From the desk of City Manager Sarah Purdy...
COVID-19 UPDATE
March 31, 2020
One of the biggest changes in daily operations at City Hall has been the end of face-to-face conversations and the significantly increased use of telephone, email and webinars in order to communicate and to stay informed. Earlier today I participated in two webinars related to COVID-19, one on the processes governments will need to use for reimbursement of disaster-related expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the other on the resources available to the private sector, particularly small businesses.
Small businesses are the backbone of our community, so here are some informational resources for Ogdensburg’s small businesses, some of which already have been publicized but are worth repeating.
First, attached to this Update are two pdf documents that provide summaries of information about the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is the formal name of the relief bill adopted by Congress and signed by President Trump. The attachment titled “Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act” provides a detailed overview for small business as well as links to specific further information on available financial resources. The attachment titled “Stimulus Small Business Explainer” is a shorter document providing summary information.
In addition, here are some national and local websites that can provide more details about available resources:
The U.S. Small Business Administration:
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19
The St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency:
https://slcida.com Click on Resources for Businesses Affected by Covid-19
The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce:
www.ogdensburgny.com
Finally, one of the tips I learned today is that the National Endowment for the Arts has been provided with resources to assist arts-related enterprises. It’s worth checking out because the definition of eligible entities is broader than one might think.
https://www.artts.gov
Let’s be hopeful, and stay safe, stay healthy and stay together yet six feet apart. Please find below several other links to COVID-19 information that you may find useful.
Department of Labor Cares Act Information
US Small Business Administration
St. Lawrence County IDA
Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce
National Endowment for the Arts
State of Emergency Declaration
Governor Cuomo’s Website
Governor Cuomo’s Executive Orders
Center for Disease Control
New York State Department of Health
Traveler Information
Protect Yourself & Stop the Spread of Germs
Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus
What You Need to Know
Please revisit this page for important updates from the City of Ogdensburg.
