COVID-19 Updates

News of coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing very quickly and we're hearing a lot about how it continues to impact our communities and others around the world. We've put together this webpage to help gather and share important updates, facts, and resources. We hope you're staying healthy and being kind to one another.

Help us understand the impact of COVID-19 on the sector and what resources and advocacy are needed to support New York's nonprofit sector through the COVID-19 pandemic.

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News and Updates

  • SBA Issues Updated Guidance and Borrower Application Form

    • On April 2 the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an interim final rule explaining details about the Paycheck Protection Program that starts on April 3. The regulations address timely and recurring questions. Early on April 3, the SBA issued an updated Borrower Application Form to help prepare the information that will be requested from prospective borrowers.

  • Department of Labor Guidance on Unemployment Insurance

    • On April 2 the Department of Labor issued guidance on Unemployment Insurance (UI) for states.

  • Nonprofit New York's Nonprofit Analysis of the Federal CARES Act

    • In a vote of 96-0, the United States Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (S. 748) providing significant funding for businesses, hospitals, schools, social support programs, and nonprofits. We have received several inquiries asking for an analysis of the relief package and its impact on nonprofits. This is a summary of key provisions and nonprofit eligibility. The House of Representatives is expected to pass the bill tomorrow.

  • Nonprofit COVID-19 Policy Roundup as of March 26, 2020

    • This updated Policy Roundup includes an analysis of the Senate CARES Act.

  • Nonprofit COVID-19 Policy Roundup as of March 25, 2020

    • We know nonprofits are anxiously wondering how various government responses and relief efforts will impact their organizations. We’ve created a policy roundup of what we’ve been tracking so far, including federal, state, and city actions and pending legislation that will impact nonprofits. If there’s something we’ve missed, please email Policy Director Chai Jindasurat at cjindasursat[@]nonprofitnewyork.org.

  • Abatement of Penalties and Interest for Sales and Use Tax

    • On March 23 Governor Cuomo issued an executive order expanding the Tax Commissioner's authority to abate late filing and payment penalties. This will allow the Commissioner to abate interest on quarterly and annual sales and use tax filings and remittances with a due date of March 20, 2020, for those who were unable to timely file an pay as result of COVID-19.

  • Mayor's Office of Contract Services

    • On March 20 MOCS issued guidance for human services providers.

  • DHS Relaxes Form I-9 Review Requirements

    • On March 20 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will defer the requirement for employers to review, in person, Form I-9 documents. The change applies only to those employers that have instituted remote work. The physical documentation review requirements will not be excused if any employees are physically present at a work location.

  • COVID-19 national emergency

    • On March 13 the President declared a national emergency in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, invoking powers under the Stafford Act. This action opens $50 billion for aid related to COVID-19. The President also announced the administration would waive interest on federal student loans and the Department of Energy would buy crude oil for storage in U.S. reserves.

  • Families First Coronavirus Response Act passes House, must still pass Senate

    • On March 14, the House passed an updated version of H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, that includes provisions protecting nonprofits. The Senate is expected to bring it up as early as today. The bill provides free testing for COVID-19, $2 billion in unemployment assistance, $1 billion in food aid, and increased federal funding for Medicaid. It also suspends the SNAP work requirements and grants greater waiver authority to the states during the crisis. The bill requires employers to provide employees two weeks of paid sick leave, paid at the employee’s regular rate, to quarantine or seek a diagnosis or preventive care for the coronavirus. It also requires payment at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate to care for a family member for those purposes or to care for a child whose school has closed, or if a child care provider is unavailable, due to the coronavirus. The bill also expands the number of workers who can take up to 12 weeks of leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. After the two weeks of paid leave, employees will receive a benefit from their employers that will be no less than two-thirds of the employee’s usual pay. The qualifying reasons for the emergency leave are a current diagnosis of COVID-19, self-quarantine, caring for another person with the disease or who is under quarantine, or caring for a child due to COVID-19 related closing of school, or other care facility. Nonprofit New York will continue monitoring the Senate bill and share updates with our membership about how and when nonprofits can access these new protections.

  • COVID-19 federal appropriations

    • H.R.6074 - Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 passed on March 5th and was signed by the President on March 6th. This bill provides $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, including grants to local nonprofit organizations.

  • CDC guidance against gatherings of 50 or more

    • On March 15, the CDC issued interim guidance that gatherings of 50 people or more in the US should be canceled or postponed over the next eight weeks.

  • State COVID-19 emergency response

    • The state legislature passed a late-night emergency bill (S7919/A9953) providing the Governor Cuomo authority to issue any directive necessary to respond to a state disaster emergency and $40 million to address the COVID-19 public health crisis.

  • State of emergency declared

    • On March 7, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today declared a state of emergency to help New York more quickly and effectively contain the spread of the virus.

  • Ban on events of 500 people or more

    • On March 12, the Governor announced New York will ban events of 500 people or more and impose restrictions on other gathering venues as part of its effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

  • City emergency declared

    • On March 12, Mayor De Blasio declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 that gives the city the authority to potentially close public transportation, order people off the streets and ration supplies. The city could also establish curfews and close streets to vehicles.

  • New York City schools closed

    • On March 15th, Mayor De Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carranza announced the City will move towards a new Remote Learning Model for all school days through Spring Recess. Students will not report to school buildings for instruction during this time. School buildings will remain closed until at least April 20, 2020.

  • Restaurants, movie theaters, and bars closing this week

    • The mayor announced he will sign an order today, Monday, the 16th, to close all restaurants, movie theaters, bars, and concert venues effective Tuesday, March 17th in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. Restaurants will still be able to offer delivery and takeout.

  • COVID-19 Guidance from City for contracted nonprofits

    • The City issued guidance to nonprofit contracted providers on March 6th in response to concerns related to COVID-19. In the guidance the City states that, “organizations under contract with the City are responsible for fulfilling the agreements in their contract. If a provider believes alternative arrangements need to be established as a result of the Novel Coronavirus, they should discuss with their City contracting agency.”

Events

Applying a Paycheck Protection Loan
Monday, April 6, 2020, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Learn More & Register
The federal government approved $349 billion to help small business recover from COVID-19 lossed. The new CARES Act includes a provision that provides nonprofits with access to emergency buisness loans. Join Kevin Beauparlant, SVP Commerical Lending at Bank OZK for a webinar on the Paycheck Protection Program and how our area's nonprofits can access the benefits of this program.

Resources