Office of Economic Development | Town of Islip

The Town of Islip Office of Economic Development is dedicated to helping your business succeed and thrive during even the most difficult times. Although our office is currently closed to the public, we want to share the following federal and state resources, which include information and assistance to businesses for issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We’re all in this together. You can still contact the Town of Islip IDA by phone at (631) 224-5512 or by email at ecodev@islipny.gov.

Federal: Small Business Administration

Below are details and application information for Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses in New York related to Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4480-DR for COVID-19.

SBA Disaster Business Loans
The SBA is offering designated states and territories (including Long Island) low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the COVID-19. Click here to download a PDF containing information about available economic injury disaster loans.

SBA Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program
Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.

SBA’s General COVID-19 Site
Includes information about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and guidance for businesses and employers.

SBA: Local Assistance
Information about Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and SCORE offices. You can contact the Hauppauge district office at (631) 454-0750.
• The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act (PDF)
• Fact Sheet – Economic Injury Disaster Loans (PDF) As of 6/15/20, the SBA has reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance portal to qualified businesses experiencing temporary difficulties.
• Disaster Assistance Resource for Businesses (PDF)
• SBA Loans FAQ (PDF)

The SBA’s Payroll Protection Program is designed to help small businesses keep workers on their payroll. Updates to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) - as part of the PPP Flexibility Act - provide businesses with more time and flexibility as the country starts to reopen. Check out the changes implemented with this new legislation, including an extended loan forgiveness period.
• PPP Borrower Application Form (PDF)
• PPP Loan Forgiveness Application (PDF)

The Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program will allow small and midsize businesses to receive financial support, with a minimum loan amount of $250,000.
• Expansion of the Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program to Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
• Proposal to Expand Main Street Lending Program to Nonprofit Organizations

New York State

6/10/21 - The $800 Million COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program is now open for applications. Visit nysmallbusinessrecovery.com for more information.

• New York Forward: A Guide to Reopening New York & Building Back Better (PDF)
• Metrics to Guide Reopening New York

With Long Island entering the various phases of reopening, your business can review the guidelines New York State has put in place for those industries that are able to open:
• Phase One
• Phase Two
• Phase Three
• Phase Four

» As Long Island starts to reopen, this lookup tool from New York State will help you determine if your business is eligible to reopen, and the public health and safety standards with which your business must comply.

Eligible businesses must develop a safety plan to be kept on the premises of the business. A suggested template from NYS can be found here.

New York State has created a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. As these businesses and organizations start to reopen, the New York Forward Loan Fund will help them with the upfront expenses to comply with guidelines under the New York Forward Plan.
• NYFLF flyer (PDF)
• Application, FAQs and additional information can be found here.

Many businesses and organizations have expressed a desire to support New York State as it responds to the virus outbreak. Individuals or groups looking to volunteer or contribute to the State’s effort should contact the Office of the Governor: covid19assistance@exec.ny.gov.
• Main page for all COVID-19 information from New York State including Guidance on Essential Services
• Sign Up for COVID-19 Updates on the evolving COVID-19 situation from New York State.

As of 6/16/20, hospitals and group homes in New York are now allowed to accept visitors at their discretion. View the guidelines here.

As of 6/25/20, New York State, along with Connecticut and New Jersey, is requiring all travelers entering from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10% test positivity rate, over a seven day rolling average, to quarantine for a period of 14 days consistent with Department of Health regulations for quarantine. Learn more.

Effective 7/9/20, The NYS DOH has issued an emergency rule addressing the enforcement of social distancing measures. The rule imposes requirements on businesses, employees, and customers regarding the wearing of face coverings:
• Any person who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering when in a public place and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or face-covering.
• Any employee who is present in the workplace will be provided and shall wear a mask or face covering when in direct contact with customers or members of the public, or when unable to maintain social distance. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees.
• Business operators and building owners and those authorized on their behalf must deny admittance to any person who fails to comply with this section and must require or compel such persons’ removal.

The entire emergency rule can be viewed here.

From the New York Attorney General’s office:
• COVID-19 Application For Suspension Of Debt Collection Activity - Application for persons or businesses that owe (non-medical and non-student) debts to the State of New York that have been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for collection and litigation.

From New York State’s Empire State Development:
•  ESD web portal and FAQ page for individuals and businesses with business-related COVID-19 issues: 
•  https://esd.ny.gov/esd-covid-19-related-resources
•  Submission Form for COVID-19-Related Business Questions

Empire State Development has created contact lists for resources to help small businesses including:
• Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EAC) Contact List (PDF) – these Centers provide instruction, training, technical assistance and support services to new and aspiring entrepreneurs in local communities statewide.
• Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Contact List (PDF) – the CDFI program bolsters institutions providing microloans to small businesses that often do not qualify for bank loans, as well as provide one-on-one counseling and business development assistance to facilitate credit readiness.

From New York State Department of Labor:
• New rules and hours regarding unemployment insurance
• The Shared Work Program, can provide an alternative to laying off employees during business downturns by allowing workers to work a reduced work schedule and collect partial unemployment insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks. Instead of cutting staff, you may be able to reduce the number of hours of all employees or just a certain group. Learn more here.

NYS DOL is working diligently with other states to fight fraud and stop scammers from defrauding the unemployment system under stolen identities. If you are collecting Unemployment Insurance, be sure to heed these warnings.

From National Grid and NYS Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers (MEP):
National Grid is streamlining its existing NY Public Service Commission approved Manufacturing Productivity Economic Development grants to help manufacturers who need assistance to develop new products or implement lean manufacturing, to produce critical items to support the pandemic response. Funding will be made available to eligible manufacturers approved through Stony Brook MTRC on eligible activities. Below are documents related to the program:
• Fast Track COVID-19 Manufacturing Productivity Program Description (PDF)
• Manufacturing Productivity Program Case Study (PDF)

Suffolk County and Local

Suffolk County Business Recovery Unit
Part of Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning, the Business Recovery Unit offers resources related to the business impact of COVID-19, as well as data collection for measuring the economic and workforce impact. The BRU is open from 9am-4:30pm, 7 days a week. You can also access the BRU 24/7 at suffolkcountyny.gov/BRU where you will find information related to loan and financial support as well as answers to most FAQs. For updates, text COVIDSUFFOLK to 67283.

Suffolk County is asking all businesses, of any size, to complete an online COVID-19 economic impact survey.  They will then analyze the economic data in order to precisely assign resources and prepare requests for state and federal aid. Nassau County has completed its initial survey and results can be found here.

The above links, along with additional resources, are also posted on the ABLI COVID-19 Resource Center.

Through the new Small Business Supply Request Form, small business owners, non-profit organizations and faith-based organizations located in Suffolk County are able to request cloth face coverings and hand sanitizers for employees.

Touro Law School has created a helpline for legal questions arising from the pandemic, and is open Monday through Friday, 10am-2pm. Learn more and complete an intake form.

Local businesses are to report cases of COVID-19 that they become aware of to their local health department. Businesses in Suffolk County can call 311 anytime.

To support our local economy and the reopening of the region, Suffolk County has launched the Long Island Personal Protective Equipment Provider Platform to connect local businesses to local manufacturers of COVID-19 related personal protective and social distancing equipment. Click here to search for equipment or to add your business as a PPE manufacturer.

Town of Islip Planning & Operations
The Town of Islip Planning & Development Divisions, while closed to the public during the COVID-19 virus, are continuing to operate ensuring that applications are processed and constituent inquiries are answered in a timely manner.  Please click here to review the temporary application submittal guidelines for each Planning Division. For more information visit the Town website.

Stony Brook Small Business Development Center
The Stony Brook SBDC is one of the Small Business Administration's designated Partners to provide support services for disaster assistance in response to COVID-19. You can make an appointment with one of their Business Advisors.

 If you would like to receive updates as they become available, please provide your information below.

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