Venice: Coronavirus Business & Individual Resources

Press release from the Venice Chamber of Commerce:

December 01, 2020

NEW / TIME SENSITIVE

• Grant Opportunity: Keep L.A. County Dining
  • Program launch: Thursday, December 3rd at 12:00 am
  • The Keep L.A. County Dining Grant will provide $30,000 to use as working capital for employee payroll expenses, capital to continue operations, payment of outstanding business expenses, and adaptive business practices needed to remain open. Preference will be given to restaurants that provided outdoor dining as of November 24, 2020.
  • Learn more & apply: http://keeplacountydining.lacda.org/
• PPE Unite: Providing Free PPE to Your Business
  • LA County Consumer & Business Affairs partnered with public and private sector organizations to create access to personal protective equipment for small businesses across the County of Los Angeles through PPE Unite™.
  • PPE for small businesses may include: face masks, hand sanitizer, face shields
  • Get your free 30 days of PPE
    • PPE will be offered on a first come, first served basis while supplies last
  • Sign up here: https://www.ppeunite.org/

ONGOING

• City of Los Angeles: LA Al Fresco
  • The City is offering streamlined, immediate approval for eligible businesses to provide outdoor seating in the following areas: sidewalks, private parking lots, street parking spaces, lane closures, street closures.
  • More information
  • Apply here
• Google: Grow with Google "Paso a Paso"
  • Free tools and training to help any Latino-owned business adapt and grow
  • More information
• SBA COVID-19 Resources for Small Businesses
  • Updated 7/21/20
  • A rundown of the financial programs and guidance available through the SBA for small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • View here: https://www.sba.gov/blog/covid-19-resources-small-businesses
• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
  • Small business owners, including agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories can apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
  • More info + apply here: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loans
• SBA Debt Relief
  • The SBA will pay 6 months of principal, interest, and any associated fees that borrowers owe for all current 7(a), 504, and Microloans in regular servicing status as well as new 7(a), 504, and Microloans disbursed prior to September 27, 2020. This relief is not available for Paycheck Protection Program loans or Economic Injury Disaster loans.
  • More information here: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-debt-relief
• SBA Disaster Assistance due to civil unrest
  • The deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan was extended to Sept. 16, 2020. Applications for Economic Injury are due by March 17, 2021
  • Disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are now available to all LA County small business owners and nonprofits who suffered physical damage or economic injury due to the recent civil unrest that began on May 26, 2020.
  • Apply Online: applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information & download applications at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.

Resources from County & City Government Agencies

• CA Gov - Get Digitial
  • Get Digital CA! is an e-commerce initiative to promote accelerators and intensive trainings to build the skills necessary to compete in an online marketplace and drive Californians to support small businesses through online festivals.
  • More information here: https://business.ca.gov/advantages/small-business-innovation-and-entrepreneurship/get-digital-ca/
• LA County Disaster Help Center
  • Counselors are available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 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:
    • Call (833) 238-4450
    • Visit LACountyHelpCenter.org
    • Email DisasterHelpCenter@lacounty.gov
• LA County Public Health Reopening Toolkits
  • Revised Health Officer orders, FAQs, Contact Tracing, Reopening Toolkits and more
  • View here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/reopening-la.htm#toolkits
• LA County COVID-19 Safety Compliance Program
  • Program for Los Angeles County businesses currently permitted to operate to voluntarily self-certify that they are fully implementing the required COVID-19 Protocols from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (Public Health). This process will help business owners follow the required Protocols and maintain their operations with as much safety as possible for their staff, customers, and visitors. The COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certificate is not required, but it is recommended.
  • More info + certification program here
• Emergency Food Distribution by LA County Workforce Development Aging and Community Services
  • LA County Workforce Development Aging and Community Services (WDACS) is still providing emergency food distribution at community and senior centers to low-income families and older adults.
  • More information + service centers here: https://wdacs.lacounty.gov/

CLOSED
SBA Paycheck Protection Program – CLOSED

• New deadline to apply: August 8, 2020
• This loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program.
• More info & apply here: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program

This press release was produced by the Venice Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed are the author's own.