The Buffalo Niagara Partnership has put together a business reopening guide to help regional employers navigate the process.
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership today released Keep Buffalo Niagara Working – a detailed resource that provides regional employers with key COVID-19 pandemic information including:
With Western New York on track to start phase two of reopening as soon as Tuesday, more businesses shuttered due to the pandemic are in line to reopen their doors.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York leader John Williams spoke by video last Thursday to groups representing interests in the northern part of New York state.
A coalition of 19 business interests wrote to Cuomo – to ask that he push for state-level liability reforms. Those business groups fear a rash of worker’s compensation claims and lawsuits unless businesses receive such protection.
Pressure to reopen the U.S.-Canadian border increased late this week, as Rep. Brian Higgins suggested loosening current restrictions slightly and a group of cross-border business interests laid out detailed principals for how the reopening should proceed.
Manufacturing and construction in Western New York can resume Tuesday. Stores can reopen, but only for pickup or delivery. More farming can restart, as well as forestry, fishing, hunting and wholesale trade.
Speaking to the Buffalo Niagara Partnership Monday morning, Western New York “control center” head, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “We are in a very good place. What it requires is simply a four-hour training course. We went after all five counties, asked them to identify current government workers; it doesn’t have to be in the public health realm – social services, law enforcement, building inspectors – anybody who will do this. And we now are approaching those numbers, and I’m feeling really good about where we are today. Very good.”
In a conference call Monday morning with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul offered additional details on what phase one of “New York Forward” entails. She is head of the “control room” monitoring when Western New York can begin to exit Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “New York State on PAUSE” shutdown.
Saying that the local business community is struggling is an understatement of magnanimous proportions. Therefore, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (BNP) has set up the BNP Business Link, which is in place to help business owners at this significant time of need. Business owners are invited to reach out to the BNP, to not only access a repository of curated information, but also to ask questions about their current state of affairs.
