About the Church Avenue BID and Flatbush Avenue BID

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COVID-19 Regulations & Programs

Key to NYC & NYS Mask/Vaccination Mandates (updated Aug. 2, 2022)

• There is no longer a mask requirement in gyms, restaurants, entertainment venues, or other businesses unless that business requires it. The city still recommends that everyone wear masks in indoor public spaces and severely populated outdoor spaces.
• NYC’s mask mandate is still in place on MTA subways and buses, taxis, Uber, Lyft (drivers and riders).
• There is no longer a vaccine requirement for customers to enter gyms, restaurants, or for indoor dining unless that business requires it. Proof of vaccination is still required in a healthcare setting, group residential facilities, including nursing homes and homeless shelters, and for NYC healthcare workers
• Businesses are allowed to impose their own vaccine or mask requirements, subject to the same guidance that existed before.
• The Vaccination Requirement for Workplaces remains in effect. Current and new employees must provide proof of vaccination or request a reasonable accommodation. Information, including about the certificate businesses are required to post, is available here.

 

Grants & Loans

Brooklyn EXCELerate Loan Fund

NYS COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program (updated Aug. 3, 2022)

What is it? Small businesses, microbusinesses, and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations who have experienced hardship due to COVID-19. Grants of $5,000 – $2.5 million based on annual gross receipts for 2019. Landlords and passive real estate businesses, churches, etc. are not eligible.

Am I still eligible if I have received other grants? You cannot apply if you have received funding from the SBA Restaurant Revitalization Program, have received loan(s) forgiven under PPP, but you may be eligible if you were unable to obtain enough business assistance from such federal programs.

Important Note: The eligibility requirements for this Program have been updated as of 07/21/22, and the demonstration of positive net profit on 2019 Business Return ($1 or greater) will no longer be considered. Existing applicants will be reexamined and contacted by Lendistry (please do not submit a new application.)

For more information and to apply:  https://nysmallbusinessrecovery.com/

PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) borrowers (updated July 26, 2022)

Borrowers can apply for forgiveness any time up to the maturity date of the loan. If borrowers do not apply for forgiveness within 10 months after the last day of the covered period, then PPP loan payments are no longer deferred, and borrowers will begin making loan payments to their PPP lender. Use this portal to apply for forgiveness.

WEBINARS: Applying for Loans & Grants for NYC Small Businesses (updated July 26, 2022)

The NYC Dept. of Small Business Services (SBS) offers free workshops on how to apply for grants and loans. In addition to providing an overview of available financing options, they will share tips to consider before taking on debt, an overview of documents commonly required to apply for a loan, and a summary of other loans and grants that are currently available for NYC businesses. There are weekly sessions and you must register. Sign up for workshops (as well as SBS’s small business classes on other important business topics) here.

Getting Online

WORKSHOPS: Digital Marketing & getting listed for free on Google, from the NYC Small Business Solutions Center (updated July 20, 2022)

Making sure your business has a strong presence online is essential to helping customers find your physical location as well as a great tool to attract new customers. The NYC Small Business Solutions Center offers free online workshops including these single session courses:

• Email Marketing: This course will teach you how to determine what content and when your business should email customers and how to grow your email list and execute your own marketing plan.
• Social Media Marketing: This course will teach you how to navigate social media platforms as an entrepreneur. By the end of this course, you will be able to: determine the social media platforms that your target customers use and use content in a way that attracts customers.
• Building Your Own Business Website: You will leave this course with a real business website and the information to build and launch it on your own.
• GOdigital! : This training assists business owners with listing their business on Google Maps and Google Search with photos and building profiles.

Look at the schedule of all these weekly workshops here.

WORKSHOPS: Instagram for Small Business, offered by BRIC (updated Aug. 4, 2022)

This arts and media organization offers free and low-cost media training workshops. We especially like Instagram for Small Business. This free class covers setting up an Instagram Business account, the basics of posting, Instagram Stories, Analytics and posting strategies such as when to post, tagging, and adding hashtags. See all available times and register here.

Get BID Support Improving your Online Presence (updated July 20, 2022)

The BID is available (for free) to assist with photography, take short videos of your business for you to post online, and promote your business’s opening, specials, celebrations, or anniversary on our social media. Contact us at [email protected] or leave us a message at 929-722-6340 to schedule an appointment at your location.

Help with Permits, Tickets, Compliance

Getting Help from the BID (updated July 23, 2022)

We have helped numerous BID members with tickets and, in some cases, have been able to provide information to successfully fight them. For help, contact us at [email protected] or leave us a message at 929-722-6340. If the ticket involves a sanitation or sidewalk issue, please take several photos of the issue and email them to us so we can try to assist.

Sanitation Information & Assistance

Business owners can either arrange with a private carter to have their waste collected, or obtain a “Self-Hauler” registration from the Business Integrity Commission and transport the waste in a vehicle with commercial license plates. Find details here (jump to page 32).

Business owners are required to keep their sidewalks swept clean including 18 “ into the street.

Dept. of Sanitation Schedule for Church Ave. and Flatbush Ave.:

• Mechanical broom truck:  Fri. and Sat. between midnight and 8am
• Baskets are emptied: Mon. to Sat. between midnight and 8am
• Corners: Cleared daily

BIDs’ Supplemental Sanitation

(Sweeping sidewalks, tree pits, and gutters; clear catch basins; remove snow and excess rain; removal of stickers and painting over graffiti on lampposts and other public property):

• Flatbush Ave. BID: Mon. to Sun. from 8am to 4pm, 2 workers
• Church Ave. BID: Mon., Wed., Fri., and Sat. from 8am to 4pm, 1 worker

The BIDs’ supplemental sanitation crews are intended to provide additional sanitation but should not be used as a replacement for a property/business’s own cleaning.

Graffiti Removal

Sign up for the City’s no-cost Forever Graffiti Free program here so you can be included in the next City-led graffiti removal. If you’d rather download and print the form, find it here in English and Spanish. For information on the program, find it here. Please notify the BID as soon as you apply so we can follow up, if needed.

Security Programs

Security Camera Installations

Under the Single District Small BID Grant from NYC Small Business Services, and funding From Council Member Rita Joseph, the BID has been arranging camera installations for the Flatbush Avenue and Church Avenue BIDs. Business or property owners that are interested in getting a camera installed should fill out this form or reach out to [email protected] for more information. 

Security Guard Foot and Car Patrol

Starting in March 2023 a security guard will be patrolling the Flatbush Avenue and Church Avenue BIDs from 11am to 7pm. This program is funded by the New York City Department of Small Business Services Small BID Support Grant Program.

 

Tenant & Landlord Help

Commercial Lease Assistance for Tenants (updated Aug. 18, 2022)

Small Business Support Project (SBSP) from Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A

SBSP services include but are not limited to:

• legal support with negotiating a new or renewal lease;
• changes to a current lease;
• negotiating a lease termination or assignment;
• negotiating a sublet agreement;
• enforcing terms of a lease, sublease, or oral/unwritten agreement with a landlord; and
• combatting landlord harassment and/or breach of contract.

Apply for lease help here (that link will lead you to the NYC Dept. of Small Business Services’ Commercial Lease Assistance Program where you can register to get help).

You can find additional help in the City’s Commercial Lease Guide available in English; puedes encontrar la Guia es en Español aqui.

Free Virtual Legal Consultation for Your Business (updated Aug. 18, 2022)

Provided through the NYC Dept. of Small Business Services.

Register for this legal clinic including a 30-minute free consultation with an attorney which can cover lease help. See the schedule of sessions and register here.

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