New York City will provide relief for small businesses across the City seeing a reduction in revenue because of COVID-19.

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BID Merger Hearing

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On Monday, April 27th at 10:00am, there will be a public hearing held in the City Council
Committee Room, 2nd floor, City Hall, New York, New York 10007. The topic of this hearing is about merging the Flatbush Avenue and Church Avenue BIDs into one Business Improvement District. It is public, so all are welcome to sit in.

Any owner of real property deemed benefited and therefore within the District, objecting to the District Plan, must file a BID Objection Form at the Office of the City Clerk within thirty (30) days of the close of the Public Hearing concerning the establishment of the proposed District.
Copies of the resolution adopted by the City Council, which include a copy of the District Plan, are available for public inspection from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday at the Office of the City Clerk located at 141 Worth Street, New York, New York 10013. In addition, copies of the resolution are available free of charge to the public at the Office of the City Clerk.
The full public notice resolution summary can be found here

The Church Avenue BID is searching for a new Program Manager for our Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization grant (updated)

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The Commercial Revitalization Program Manager will help the Church Avenue BID and Flatbush Avenue BID develop,
design, and deliver commercial revitalization programs and services during the second half of the organization’s three-year
Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization grant funded by the New York City Department of Small Businesses Services
(SBS). This grant ends on June 30, 2024 and while we cannot guarantee an offer of an ongoing job, it is likely that we will be
interested in continuing the position on a permanent basis. Although the Program Manager position is paid by the Church
Ave. BID, all aspects of this position will be designed to serve both BIDs.
Avenue NYC grants strengthen community-based development organizations (CBDOs) to carry out commercial revitalization
programs in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. The Program Manager will work in partnership with the
organization’s leadership to help develop and implement various commercial revitalization projects that will address the
needs identified by the Commercial District Needs Assessment that the BIDs and three other Flatbush nonprofits completed
earlier in 2022. The Program Manager will be part of a cohort of other Avenue NYC grant-funded program managers
dedicated to executing commercial revitalization programs in commercial districts across New York City.
The position is full-time and will report to the Executive Director. Work hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Hours can be modified on occasion when BID events and activities are held on evenings or weekends. In compliance with
federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.
Learn more information about this position and the application requirements: Full job description and more information

Key to NYC Requirements Suspended

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Key to NYC Requirements Suspended Beginning Monday, March 7 – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced several changes to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that will continue to protect the health and safety of all New Yorkers, while simultaneously boosting the city’s economic recovery. In the face of quickly declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and more than 17 million doses of vaccines administered, Mayor Adams announced the suspension of the Key to NYC program.

Beginning Monday, March 7, indoor venues, including restaurants, fitness facilities, and entertainment spaces will no longer be required to check for proof of vaccination before customers enter. Businesses previously covered by Key to NYC rules will still have the flexibility to require proof of vaccination or masking indoors if they choose.

If the number of cases and/or hospitalizations increase, the City will reconsider whether Key to NYC or other vaccine requirements need to be implemented again.

All other COVID-19 mandates will remain in effect. Under the rules, employees will still be required to be vaccinated unless they have received a reasonable accommodation from their employer.

Clarification of Remaining Mask Mandates – Although masks are no longer required in businesses or schools (K-12), they are still required in the following settings:

  • All healthcare settings regulated by the Department of Health
  • Nursing homes and adult care facilities
  • Correctional facilities and detention centers
  • Homeless shelters
  • Public transportation hubs
  • Trains, planes, and airports (Federal regulation)

New COVID-19 Alert Level System Announced – Early Friday, Mayor Adams released a new color-coded system that tracks COVID-19 alerts and keeps New York City residents apprised of the risks they face in New York City. This new system will better help New Yorkers understand the current level of COVID-19 risk and how they can best protect themselves and others based on the current risk. The system consists of four alert levels that outline precautions and recommended actions for individuals and government based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Burden Indicator.

New York City is currently at a low alert level (green).

Key to NYC

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Following is the guidance just released from the City about the proof of vaccination (called Key to NYC) that begins Tues. Aug. 17, 2021 for certain types of businesses. Enforcement will begin Sept. 13, 2021. Below are links to Frequently Asked Questions, the City’s Checklist for Businesses, and the flyer which you can print or create your own.

A few important highlights which address questions we’ve been hearing (more details are in the FAQ):

  • Children under age 12 (not yet eligible for vaccination) are able to enter all the listed establishments as long as they wear a face mask, except when eating or drinking, whenever they are unable to maintain six feet from other people.
  • If your business is covered by Key to NYC, you are required to:
    • post a sign notifying employees and patrons about the vaccination requirement. You can make your own sign (which must be at least 8.5″ x 11″ and at least 14-point font) or post the attached sign.
    • keep a written record of how you will verify proof of vaccination for employees and patrons. This must be on site and available for inspection.
  • People who refuse to show proof of vaccination can enter for a brief purpose, like picking up take-out food or paying a bill, as long as they wear a mask whenever they are unable to maintain six feet from other people.

Here is the guidance

Today, Mayor de Blasio released additional information about the recently launched “Key to NYC” program, which requires indoor entertainment, indoor dining, and indoor fitness establishments to check vaccination records of patrons, full- or part-time employees, interns, volunteers, and contractors with the following two exceptions:

  • individuals entering a covered establishment for a quick and limited purpose (using the restroom, placing or picking up an order or service, changing clothes in a locker room, or performing necessary repairs)
  • visiting performing artists or athletes (including any members of the team accompanying the performer or athlete), so long as the visiting performer/athlete is in the premises to perform/compete.

Establishments can accept the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record (including photograph or copy of the Vaccination Card), the NYC COVID Safe Pass, the New York State Excelsior Pass or an official immunization record from outside NYC or the United States as proof of vaccination.  Establishments will be required to maintain written records so that inspectors can review how they are implementing and enforcing this mandate.

In addition, establishments must post the attached sign (or a similar sign following specific design requirements) in a conspicuous place near the entrance(s) of the establishment.

The following business are required to check vaccination records under the Key to NYC program:

Indoor Entertainment:

  • Movie theaters
  • Live music
  • Concert venues
  • Museums & galleries
  • Aquariums and zoos
  • Professional sports arenas
  • Stadiums
  • Convention centers
  • Exhibition halls
  • Performing arts theaters
  • Bowling alleys
  • Arcades
  • Pool and billiard halls
  • Recreational game centers
  • Casinos
  • Adult entertainment

Indoor Dining

  • Restaurants
  • Catering halls
  • Event spaces
  • Hotel banquet rooms
  • Bars
  • Cabarets
  • Nightclubs
  • Cafeterias
  • Grocery stores with indoor dining
  • Bakeries
  • Coffee shops
  • Fast food / quick service with indoor dining

Indoor Fitness Establishments:

  • Gyms
  • Fitness centers
  • Fitness classes
  • Pools
  • Indoor studios
  • Dance studios
  • Sports classes

The “Key to NYC” program kicks off tomorrow and the City will begin assessing fines to establishments that fail to comply with the vaccination mandate on Sept. 13, 2021. Failure to comply will result in violations of not less than $1,000 per offense, and could result in fines of up to $5,000 per offense if the entity is found to repeatedly fail to check for vaccination within a 12 month period.

FAQ

Checklist

Flyer

 

May Updates

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The Governor announces a major reopening of NY State by 5/17/21 (includes: retail, food services, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops, offices, etc.)
  • Hair salons, barber shops, and other personal care businesses as well as indoor dining can increase capacity to 75% starting May 7.
  • Gyms and fitness centers expand to 50% capacity and offices can increase to 75% capacity starting May 15.
  • Outdoor food and beverage curfew lifted on May 17. MTA returns to 24-hour service the same day.
  • Indoor food and beverage curfew lifted May 31.
  • Indoor catered gathering limit increases to 250; 500 with testing or vaccine May 19.
  • Residential gathering limits increases to 50 May 19.
  • Outdoor large stadium capacity will go to 33% on May 19.  (NY, NJ, CT are working on a joint protocol for stadiums going forward.)

 

Flatbush Ave. BID Annual Meeting

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Flatbush Avenue BID members are invited to the Flatbush Avenue Business Improvement District’s (“BID”) virtual annual meeting for FY20! We want to fill you in on what we’ve been doing to help our businesses and properties throughout the past challenging year, hear from our special speaker on the state of Brooklyn’s commercial areas, and look ahead to the coming year. 

When:  Wed. March 10, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.

Where:  Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89091147423

To RSVP, please go to bit.ly/flatbushmeeting (if you have difficulty getting to the RSVP web page, please text 917-538-5784)

Materials:

FY20 Annual Report

FY20 Audit

FY20 Annual Meeting Agenda

FY19 Annual Meeting minutes

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Flatbush Ave. BID, click here to fill out the registration form.

PPP and EIDL Updates Meeting

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PPP and EIDL Updates

Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021

11 AM – 12:30 PM

Click here for the recording.

Join us to learn the updated information on PPP and EIDL including the PPP Second Draw Loan Application and PPP Forgiveness Application update. PPP forgiveness is not granted automatically. It is the borrower’s responsibility to submit the correct form with the accurate calculation and information with all required documentation to PPP lenders.

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) has been extended to Dec. 31, 2021. Interest rate 3.75% for business and 2.75% for non-profit, 30 years term and one-year deferment. Apply now and you do not have to accept it when your application approved.

Speaker: Ms. Man-Li Lin, Economic Development Specialist, SBA New York District Office

Open Storefronts Program

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Sidewalk Sales
Mayor announces the Open Storefronts program to begin Friday 10/30/20 and applications are now available
The program allows eligible businesses to conduct activity on sidewalks directly in front of your business. Find the application, diagram, and FAQ here.
 
How can I apply and what is the cost?
  • The application is online and it takes around 5 minutes to apply. It is free to apply. You must know your EIN, basic information about your business, and measure the length and width of the sidewalk in front of your business.
  • If you have multiple businesses, you must apply for each address separately.
Requirements:
Your sidewalk must be at least 8 feet wide and your merchandise should be placed within 5 feet of the external wall of your building. (You can find the width of your sidewalk here but we don’t think this online map is always accurate. We suggest you refer to it if the map looks right but if it doesn’t look correct, we urge you to remeasure your sidewalk’s width yourself.)
 
Which businesses can participate?
Any ground floor storefront business predominantly involved in the sale of goods and/or services directly to the public. Includes businesses engaged in retail trade (i.e. clothing and equipment stores, retail food stores, health and personal care stores) as well as repair stores, personal care services, and dry-cleaning and laundry services.
 
Which activities are/are not allowed in Open Storefronts?
  • You can display and sell goods outside, use A-frame signs, place temporary seating, place collapsible umbrellas with weighted bases and tents (these must be brought inside at the end of each day), lighting (as long as it doesn’t blind shoppers and it complies with FDNY codes), etc. 
  • Not allowed: amplified sound or outdoor heaters, personal care services (hair cuts, etc.)
  • Please look at the full FAQ for more rules.
When will this be in effect? 
The program will start on Fri. 10/30/20 and run through Thurs. 12/31/20. Once your application is approved and starting 10/30/20, you can operate outdoors during your normal business hours within the following hours:
  • Mon. – Sat. 8am – 11pm
  • Sun. 10am – 11pm
I don’t understand or want to discuss what I want to do. Where do I go for answers?
You can call the SBS hotline (888-727-4692) or contact us at the BID directly with any questions.