COVID-19 Business Resources

New York Forward - Re-opening Broome County

For information on the regional re-opening phases and industries, please visit the Governor's New York Forward website here.

Businesses will be required to develop and certify a plan they are following to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For guidance on what kind of protocols to institute in your business, visit the New York Forward website and the CDC website. Per New York State, "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."

For information on the Cluster Action Initiative head to this link

For a list of vetted vendors for PPE that Broome County has successfully contacted, see this list.

County Executive Garnar hosted Zoom meetings with hundreds of businesses to review this re-opening information. The presentation from those meetings can be reviewed here.

Information for Weddings & Catered Events

Per New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, beginning March 15, 2021 Weddings and Catered Events are allowed in New York State following specific guidelines. For more information click here

Gym & Fitness Center Inspection Information 

On Monday, August 17, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced gyms and fitness centers across the state can reopen to the public starting next Monday, August 24. Local health departments must inspect the facilities before or within two weeks of the gym/fitness center opening to ensure compliance. For information on how the Broome County Health Department will conduct these inspections click here.

Local Resources

The Agency has created a list of other resources for local businesses here.

State and Federal Resources

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering two loan programs as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to small businesses throughout New York State. For more details and the loan applications, visit Empire State Development's website.

For information on essential businesses per the Governor's NY on Pause order, visit Empire State Development's website or check out their FAQ.

New York Power Authority has provided an update on supporting clean energy through COVID-19.

The New York Forward Loan Fund is available for small businesses, nonprofits, and landlords who could not access other loans. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis on the New York Homes and Community Renewal website.