The 2021 NYS State of the State has an entire section dedicated to small businesses. According to the NY.Gov website, “Governor Cuomo has said throughout the pandemic that no one is immune to this virus. New York’s small businesses — the backbone of the state’s economy, making up 98 percent of all businesses statewide — know this truth all too well. In 2019, small businesses with fewer than 100 employees accounted for 39 percent of all private sector jobs in New York. But in 2020, business owners experienced previously-unimaginable challenges. To ensure the health and safety of New Yorkers, brick and mortar businesses across the state temporarily closed or cut back their operations during the height of the crisis, causing significant financial impact to small business owners. While many have safely reopened in step with Governor Cuomo’s New York Forward initiative, in the absence of significant federal support, others have not been able to stay afloat. The Partnership for New York City estimates that up to one-third of the city’s 230,000 small businesses may be permanently lost to this crisis”
So what nuggets are in the 2021 plan for Putnam County Businesses?
- Commercial eviction moratorium: The Governor will codify his Executive order and establish a statewide moratorium on commercial evictions until May 1, 2021, for commercial tenants who have endured COVID-related hardship. In addition NYS will provide pro bono legal, education, and technical assistance and the launch of a public-private partnership with Start Small Think Big and the New York State Bar Association to provide small businesses and their landlords with the help they need to renegotiate lease terms as well as a Court-led mediation process to avoid court. This is bittersweet legislation as landlords are also struggling. Where is their relief?
- Facilitate Digital Sales for Retail, Food, and Beverage Businesses: In December 2020, Governor Cuomo announced that through April 2021, e-commerce company Ritual would offer its commission-free digital ordering platform to New York's restaurants at no cost, for pickup and delivery, and that PayPal would commit $1 million towards discounted purchases for customers of participating businesses on Ritual ONE in February 2021, at no expense to the businesses. 42 existing partners will also expand their offerings to meet this need, including Square, which will provide training on how restaurants and other retail businesses can leverage their point-of sale system for curbside and delivery service. This is HUGE as I know most restaurants dislike the high fees of Grubhub or DoorDash amongst other apps for delivery and pick up.
- Expand Licensing of Movie Theaters to Serve Alcoholic Beverages: Under current law, a movie theater may not be licensed to serve alcoholic beverages to its patrons unless it has a full restaurant, serving meals, that patrons eat at a table in their seats. This hurdle deprives hundreds of New York craft beverage manufacturers of an additional outlet for their products at a time where consumers and main street businesses are more interested than ever in buying locally and creating business synergies with their neighbors. To facilitate this, Governor Cuomo will propose legislation allowing licensure of movie theaters without the need for a full restaurant. This should give the local theatres a boost.
- Codify and Expand Commonsense COVID Era Reforms such as: Online testing for occupational licenses, remote notarization, electronic service of process upon the Secretary of State (which in turn will enable the summons to be transmitted digitally to the entity being sued, saving time and undue process for businesses). Hopefully they will include the ability for restaurants to be able to serve drinks to go.
- Leverage the Expertise of the Regional Economic Development Councils to Invest in a Statewide Recovery: This year, New York State will leverage the expertise of the Regional EDCs to invest $750 million in strategic, regional efforts to drive the recovery in every corner of the state. I look forward to discussing this with PCEDC President Kathleen Abels.
- Grow New York’s Hemp Industry: In January 2020, Governor Cuomo signed into law a new framework for regulating hemp in New York State, transitioning from a research program to a full license program.
While there is still so much to be done, I do believe that some of these efforts will support businesses and lets just pray we can remain open, and safely get through this winter. Assistance from the state will hopefully help facilitate recovery.
Jennifer Maher
Founding Chairwoman 2010-2020
Putnam County Business Council
info@Putnamcountybusinesscouncil.com
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