Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, May 29, 2020
Vol. 69, No. 22
N E W H Y D E PA R K
SUOZZI TOUTS ADVOCACY FOR L.I. PAGE 8
SUOZZI FOES TAKE AIM AT EACH OTHER
COUNTY INFECTIONS DROP TO 51 FOR WEEK
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Nassau to aid small business in loan program
FA L L E N H O N O R E D
Cuomo gives county, L.I. green light to begin first phase of reopening BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z As Long Island began the first phase of reopening on Wednesday, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced the “Boost Nassau” Loan Program, which will secure up to $10 million in loans for the county’s small businesses hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. According to a news release sent out by the county, the program was made possible by a $500,000 investment by Nassau County and the Nassau County Local Economic Assistance Corp. “Small businesses employ our neighbors, family, and friends and are the heart of our once vibrant downtown communities – now struggling to stay alive,” Curran said. “We will pursue a robust outreach strategy through our minority outreach offices, local chambers, and partners to ensure businesses in hard-hit communities that missed out on other programs can finally get the relief they need.” The program is part of the state’s “NY Forward Loan Fund,”
a program that targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, nonprofits and “small landlords” that have seen a loss of rental income. According to state figures, 90 percent of all businesses throughout New York have 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. Businesses can obtain up to $100,000 in loans with less than $3 million in annual revenue. Nonprofits have a 2 percent interest rate on the loan, while small businesses have a 3 percent rate, officials said. Businesses or entities that obtained funding through the Paycheck Protection Program or an Economic Injury Disaster Loan are not eligible for the state’s lending program, officials said. Loans must be paid back over five years, with interest-only payments for the first year, and principal and interest payments for the remainder of the reimbursement period. The loan, according to officials, can be used for reopening expenses such as redesigning or layout changes to comply with the state’s social distancContinued on Page 4
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran attended a Memorial Day celebration at Eisenhower Park on Monday.
Herricks races pit change v. continuity BY E M M A J ON ES Two Herricks Board of Education members, Henry R. Zanetti and James Gounaris, are running for re-election against challengers in the June 9 contest. Voters will cast absentee
ballots, which were to be distributed 14 days before the vote due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bhajan S. Ratra is challenging Zanetti, and Tarantej S. Arora is running against Gounaris. Zanetti, a Williston Park resident who served on the Herricks PTA for over a decade, was
elected to the board in 2017. He is running for his second term. Gounaris, a Manhasset Hills resident, was president of the board from 2013 to 2015. He is running for his fourth term on the board. Ratra is an adjunct profesContinued on Page 12
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