Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein (D-Bayside), who serves as a member of the Assembly’s Working Group on Transitioning N.Y. Economy Toward COVID-19 Recovery, announced Thursday that the anticipated Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program is now open for applications. Queens small businesses who experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 are invited to apply to the program by visiting www.nysmallbusinessrecovery.com.

“The heart of New York City’s economy is our thousands of small businesses and restaurants, where owners and their employees have worked hard to adapt and persevere during the COVID-19 public health crisis,” said Assemblyman Edward Braunstein.“As we move into a new chapter of economic recovery in our state, I encourage Queens small and micro-businesses to apply for the Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, which will provide needed relief to the businesses who need it most as we build back stronger in the months ahead.”

The $800 million COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was passed by the State Legislature as part of the budget in April. The program will provide grants to eligible small businesses and independent arts and cultural organizations. It will give priority to small businesses that did not qualify for federal assistance or did not receive sufficient federal assistance, as well as microbusinesses, minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE), service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses.

Businesses can apply for grants from $5,000 to up to $50,000. The grant must be used for COVID-19 related losses or expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021. These expenses include:

• Payroll costs
• Commercial rent or mortgage payments for NYS-based property (may not be used for pre-payments)
• Payment of local property or school taxes associated with a small business location in NYS
• Insurance costs
• Utility costs
• Costs of personal protection equipment (PPE) necessary to protect worker and consumer health and safety 

Grant awards will be calculated based on a business’s annual gross receipts for 2019. 

The program will last until the funding is exhausted. A full list of eligibility requirements can be found at www.nysmallbusinessrecovery.com.