Morelle expects more economic relief will be necessary
The $2.2 trillion emergency legislation passed by Congress last week very likely won’t be nearly enough to keep Americans employed and the economy afloat as the coronavirus pandemic steamrolls the country. “I suspect we’ll be back to either extend provisions of this or come up with additional programs,” Rep. Joe Morelle (D-Irondequoit) told around 400 business […]
Construction industry stung by new ‘essential’ definition
Construction firms large and small, forced to leave job sites on Friday when their work no longer fit the state’s definition of an essential industry, are hoping Gov. Andrew Cuomo instead will allow municipalities to determine whether building is a necessity. Persons working in trade industries had been allowed to remain on the job when […]
Lending hotel was their way of helping flatten the curve
Having backgrounds in the health care industry, Silas and Micky Patel said they followed intently the spread of the coronavirus long before it reached pandemic proportions in New York. They saw the devastation in China and then in Italy, and how communities reacted. Then they began to see how the pandemic was impacting their livelihood. As […]
County’s COVID-19 surge preparedness plan includes creation of field hospital
Rochester’s health care providers believe they can more than double the number of available hospital beds within existing facilities to more than 4,000 should there be a wave of serious COVID-19 cases due to the coronavirus pandemic. But doctors say the four-phase surge contingency plan — which also includes creation of a field hospital with […]
County creates small-business emergency loan program
A small-business emergency loan program has been created by Monroe County that aims to provide up to $10,000 in no-interest funding within seven days. The program, approved Wednesday by the Monroe County Industrial Development Corp., offers zero-interest loans of up to $10,000 for working capital to a broad range of qualifying businesses in retail, health […]
Online auction will benefit Spiritus Christi’s prison outreach program
Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach is taking its 40th anniversary celebration online on Saturday evening, highlighted by an online fundraising auction. Home Leasing has committed to match up to $40,000 in auction proceeds. Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach is a ministry of Spiritus Christi Church and provides access to safe housing in a structured, supportive environment. The […]
Monroe County, city of Rochester extend property tax deadline
Taxpayers in Monroe County and the city of Rochester now have an extra month to pay property taxes. County Executive Adam Bello has signed an executive order, extending the due date for the third installment of town and county real property taxes from March 31 to April 30. Bello also has prohibited in-person payments of […]
Cuomo orders 100% of ‘non-essential’ workforce to stay home
Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all workers for “non-essential” businesses to stay home and threatened civil fines or mandatory closure to those employers who don’t comply. The edict goes in effect at 8 p.m. Sunday. He also said all public gatherings of any size for any reason are cancelled. Cuomo made the announcements late Friday morning […]
County exploring alternate coronavirus-care facilities, just in case
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello on Wednesday implored all non-essential businesses to “send your employees home” as social distancing practices continue to ramp up in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus. “We need to protect the most vulnerable people in our community,” Bello said. But should there be a tidal wave of […]
Cuomo says racino hometowns don’t need share of VLT revenue
If Gov. Andrew Cuomo has his way, municipalities that have racinos within their boundaries would no longer receive a slice of video lottery terminal revenue to pay for hosting costs. Cuomo’s proposed executive budget calls for the elimination of VLT aid to the 15 communities and eight counties where racinos are located. That includes the […]
MRB Group president keeps firm focused on aiding small towns
When Ryan Colvin looks to the future and maps out his firm’s objectives for the quarter or the year, there is no dry-eraser board highlighting earnings projections that must be met. As the president at MRB Group, he isn’t issuing proclamations with dollar-sign demands. “Our firm doesn’t start off any year — and never has and […]
New program to address EV charging station costs
The New York State Department of Public Service is putting its support behind electric vehicles. A new report from the department recommends the establishment of a statewide utility-support “Make-Ready” program that would provide incentives to light-duty electric vehicle supply equipment and infrastructure for both Level 2 and Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) stations sta[...]