Community Alerts 3.2.21

New York COVID-19 Vaccine Update

As of Monday, March 1, New Yorkers working and volunteering at food pantries, food banks and grab-and-go food sites are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Check out Vax4NYC, TurboVax, Vaccine Together NY, NYC Vaccine List, and vaccinefinder.nyc.gov to try to find a vaccine location and schedule an appointment in NYC online. And, if you are outside of NYC, click here to check eligibility and try to make an appointment in New York State.

Open Culture Applications Now Open

Applications are now open for the new citywide NYC Open Culture permit for outdoor, socially distanced, ticketed, performances at 200+ street locations citywide. Click here to learn more about the program and apply.

PPP Loans Prioritized for Small Businesses

For two weeks as of Wednesday, February 24, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is only accepting applications from businesses with fewer than 20 employees. This is an effort to make sure federal funds are reserved for sole-proprietors and small employers. If your business employs fewer than 20 employees, we encourage you to consider applying during this 2-week window so your application will be prioritized. 

New Con Edison Scam Alert

Scammers looking to rip off Con Edison customers have begun asking people to make payments by Cash App and Zelle. Con Edison does not support these platforms for payment. Any customer who gets a request to pay a Con Edison bill by Cash App or Zelle should beware that the person making the request is a scammer who will steal the money. Click here to learn more on avoiding Con Edison scams.

Donate a Site for New York Forward Rapid Test Program

The Empire State Development Fund is continuously looking for additional donated space across New York City that can become rapid testing locations. Donated sites must be in a commercially-zoned corridor, contain at least 750 square feet of open space and be available immediately for a minimum of six months. Sites must have street-level access, a restroom and be Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant. If you are interested in donating space, fill out this form developed in partnership with the Real Estate Board of New York.