As the regional chamber of commerce, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership is committed to providing employers with the latest information and resources to help you deal with COVID-19 and its impact on business, our community, state, and nation.
- 2/10/22: BNP Gets Answers on Masking and HERO Act
- 2/9/22: Hochul Ends Mask Mandate; Poloncarz Will Follow Suit
- 1/28/22: Hochul Extends Mask Mandate
- 1/13/22: SCOTUS Blocks Vax-or-Test Rule
- 1/7/22: The Latest on Vax Mandates – OSHA Rule to be Enforced Monday
- 12/21/21: What’s the Latest on Biden’s Vax/Test Mandate?
- 12/13/21: Statewide Mask Mandate Now in Effect
- 12/10/21: Hochul Imposes Statewide Mask Mandate
- 11/24/21: Biden to Mandate Vaccine for Nonresident Essential Border Crossers
- 11/23/21: Erie DOH Releases Details on New Mask Mandates
- 11/22/21: Poloncarz Reinstates Indoor Mask Mandate
- 11/18/21: OSHA’s Vax/Test Mandate Paused Amid Legal Limbo
- 11/4/21: OSHA Releases “Vax or Test” Rule: What You Need to Know
- 9/9/21: Biden to Mandate “Vax or Test” Requirement for Large Employers
- 8/2/21: Cuomo Makes Recommendations on Vaccination Efforts
- 07/30/21: Poloncarz Updates BNP Members on Delta Variant
- 06/15/21: NYS Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions
- 05/19/21: NYS Releases Updated Mask Guidance for Employers
- 05/17/21: Cuomo Lifts Mask Mandate for Vaccinated New Yorkers
- 05/03/21: NYS Will Lift Capacity Restrictions
- 04/22/21: Vaccinating Your Workforce: What You Need To Know
- 03/29/21: New Yorkers 30+ Now Eligible for Vaccine
- 03/10/21: American Rescue Plan Passes
- 03/03/21: NYS Updates
- 01/27/21: Cuomo Lifts Zone Restrictions in WNY
- 01/25/21: PPP Round 2 Is Open & NYS Unemployment Insurance Update
- 01/14/21: Indoor Dining Can Resume
- 01/11/21: NYS State of the State
For a complete archive of past bulletins visit our blog
9/24/21: Navigating the New Federal Vaccine Mandate for Employers
7/30/21: Poloncarz Updates BNP Members on Delta Variant
7/13/21: The Successful Employee Re-Entry Plan
Preparing Your Business for COVID-19 Vaccines – Special 3-Part Series:
04/16/21: #1 Considerations for HR, Operations & Sr. Leaders
04/23/21: #2 Creating a Vaccine Policy & Plan
04/30/21: #3 Communicating with Customers & Employees
03/04/21: Understanding the Employee Retention Tax Credit
01/12/21: Relief Package 2.0 & Employee Vaccinations
11/17/20: New Guidelines for Out-of-State Travelers
08/26/20: School’s Back (Mostly): What Employers Need to Know About Paid Leave
08/20/20: Borrower Beware: Defending PPP Loans from After-the-Fact Gov’t Scrutiny
07/23/20: Contact Tracing – What Employers Need to Know
06/25/20: A Reentry Plan for Today; A Strategy for the Office of Tomorrow
06/11/20: Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act – Updates to the PPP
06/04/20: Manufacturing Council Hosts: Navigating lending, tax law changes and the future of PPP
05/28/20: Manufacturing Council Hosts: Employer Liability Protection
05/20/20: NYS Reopening Guidelines: HR & Legal Implications
05/07/20: Manufacturing Council Meeting: Safety & Operational Protocols
05/16/20: WNY Impact Survey Results
05/01/20: NYS Shared Work Program – Retain Employees During a Slowdown
04/10/20: SBA Loan Facts – EIDL and the Paycheck Protection Program
03/20/20: Covid-19 Latest Updates for Employers from Phillips Lytle
03/25/20: New Paid Leave Policies for COVID-19: Clarity for Employers
03/30/20: COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Details & the Business Impact
Erie County: Searchable Map of Testing Sites
ECMC: COVID-19 Vaccine Center
Niagara County: List of Testing Centers
New York State: COVID-19 Testing
New York State: DOH COVID-19 Tracker (persons tested positive by county)
New York State: Vaccinate New York Site
New York State: 5/19/21 Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
New York State: Regional Monitoring Dashboard
New York State: Micro-Cluster Strategy
New York State: Business Reopening Lookup Tool
New York State: Industries Reopening by Phase with Detailed Guidance
New York State: Business Reopening Safety Plan Template
Empire State Development: Reopening FAQs
Empire State Development: Guidance for New York State Businesses Related to COVID-19
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Reopening Business: Digital Resource Center
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Small Business Reopening Playbook
New York State: Reopening Guide
1/25/21 Small Business Administration: New PPP Interim Guidance
1/11/21 Small Business Administration: Second Round of PPP Loans
1/10/21 Small Business Administration: 2021 PPP Amendments
1/8/21 Small Business Administration: PPP Borrower Application
12/22/20 U.S. Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Emergency Loans Guide
6/19/20 Small Business Administration: Updated PPP Transparency
6/16/20 Small Business Administration: Revised Loan Forgiveness Application
6/16/20 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Updated Guide to PPP Loan Forgiveness
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Rally for Recovery Commitment Toolkit
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Workforce Tips for Employers
5/21/20 Employer Services Corporation: COVID-19 Employee Daily Health-Screening Form
5/21/20 Employer Services Corporation: COVID-19 Employee Health-Screening Questionnaire
5/21/20 Employer Services Corporation: Job Refusal Checklist Form
International Association of Business Communicators: COVID-19 Resources & Template Communications
The Communications Network: COVID-19 Crisis Communications Triage Kit
Do you have specific questions related to running your business or your business unit?
Visit the BNP Business Link, a question and answer forum for, and by, the Buffalo Niagara business community. Submit your questions and get expert answers on just about any topic from legal, IT, HR, NYS regulations, sales, marketing, communications and more. It is quick, confidential, powerful and convenient. The BNP Business Link can help you today.
From the Blog
3.21.22 COVID Bulletin: State Reverses Course on HERO Act
Without fanfare, the New York State Department of Labor updated its website to announce the relaxation of some NY HERO Act provisions. Employers can now forego enforcing their workplace safety plans.
2.10.22 COVID Bulletin: BNP Gets Answers on Masking and HERO Act
Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.
2.9.22 COVID-19 Bulletin: Hochul Ends Mask Mandate; Poloncarz Will Follow Suit
Today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she will NOT be renewing the state’s mask mandate, so the mandate will expire tomorrow.
1.28.22 COVID-19 Bulletin: Hochul Extends Mask Mandate
Today, Gov. Kathy Hochul extended the state’s mask mandate for indoor public places through February 10th. The mandate was previously set to expire on Tuesday.