Businesses suffering losses from Hurricane Sandy need to make just one stop to get assistance at a new center the city opened at 79 John St. on Tues., Nov. 6.
Community Board 1 Chair Catherine McVay Hughes said that although the forms are available online (www.nyc.gov/nycbusiness), some business owners and workers do not have Internet access, and “it’ll help you go through the process more quickly. They’ll also be putting feet on the ground reaching out to businesses.”
Stores and other businesses that are considering laying off full-time workers to weather the storm may apply for the shared work program whereby employees receive benefits to help offset reduced work hours. The new center will also have information on federal aid, temporary office space and other programs.
The NYC Business Solutions Center, along with six others across the city, are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and are run by the city’s Department of Small Businesses Services (S.B.S.) and Economic Development Corporation (E.D.C.).
“We’re trying to get the word out to businesses,” said Gregg Bishop, S.B.S.’s deputy commissioner.
The Lower Manhattan center’s phone number is 212-618-8914. Businesses can also call 311 or e-mail Community Board 1 (man01@cb.nyc.gov) for more information.
