Tips for supporting local businesses during COVID-19

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TIPS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES 

  • When ordering take-out or delivery, support local restaurants 
  • Call restaurants directly to place orders or use delivery apps which have waived restaurant fees 
    • Delivery apps are postponing delivery fees, but will still collect them eventually: Uber Eats, Grubhub 
  • Buy gift cards, ideally online, at your favorite local shops
  • If you have time to catch up on reading, order books online from your local bookstore instead of from Amazon 
  • Shop online at local retailers
  • Buy local produce when possible and support local grocery stores, instead of waiting on long lines at the big chains
  • Offer your skills to your small business neighbors. Are you a website developer, a lawyer, a business consultant? An in-kind donation of your expertise would be extremely helpful to many businesses. 
  • Connect with your community! Find out what businesses need and bring your friends and neighbors together (virtually) to help them out. 

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

If you have a business:

FEMA: If you or your organization is interested in helping the effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, FEMA has established a website (www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help) with more information. Examples for the private sector include: To sell medical supplies or equipment to the federal government, please email specifics to covidsupplies@fema.dhs.gov. If you have medical supplies or equipment to donate, please provide details on what you are offering. If you are a private company that wants to produce a product related to the COVID response – email nbeoc@max.gov. For non-medical supplies, services or equipment, if you are interested in doing business with FEMA, visit their Industry Liaison Program: https://www.fema.gov/industry-liaison-program

NYC EDC: The New York City Economic Development Corporation is seeking businesses with the ability to quickly source and/or make needed medical supplies (e.g. face shields, gowns, ventilators, masks, and other products as needed) to support the City’s COVID-19 response. More information HERE.

As an individual:

Click HERE for City&State’s list of the 5 top ways that New Yorkers can help eachother through the pandemic.

RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE ON COVID-19:

Get the latest information and updates on COVID-19 from the NYC Department of Health. To receive real-time New York City COVID-19 updates, text “COVID” to 692-692.