Business Resources

Federal COVID Aid and Relief

CARES and American Rescue Plan Act

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law, initiating the latest round of federal stimulus funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The total amount of funding provided by the American Rescue Plan is $1.9 trillion, which is in line with the $2.2 trillion provided by the CARES Act. All offerings past or current can be found HERE. Current information to consider includes:

  • Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Portal
    • The Small Business Administration (SBA) is making it easier to apply for loan forgiveness for those who received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan over the past year by allowing you to submit your application through the SBA portal. For help submitting your application, watch this training video and learn more about PPP Loan Forgiveness HERE.

CALIFORNIA BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAMS

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has compiled helpful information for employers at business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019. The state has established programs that may help you access capital and/or reserve funds, including:

California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

Funding for this program is currently closed. Visit CAReliefGrant.com to learn more.

Relief to Californians Experiencing Pandemic Hardship Including Small Business Owners

A complete list of aid to small businesses including Fee Waivers for Most Impacted Licensees and tax deductions announced by the Governor’s office can be found HERE.

California Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program

The Small Business Loan Guarantee Program helps businesses create and retain jobs, and encourages investment in low- to moderate-income communities. The Small Business Loan Guarantee Program is available to small businesses throughout the state of California and serves hundreds of small businesses each year. For more information, visit HERE.

Labor and Employer Workplace Rights, Responsibilities and Resources

The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the California Department of Industrial Relations website seeks to help employers and workers understand COVID rights and protections taken in the workplace. Visit the website HERE.

 

ADDITIONAL RELIEF RESOURCES

COVID-19 PRIVATE FUNDING OPTIONS and PRIVATE GRANTS

The US Small Business Administration has a list of private funding options. Browse industry-specific private funding options available nationally, or input a zip code to explore location-specific funding HERE.

Yelp Relief Program

Yelp, in partnership with GoFundMe, also introduced a fast and simple way for independent businesses to accept donations through their Yelp pages. Learn more.

Promote donations to your business directly from Yelp: GoFundMe fundraisers will automatically appear on Yelp pages for restaurants, nightlife, beauty, and fitness & active life businesses. Users will see a “Donate” icon on the business’s Yelp profile, inspiring them to take action. This gives the community a simple and easy way to show their support. Businesses must have fewer than five locations. (See FAQ)

Looking for free counseling to help you navigate this uncertain economic time?

The COVID-19 crisis has created uncertainty and stress for many employers. These resource partners are ready to help:

  • Visit SBA Sacramento online or call 1-800-659-2955.
  • The SBDC Capital Region can help with applying for relief, guiding you through available resources, cash flow concerns, supply chain interruptions, workforce capacity, insurance coverage and more – at no cost.
  • Metro Chamber’s Rapid Response Hub has an employee portal with links to information and resources.
  • Call the Rapid Response Business Triage Hotline at 833-391-1919. It will be available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and it will take messages around the clock for callbacks.
  • SCORE is offering recorded webinars. Find the webinar that’s right for you HERE.
  • Learn from the experts with SCORE’s small business training workshops. For upcoming webinars visit HERE. 
  • Learn about tenant and landlord resources from the California Department of Real Estate HERE.
  • The City of Sacramento has a number of services available to help Sacramento businesses and residents who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Find the latest updates and information regarding COVID‑19 in Sacramento HERE.
  • In May, Governor Newsom issued an executive order that provides property tax penalty relief for taxpayers who have suffered financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. To qualify, the property must either be a residential real property occupied by the taxpayer or real property owned and operated by a taxpayer that qualifies as a small business HERE.
  • Employers with 5 or more employees must report all known/reasonably known employee positive COVID-19 tests occurring on or after July 6, 2020 to their claims administrator (i.e. insurance carrier) in writing. This is not the same as filing a DWC-1 claim form. Effective immediately, employers must notify the claims administrator via email or fax within three business days of learning about the positive test. For more information click HERE
  • Find tenant and landlord resources HERE.
  • Ready to Reopen: A Playbook for your Small Business HERE
  • Environmental Management COVID-19 information can be found HERE.
  • Contact us! Email [email protected] or call 916-442-8575.