COVID-19 Business Resources
The City of Oakley understands that the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order may present financial challenges for local businesses. To help mitigate these challenges, the City has highlighted below a variety of federal, state, county and other resources that businesses can pursue during this difficult time.
California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program
State of California
The State of California has created the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant to provide eligible small businesses and nonprofits with up to $25,000 in relief funding. The application portal for the second round opens February 2, 2021 at 8 a.m. and closes February 8, 2021 at 6 p.m. Applicants can visit the CA Relief Grant website to view eligibility qualifications, required documentation, and recorded webinars on how to apply.
Federal Paycheck Protection Program Secibd Draw ends on May 31, 2021
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ends on May 31, 2021. All eligible entities can apply through a participating lender until then. PPP now allows certain eligible borrowers that previously received a PPP loan to apply for a Second Draw PPP loan with the same general loan terms as their First Draw PPP loan. Eligible small businesses and non-profits can apply for a First Draw PPP Loan (new applicants) or Second Draw PPP Loan (previous recipients), from now until May 31, 2021. Borrowers can apply for loan forgiveness. Visit the SBA Paycheck Protection Program page for more information.
Business Assistance Call Center & Human Resources Call Center
Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC)
Business owners impacted by COVID-19 can call (833) 320-1919, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Monday through Friday, to receive information related to lay-offs, insurance needs, federal small business loans, and payroll subsidies. In addition, for information about California labor laws, such as paid sick leave laws and the Family and Medical Leave Act, business owners can call the Human Resources Hotline for Employers at (888) 599-7645, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Monday through Friday.
Business Counseling & Live Q&A Webinars
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The SBDC provides free counseling to small businesses and regularly hosts webinars on how to access available funding. For no-cost personalized assistance, businesses can call (833) ASK-SBDC. The SBDC also hosted webinars every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. with financial experts and attorneys to provide pandemic-related updates and answer questions.
California Rebuilding Fund
California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank)
The California Rebuilding Fund is a public-private partnership backed by IBank’s Loan Guarantee Program that makes loans available to small businesses through participating community lenders. Small businesses economically impacted by COVID-19 with fewer than 50 employees and an annual revenue of less than $2.5 million are eligible to apply. The loan terms include a maximum loan size of $100,000, interest-only payments for 14 months out of a 60-month loan term, and an interest rate of 4.25 percent. Businesses can find a lender and begin the application process through the Connect2Capital platform.
Small Business Hiring Credit Fund
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
Update: The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) Program is now closed. Check back for more information.
Small businesses that increased hiring between April to June 2020 and July to November 2020 may qualify to receive an allocated tax credit equaling $1,000 for each qualified net increase in employee, not to exceed $100,000 per employer. To qualify, businesses must have employed fewer than 100 employees as of December 1, 2019 and experienced a 50 percent decrease in gross receipts when comparing April to June 2019 and April to June 2020. Applications for the tax credit allocation open December 1, 2020 and close January 15, 2021 on the CDTFA website. For more information, call the CDTFA Customer Service Center at (800) 400-7115, from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Resources for Workers and Employers Impacted by COVID-19
California Employment Development Department (EDD)
The EDD has created a centralized COVID-19 resource page for both workers and employers impacted by COVID-19. Workers experiencing reduced hours, as well as those who must miss work to receive treatment or care for sick family members or children during school closures, will find helpful resources. The resource page also includes information for self-employed/independent contractors.
Employers who are experiencing a hardship due to COVID-19 will find helpful resources related to tax relief, such as a 60-day extension to file state payroll reports and deposit payroll taxes, and potential closure or layoffs. For example, the Work Sharing Program, a form of unemployment insurance, helps employers reduce hours as an alternative to layoffs. Also, employers facing potential closure or layoffs can receive help through the local workforce development board’s Rapid Response Program.
Note: Businesses interested in the Rapid Response Program should contact the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County: Patience Ofodu, Business Services Manager, (510) 453-6950, pofodu@ehsd.cccounty.us.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Update: On December 27, 2020, Congress passed legislation to add 11 weeks of benefits to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) claims. The new legislation also extends Pandemic Additional Compensation, which adds an extra $300 a week to regular Unemployment Insurance, FED-ED, PUA, and PEUC claims.
Initiated by the CARES Act, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance expands unemployment benefits to include Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, and others not usually eligible who are affected by the pandemic. The provisions of the end March 13, 2021. For more information, visit the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance page.
Layoff Aversion Grant Program
Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC)
Update: The WDBCCC’s Layoff Aversion Grant Program is now closed. Check back for more information.
Small businesses that have not received other forms of COVID-19 grant assistance may be eligible to receive a grant of up to $5,000 to cover pandemic-related expenses. The application portal opens Wednesday, November 18, 2020 and closes December 2, 2020. For more information, please visit the WDBCCC website or contact the Business Assistance Call Center at (833) 320-1919 or bouncebackcoco@ehsd.cccounty.us.
Federal Paycheck Protection Program
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Update: SBA, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for First Draw Loans the week of January 11, 2021.
SBA is currently accepting First Draw PPP loan applications from participating lenders. Lender Match can help connect you with a lender. You can also view all lenders near you on a map.
Update: The Paycheck Protection Program closed on August 8, 2020.
The CARES Act dedicated $349 billion to the creation of the Paycheck Protection Program, which is designed to help small businesses keep their workforce employed. The program is retroactive from February 15, 2020 to allow employers to rehire recently laid-off employees. Small businesses and eligible non-profits, Veteran organizations, and Tribal businesses, as well as self-employed individuals or independent contractors, are eligible to apply if they have 500 or fewer employees.
The program offers loans up to $10 million with an interest rate of 0.5 percent and maturity of two years. No collateral or personal guarantees are required and loan payments will be deferred for six months. The SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
Businesses can apply through any existing SBA lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Loans will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, including a tool for finding eligible lenders, visit the SBA Paycheck Protection Program page.
Federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses and U.S. agricultural businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. The program offers an interest rate of 3.75 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for non-profit organizations, with long-term repayments up to a maximum of 30 years.
Businesses can apply on the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance page, or mail completed applications to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. For application assistance, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may dial (800) 877-8339.
State Guidance for Employers and Individual Industries
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
The State of California has issued guidance to help employers create a safe, low-risk environment for workers and customers. Businesses should read the COVID-19 Employer Handbook and Statewide Industry Guidance and Checklists, in addition to the resources available on Contra Costa County’s COVID-19 page.
Calling All Californians: #ShopSafeShopLocal
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
The Governor’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery has created a campaign, Calling All Californians: #ShopSafeShopLocal, to help small businesses operate safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic and grow their digital footprints. The campaign includes a newly launched website that provides free consulting in 31 languages, resources to help businesses build a digital footprint, latest state industry guidance, access to Personal Protective Equipment, and a free digital media toolkit.
COVID-19: California Resources
Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority, a national small business advocacy organization, has created a California Resources page that includes emergency loan information beyond the widely distributed federal programs. Businesses will also find webinars on how to access funding opportunities, as well as free tools to calculate eligibility for federal small business assistance.
COVID-19 Resources: State Tax Relief and Loan Programs
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
Loan programs listed on the resource page include the IBANK’s Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program for loans up to $1 million and the Jump Start Program for loans up to $10,000. In addition, the California Capital Access Program encourages financial institutions to make loans to small businesses experiencing difficulty obtaining financing.
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC has published interim guidance on what is currently known about COVID-19 and how businesses and employers can plan, prepare, and respond to the disease. The guidance is of particular importance to essential businesses still operating during the shelter-in-place order. Visit the CDC website to view the interim guidance for businesses and employers.
Requirements to Protect Workers from COVID-19
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA)
Per Cal/OSHA’s Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) standard (section 5199), employers must protect workers exposed to airborne infectious diseases such as COVID-19. CAL/OSHA’s COVID-19 resource page offers guidance to help employers comply with safety requirements and to provide workers with information on how to protect themselves.
FAQs on Laws Enforced by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office
California Labor Commissioner’s Office
The mission of the California Labor Commissioner’s Office is to ensure a just day’s pay in every workplace in the State and to promote economic justice through robust enforcement of labor law. To help employers and employees understand their obligations and rights, the California Labor Commissioner’s Office has created this COVID-19 FAQs for Labor Laws page.
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES:
Contra Costa Small Business Development Center
Service Corp. of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Labor Commissioner’s Office FAQs – Employee leave options, compensation, and salary.
Department of Fair Employment and Housing – Job protection and employment discrimination.
Click here to visit the City of Oakley Economic Development page, filled with resources to help businesses.
Facebook has grants available for small businesses in Contra Costa County, learn more by clicking here. Small businesses can also set up digital giftcards to allow people to support businesses during this time.