Greetings!
Monterey County Reopened Expanded Personal Services Business Sectors on June 19 th
On June 12 th , Governor Gavin Newsom released COVID-19 Industry Guidance for Expanded Personal Services such as esthetician, skin care, cosmetology, electrology, nail salon, body art, tattoo parlor and piercing services. The Governor’s purpose is to provide guidance on how businesses can resume operations while supporting a safe, clean environment for workers. Variance counties such as Monterey County can open these sectors with approval by the County Health Officer after review of local COVID-19 indicators. 
Monterey County has not exceeded thresholds for maintaining hospital surge capacity and has not exceeded thresholds for maintaining the ability to protect those at high risk for COVID-19. Maintaining surge capacity and protecting vulnerable populations have been and continue to be top public health priorities during this pandemic.
See other valuable resources for your business, below.

Thank you,
~CEO Paul, the Chamber team and Board
RESOURCES TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) posted a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act of 2020. In addition to revising the full forgiveness application, SBA also published a new EZ version of the forgiveness application that applies to borrowers that:
  •  Are self-employed and have no employees; OR
  •  Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; OR
  •  Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19, and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%.
 The EZ application requires fewer calculations and less documentation for eligible borrowers. Details regarding the applicability of these provisions are available in the instructions to the new EZ application form. Here is the Full Forgiveness Application.
 Both applications give borrowers the option of using the original 8-week covered period (if their loan was made before June 5, 2020) or an extended 24-week covered period. These changes will result in a more efficient process and make it easier for businesses to realize full forgiveness of their PPP loan.  

SBA’s COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance
  • The SBA is offering low interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses and non-profit organizations that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19 in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories.
  • These loans may be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
  • To keep payments affordable for small businesses, SBA offers loans with long repayment terms, up to a maximum of 30 years. Plus, the first payment is deferred for one year.
  • In addition, small businesses and non-profits may request, as part of their loan application, an EIDL Advance of up to $10,000. The EIDL Advance is designed to provide emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This advance will not have to be repaid, and small businesses may receive an advance even if they are not approved for a loan.
To apply for an EIDL loan, small businesses can visit:  https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

COVID-19: Creating the Perfect Storm for Cybercriminals
Please join Luis Alvarez, President of Alvarez Technology Group, and Matthew Koenig, Vice-President of Sales for Breach Secure Now, for a live webinar on Wednesday, June 24th at 11:00AM PST to discuss how to minimize the risk of human behavior when it comes to cybersecurity. Interestingly, people are the leading cause of data breaches! Register here .