• NY Forward - Phases, Guidance and Related Info
• File a Complaint
• Business Report Form for an Employee who tests positive for COVID-19
• Isolation & Quarantine Guidance for Businesses
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Businesses 
  • PPE Vendor List
  • Application to be Added to PPE List
• Business Loans and Resources
• Employee Paid Leave Rights
• CARES Act
• Unemployment/Employment
• Erie County Emergency Orders 
• New York State Executive Orders
• New York State on PAUSE
• Additional Resources      

New York Forward - forward.ny.gov

For questions regarding NY Forward, please contact Empire State Development (ESD)

• See the Empire State Development (ESD) FAQs:  Frequently Asked Questions about NY Forward and Business Reopening
• Contact ESD at 716-846-8200 or email wnynyf@esd.ny.gov 

New York Forward – Phase I

• Construction
• Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
• Retail Trade
• Manufacturing
• Wholesale Trade
• Higher Education Research 

New York Forward – Phase II

• Offices
• Real Estate
• Essential and Phase II In-Store Retail
• Vehicle Sales, Leases, and Rentals
• Retail Rental, Repair, and Cleaning
• Commercial Building Management
• Hair Salons and Barbershops
• Outdoor and Take-Out/Delivery Food Services              

New York Forward – Phase III

• Food Services
• Personal Care     
• Guidance on Outdoor Expansion of Licensed Premises in Response to COVID-19 Outbreak (NY State Liquor Authority)

• Guidance on Requirement that Licensees With On-Premises Service Privileges Serve Food with Alcoholic Beverages (NY State Liquor Authority)

           

New York Forward – Phase IV   

• Higher Education
• Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools
• Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment 
• Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment
• Media Production
• Professional Sports Competitions With No Fans
• Malls
• Sports and Recreation          

Isolation & Quarantine Guidance for Businesses  

• ECDOH Isolation and Quarantine Flow Chart for Employees 
• Quarantine Order for Persons Deemed Essential Personnel 
• Quarantine Order for Persons Deemed Non-Essential Personnel    

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): Employee Paid Leave Rights 

• FFCRA requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020.
• FFCRA Employee Paid Leave Rights (Link not compatible with Internet Explorer) 
• Fact Sheets, Questions and Answers and More Info (Link not compatible with Internet Explorer)    

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) 

• The Federal CARES Act was signed into law March 27, 2020. The Act provides enhanced Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for New Yorkers. 
• What You Need to Know and Do About the CARES Act   

Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA)

• ECIDA COVID-19 Disaster Relief Business Programs or call 716-856-6525 

Buffalo Niagara Partnership (BNP)

• Online informational and connection platform for businesses impacted by COVID-19 

Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 Loans 

• Empire State Development
• SBA Coronavirus Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
• US Chamber Of Commerce Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide & Checklist
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Buffalo District Office or call 716-551-4301 or 1-800-659-2955    

New York State on PAUSE 

• Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has taken aggressive action to combat the spread of the infectious COVID-19 virus, as suspected and confirmed cases have surged around the world. Specifically, the Governor has imposed sweeping measures to protect public health and safety, including restrictions on businesses and gatherings through Executive Orders designed to reduce public density and slow the rate of transmission. These measures, together known as “New York State on PAUSE,” directed all non-essential businesses to close their in-person operations and banned all non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason. (See Executive Orders 202.6, 202.7, 202.8, 202.10, and 202.11.)
• PAUSE 10 Point Policy
• Essential Business List Available Here: For questions about Essential Businesses contact Empire State Development, call 716-846-8200 or email the Empire State Development WNY Regional Control Room at wnynyf@esd.ny.gov   

Complaints:  

• To file a complaint about a restaurant or bar in Erie County: ECDOH Environmental Health: Call 716-961-6865 or file a complaint online 
• To file a complaint about another type of business, location or incident in your community: New York on PAUSE Enforcement Task Force: Call 1-833-789-0470 or file a complaint online and call the Building Inspector in your municipality. 
• To file a report of an individual failing to adhere to the quarantine pursuant to the NY State Travel Advisory COVID-19 Travel Advisory Quarantine Report Form
• To file a complaint against your employer or place of work: NY State Department of Labor: Call 1-833-789-0470 or file a complaint online  
• To file a complaint about a hospital: Call 1-800-804-5447 or file a complaint online
• To file a complaint about a nursing home & long-term care facilities
• Care related issues: 1-888-201-4563 or NYSDOH Complaints About Nursing Homes
• Patient Abuse, Neglect, Mistreatment & Insurance Fraud  1-833-249-8499 or NY Attorney Complaints about General Nursing Homes 
• Adult Care & Assisted Living Facilities: 1-866-893-6772    

Question regarding phases and NY Forward:

• See the Empire State Development (ESD) FAQs:  Frequently Asked Questions about NY Forward and Business Reopening
• Contact Empire State Development (ESD) at 716-846-8200 or email wnynyf@esd.ny.gov 
• See forward.ny.gov  

Additional Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on New York Forward and Business Reopening; For questions not addressed in the FAQs, please email wnynyf@esd.ny.gov.  
• Regional UnPause Dashboard    
• Business Reopening Lookup Tool  
• CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 
• CDC Information for Businesses and Employers    
• BNP Keep Buffalo Niagara Working - Free Guide to Reopening Your Business   
• NYS Needs Manufacturers able to make critically needed COVID-19 supplies: Contact Empire State Development at 212-803-3100 or send an email to COVID19Supplies@esd.ny.gov. 
• Interim Guidance for Retail Grocery Stores During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (04/10/2020)
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Buffalo District Office or call 716-551-4301 or 1-800-659-2955
• Buffalo Niagara Partnership COVID-19
• NY State Executive Orders
• Erie County Department of Environment & Planning Arts Sector Support
• NYSDOH Response to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Providers (04/07/2020)
• OSHA Guidance 
• Childcare Resource Network (CCRN): clearinghouse for childcare openings 
• CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers 
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility (CDC)
• NYSDOH Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19 (03/10/2020)
• "Matilda's Law" will protect New York's most vulnerable populations
• NYSDOH COVID-19 Hotline: 1-888-364-3065
• ECDOH COVID-19 Information: (716) 858-2929
• Resources Available - a variety of resources available to help you deal with the COVID-19 situation