Chenango-Delaware-Otsego Workforce News & Blog

The SBA streamlined the Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance application. Click link here https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19#section-header-3. You will see a yellow banner bar at the top of SBA website to begin application. 

Congress has approved $350 billion in emergency loans for small businesses to help them keep workers employed. In fact, if small businesses maintain or later restore their payrolls, they may not have to repay some — or possibly any — of the loan. Here’s a guide and checklist from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help your small business through the process. 

The SBDC is offering a Free Virtual Lunch and Learn Tuesday, March 31 at Noon. Please see link below to register. The SBDC also has great resources please click link here: https://www.binghamton.edu/centers/small-business-development/covid19/

See More News and Resources from the SBA Here

Building Community Bridges Tool Kit 

Check out this new resource we've added to our Hiring Workers with Disabilities page!  

Working with Businesses to Recover: Sustainable Business Practices. Equity in hiring, supporting and retaining an inclusive workforce.

Are you looking for a new job or a new career? Check out these helpful resources from LinkedIn!

Free LinkedIn Learning Courses

LinkedIn Career Explorer 

Coronavirus Resource Hub 

New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small residential landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.

NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small residential landlords that have seen sharp reduction in rental income.

NYFLF is providing working capital loans so that small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords have access to credit as they reopen. These loans are available to small businesses, and nonprofits that did not receive a U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program of greater than $50,000 or an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for COVID-19 of any amount, except for EIDL advance grant of up to $10,000, and small residential landlords.

Eligible small businesses and small residential landlords can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan with a 3% fixed interest rate; while eligible non-profits can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan at 2% fixed interest. The maximum loan amount is $100,000. Loan funds can be used for working capital including payroll, operating and emergency maintenance, property taxes, utilities and costs associated with refitting physical space to follow social distancing guidelines.

More information is available online at nyloanfund.com.

On October 21, 2020, the National Business & Disability Council hosted a virtual Disability Inclusion Summit. They provided key summit takeaways to help you outline actionable steps you and your organization can take to move from awareness to action.

View/download takeaways here

SEE MORE RESOURCES ON OUR HIRING WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES PAGE

Previously Ineligible New York State Small Businesses Can Receive Low-Interest Working Capital Loans.  

Available to Small Businesses That Received PPP Assistance of $50,000 or Less.  

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) recipients are now eligible to receive low-interest loans from the New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF). This conditional change will provide the Fund's network of lenders and financial institutions with greater flexibility and enable them to provide more small businesses with working capital to cover expenses associated with reopening.

ESD Acting Commissioner, and President and CEO-delegate Eric Gertler said, "The coronavirus pandemic was an unprecedented challenge to the state’s business community, of which ninety-eight percent are small businesses. Providing assistance and opportunity – particularly to our state’s minority- and women-owned businesses – to help them reopen is essential toward revitalizing our economy and building New York back better."

When the NYFLF launched in May, the federal Small Business Administration had just issued rules regarding companies’ eligibility for federal assistance. The goal of the NYFLF was to help New York-based small businesses that did not receive PPP funding with flexible working capital to reopen and adapt to post-COVID needs. Companies with 20 employees or less make up 90% of New York’s business community, and it was critical to provide a funding lifeline to those businesses shut out of federal assistance.

However, some NYFLF applicants who needed assistance were deemed ineligible because they had already received PPP funds. Through discussions with lenders and applicants, it became apparent that PPP loans did not go far enough to support New York-based small businesses. Legislative criteria restricted how the government assistance could be spent, and oftentimes PPP amounts were a fraction of what was needed and requested.

Starting today, NYFLF Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) will contact previously ineligible applicants to determine if they are still interested in funding and begin the underwriting process. This is limited to small businesses who received $50,000 or less in PPP assistance. The fund is prepared to process the new applications from this change while also working with existing applicants. Small business who did not receive any federal assistance are still eligible and encouraged to apply. Additionally, the program goal of providing at least 60% of loans to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) remains, and that goal will not change due to the newly-expanded eligibility.

Eligible small businesses and small residential landlords can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan with a 3% fixed interest rate; while eligible non-profits can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan at 2% fixed interest. The maximum loan amount is $100,000. Loan funds can be used for working capital including payroll, operating and emergency maintenance, property taxes, utilities and costs associated with refitting physical space to follow social distancing guidelines. More information is available online at nyloanfund.com.

The five CDFIs processing applications are Accion East, Community Preservation Corporation, National Development Council, Pursuit and TruFund Financial Services. Seven banks have pledged support for the New York Forward Loan Fund: Apple Bank, BNB Bank, Evans Bank, HSBC, M&T Bank, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. Additionally, the fund has received philanthropic commitments from the BlackRock Charitable Fund, Citi Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. The New York Forward Loan Fund was established with support from Calvert Impact Capital. The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is administering the fund, and Connect2Capital is hosting applications.

About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of "I LOVE NY," the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, please visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

The Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council has compiled a list of local and federal COVID-19 resources. 

Download the Resources Here

NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW ONLINE TOOL TO HELP OLDER NEW YORKERS AND OTHER HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM COVID-19 

Public-Private Partnership between New York State Office for the Aging, BellAge, Inc., and Association on Aging in New York 

CV19 CheckUp Tool Developed by BellAge Offers Individualized Support Options to Help Reduce Risk and Enhance Quality of Life for High Risk New Yorkers of All Ages: newyork.cv19checkup.org 

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), in partnership with BellAge, Inc., and the Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) has announced the launch of CV19 CheckUp in New York State, a free, anonymous, personalized online tool that evaluates an individual’s risks associated with COVID-19 based on their life situation and individual behavior and provides recommendations and resources to reduce those risks.

“There has been a lot of misinformation about COVID-19 and the risks associated with contracting and spreading the virus,” said NYSOFA Acting Director Greg Olsen. “This tool, which we will make available to all New Yorkers, helps individuals understand their risk based on their life situation and personal behavior and offers recommendations to reduce those risks while also connecting people to services, if needed.”

The tool was developed by BellAge to help people be safer, healthier, and ensure their individual needs are met during the pandemic. CV19 CheckUp fills a critical need for a comprehensive resource that educates, advises, and empowers individuals to help protect themselves from COVID-19.

CV19 CheckUp employs artificial intelligence to analyze data each person provides by completing an online questionnaire. It is designed for those who are considered high risk, including older adults, low income individuals, ethnic and racial minorities, and LGBTQ communities. The tool’s algorithms are driven by science and medicine, using data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). CV19 CheckUp is free to users. It is anonymous and does not require a name, email address, or identifier of any type.

Upon completion of the anonymous questionnaire, CV19 CheckUp immediately delivers a personalized report.
The report answers questions such as:
• How likely am I to get COVID-19 or spread it to others?
• If I get COVID-19, how severe would it likely be?
• What steps can I take to reduce my risks of getting COVID-19?
• Where can I find help to ensure my needs are met during the pandemic?
The individualized approach that defines CV19 CheckUp will deliver much needed support to those who are hardest hit by COVID-19, including the more than 4.3 million New Yorkers age 60 and older, as well as those with underlying health conditions and/or compromised immune systems. The CDC has described these people as being at higher risk of severe or fatal consequences if they are infected with COVID-19.

Some high-risk individuals are not following all the recommended behaviors to lessen their chances of becoming infected, and some may be experiencing unmet service needs due to Matilda’s Law. And as New York State continues to move forward with reopening, some lower-risk individuals have begun to relax social distancing and practice unsafe behaviors, which threaten the health and well-being of those who are at higher risk.

CV19 CheckUp assesses each person’s unique situation and presents options to help reduce risk and enhance quality of life.

Jim Firman, Chief Innovation Officer, BellAge, Inc., said, “CV19 CheckUp was developed to fill an urgent public need. Our team realized that although there are many resources with information about the virus, all of them require a lot of effort by the user. The average person has to spend considerable time on numerous websites, digging through pages of information looking for answers that are relevant to their specific situation. CV19 CheckUp does the work for them. We developed a hyper-personalized tool that makes it easy for anyone to understand their level of risk and take steps to reduce those risks.”

Becky Preve, Executive Director, Association on Aging in New York said, “The ability to provide this tool to older New Yorkers, their families, and caregivers will ensure accurate information and screening of those at risk. We are extremely excited for this partnership, and for our network to continue to provide such vital services to New York State. The Association on AgingNY is thankful to NYSOFA and BellAge for this innovative new approach to combating the spread of COVID-19.”

Prabhjot Singh, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical & Scientific Advisor, BellAge, Inc., said, “As New York continues reopening, at-risk residents need personalized and scientifically sound information to stay safe during the ongoing pandemic. CV19 CheckUp was developed to ensure that every New Yorker has access to guidance that fits their circumstance.”

In addition, through CV19 CheckUp, governments and health organizations also receive data that will help facilitate developing methods to help target populations that are at high risk for COVID-19. Data are completely anonymous, and findings can be used to gain insights on:
• What people know and believe about the pandemic
• Compliance levels with recommended safety protocols
• Behaviors by location, race, ethnicity, economic status, etc.
• Unmet needs for health care, social services, financial support

To learn more, please visit newyork.cv19checkup.org.

About the New York State Office for the Aging and Health Across All Policies/Age-Friendly New York

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) continuously works to help the state’s 4.3 million older adults be as independent as possible for as long as possible through advocacy, development and delivery of person-centered, consumer-oriented, and cost-effective policies, programs, and services that support and empower older adults and their families, in partnership with the network of public and private organizations that serve them.

New York is nationally recognized for being the first age-friendly state in the nation. Using the state’s Prevention Agenda as the overarching framework, in 2017, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo launched a Health Across All Policies approach, where public and private partners work together to positively impact population health by marrying health care, preventive health, and community design, in concert with addressing social determinants of health, to improve the lives of all New Yorkers, young and old.

Stay connected—download the NYSOFA mobile app for iOS or Android; visit the NYSOFA Facebook page; follow @NYSAGING on Twitter and NYSAging on Instagram; or visit aging.ny.gov.

About BellAge, Inc.
BellAge, Inc. is a public benefit company founded in April 2020 by nationally recognized leaders in aging, technology and artificial intelligence. The company’s mission is to help millions of older adults across the world age better through systems that use artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. BellAge’s first expert system, CV19 CheckUp, was developed to provide hyper-personalized assistance by educating and informing people of their risk levels associated with COVID-19, and offering recommendations about how to mitigate those risks. More information is at https://bellage.org.

About the Association on Aging in New York
The Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) supports and advocates for New York’s 59 mostly county-based Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and works collaboratively with a network of organizations that exist to promote independence, preserve dignity, and provide support for residents of New York State as they age. For more information, visit www.agingny.org or call 518-449-7080.

Accommodation Strategies for Returning to Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Managing Coronavirus Anxiety

Digital Accessibility and Other Best Practices for Remote Work

Honoring the Challenges of Disabilities, Seen and Unseen (video)

Creating an Employee Resource Group for Mental Health

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Revolving Loan Fund is a new economic recovery loan program, created by the Economic Development Administration under the U.S. Department of Commerce, designed to alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It will provide permanent resources to support economic resiliency and further the long-term economic adjustment objectives of the Mohawk Valley region.

Eligibility

· Small businesses and non-profits

· Must be located in Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego or Schoharie counties.

To learn more and how to apply, GO HERE

The National Disability Institute's Financial Resilience Center has posted helpful new COVID-19 resources and news updates. 

Including: 

Need to Check the Status of Your Economic Impact Payment? 

How to Open a Bank Account Online.

How to Avoid Coronavirus Scams.

COVID-19 Disability Survey Results. 

Learn More Here

https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/financial-resilience-center/resources/

Check out our August newsletter!  

Were sharing:

• More Covid-19 Resources
• Workforce Events and Opportunities
• Featured Job Openings
• New Resources for Job Seekers with Disabilities
• Free learning opportunities
• and lots more!

Go here to read

NY State of Health is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality health insurance for all New Yorkers so they can get the care they need.

New Yorkers who are without health insurance should apply now through NY State of Health. 

There are three ways to apply: 

• Online at nystateofhealth.ny.gov 

• By phone at 1-855-355-5777 (TTY: 1-800-662-1220) 

• With the help of an Enrollment Assistor: 1-855-355-5777

More Info and electronic rack card, which is available various languages

Renters impacted by the pandemic can apply to a new COVID Rental Assistance Program. 

The program will provide direct aid for tenants who lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is funded through the Coronavirus Relief Fund, which is part of the CARES Act. 

New Yorkers can access program applications here. 

Information from the New York State Department of Labor. 

GO HERE TO VIEW 

Microsoft plans to provide digital skills training for 25 million people this year under a new, multi-million dollar initiative that will bring together multiple branches of the company, including LinkedIn and GitHub.

A new LinkedIn dashboard will offer tracks like “Become a Software Developer” and “Become an IT administrator.”

The “learning paths” will provide online training for free through March 2021 in each field.

The digital skills taught through the initiative should help people find jobs that need to be filled, develops skills for jobs, and obtain certifications at a low cost.

There will be opportunities to practice the skills in GitHub’s Learning Lab.

In addition to the free resources, Microsoft will offer low-cost certifications required to fill tech roles.

The certifications are based on exams that determine a student’s skill in Microsoft technologies. They will be available for a discounted fee of $15 to anyone whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19. The exams ordinarily cost more than $100, according to Microsoft.

A news post from Microsoft outlines three areas that the resources will help with: • The use of data to identify in-demand jobs and the skills needed to fill them. • Free access to learning paths and content to help people develop the skills these positions require. • Low-cost certifications and free job-seeking tools to help people who develop these skills pursue new jobs.

As part of the initiative, people have access to content on LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Learn, and the GitHub Learning Lab.

Microsoft Certifications and LinkedIn job seeking tools resources can be accessed on LinkedIn's website: https://opportunity.linkedin.com/

Learn More

HEAP is a federally funded program that helps income eligible households pay their home heating bills. 

It is not a loan and you do not have to pay it back.  

Regular and Emergency HEAP assistance has been extended from June 30, 2020 through August 31, 2020 or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.

Also: Applicant households who reside in government subsidized housing with heat included in their shelter costs are now eligible for a Cooling Assistance Component (CAC) benefit, if all other eligibility criteria are met. Requirements for medical documentation for CAC may be waived for applicants who are unable to obtain such documentation due to COVID-19.

For details on the Cooling assistance program(and other HEAP related programs) please reference the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Website at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/

Learn More Here: 

Consumer Advocacy from National Grid - Information and Telephone Numbers 

HEAP Checklist

Updated Information From Cornell.edu: 

Go Here to Read the Updated Information in English

Go Here to Read the Updated Information in Spanish 

The Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division issued new Field Assistance Bulletins, providing guidance on: 

• When school is considered “in session” for federal child labor requirements

• Eligibility for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act based on the closure of summer camps, summer enrichment programs, or other summer programs 

Go Here to See the Guidance

https://supportoneonta.com/

https://supportoneonta.com/microenterprise-grants/