Resources for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
Statewide directive concerning facemasks
Click here for tips and resources regarding masking
Follow our progress on the Resilience Roadmap https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/.
Outdoor Dining
As of December 11, 2020, Monterey County's Stay at Home order has prohibited ANY outdoor dining. Restaurants are allowed to be open, but for take out and delivery only.
Once the stay at home order is lifted, restaurants can return to offering outdoor dining opportunities. To operate outdoor on a public right of way (sidewalk, public street or public parking space) Apply for outdoor dining application today! Please complete the following City of Seaside Outdoor Dining Application and submit the supporting documentation required.
Below you will find the links for industry checklists for reopening:
General information:
https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance
Agriculture:
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-agriculture.pdf
Auto dealerships:
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-auto-dealerships.pdf
Child care:
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2020/CCP/PIN_20-06-CCP.pdf
Communications Infrastructure
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-communications.pdf
Construction
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-construction.pdf
Delivery Services
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-delivery-services.pdf
Energy & Utilites
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-energy.pdf
Food packing
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-food-packing.pdf
Hotels and Lodging
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-hotels.pdf
Life Sciences
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-life-sciences.pdf
Limited Services
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-limited-services.pdf
Logistics & Warehouse Facilities
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-logistics-warehousing.pdf
Manufacturing
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-manufacturing.pdf
Outdoor Museums
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-outdoor-museums.pdf
Office Workspaces
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-office-workspaces.pdf
Public Transit
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-transit-rail.pdf
Real Estate
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-real-estate.pdf
Retail
https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/checklist-retail.pdf
Monterey County has instituted sweeping emergency measures including issuing daily alerts and a SHELTER-IN PLACE order implemented to halt the spread of COVID-19. These disruptions have impacted Seaside businesses. Here are some links that may be of assistance:
Monterey County Health has issued a face covering order effective 4/30/2020 https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=90136
Concerned about using a mask? CA Department of Health issued guidance 4/1/2020 https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Face-Coverings-Guidance.aspx
Useful Monterey County Information
- Questions about Monterey County’s Shelter in Place-call 211.
- Shelter in Place FAQs on the Monterey County Health Department webpage www.mtyhd.org/covid19.
- Receive text updates from Monterey County Alerts regarding COVID-19by texting MCCOVID19 to 888777.
- COVID-19 free virtual care 831-622-800
- What IS an essential business? https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=88161
- Monterey-Salinas Transit has seen a significant reduction in ridership. A substantial change takes effect Saturday, March 28. Updates will be posted on the website https://mst.org/ Passengers can always access the latest information onMST’s Twitter feed.
- Monterey County COVID-19 Economic Assistance Hotline (M-F 8am-4pm) 831-796-1909
- Impact of the Monterey County Health Officer Shelter in Place Order on commercial cannabis operations
- The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) and Monterey Peninsula Foundation announced the creation of the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The fund will address the immediate and longer-term needs of our region’s most vulnerable residents who will be impacted by the Coronavirus. https://www.cfmco.org/covid-19-relief-fund-created/
- Resources to feed families around Monterey County--please scroll down to Seaside resources
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/monterey_county_food_banks.html - Monterey County announces Emergency Microloan Fund for small businesses impacted by COVID-19
Small business owners in Monterey County can apply for an Emergency Microloan from the County of Monterey if they can demonstrate they have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The County of Monterey will use funds from its Small Business Revolving Loan Fund for an Emergency Microloan Fund that has been designed to support small businesses located within the county of Monterey. The underwriting, approval, and closing process has been streamlined and will be designed to facilitate rapid deployment of capital to businesses in need. Once the COVID-19 crisis is over, the Emergency Microloan Fund will stop accepting new loan applications and will revert to the regular SBRLF program.- Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000.
- Interest rate is the lower of 4%, or 75% of Wall Street Journal Prime Rate (Currently 2.44%).
- The maximum loan term is 5 years.
- The loans can have an initial payment deferment period of up to 9 months (interest still accrues during the deferment period).
- Loan proceeds can be used for working capital and may go toward business expenses, such as payroll, rent, inventory, supplies/materials, utilities, professional services, and more.
- Funding is subject to availability of funds (a submittal of a loan application does not guarantee funding).
- The loan/application fee will be waived. Borrowers are responsible for paying a $250 documentation fee and closing costs. These fees can be financed into the loan.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be located within Monterey County.
- Should have between 2-10 employees.
- Should have annual revenues that do not exceed $2,000,000.
- Be an operating business, not a passive real estate entity.
- Have been in business for a minimum of one year.
- Must present a feasible plan to recover post-disruption.
- Be current on federal income taxes.
To get started, potential borrowers must submit a pre-qualification at www.calcoastal.org/pre-qualificaIon/ or by phone at 831-424-1099.
- CDC/OHSA Guidelines
Keeping Children Healthy While School’s Out
Employer & Employee Resources:
- Federal OSHA Guidance on preparing for COVID-19 in the workplace
- The following guidance from the Treasury was released late Friday night, as well as other current informational links. Please review to see what specifically addresses your situation.
(April 24 @ 10:00 PM EDT) SBA/Treasury Releases Additional PPP Guidance - How to Calculate Maximum Loan Amounts - by Business Type
(April 24 @ 4:50 PM EDT) SBA releases Procedural Notice on Participation Sales of PPP Loans
(April 24 @ 4:50 PM EDT) SBA/Treasury publishes 4 new FAQ
Housing stipends; principal residence in US; Ag producer, farmer, rancher eligibility
(April 24 @ 4:00 PM EDT) SBA will resume accepting PPP loan applications on Monday, April 27 at 10:30 AM EDT. Read SBA’s Press Release
(April 24 @ 10:50 AM EDT) SBA releases new Interim Final Rule:
CA Employment Development Department website with resources for workers & employers- Business resources from ALICE https://www.covid19businesscenter.com/?mc_cid=fd717e5d91&mc_eid=1f570c9f80
- Subscribe to GO-Biz’s Newsletter for COVID-19: https://tinyurl.com/wqzj9pt
- Subscribe to OPR’s Federal Grants E-List: https://tinyurl.com/y9du7fg3
Follow @CAGOBIZ on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAGoBiz
Subscribe to the GO-Biz YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCregW8KZRE4k1sXVZs2bPxw
Follow @Cal_OPR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cal_opr?lang=en
Reduced Work Hours
If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, you can file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. UI provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. Workers who are temporarily unemployed due to COVID-19 and expected to return to work with their employer within a few weeks are not required to actively seek work each week. However, they must remain able and available and ready to work during their unemployment for each week of benefits claimed and meet all other eligibility criteria. Eligible individuals can receive benefits that range from $40-$450 per week.
The Governor’s Executive Order waives the one-week unpaid waiting period, so you can collect UI benefits for the first week you are out of work. If you are eligible, the EDD processes and issues payments within a few weeks of receiving a claim
CA Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is temporarily suspending enforcement of specific legal prohibitions https://www.abc.ca.gov/notice-of-regulatory-relief/
- California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
- California Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 response page https://covid19.ca.gov
- Resources for Employers and Workers on COVID-19 from CA Dept of Labor: https://saferatwork.covid19.ca.gov/
- CA Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-BIZ)) FAQs for CA Small Businesses.
- CA Labor & Workforce Development Agency with Information for Workers & Employers regarding COVID-19
- The CA State Treasurer has compiled a list of federal, state & local resources available to small businesses bit.ly/stosmallbizlist
Taxes
- CA Franchise Tax Board announces more time to file CA taxes.
- CA Franchise Tax Board FAQs
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/covid-19/help-with-covid-19.htm
- CA Franchise Tax Board FAQs
- Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced on March 21 that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/payment-deadline-extended-to-july-15-2020
- The IRS has set up a special webpage regarding coronavirus tax relief https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus IRS has temporarily closed all Taxpayer Assistance Centers and discontinued face-to-face service throughout the country until further notice. The IRS is continuing to process tax returns, issue refunds and help taxpayers to the greatest extent possible. Click here for more info on taxpayer assistance center closures.
Loans, Financial Assistance & Training:
- Starting April 2, the Restaurtant Employee Relief fund will begin taking applications for $500 grants to restaurant industry employees financially impacted by COVID-19 due to loss of wages or employment. https://rerf.us/apply-for-aid/
- CA Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank (IBank) Small Business & Disaster Loans
- Access to Capital programs remain in place, including special disaster assistance at the state and federal levels:
- California’s IBank Small Business Finance Center: https://www.ibank.ca.gov/small-business-finance-center/ Note that the SBDC host, California Coastal Rural Development Corporation, does the Jump Start loans mentioned here. Their website is https://www.calcoastal.org/
- California Treasurer’s California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CalCAP): https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/cpcfa/calcap/arb/summary.asp
- Cal Coastal Small Business Development Center: https://CalCoastalSBDC.com offers training and one-on-one business advising. (most of this will be virtual during critical social distancing periods)
- Facebook has announced a cash grant program for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 closures and will be taking applications soon.
- CSU Monterey Bay’s Institute for Innovation and Economic Development is moving their Startup Challenge Workshops and Pitches online -- more info here.
- The “Planning for a Healthy Business” workshop scheduled for 3/25 at Seaside Creates is postponed.
- Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) is working with education partners and members to engage with a free, online Monterey Bay Career Coach -- this is one way to help graduating seniors explore education and career options, and for employers to hire summer interns for projects that can be completed remotely.
- Monterey Bay Internships is a free resource for employers to recruit local college students across the region; improving our community’s talent pipeline!
- Monterey Bay Career Connect, free resource for college and career planning, local scholarships, local internships, local labor market information and more
Utilities
PG& E : announced a moratorium on disconnects; payment plans available;
https://www.pge.com/en_US/about-pge/company-information/protective-protocols/covid19.page
The Central Coast Broadband Consortium has prepared a list of broadband resources that will be updated on their site https://centralcoastbroadbandconsortium.org/ as the situation develops.
AT & T :No usage caps on data for home based internet (like small business from home)Public Wi-Fi hotspots- "We won’t terminate service of any wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business customer due to an inability to pay their bill as a result of the coronavirus pandemic – and we’re waiving late payment fees for those customers." https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.htm
TMobile: Unlimied smartphone data for the next 60 days Additional 10gb of mobile hotspot https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/ongoing-updates-covid-19#customers
Verizon: Waiving late fees and suspending service termination for customers https://www.verizon.com/about/news/update-verizon-serve-customers-covid-19
CAL AM Water: Discontinuing service shut offs. If you service was turned off prior March 12, 2020, they are going to restart the service now. https://amwater.com/caaw/
Marina Coast Water: Office is closed to public access until April 8th 2020. Please visit their website at https://www.mcwd.org/
Seaside Municipal Water: no shutoffs scheduled as of 3-18-2020.
There may be some extensions allowed by the DMV https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv
COVID-19 Scams & Price Gouging
If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, tax, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, please do not respond. These are scams. Please contact the FBI at www.ic3.gov so that the scammers can be tracked and stopped.
CA penal code 396 prohibits price gouging-raiding the price of many consumer goods and services by more than 10% after an emergency has been declared. Find out more from the CA Attorney General’s FAQs on price gouging.