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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.

July 23 at 12 pm: EDC QUARTERLY LEGAL UPDATE: FOCUS ON CAL/OSHA ETS

Join us for the EDC’s Quarterly Legal Update July 2021! In this free webinar, the Fisher Phillips legal team will review recently-passed California bills that are impacting small businesses, provide an update on current guidance and discuss real-life scenarios employers are tackling today. INCLUDING the revised Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards that went into effect in June.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 

July 27 at 10:30 am: BEST PRACTICES: STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS BY BUYING AN EXISTING ONE

This live, interactive webinar session is designed to help you understand the value of objectively evaluating a potential business investment. It is also designed to help you assess whether you have the skills to be a successful entrepreneur. Bring an open and inquisitive mind! A SCORE Ventura County webinar.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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:

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

On July 12, 2021, Governor Newsom signed the California Comeback Plan. Quick takeaways for businesses include:

 

  • $12 billion in stimulus payments that will go directly to middle class Californians and families. Nearly two thirds of Californians will now qualify for a stimulus check of $600.
  • $5.2 billion to help low-income renters and landlords, covering 100 percent of back-rent and all prospective rent for several months into the future. 
    • This funding may only support residential renters. This can still be a helpful resource for business owners working from home.
  • $1.5 billion addition, for a total of $4 billion, in direct grants to California’s small businesses – on top of $6.2 billion in tax relief.
  • $120 million to create the California Competes Tax Credit grant program to incentivize businesses to relocate to the state.
  • $35 million in the California Dream Fund to provide microgrants of up to $10,000 to seed entrepreneurship and spur small business creation in underserved groups and communities.
  • $500 million in new grants to be used to create opportunities for workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. 


For more information, click here. Additional information to be posted as it comes available.

Cities

County of Santa Barbara

 

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 Optional signage

Signs on face coverings are provided for your convenience. Business may also choose to continue to have patrons wear facial coverings. Businesses who are subject to Cal/OSHA , should check here for additional guidance.