The St. Lawrence County Seat

Information for BusinessesResources for Re-Opening

Resources for Re-Opening

UPDATE 6/25/2020: As of Friday June 26, 2020 the North Country Region can begin Phase 4.

Please refer to the Phase 4 guidance released by New York State for arts, education, recreation, and entertainment services.

UPDATE 6/11/2020: As of Friday June 12, 2020 the North Country Region can begin Phase 3.

Please refer to the Phase 3 guidance released by New York State for restaurants and personal care services.

UPDATE 6/3/20: As of Friday, May 29 at 1pm, the North Country Region of NY State is in Phase 2.

As we begin to look toward re-opening the economy, businesses will need to create a plan for how they will operate in the new normal. Here we are providing links to information that might be useful as you prepare for the next phase.

NEW YORK FORWARD

Businesses and industries in New York will open in a phased approach. Click the link for each phase to learn more about the businesses included, safety precautions required, and business safety plan templates.

  • Phase 1 includes construction, manufacturing and select retail (with curbside pickup).
  • Phase 2 includes professional services, finance and insurance, retail, administrative support and real estate/rental leasing. Also included are hair salons, barber shops, and outdoor dining.
  • Phase 3 includes restaurants, food services and hotels, as well as personal care services such as nail salons and massage parlors.
  • Phase 4 includes arts, entertainment, recreation and education. 

Unsure of if/when you can reopen your business, and what the guidelines and requirements will be? Use the NY Forward Business Reopening Lookup Tool. NOTE: you will need to know your NAICS code; if you are unsure of this information visit the US Census NAICS website and use the 2017 NAICS search in the upper left of the page.

Upon reopening, businesses must implement new safety precautions to help lower the risk of spreading the virus. These include strict cleaning and sanitation standards, restricting nonessential travel, adapting the workplace to allow for social distancing, and requiring masks to be worn if employees are in frequent contact with the public. Read all the requirements here.

Below are some additional resources for preparing for your re-opening:

  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Ready to Reopen: A Playbook for Your Small Business
  • Retail Reset – Retail Reopening Guide
  • National Restaurant Association – COVID-19 Reopening Guidance
  • Industry Week – Back to Work Protocol for Manufacturers Post COVID-19
  • St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce & St Lawrence County IDA – Reopening Toolkit

 

  • Printable Posters for your Business:
    • Set of Posters Curated by the Office of Economic Development
    • CDC Posters and Print Resources
  • Cleaning & Sanitizing Supplies for your Business:
    • St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce –  Business Supplies, bulk hand sanitizer and face shields (315-386-4000)
    • St. Lawrence County Emergency Services – Bulk Hand Sanitizer (email or call 315-379-2240), Face Shields Request Form
  • Cleaning Procedures – How do you prepare your business for customers, and keep it clean and safe throughout the day for employees? Follow the guidelines recommended by the CDC here, and use them as you develop your Business Safety Plan