COVID-19 Business Assistance

The Town of Babylon and Babylon Industrial Development Agency (IDA) are committed to helping our local business owners navigate the economic difficulties presented by the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Locally-owned businesses are the backbone of Babylon’s economy, and we want to make sure every resource is available to them during this unprecedented situation.

Please check this page regularly for updates on the latest resources for business owners dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19.

Please click here for information on the United States Small Business Administration's Restaurant Revitalization Fund program.

Babylon Business Boot Camp

Through the Babylon Business Boot Camp, the Town of Babylon IDA has been reaching out a helping hand to businesses in our area that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this program, registered businesses have had access to interactive workshops, educational webinars, business support systems (mentoring), networking opportunities and more. Businesses must be located within the Town of Babylon to qualify and the applicant must be the owner of the business. To register, please visit this page.

As part of the Boot Camp, businesses can receive professional guidance when it comes to:

Adhering to NYS Regulations
Building Client Trust
- How to keep clients happy and personnel healthy, safe and prosperous
Creating a Safe Working Environment
- Safety Plan documents and more
Adjusting Your Business Model
- Developing plans to meet the challenges of today's market
Taking Time Out for Mental Health
- Look, we know - this is stressing all of us out. Get some suggestions on how to deal with it!

The Boot Camp program kicked off with a webinar this past August, which featured a special guest: motivational speaker Rudy Ruettiger, who captured the hearts of many as a member of the University of Notre Dame's college football team and served as the inspiration for the famous 1993 film "Rudy." You can view the kick off, as well as the subsequent webinars below and on the IDA's YouTube page:

Check back for information on upcoming webinars and make sure to register today.

Digital Presence Rebate Program

With more and more businesses necessarily integrating and enhancing their online platforms due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Babylon IDA has introduced a new rebate program to help with the associated costs. Businesses that need to hire a photographer, purchase equipment like a camera or lighting, or any other equipment or services that will improve customer relations through websites and other online outlets are able to apply for a rebate of up to $100.

This $100 digital presence grant is part of the Town’s larger Babylon is Back initiative which seeks to provide local businesses with the guidance and resources needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible businesses will have to provide receipts on monies spent specifically to improve their online presence. Each application will be reviewed and payments will be remitted to the businesses owner upon approval. To apply, please fill out this form.

Babylon Is Back Emergency Assistance Program

The Babylon Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has launched the Babylon Is Back Emergency Assistance Program. The program, recently approved by New York State, will provide temporary authority to the IDA to issue grants and loans to businesses and small not-for-profit corporations negatively impacted by COVID-19. The IDA will provide the financial assistance through the Babylon Is Back Loan and Grant Program. To qualify for either a grant or loan, an eligible entity must establish that it was financially viable prior to March 7, 2020, the date, which Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Executive Order 202 declaring a disaster emergency. Eligible entities must also conduct business in the area served by the IDA, been negatively impacted by COVID-19, and have less than 51 employees. To learn more, click here.

Babylon Is Back Emergency Assistance Program Application

PPE Reimbursement/PPE Stopgap

The Babylon IDA has made available $175,000, to be put towards reimbursing local small businesses who have laid out funds for personal protective equipment for their employees and business. Babylon understands that common sense hygiene and PPE use will play a central role in ensuring our successful and safe economic resurgence. In addition, $25,000 has been made available to purchase and distribute PPE to local small businesses who are experiencing supply chain issues, to act as a stopgap measure, and allow them to operate safely until they can acquire the proper supplies. Businesses can apply for either of these programs with the consolidated application found here.

Babylon is Back Loan Program

Through the New York Forward Loan Fund, the Babylon IDA, in partnership with the Town and Villages, has made available $2.5 million worth of loans for small businesses throughout the Town of Babylon. These loans provide working capital to businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic who were unable to take advantage of the PPP program. Babylon businesses are encouraged to apply to the program here, and to choose the National Development Council as their CDFI if applicable.

For Businesses with Less than 20 Employees (click here - choose NDC on the portal)

Outdoor Dining

Phase II of the region’s COVID-19 recovery plan allowed businesses to open for outdoor dining. The Town of Babylon - in partnership with the Babylon IDA and the Town’s local village mayors- have streamlined the permitting process for outdoor dining by cutting red tape to get permits in the hands of qualified businesses owners in record time. The application is clear, quick, easy, and free. Restaurants can apply for outdoor dining here.

FreeFace Shield Distribution to Barber Shops and Hair Salons

Thanks to a generous donationof 1,000 face shields from L3 Harris, a North Amityville manufacturer, The Town of Babylon, along with the Babylon IDA, was able to supply local Hair Salons and Barber Shops with much needed PPE free of charge. This generous donation of a crucial product poisedbusinesses to be able to reopen safely as soon as the region entered Phase II. The Babylon IDA is actively working to get these shields in the hands of local businesses. Babylon Hair Salons and Barber Shops can sign up to receive their face shields here.

Guidance on Re-Opening Local Businesses

The Town of Babylon has put together the below resources containing the information that you need to know and guidelines you must follow to re-open your business. Please watch the informational video and see the documents below for details.

Recommendations Brochure	Guidance Flyer	Phased Reopening

Links
Click here to read and e-sign the guidance for your industry.

Click here to fill out a state template that must be kept at your business.

Click here to sign up for the Babylon IDA mentor program for assistance regarding how your business can comply with re-opening guidelines.

Re-Opening Babylon Presentation Slides (PDF)

Commercial Cleaning Options in the Region (PDF)

Stony Brook College of Business "Long Island Small Business Survival Guide"

The Stony Brook College of Business has collected resources for businesses in the age of COVID-19 and is offering the advice of their faculty, students and alumni to those businesses in need of assistance. To learn more, visit their page here. Check back for updates, including informational videos and virtual Q&A sessions.

If you are a business in need of advice, complete their short survey. Questions can be emailed to collegeofbusiness@stonybrook.edu.

Farmingdale Small Business Development Center

The Farmingdale Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is located on the campus of Farmingdale State College and provides free, one-on-one business advising. This free technical assistance is available to anyone who wants to start a business or who already owns a business. Contact them at sbdc@farmingdale.edu.

Erica Chase, Director of SBDC, recently joined with Councilman Anthony Manetta and fellow local officials for an online forum about what resources are available to small businesses at this time. Watch the discussion in full below:

Federal

The United States Small Business Administration has outlined its response to the spread of COVID-19 here. Councilman Manetta recently hosted a Q&A with SBA representatives:

The United States Department of Treasury has a complete list of resources on its website.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

On March 20, 2020, the State of New York received a Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4480-DR from President Donald Trump for the COVID-19 Incident. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has established a disaster declaration for New York which makes available Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for small businesses in New York State. The objective of the EIDLs it to provide working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. Please find the attached information from the SBA providing program details and application information. Apply now for an EIDL (PDF).

EIDL Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The federal government has also passed the CARES Act. The stimulus package offers support for businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

Learn more about the CARES Act via the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (PDF).

This fact sheet outlines paycheck protection and EIDLs (PDF).

Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced details regarding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), including application requirements, eligibility, and a program guide. This program will provide financial assistance to small restaurants that have been hit hardest by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the RRF, eligible restaurants will be provided with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

Details on application requirements, eligibility, and a program guide are now available in English at www.sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at www.sba.gov/restaurantes. Those interested in applying can sign up for email updates from the SBA when more information becomes available, including when the application process opens.

Shuttered Venues Operator Grant

Attention all shuttered venue business owners: the U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced the shuttered venue operators grant program, which gives eligible applicants grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. This program gives access to necessary capital to businesses worst hit by the pandemic. To find out more information or to apply to the program, click here.

New York State

Governor Andrew Cuomo has outlined several resources and programs to support local economies amidst the spread of COVID-19.

***New York State is looking for companies that are able to immediately supply, produce, or re-purpose their facilities in order to produce much needed medical supplies such as ventilators, N95 masks, surgical masks, nasal swabs, exam gloves, gowns, eye/face shields, goggles, bio-hazard bags, liquid soap (1L), safety box needle disposal, etc. Please visit the following link if you are interested: https://esd.ny.gov/sourcing-covid-19-products-nys***

Visit NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s economic resource page for information about the various assistance programs available at this time.

Insurance Payment Deferrals

Business owners have the ability to defer some insurance payments. Learn more via this Department of Financial Services press release.

For Companies in the Clean Energy Sector

Read this message from clean energy partners in New York State.

Miscellaneous Resources

Governments aren’t the only entities looking to help small businesses at this time.

Facebook Small Business Grants

Facebook is rolling out a new grant program to support local businesses with $100 million in cash grants and ad credits. Visit the Facebook Business website for more information on how to apply.