A note from Willy Wong, AIGA/NY President, AIGA/NY Board of Directors, and AIGA/NY Staff:
Our thoughts go out to those who sustained damages due to the storm and everyone who is still without power. Although our office remains closed due to the outage, we will work remotely to keep you informed about any program changes via email hidden; JavaScript is required, twitter, our website, Facebook page. We wish everyone a speedy recovery. Please review the information below on relevant/helpful resources:
Hurricane Sandy Business Recovery Information
New York City, including the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), is coordinating a set of services to assist small businesses in recovering from Hurricane Sandy. Below is an outline of available programs and relevant contact information.
New York City Business Assistance Programs
For small- to mid-sized businesses that have experienced business interruption, an emergency loan for businesses will be available, patterned after similar programs deployed in past emergencies. Loans will be capped at $10,000. Contact an NYC Business Solutions Account Manager or call 311 and ask for NYC Business Emergency Loan.
For mid- to large-sized businesses that need to undertake rebuilding
An emergency sales tax letter from New York City Industrial Development Authority (IDA) will be available allowing businesses to avoid payment of New York City and New York State sales taxes on materials purchased for rebuilding. IDA will also waive all fees and, while following State law, look to streamline its normal procedure. This program is expected to offer economic benefits to reconstruction projects costing $500,000 or more. Please contact Shin Mitsugi at email hidden; JavaScript is required for further information on this program.
For any business that is temporarily displaced from its space
Short-term “swing” office space at Brooklyn Army Terminal available free of charge for the next 30 days. NYCEDC has approximately 40,000 square feet of warehouse space at the Terminal that can be used for this purpose. Contact an NYC Business Solutions Account Manager or call 311 and ask for NYC Business Solutions/em>.
Temporary space is also available at the Sunshine Bronx business incubator, one of the incubators within the City’s network, on a walk-in basis. The incubator is located at 890 Garrison Avenue in Hunts Point. In addition, NYCEDC is presently working with external partners, including the Partnership for New York City, to match displaced businesses with vacant properties in commercial space in order to get them up and running again. Please check back on this page for more information.
For any business in need of other emergency assistance
The SBS Business Outreach Team and Emergency Response Unit’s Large Scale Response Team will be deployed after the storm to help all impacted small businesses. This team is currently on-call for any storm-related business inquiries and is closely coordinating with the NYC Office of Emergency Management.
Contact an NYC Business Solutions Account Manager or call 311 and ask for NYC Business Solutions.
Federal Aid Programs for Disaster Recovery
View information from the Federal Small Business Administration on disaster recovery assistance.
SBA Disaster Loan Information
Pursuant to the Major Disaster Declaration declared for all of NYC and Long Island, there are a number of emergency programs made available by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Please see below and SBA Disaster Loan Fact Sheet for details:
• Physical Damage: December 31, 2012
• Economic Injury: July 31, 2013
Whether you rent or own your own home, own your own business, or own a small agricultural cooperative located in a declared disaster area, and are the victim of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
What Types of Disaster Loans are Available?
• Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate or personal property owned by the victim. Renters are eligible for their personal property losses, including automobiles.
• Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) – 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. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
• EIDL assistance is available only to entities and their owners who cannot provide for their own recovery from non-government sources, as determined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Questions can be directed to the SBA hotline (1-800-659-2955).
Additional resources:
New York Foundation for the Arts Emergency Resources
CERF+ Resources for Artists Affected by Hurricane Sandy
ArtsReady’s list of resources for recovery and readiness
Do you want to volunteer or donate?
Please email email hidden; JavaScript is required with your name, email address, phone number and borough or call 311. There will be ways to volunteer today and over the next week as opportunities arise. Those who wish to give cash donations to assist New Yorkers who suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy should visit the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. Those who wish to donate goods and services should visit Aidmatrix.