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In this edition:
*$475M California Relief Grant - Website now open & How get help
*Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness & PPP 2
*New Laws for 2021: A Perfect Storm for Employers by Jay Putnam
*Harassment Prevention Training - 5+ Employees - Deadline Jan 1, 2021
*Chamber Members Events & News - Support our members
*Covid-19 Resources - Regional Stay Home Order in effect until at least 1/9/21
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$475M California Relief Grant
To help you know what to do to prepare to apply, SBDC is hosting daily webinars at 11:00 a.m. Click Here to register. We strongly recommend that you attend one of the webinars.
This grant has been called the $500M CA Relief Grant but it is actually $475M. The funds will be distributed in two halves, so $237.5M in each round.
Here is a link to the CA Relief Grant Website which has lots of great information including eligibility requirements, how funding decisions will be made, the grant amounts which range from $5,000 to $25,000 and more. Lendistry is handling the grant applications and approval process. Lendistry processed over $400 million in PPP loans in the State of California.
See the website for complete details, but here is some information on who is eligible. You must be an active business on June 1, 2019. The grant is open to independent contractors, 1099 workers and non-profits too. You must have been negatively impacted by Covid-19. If you have multiple locations or franchisees, only apply once. Churches are not eligible.
This is NOT a first come, first served program. We recommend you do apply in Round 1, so just need to apply by Jan 8. Applications will open Dec 30 8am and end Jan 8 11:59pm. Approval notifications will begin January 13. Applicants who submitted their application and documentation in the first round, do not need to reapply for Round 2. Deadlines for the second round of applications have not yet been determined.
To apply:
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Go to www.careliefgrant.com
- Click on 'Find a Partner' - you can select by County or Language - you do NOT have to pay the partner you select or even work with them on the application, but you must go through one of them for the application
- Once the Round 1 opens on Dec 30, the 'Application' button will be active
You can get assistance from our local SBDC on this grant as well any help you need. Go to their website and click on ‘Apply Now’ to be assigned a business advisor. Their services are free.
To help you know what to do to prepare to apply, SBDC is hosting daily webinars at 11am, Click Here to register. The webinar will include information on:
* The Grant Program
* Eligibility Requirements
* What the funding can be used for
* The Application
* Required Documents
* Who to Contact for Assistance
Webinars occur daily at 11am - the ones in multiple languages will be in translated throughout the webinar in the second language, so they will be longer than the English only webinars:
* Dec 28 - English/Armenian
* Dec 29 - English/Mandarin
* Dec 30 - English/Tagalog
* Dec 31 - English/Farsi
* Jan 1 - English
* Jan 2 - English/Vietnamese
* Jan 3 - English/Korean
* Jan 4 - English/Arabic
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Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness & PPP 2
Thank you Paul Benton, Managing Director of The Light Digital for sharing this interview you conducted on December 23 on PPP forgiveness and more PPP money with a senior banker and a CPA: Click here to watch.
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NEW LAWS FOR 2021: A Perfect Storm for Employers
Representing Employers in Labor and Employment Law Matters
"Starting January 1, employers must promptly notify employees of a potential COVID-19 exposure in the workplace, and local health authorities in the event of an outbreak. Newly-enacted Labor Code, section 6409.6 (AB 685) will require employers who receive notice of a potential exposure to take action within one business day"...Read more.
See the author’s website for several detailed newsletters explaining the potent protection such policies offer employers.
Jay G. Putnam is a Petaluma labor lawyer who has specialized in representing California employers for over 39 years. His practice is devoted to preventing lawsuits against his clients, without sacrificing workplace authority or management prerogatives. He has a remarkable record of success.
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Harassment Prevention Training
Did you know businesses with 5+ employees must complete training by 1/1/2021?
Supervisors two hours / Nonsupervisory one hour
Online Training offered by CalChamber
20% Member Discount - Discount applied at check out
Supvs - $35.19 / NonSupvs - $20.79
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Chamber Members Events & News
Members advertise here for FREE
97.7 The River and Roger Farah of Cross Country Mortgage are teaming up to recognize local community heroes in the North Bay. Nominate your Hero at www.977TheRiver.com.
City of Rohnert Park - Subscribe to Business Updates / Special Vacancy Notice for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee - English / Spanish
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety & Vitalant Blood Drive - SOMO Village Event Center - Help us win the Bucket Brigade Challenge - Click Here to Donate - Jan 3
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Previously shared: Sonoma County activated the Regional Stay Home Order early on Sat, Dec 12 but now the entire Bay Area Region is in the Regional Stay Home Order, but no change in what we went to on Dec 12. More information and FAQs can be found on the State's Website
The Regional Stay Home Order will be implemented regionally once there is less than 15% ICU capacity remaining in the designated region. After three weeks from the start of the Regional Stay Home Order in the region, one of two situations would occur:
- The order will end in a region if the region’s ICU capacity projected out four weeks (from day 22 after the Regional Stay Home Order started in the region) is above or equal to 15%. Each county in the region will then be assigned to a tier based on the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and the rules of the Blueprint will apply again.
- The order will remain in effect in a region if its ICU capacity projected out four weeks (from day 22 after the Regional Stay Home Order started in the region) is less than 15%. The order will remain in effect until the region’s projected ICU capacity is equal or greater than 15%. This would be assessed approximately twice a week.
These restrictions will remain in place until at least 11:59 p.m. on Sat, Jan 9, 2021.
- Keep to your household
- No gatherings are permitted
- Support local businesses and restaurants by ordering for pick-up or delivery
- Non-essential travel is not allowed
What does this mean for local businesses?
Under the order, the following sectors are allowed to remain open with safety precautions:
- Critical infrastructure (when remote option is not possible)
- Schools
- Non-urgent medical and dental care
- Child care and pre-K
The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:
- Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only for the purpose of facilitating physically distanced personal health and wellness through outdoor exercise, without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.
- Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity, and 35% of capacity for standalone grocery stores, with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
- Shopping centers: Allow indoor access at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
- Hotels and lodging: Allow for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures, treatment measures, provide accommodation for essential workers, or providing housing solutions, including measures to protect homeless populations.
- Restaurants: Allow only for take out or delivery.
- Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.
- Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor activities only.
- Entertainment production: Industries, studios, and other related establishments such as establishments that provide content for professional broadcast can operate without live audiences.
Under the order, the following operations will be required to cease both indoor and outdoor services:
- Hair salons and barbershops
- Personal care services
- Museums, zoos, and aquariums
- Movie theaters (except drive-in)
- Wineries, bars, breweries, and distilleries (with exception for production, manufacturing, distribution, and retail sale for off-site consumption)
- Family entertainment centers
- Cardrooms and satellite wagering
- Limited services
- Live audience sports
- Amusement parks
Links to additional information:
Recently announced Financial Programs:
Main Street Small Business Tax Credit: Allows a small business hiring credit against California state income taxes or sales and use taxes. Eligible businesses must have 100 or fewer employees as of Dec. 31, 2019, and suffered a 50% decrease or more in income tax gross receipts, when comparing Q2 2020 to Q2 2019
Tax Relief & Extensions: Taxpayers returns due between Dec. 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021 (for all but the largest taxpayers) will be extended.
CURA Project - Covid-19 Urgent Response & Aid: Community project delivering supportive services, healthcare navigation and emergency financial assistance to Latinx and Indigenous residents of Sonoma County most affected by Covid-19.
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Thank you Chairman's Circle Members!
Click on logo to visit their website
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Click here or Text RohnertParkSPC to 555-888 to get an Office Depot Savings Card
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