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SCV Coronavirus Information
SCVEDC is committed to providing you with information and resources to help your company navigate the Coronvirus (COVID-19) crisis. We need to take steps to keep jobs and businesses going, as well as protect the community. Information is changing often, and updates will be made to this page daily. We ask readers to rely on official sources first and foremost, and we will repost some of that information here, in addition to other recommended steps.
CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATES
The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program has announced that it will take applications from California small businesses impacted by COVID-19 for grants of $5,000 to $25,000. There will be two rounds for grant application and distribution. The first application period began at 8 a.m. on December 30, 2020. The deadline was just extended and continues until 11:59 p.m. on January 13, 2021. The program is not on a "first come, first served" basis.
Eligible businesses are those with between $1,000 and $2.5 million in annual gross revenues based on their most recently filed tax return, and include sole proprietorships and nonprofits. Businesses that have previously benefited from CARES Act or other grants are still eligible to apply for this new grant program.
The grant amount awards are:
Grants will be awarded based on the following prioritization:
Grant award announcement for this round is anticipated the week of January 18, 2021.
For details about the program, eligibility requirements and how to apply:
All counties now return to the state's tier-based system, which places each county into one of four color-coded tiers indicating which activities and businesses are allowed based on local case rates and test positivity.
The order applied to the Southern California, San Joaquin Valley and Bay Area regions, which encompass more than 90% of the state's population of 39 million people. The four-week ICU projections for these areas show enough capacity to exit the order, according to the California Department of Public Health.
The County of Los Angeles Health Officer reinstated the November 25, County Health Officer Order, which is now on Public Health’s website. That County Order is effective now, and businesses that reopen must fully implement all applicable protocols and guidance. Businesses found out of compliance with their respective protocol(s) may be subject to immediate citation.
Although some improvements have been seen, the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 remains high. The daily reports of new COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and premature deaths continue to be high and widespread across the County, and the County’s Health Officer is evaluating the current COVID-19 trends and hospital capacity issues. The County’s Health Officer will issue a revised Health Officer Order and accompanying Public Health protocols on Friday, January 29, 2021. This revised County Order will mainly align with the State’s sector requirements for counties within the Purple Tier, but the order will contain specific modifications that may be more restrictive.
This and other pertinent information can be found on the LA County Department of Public Health COVID-19 website. Please check Public Health’s website again on Friday, January 29, for the updated Health Officer Order and Protocols.
In an effort to assist restaurants affected by the COVID-19 restrictions, Los Angeles County will launch the Keep LA County Dining Grant Program on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 12:00 a.m.
The Keep LA County Dining Grant will provide $30,000 to use as working capital for employee payroll expenses, capital to continue operations, payment of outstanding business expenses, and adaptive business practices needed to remain open. Preference will be given to restaurants that provided outdoor dining as of November 24, 2020.
The Program, approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on November 24, 2020, and operated by the Los Angeles County Development Authority, will be available to small businesses located in the County of Los Angeles, not including the Cities of Los Angeles and Pasadena, that can demonstrate that their business was impacted by COVID-19 through a hardship due to closure and a reduction in revenue. Businesses that have already received assistance from other Los Angeles County Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act programs are not eligible for this Program.
The application period will begin Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 12:00 a.m., and be available through Sunday, December 6, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., or until 2,500 applications are received, whichever comes first. For additional program information, please visit keeplacountydining.lacda.org or call (626) 943-3833. Questions regarding the grant program can be sent to keeplacountydining@lacda.org.
The "Right of Recall" requires employers who have laid off employees to give them the first opportunity to receive their jobs back. If two employees are qualified for the same position, the opportunity must go to the person with seniority first. The "Worker Retention" requires new owners of businesses to retain the current staff for at least 90 days.
As part of the federal CARES Act, the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic.
Using funds appropriated under the CARES Act, Treasury will make a $75 billion equity investment in a special purpose vehicle established to implement the Main Street Business Lending Program. This investment will enable up to $600 billion in new financing for businesses with up to 10,000 employees or $2.5 billion in 2019 annual revenues.
The Senate unanimously passed a $2 trillion stimulus package March 25 aimed at helping the people, states and businesses nationwide devastated by the coronavirus pandemic.
On March 25, SCVEDC hosted a FREE webinar with Dr. Mark Schniepp on the economic impact of the Coronavirus. Dr. Schniepp discusses the rapidly changing global economy in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic and how it might affect SCV companies and the economy. CLICK HERE to download his presentation slides.
Small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees.
California and the federal government are providing broad assistance to small businesses and employers impacted by COVID-19. This includes:
This 98 page guide includes information about reconfiguring office space, having a process in place if an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, evaluating leave-of-absence policies, and reinforcing a psychologically healthy workplace where employees feel safe, respected and empowered.
The online business resource will be updated as guidance evolves to best protect the workforce against the pandemic. It can be downloaded as a PDF from the website https://business.kaiserpermanente.org.
Under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created by the CARES Act, loans may be forgiven if borrowers use the proceeds
to maintain their payrolls and pay other specified expenses. The US Chamber of Commerce has released an informational guide for businesses to help them understand the application form and instructions for Loan forgiveness.
A team of digital experts from Los Angeles County's Joint Information Center has created this guide to help cities, partners, and key stakeholders navigate digital communications in response to COVID-19 and the County's Safer at Home order.
You will find included:
Bringing people back to work will take special legal and operational considerations. Watch the recap of the webinar with Brian Koegle, from Poole, Shaffery, & Koegle, LLP to learn:
Reopening your business will take time and planning. Start the process now with a webinar series offered by the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce. You'll gain valuable insights from essential businesses that have already made changes to their work environments like social distancing, increased health and safety protocols, and how business fundamentals have changed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.
In order to provide full support for public health and safety efforts, South Coast AQMD will prioritize and expedite the permitting process for those businesses. Normal permit fees will apply, however South Coast AQMD will not require expediting fees for companies assisting with the COVID-19 response.
LA County has just launched a centralized call center and website providing free, one-on-one counseling and support for business owners and workers who have been adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. Open M-F 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for calls: (833) 238-4450, or visit their website for more information.
Here is the LA County-supported Rapid Response resource closest to SCV to service businesses at risk of closure and job loss. You can also contact scvedc@scvedc.org for assistance.
Ibank's Small Business Finance Center’s loan guarantee program is designed for Disaster Relief specifically and is currently available to small businesses needing assistance to overcome economic injury caused by COVID-19.
Employers can apply for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Work Sharing Program if reduced production, services, or other conditions cause them to seek an alternative to layoffs. This program helps employers minimize or eliminate the need for layoffs, and helps employers retain trained employees and avoid costs of recruiting and hiring new employees as business conditions improve.
The California Economic Forecast is a full service economic consulting firm, and provides timely updates on the economic outlook surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the federal CARES Act, the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic.
The School of Personal and Professional Learning at College of the Canyons provides lifelong learning classes to residents of all ages with opportunities for professional development, skills development, and language acquisition. These courses are offered tuition-free and are supported by the State of California.
AJCC offers vital services to help adults looking to enter or re-enter the workforce or strengthen their skills. While walk-in service is unavailable, please call the SCV AJCC office for assistance.
Pays benefits to workers who have lost their job and meet the program’s eligibility requirements. If you have become unemployed or partially unemployed, you may file a UI claim.
Apply for benefits if you're unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional).
Apply for benefits if you or a family member are sick or for preventative care when civil authorities recommend quarantine.
Apply for benefits if you're unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness related to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional.
If you are unable to do your usual job because you were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of your work, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
OnwardCA is an initiative of companies, foundations, and humans to get California workers displaced by COVID-19 essential life services and back to work as quickly as possible.
Free job board exclusively connecting SCV career opportunities to SCV residents.
