Greetings!

We want to keep you updated with information that will help you and your business and hope you find these links useful.
New LA County Health Order
January 25, 2021
LOS ANGELES COUNTY WILL REOPEN OUTDOOR DINING WITH SAFETY MEASURES BEGINNING FRIDAY

Los Angeles County is moving swiftly to align its Health Officer Order with the guidance issued today by the state of California and key sectors will be able to reopen immediately.
 
By Friday, the County anticipates the reopening of additional key sectors—including outdoor restaurant dining —with additional safeguards in place to protect employee and customer safety as we continue to experience high caseloads and transmission rates.
 
Until Friday, the County will be operating under the Health Officer order of November 25, 2020, which allows key sectors to reopen today, including personal care services with capacity limitations, outdoor fitness facilities and outdoor family entertainment centers. Small private outdoor gatherings with 3 households are also allowed under this order. Full details of that order are available on Public Health’s website.
 
On Friday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health plans to issue a new Health Officer Order allowing for restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining with occupancy limits and masking requirements for all staff. The department will also rescind the hours of operation restrictions for non-essential businesses, which have been required close from 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
 
In order to prevent another increase in cases that leads the County back to more restrictions, as sectors re-open, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health strongly encourages everyone to follow the infection control protocols: wear a face covering, maintain physical distance and avoid large gatherings and crowds. In addition, if you are at high risk for serious complications from COVID-19, we strongly recommend you continue to stay home as much as possible.
Los Angeles County's COVID-19 Vaccine website, VaccinateLACounty.com has incorporated the State's new appointment registration platform, MyTurn. The registration system features a streamlined process for residents eligible to receive the vaccine. The system lets residents know if they are currently eligible and, if they are, can help find and book appointments that are available in their area. The site also alerts people who registered to when appointments open up, or when vaccinations are opening up to additional priority groups. Currently, MyTurn will make appointments for our five large capacity sites as well as two other county-operated vaccination sites. Appointments for all other locations, such as pharmacies and clinics, are also available on our website. Unfortunately, with limited vaccine supply, there are not enough appointments available to meet demand.
 
Residents with internet access and a computer are urged to use VaccinateLACounty.com to sign up for an appointment. For those without access to a computer or the internet, or with disabilities, a call center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. to help schedule appointments at 833-540-0473. The phone line is reserved for people with disabilities or who don’t have a computer or internet access.
Webinar: L.A. County Connections Series
Join us for a webinar this Thursday, January 28th at 10 am, to learn how to do business with the County's Department of Public Works.
This webinar series will introduce you to the County's different departments and more importantly, the types of products and services they purchase from businesses like you!
 
The Small Business Stabilization Loan Program is an affordable and flexible business loan program to support and help stabilize businesses in Los Angeles County. Loans range from $50,000 to $3 million, and can be used for working capital, equipment purchases, inventory, or refinancing of existing loans at higher interest rates.
 
We will begin accepting applications on January 28, 2021, and the application period will remain open indefinitely. In order to apply, eligible businesses will be required to attend the “Applying for An Affordable & Flexible LACDA Loan” webinar and complete a one-on-one counseling session. Learn more at bizstabilization.lacda.org.

Business Relief Webinar This Week!
Is your business looking for relief during this time of crisis? LA Industry is an initiative to aid economic-development and business continuity in the LA region.
This webinar will cover:
  • Governmental resources
  • Loan assistance
  • Programs to help aid your business
  • Valuable connections
Join our partners this Thursday, January 28, at 11:00 am for this informative webinar! 
Webinar: Doing Business with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Join us on Wednesday, February 3 at 1:00 pm for our next webinar in this series! 
You will learn:
  • What the VA purchases
  • How the VA purchases items
  • Forecast of contracting opportunities
  • Current small business procurement goals
The Ultimate Bid: Super Bowl LVI!
The Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee and NFL are working to support minority, woman, LGBTQ+ and veteran-owned businesses through the Super Bowl LVI Business Connect program.

Up to 250 local and diverse businesses will be accepted into the Business Connect program for the opportunity to bid on Super Bowl LVI related contracts. Selected businesses can also receive free professional development workshops and networking opportunities.
Application deadline is Monday, February 1, 2021.
Our Small Business Counselors Want to Virtually Meet You!
Schedule a FREE one-on-one appointment to learn how to sell to the government
The L.A. County Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) offers one-on-one technical assistance and training to help businesses in Los Angeles County that are interested in local, state, and federal government contracting.
Our PTAC Counselors can help your business with most government contracting matters, including:
  • Becoming a registered vendor;
  • Getting certified;
  • Finding opportunities;
  • Target market analysis; and
  • Marketing to the government.
To schedule your free one-on-one counseling session, please Sign Up As a New Client and we will connect you with a small business counselor.
Click here to see upcoming training opportunities.
Our Call Center Can Help Your Business
DCBA has partnered with the Department of Workforce, Development, Aging, and Community Services, and other County and State agencies to bring you the L.A. County Disaster Help Center. The center has resources for businesses as well as employees to help during the COVID-19 emergency. 
Counselors are available Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to help business owners navigate emergency loan applications and help individuals that were recently laid off due to this emergency. Multilingual help is available. 
Contact the Disaster Help Center:
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest updates, @LACHelpCenter.
Beware of Vaccine Scams 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers are using robocalls, social media posts, and emails to take advantage of fear, anxiety, and confusion about the pandemic. Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is in Los Angeles County, scammers are targeting local residents with new, vaccine-related schemes. 
FACTS: 
  • Covid-19 vaccine is being distributed in a fair and transparent way. 
  • Covid-19 vaccine will be given to Los Angeles County residents at no cost and regardless of immigration status. 
Learn more at covid19.lacounty.gov
Covid-19 Resource Sheet
The available information, resources, loans, grants, and tools for assisting businesses during theCovid-19 pandemic shift over time. While this is not an exhaustive list, the resources listed below are current as of 1/19/2020
. Valley Economic Alliance staff will update these resources as frequently as we can. Please check back often.

 
The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 am ET. The portal will fully open on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to all participating PPP lenders to submit First and Second Draw loan applications to SBA.
Earlier in the week, SBA granted dedicated PPP access to Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) which include Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs), and Microloan Intermediaries as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to reach underserved and minority small businesses.
On Friday, SBA will continue its emphasis on reaching smaller lenders and businesses by opening to approximately 5,000 more lenders, including community banks, credit unions, and farm credit institutions. Moreover, the agency also plans to have dedicated service hours for these smaller lenders after the portal fully re-opens next week.
PLEASE JOIN US
Is your business looking for relief during this time of crisis? LA Industry is an initiative to aid economic-development and business continuity in the LA region. This webinar includes:
  • Helpful government resources
  • Loan assistance
  • Programs to help aid your business
  • Valuable connections 

Does your business need help optimizing or creating a website? Do you need help optimizing or creating business listings and a digital presence? Mayor Eric Garcetti launched LA Optimized to help small businesses adapt to the rapid shifts in consumer behavior and technological advances by empowering them to boost their digital marketing, maximize their online business listings, create or optimize their websites, and increase their knowledge and presence in the e-commerce space - all at no cost to businesses. 

In addition, this program will provide grants to select creatives (photographers, graphic designers, videographers, writers, etc) for providing creative and digital content
services including branding, videography, photography, website copy, and
graphic design to small businesses. 

If you are a business owner interested in the program, please learn more here.
If you are a creative professional interested in supporting businesses, please apply here.

Applications will be
accepted on a rolling basis until September 1, 2021.

LADOT Al Fresco Dining Applications

The L.A. Al Fresco program has been a lifeline to Los Angeles restaurants during the pandemic, with more than 2,000 restaurants permitted to-date. While outdoor dining is temporarily suspended, LADOT continues to process and approve applications and implement curbside and street closure dining operations for use as soon as restrictions are lifted. With $2 Million in CARES Act funding to be fulfilled by year's end, LADOT is urging businesses to apply in time to be reimbursed. To apply, click here.

Did you know small businesses impacted by the pandemic may qualify for tax credits and other relief? Find out what options are available.
REMINDERS
LA County is helping train businesses on the implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols through a no-cost online training course called the COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certification Program (CSCCP). Once completed, business owners receive a certificate, and window seal to display on their storefront, which can reassure employees and customers alike that the business is following COVID-19 infection control and physical distancing requirements.
If you have not yet completed the CSCCP course or want to learn more about it, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/covid19cert.htm. Help support your employees, customers, and community while on the Road to Recovery.
Virtual Meetings and Webinars
Reminders for programs you may be aware of.
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About Encino Chamber of Commerce 
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at our next event. Please log on to our web site at
 
 
Encino Chamber of Commerce
4933 Balboa Blvd.
Encino, California 91316
  
(818) 789-4711
 
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