St. Lawrence County Public Health says phase two of economic re-opening has begun. It includes offices, real estate, in-store retail, vehicle sales, leases and rentals, retail rentals, repairs and cleaning commercial building maintenance and hair salons and barber shops, public health said.

Businesses can use the state’s lookup tool to determine whether or not they are eligible for reopening as part of the state plan at https://www.businessexpress.ny.gov/app/nyforward.

A county-wide task force is bringing together business organizations, economic development officials, government leaders and public health experts to help guide County and regional efforts to reopen the county’s economy as quickly and safely as possible, public health officials said.

“Our goal and desire is to ensure that when St Lawrence County is finally and fully reopened we are confident that we have done everything we could to ensure the health and safety of our residents and visitors. That has been our number one concern,” said St. Lawrence County Legislature Chair Joseph Lightfoot, who appointed the working group. The group is working in cooperation with the County to coordinate restart activities with the Regional Control Room appointed by the governor.

“We are working to reopen in a way that lowers the risks posed by this pandemic while allowing our businesses and our citizens to get back to work,” said St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency CEO Patrick Kelly, who has been appointed chair of the group.

The task force membership also includes: Brooke Rouse, executive director, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce; Dale Rice, director, SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center; Patrick Ames, executive director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County; Dr. Andrew Williams, chair, St. Lawrence County Board of Public Health; Ruth Doyle, St. Lawrence County administrator; Dr. Dana Olzenak McGuire, St. Lawrence County Public Health director; Legislator James Reagen (R-Ogdensburg), public affairs aide to Senator Patty Ritchie; Nance Arquiett, business owner, DEC Public Information Officer; Legislator Rick Perkins, (D-Parishville), businessperson

“The task force is helping to coordinate the local public health and economic development response and providing direction when it becomes available to help get accurate information to businesses, their employees and their customers,” Kelly said.

Kelly said the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce website (https://www.visitstlc.com/covid-19/) has information for business owners seeking local suppliers of business safety supplies and equipment.

Information regarding the Public Health Department and updated COVID-19 tracking and resources is available at https://www.stlawco.org/Departments/PublicHealth/.

Businesses needing local help should contact: Small Business Development Center 315-386-7312, www.nyssbdc.org; St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce 315-386-4000, https://www.visitstlc.com/covid-19; St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency 315-379-9806, www.slcida.com; or St. Lawrence Cooperative Extension 315-379-9192, http://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/

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