ESD’s (Empire State Development) Essential Business Guidance has been updated as of May 16, 2020. Guidance can be found here and is pasted further below. This guidance updates and supersedes any guidance you may have received to date on this topic.
1. Any business with a pending inquiry must refer to the updated guidelines or the New York Forward website to determine the status of your business. If your business is included in the list of essential businesses, you do not need confirmation of such by ESD. ESD will not be responding to individual requests for determinations.
2. A new online tool has been developed to help determine whether your business is essential or is able to reopen. The New York Forward Business Reopening Lookup Tool can be found here.
3. The State will be issuing new safety and operating guidelines for businesses, including essential businesses and non-essential businesses that are permitted to reopen. Industry-specific guidelines are currently available for business sectors in Phase One: construction; agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting; retail trade; manufacturing; and wholesale trade. Those requirements can be found here.
4. Additional information on the phases of reopening for businesses and industries can be found here.