Monday, January 4, 2021
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In this edition:

*$475M California Relief Grant - Apply by Jan 8
*$900B Stimulus Bill - Couple resources to help you decipher what's in it
*Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness & PPP 2 - Great info
*Making Sense of Mondays Article -
7 Perspectives That you Cannot Afford to Leave Behind
*Thank you for renewing your membership
*Chamber Members Events & News - Support our members
*Harassment Prevention Training - 5+ Employees - Deadline Jan 1, 2021
*New Laws for 2021 on Covid-19 Notification by Jay Putnam
*Covid-19 Resources - Regional Stay Home Order - Latest briefing
$475M California Relief Grant
Does NOT have to be repaid - this is NOT a loan
Deadline to apply is Jan 8

To help you know what to do to prepare to apply, SBDC has hosted daily webinars at 11:00 am, only one remaining on Jan 4. Click Here to register. This Dropbox folder has past webinars - you will find them in English and other languages too. Those listed in other languages are in English and then translated into the second language too.

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. Round 1 opened Dec 30 and closes 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:
  • 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

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.
$900B Stimulus Bill
 
Here are some resources to learn about more about the Stimulus Bill:
·   Kyle Sexton Chamber Strategies detailed analysis
 
This legislation includes:
·   $284B for the Paycheck Protection Program, including dedicated funds for
very small businesses (<25 employees) and expanded eligibility for nonprofits
·   $20B for new Economic Injury Disaster Loan Grants (EIDL)
·   $15B in relief funding for live venues, movie theaters
·   $600 individual stimulus checks, including for dependents
·   Extends and modifies Employee Retention Tax Credit, replacing wages
for small business employees
·   Extends the New Market Tax Credit and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for 5 years
·   Modifies and extends existing credits for paid family leave
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness & PPP 2
Video from Dec 23 but information still applicable

Thank you Paul Benton, Managing Director of The Light Digital for sharing this interview conducted on December 23 on PPP forgiveness and more PPP money with a senior banker and a CPA: Click here to watch.
This week's Making Sense of Mondays Article:
by Andy Springer, Business Consultant and Coach
 
Check out this new Making Sense of Mondays Article:
7 Perspectives that You Cannot Afford to Leave Behind

You will find this article and others here on our website.
 
Below is an excerpt, click here to read the entire article:
 

"Ten! Nine! Eight! The New Year’s countdown continued as fireworks began to explode covering the dark night sky with beautiful displays of magnificent delight. Shouts of celebration and joy welcomed in the year 2021 and earnestly pushed away the year unmentionable.
 
Was this year really that terrible? While 2020 had its own unique challenges with far reaching effects due to the “great pause” in reaction to the pandemic, followed by the feeling that some child was finding joy in pushing the play and pause button every other week or two, it might be said that 2020 was not much different than any other – purely unpredictable, yet manageable.".....Read more
Thank you for renewing your chamber membership!
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

Fundemonium - Jan 3 Newsletter - A Year of Hell, A Year of Healing

Intelligent Heart - Latest article by Steven Campbell - 2021: The Year of Resilience

Napa-Sonoma Small Business Development Center - Spring NxLevel Entrepreneur Training which will help your business survive & thrive / Free business advisers &
Educational workshops too - Click here to go to their calendar

Sally Tomatoes & Heirloom Cafe - Family Delivery Special / Corporate Delivery / Hello 2021 - Order 3 items from Heirloom Cafe & get Family Delivery Punchcard

Sonoma County Tourism - Dec 31 Partner Alert

Sonoma State University Theatre, Arts & Dance - On Stage Virtual Performances

St. Joseph Health - Path to Hope Live educational series, which focuses on suicide prevention and resilience-building - Jan 7 - Grieving & Healing with Music & Jan 14 - Sonoma County Resilience Collaborative
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


Click here for flyer with more details
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.
Here is a link to the latest briefing from Dr. Sundari Mase from Dec 30 - Click here

Here is a link to information about the vaccine on the County Website - Click here

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:
  1. 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.
  2. 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:

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): Reimbursement for paid leave costs related to Covid-19. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 500 employees.

Small Business Relief Grant: more information above - website now active

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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