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Community board to create centralized COVID-19 resource hub for arts groups and small businesses
Summary
Manhattan Community Board 2 members agreed to create a static web page aggregating agency updates, Bid lists and brief media from local arts groups and small businesses, and asked staff to work with the Borough President—s Office and DoIT to publish materials and a business survey.
Manhattan Community Board 2 members agreed at a March executive committee meeting to assemble a centralized, static web page with links to city agencies, business-imposed service lists, and short multimedia content to help residents find up-to-date COVID-19 information.
Board Chair Carter (executive committee chair) said the goal is a single, reliable place for people to find the latest agency guidance and neighborhood resources. "While the information is seemingly timely, when people have questions, they want whatever is most updated," Carter said.
The board directed staff to make the page a clearinghouse for links from city agencies and business improvement districts (BIDs), and to post redacted committee materials and applicant attachments when possible. "Josh has been working with DoIT, in addition to his committee work, to create a space on our web page, on our website where we can, list or create links to all the city agencies in general and more specifically to activities that the city agencies are undertaking, to address various aspects of the coronavirus issue," Bob (board staff) said.
Arts and small-business committees discussed adding short, low‑production video or audio clips to the site. "Maybe it's like a 1 on 1 Zoom interview and we take the audio... maybe 60 seconds...these little art groups are not going to get the New York Times," said Robin (Arts & Institutions committee member). Valerie (board member) suggested syndicating brief clips that let neighbors know what local groups are doing and that the board is available to help.
Committee members proposed using BID lists and simple Google‑Forms questionnaires so businesses can self-report hours, services and contact information. "If you get the store to fill it out, then... we can post you on the site," one participant said of the proposed business survey approach. Carter said staff will copy BID survey models already in use and circulate a draft email inviting businesses to fill out a form and join a planned informational meeting for small-business owners.
The board did not adopt a formal resolution. Instead members agreed to continue assembling materials and to task staff with building the page and coordinating with the Borough President's Office and the city—s Department of Information Technology (DoIT). Josh (staff member) was identified as the staff lead for site setup; board members volunteered to gather local links and short video/audio items.
Members emphasized the site should be low‑maintenance and focused on immediate, practical needs such as hours, phone numbers and delivery options rather than long curated lists. Robin said the human element matters: "Seeing faces and hearing and seeing empathy is what people... need."
