Coronavirus is battering SLO County businesses and workers. Here are ways to get help
High among the many concerns introduced by the coronavirus pandemic, many businesses and workers in San Luis Obispo County are wondering how they’re going to make ends meet over the next weeks and months as some companies have been forced to shut down or reduce operations amid an ongoing shelter-at-home order.
Much of the financial help to businesses will come from various federal and state aid sources, according to local officials. And a variety of regional groups, organizations and representatives are available to help navigate those options.
On a local government level, cities won’t turn off essential services if residents can’t afford to cover the cost of water bill, for example, because of coronavirus economic impacts, officials say.
And cities plan to maintain essential services; the city of SLO recently allocated $6 million in its budget for any unforeseen COVID-19-related emergency measures.
But local governments’ ability to provide any financial assistance is fairly limited, officials say, and businesses and employees will likely have to depend on relief assistance from federal and state funding agencies to buffer shortfalls, including possible minimum basic income payments, which are essentially cash handouts to adult citizens.
The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce listed a host of resources to “monitor the evolving situation and be prepared as possible to protect your business” at the following address: bit.ly/2U9cXuS.
“We know that the preventative actions taken by national, state and local governments are already having an effect, and we expect that, as things continue to change, impacts will continue to grow in the coming weeks,” the SLO Chamber of Commerce said.
Economic Vitality Corporation
In San Luis Obispo County, Michael Manchak, CEO of the business assistance organization Economic Vitality Corp., sent a mass email Monday to the EVC’s sponsors and stakeholders saying that while “there are many unknowns during this stressful time, (there) is one certainty: This will eventually pass and our lives will get back to normal, hopefully soon.”
Manchak reported the nonprofit was looking to identify resources for businesses being impacted by coronavirus.
Manchak wrote that San Luis Obispo County’s economy is highly dependent on visitor-serving businesses such as the hospitality and food and beverage industries, which have been the first to be impacted.
“Identifying near-term and longer-term actions and resources for our local businesses will be paramount through communication and partnerships,” the message reads. “This will likely include financial and other resources to businesses.”
The organization said it has started work funded by a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to conduct an economic assessment into creating resources that would help businesses get emergency funding.
The results of that work, however, are not likely to be available in time to respond to this coronavirus outbreak, Manchak wrote.
But the organization has been in contact with U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s office regarding emergency business loans apart from the proposed legislation for federal relief, Manchak reported, and the group had planned talks at the state level with Central Coast Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham.
The EVC is also working with Visit SLO CAL, various Central Coast chambers of commerce, and local mayors and city managers to help organize conference calls to share information, while also identifying business resources available from state and national economic development associations, Manchak wrote.
This week, Visit SLO CAL also asked owners and staff of local businesses to complete a survey to help quantify the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
Manchak said late Wednesday that the EVC is working on sending another update shortly when it has some hard numbers to report.
Cal Poly Small Business Development Center
The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Small Business Development Center is also open to consult remotely with small business clients seeking assistance with the impact of COVID-19.
SBDC staff and consultants can help business owners navigate available resources, answer business-related questions, and help solve supply chain interruptions and other workforce concerns.
Interested clients can visit ucmsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/signup to schedule a virtual business consulting appointment at no cost.
People can also register for a “Preparing for COVID-19” webinar to learn about crafting a COVID-19 prevention action plan for their business.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has also provided an interim guide for businesses and employees to prevent workplace exposure.
Small business loans and services
Relief is available to small business owners on a federal and state level through the U.S. Small Business Administration, which will provide disaster assistance loans to small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
According to the SBA, these loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the outbreak’s impact. The loans carry long-term repayment plans in order to keep payments affordable, for up to a maximum of 30 years. More information can be found by calling the SBA disaster assistance customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
The California Office of the Small Business Advocate is also available to help businesses identify resources and obtain answers to key questions. Its webpage, “How We Can Help,” — bit.ly/39dn06s — has an FAQ for small businesses and additional information.
Local small business assistance centers can be found through the TA Providers Guide at bit.ly/2IZGLn8. These federal- and state-funded business assistance centers, offer free one-on-one business counseling and training, including the discussion of options for accessing capital.
The California Small Business Development Centers’ resource page (californiasbdc.org/covid19) includes both state and federal information for small businesses.
At California’s Small Business Finance Center, small businesses can access a range of financial products, including loan guarantees and direct loans. Visit bit.ly/2wnRLba.
California also maintains two credit enhancement programs to help small businesses obtain loans from traditional and nontraditional lenders, including the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program (bit.ly/3djjVEU) and a Small Business Loss Reserve Program (bit.ly/2webVod).
The California Resource Guide at bit.ly/2Qy2jeQ offers detailed information about federal programs serving California, including the SBA Disaster Economic Injury Loan Program.
California Association for Microenterprise Organizations (CAMEO) provides a list of resources, as well as strategies to support microentrepreneurs. Visit https://cameonetwork.org/coronavirus-resources-for-business.
Employers experiencing a hardship as a result of COVID-19 may also request up to a 60-day extension of time from the California Employment Development Department to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. A written request for extension must be received within 60 days from the original delinquent date of the payment or return. For questions, employers may call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center toll-free from the U.S. or Canada at 1-888-745-3886.
The National Federation of Small Business also posted a COVID-19 webpage (bit.ly/2Qz9VxF) that includes information about webinars, as well as links to business programs.
Resources for employees
The state is also providing resources for employees of businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. A good primary resource is a worker benefits chart for employees, including unemployment, disability and paid sick leave. The chart can be found at labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/#chart.
Workers’ compensation is another option if someone is exposed to COVID-19 while on the job. Find information at bit.ly/33FFgEb.
Newsom, in an executive order released Thursday, directed the Employment Development Department to waive the one-week waiting period for people who are disabled as a result of COVID-19.
The Labor and Workforce Development Agency’s primary website for COVID-19 includes information on support services for workers and interim guidelines for protecting workers. It’s found at www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019.
Gov. Newsom has also waived the one-week waiting period for unemployment. Workers can receive unemployment after the first week of missed work, according to the Governor’s Executive Order.
Additionally, United Ways of California announced the creation of the California United Ways COVID-19 Relief Fund to relieve hardship for vulnerable working families throughout the state, and to support the coordination of local community relief efforts.
“Governor Newsom and state and local officials throughout California are moving quickly to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California, in a news release. “California United Ways are doing their part to help working families experiencing the loss of income due to quarantine or shelter in place orders, sensitive families and children affected by closures of schools and child care centers, seniors who have limited ability to access food and medical prescriptions, and others affected by this crisis.”
This statewide fund is intended to “ensure equity in the distribution of philanthropic resources across all of California.”
United Ways asked people to text “COVIDUW” to 41444 to donate and/or give online to help California’s most vulnerable residents during this public health and financial stability crisis: www.unitedwaysca.org/coviduw.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 10:56 AM.
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