- Agency: Small Business Services
- Division: NYC Business Restart Hotline
- Phone Number: (888) 727-4692
- Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Financial Counseling
NYC Financial Empowerment Centers now provide free one-on-one professional financial counseling over the phone. Counselors can help you separate personal and business finances and more during COVID-19.
Centers do not provide grants.
Learn more on the Financial Counseling page.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a loan program run by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis. PPP is a forgivable business loan, meaning you may not need to pay it back.
The deadline to apply was May 31, 2021.
Loans will be forgiven if you meet the following SBA criteria:
- Maintain employee and compensation levels, and
- Use your funds for eligible expenses, including 60% for payroll expenses and 40% for other eligible operating expenses.
Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.
Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.
Learn more about the Federal Paycheck Protection Program.
Sign up for PPP email updates.
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
Under the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, eligible businesses and non-profit organizations may be able to get a grant equal to 45 percent of 2019 gross earned revenue, up to $10 million. This federal grant program used to be called Save Our Stages.
The following businesses and non-profit organizations can apply for the grant:
- Operators or promoters of places that have live performances
- Theater producers
- Live Performing arts organizations
- Museums, zoos and aquariums that meet certain guidelines
- Movie theaters
- Talent representatives
Businesses and organizations also:
- Must have been operating as of February 29, 2020, and
- Must not have applied for a PPP loan on or after December 27, 2020
Learn more about the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.
Application Assistance
The Curtains Up NYC program offers free application assistance for NYC businesses and nonprofits connected to live performance applying for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program of the federal government.
Curtains Up NYC program assistance includes virtual one-on-one sessions with trained counselors on the best strategy for you and help filling out the application.
Resources are available in multiple languages, including Spanish and Chinese.
Sign up for one-on-one counseling. You must create an account and complete preliminary information before the counseling session. Once you create an account, select “Financing Assistance” to proceed.
You can also get more information by phone.
- Agency: Small Business Services
- Division: NYC Business Restart Hotline
- Phone Number: (888) 727-4692
- Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
