of webinars available for businesses to help educate and provide answers to common questions.
QUICK LINKS:
  • Looking for Supplies: If your business is looking for hard to find protective products, we have created a list of businesses offering hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, masks and other items.





  • Now Hiring: Whether you are hiring or looking for work, we have a page dedicated to helping pair potential employees with employers.


  • Webinars: Did you miss one of our webinars, you can find them all here.

  • How to Help: If you are looking for a way to help the North Country, we have created an ever growing list of needs in our community. And if you are a non-profit, health care organization or a business helping those in need, email us with your needs, contact information and we will be happy to add you to our growing list.

  • SCORE: Visit Scores Coronavirus page for webinars and useful articles for small businesses.
Have Questions? We're here to help!

North Country Chamber of Commerce
518.563.1000