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STRONGER TOGETHER. SAFELY APART.

Resources for Businesses

Federal, state and local assistance programs are available to small business owners, employers, employees and residents. The County is organizing the information and will continue to provide updates as new programs and policies are announced.

Beyond the Blueprint
State of CA COVID-19 Employer Portal

The following agencies provide no cost consulting services for local businesses. If you need assistance completing grant applications or other business mentorship or advice, please see their websites.

Selling your Products/Services on Your Own Website or Other Marketplaces


Review of your current website and discussions about possible improvements to your organization, navigation, images, text, call to action and other key aspects of your website. A Santa Barbara County SCORE Webinar.


October 19, 2021 | 5:00pm | REGISTER NOW

 

Buy-Sell Agreements: How to Prepare for a Co-Owner Cashing Out and Leaving the Company


If your business has several owners, have you thought about what may happen when one owner wants to sell their share and exit the company? Or if a co-owner becomes disabled or passes away suddenly? Have you thought about what it would be like to manage your business with a new, previously unknown, co-owner by your side? In this webinar, you will learn about Buy-Sell Agreements, protecting your business from triggering events, what business owners should consider and address in their agreements. A Ventura County SCORE webinar.


October 20, 2021 | 10:30am | REGISTER NOW

 

Starting an E-Commerce Business from Scratch on Shopify


Tips and tricks for building your business on the Shopify platform, sourcing, brand building, and more! A Santa Barbara SCORE Webinar.


October 21, 2021 | 10:00am | REGISTER NOW



Café Conexito


Conecta, colabora y aprende con WEV. Únase con WEV una vez al mes (con su bebida matutina favorita) para conectarse, colaborar y aprender de otros emprendedores y emprendedoras. Reuniéndose cada cuarto viernes del mes de 9:00 am a 10:00 am, usted tendrá la oportunidad de compartir, escuchar y apoyarse mutuamente para lograr las metas de su negocio. Un seminario web de WEV.


October 22, 2021 | 9:00am | REGISTER NOW



Building a 401(k) Plan for Your Small Business


This live, interactive webinar session is designed to help you explore the tips and tricks of small business retirement plans. A Ventura County SCORE Webinar.


October 26, 2021 | 10:30am | REGISTER NOW



Using QuickBooks Online for Nonprofits


This workshop introduces you to features within QuickBooks Online such as Receipt Capture, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Budgeting. A Santa Barbara County SCORE Webinar.


October 28, 2021 | 9:00am | REGISTER NOW

COVID- 19 Recovery State Funding Opportunities

 

*Click links for various COVID-19 Recovery funding. 

CA Grants Portal

https://www.grants.ca.gov/

 

Small Business Administration – COVID 19 Funding Opportunities

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options

CALED – Economic Development Funding Opportunities

https://caled.org/economic-development-resources-for-the-novel-coronavirus-and-covid-19/

 

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

https://business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019/

 

California Budget 2021-2022 – Funding Opportunities

https://www.ebudget.ca.gov/

 

California Comeback Plan

On July 12, 2021, Governor Newsom signed the California Comeback Plan. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development released a guide of all current and forecasted state incentive programs for businesses. Click HERE to read the full guide. 

 

CA Interactive Grants tool

The California Grants Portal (a project by the California State Library) is your one destination to find all grants and loans offered on a competitive or first-come basis by California state agencies. Search for various grants available through the State of California on their interactive website here.

 

Workplace questions for Cal/OSHA

For questions on COVID-19 protections in the workplace or to speak with a Cal/OSHA representative during normal business hours, please call 833-579-0927.

 

Small business relief grant program

The program is now closed.

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a plan to invest an additional $1.5B into the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. We are waiting on further information and we will update the website as soon as it becomes available from the State. The full announcement can be read here.

 

State Tax Deductions for PPP and EIDL Loans

The February 17, 2021 agreement partially conforms California tax law to new federal tax treatment for loans provided through the Paycheck Protection Plan, allowing companies to deduct up to $150,000 in expenses covered by the PPP loan. All businesses that took out loans of $150,000 or less would be able to maximize their deduction for state purposes. Larger firms that took out higher loans would still be subject to the same ceiling of $150,000 in deductibility. More than 750,000 PPP loans were taken out by California small businesses. This tax treatment would also extend to the Economic Injury Disaster Loans as well.

 

State Fee Waivers for Most Impacted Licensees

The February 17 agreement provides for two years of fee relief for roughly 59,000 restaurants and bars licensed through the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that can range annually from $455 to $1,235. The agreement also reflects fee relief for more than 600,000 barbering and cosmetology individuals and businesses licensed through the Department of Consumer Affairs.

 

Small Business Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program

  • Available to small businesses with 1-750 employees
  • Provides easier access to funds for small businesses 
  • There is currently no expiration date for this benefit

IBank’s Small Business Loan Guarantee Program provides loans to underserved small businesses. Learn more about this program at the IBank website. 

 

California Rebuilding Fund

The California Rebuilding Fund is a loan program to support California’s small businesses- especially those located in economically disadvantaged and historically under-banked areas of the state.

  • Businesses who employed 50 or less full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) and had gross revenues of less than $2.5 million or below in 2019 are eligible to apply.
  • To fill out a pre-application and match with a participating community lender click here.

Other help for small businesses

California has additional resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19:

Labor and workforce support for businesses

How to manage COVID-19 in the workplace

As California reopens, every business will need to create a safer, low-risk environment. If you own or manage a business, follow:

As workplaces reopen, employees will need both childcare support and workplace flexibility. It’s also important that employees with COVID-19 know they should stay home. Your sick leave policies need to support that. See more information on:

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding

 

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic challenges. First proposed on January 14, 2021, the package builds upon measures in the CARES Act of 2020 and in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The purpose of the bill is to send relief to states and local governments affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic allowing them to better respond to the resulting public health needs and economic hardships that communities continue to experience nationwide.

 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ARPA INFORMATION. 

 

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans

 

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended on May 31, 2021. Existing borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness.

The Paycheck Protection Program provided forgivable loans to help fund payroll costs, including benefits.

 

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

 

• Available for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners, and renters
• There is currently no expiration date for this benefit

The EIDL is available for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters. For questions, you can contact SBA’s customer service line at 1-800-659-2955 / 1-800-877-8339 (TTY), or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

Apply for disaster loan assistance

H.R. 1319 American Rescue Act 2021 Summary

 

Small Business Provisions – American Rescue Act 2021

 

  • Provides an additional $7.5 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
  • Expands program eligibility to a number of non-profits and waives affiliation rules for larger non-profits.
  • Businesses that received PPP loans would be able to take tax deductions for the expenses covered by forgiven loans.
  • Expands PPP eligibility for 501 (C)(6) nonprofits, including local newspapers, radio, and television broadcasters, and destination marketing organizations.
  • Provides $15 billion for the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for entities with 50% or more revenue disruption and with 10 employees or less.
  • Establishes a program to assist restaurants and other food and drinking establishments and provides $25 billion for it (Restaurant Revitalization Fund through the SBA)
  • Provides $1.3 billion for the SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program.
  • Provides $175 million for new Community Navigators Program through the SBA for community navigator grants and $75 million for outreach and education and authorizes the pilot program through December 31, 2025

Restaurant Revitalization Fund

 

Applications are now closed.

 

ARPA established a program through the SBA to assist restaurants and other food and drinking establishments and provides $25 billion for it. This program provides restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

 

Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG)

 

The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. The America Rescue Plan Act provides an additional $1.25 billion to fund this grant program.

Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. SBA has launched the portal to begin accepting applications on April 8, 2021. Those who have suffered the greatest economic loss will be the first applications processed. Please click here for detailed information. To access the SBA portal, click here.

 

Sign up for email alerts about this program

 

Supplemental documents:

Community Navigator Pilot Program

 

  • On May 25, 2021, SBA launched the $100 million competitive grant program to strengthen outreach to businesses in underserved communities enacted through the American Rescue Plan.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is now accepting applications for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program. This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach our nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans. SBA announced the extended application date for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program. SBA will now accept proposal submissions through July 23, 2021, and anticipates making award decisions by September 2021. 
  • The Community Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity will be open to applications from nonprofit organizations, state, local, and tribal governments, SBA resource partners, and other organizations.  Selected partners will engage in targeted outreach for small businesses in underserved communities to help small businesses get the resources and support they need to get back on track as the economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Competitive grant awards will range from $1 million to $5 million for a two-year performance period. Applicants have until July 23, 2021, to submit their applications at grants.gov. Performance periods are projected to commence in September 2021. Those eligible to apply must meet and demonstrate abilities to support the requirements of this funding opportunity.
  • For more information on the Community Navigators Initiative, please visit www.sba.gov/navigators

Cities

County of Santa Barbara

 

*THIS PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED.* EMERGENCY BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM

The Emergency Business Assistance Grant Program provides microenterprise business assistance and small business assistance for the County of Santa Barbara. Now Accepting Applications! Click here to apply

Award Date: Rolling Basis

Application Deadline: June 30, 2021

Program Funding

  • Eligible costs include commercial rent, utilities (excluding water and sewage), payroll, personal protective equipment (PPE) required for business operation, business services to increase or alter business activities (e.g. point of sale system, website development, outdoor business activities, etc.), or other costs determined to be eligible and necessary to resume or alter business operations.
  • All grant payments will be made on a reimbursable basis for actual costs incurred by grant recipients under this program. The business will be required to submit appropriate documentation to confirm eligibility for the relevant program and receive grant payments accordingly.

Program Components

The Emergency Business Assistance program will consist of two different components: Microenterprise business Assistance and Small Business Assistance.

  1. Microenterprise Business Assistance: The Emergency Business Assistance program will provide grants up to $10,000 to Microenterprises that were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. Small Business Assistance: The Emergency Business Assistance program will provide grants up to $25,000 to small businesses that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Program Application

  • Applications can be submitted via the Santa Barbara Foundation’s grants online portal, printing and mailing or hand-delivering applications in a sealed envelope to the Santa Barbara Foundation at 1111 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, Ca, 93101 during regular hours of operation of Monday through Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
  • Submission of an application does not guarantee a grant award. Applications will be reviewed for completeness before accepted, and compliance with program requirements.

During an infectious disease outbreak, such as the current outbreak of COVID-19, small business owners must prepare for disruption in their business as well as prepare to protect their employees’ health and safety in the workplace.

Click to download Masks are Mandatory signage

 

As of 5 p.m. Friday, August 6, 2021 (County HOO #2021-10.3), appropriate face coverings are required to be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status. Per the mask mandate, facial coverings are NO LONGER OPTIONAL for fully-vaccinated individuals.

 

Businesses who are subject to Cal/OSHA , should check here for additional guidance.