Westchester and Fairfield County Business Journal 062920

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TRUSTED JOURNALISM AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

JUNE 29, 2020 VOL. 56, No. 26

westfaironline.com

Al fresco took on a new meaning in Larchmont as restaurant dining rooms spilled out onto Larchmont Avenue to accommodate customers as well as abide by state distancing rules. Photo by Peter Katz.

INSIDE

New economic landscape MERCHANTS, GOVERNMENT REALIGN PRIORITIES

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS

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OFFICE MARKET

BY PETER KATZ pkatz@westfairinc.com

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ith the MidHudson Valley region having moved into the third phase of New York state’s four-phase COVID-19 reopening plan on June 23, some businesses were just beginning to bring back employees from the work-at-home environ-

ment while others, especially in the retail, restaurant and personal services fields, were involved in efforts to attract customers and convince them that they’d be safe from infection. Phase three presented the opportunity for a major step forward for businesses along the main streets of many communities because it allowed for restaurants to resume

» REOPENING

Evan R. Corsello

Frank J. Gaudio President & CEO

203.302.4375

indoor dining service, albeit at 50% of normal capacity, after having been relegated to only takeout and outdoor seating under prior reopening phases. Many villages, towns and cities in Westchester had tried to accommodate restaurateurs, who represent a significant source of downtown activity, sales tax and other

Chief Lending Officer

CALL US TODAY

203.302.4003

EXPERT LENDERS  COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL Port Chester – 914.908.5444 500 Westchester Avenue

NMLS # 510513

Cos Cob – 203.629.8400 444 E. Putnam Avenue

Stamford – 203.413.6101 900 Summer Street

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CONNECTICUT TOURISM SECTOR LAUNCHES $1.2M RECOVERY CAMPAIGN INITIATIVE ARRIVES AMID TRAVELER UNCERTAINTY BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN kzimmerman@westfairinc.com

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he state is betting that travelers, both within Connecticut and in neighboring states, are ready to hit the road this summer and take advantage of the various sites and attractions. The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the Connecticut Office of Tourism just announced a $1.2 million marketing campaign, “Good to See You Connecticut,” designed to help reinvigorate revenues for the thousands of tourism businesses across the state impacted by temporary closures driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the second phase of the state’s reopening plan, the tourism sector has been “preparing for quite some time,” state Tourism Director Randy Fiveash said. “This is a recovery campaign and we had to make sure the tourism industry was ready for it.” Running from June 22 through Labor Day » TOURISM

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