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Periodically, the City of Oakland’s Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) will send important updates to businesses, nonprofits, independent contractors and our partner organizations who support them. These are just highlights of available resources. For information on all of the support programs available, please visit our Business & Worker Resource web page.
Amidst a record-breaking surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Alameda County joined other Bay Area health departments and the City of Berkeley in implementing a Regional Stay Home Order to prevent our health care systems from being overburdened and to save lives. View Alameda County’s Approved Open & Closed Businesses at:
https://covid-19.acgov.org/reopening.page?
While we anticipate the State to extend its Stay-at-Home Order for the Bay Area due to the regional ICU capacity remaining below the 15% capacity threshold, as of noon Wednesday, January 6, when this copy was sent for translation, no
updates have been issued. For the latest order, please visit: https://covid-19.acgov.org/reopening.page?
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Application Deadline Extended for California Small Business Grant Program
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The deadline for Round 1 of California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program has
been extended to Wednesday, January 13 at 11:59
p.m. The grant program will award $500 million in grants in two rounds of funding to small businesses, small nonprofits, sole proprietors and independent contractors with revenue of $2.5 million or less. The amount of the grant will range from $5,000 to $25,000 based on document annual revenue for the business. Unlike other grants, business owners with an ITIN are eligible. Technical assistance partners can help with the application process in multiple languages. Applicants may also attend a webinar on the grant program by registering at: https://fullerton.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DNMLHwM5SSehzRxAKkSFZA Recorded webinars in multiple languages are available at: https://careliefgrant.com/webinars/ Grant awards will be based on priority key factors, including:- Geographic distribution based on COVID-19 health and safety restrictions following California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, county status and the new Regional Stay-at-Home Order which can be found at https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/
- Industry sectors most impacted by the pandemic (i.e., retail, food and hospitality, health and wellness, personal care, etc.)
- Underserved small business groups (i.e.,
businesses majority owned and run on a daily basis by women, minorities/persons of color, or veterans and those businesses located in low-to-moderate income and rural communities)
Grant funds can be used for:- Payroll and other employee expenses such as health care, certain types of paid leave and insurance
- Working capital
- Rent or mortgage payments
- Re-opening costs, including expenses to comply with COVID-19 guidelines (i.e., PPE supplies, testing, employee training, etc.)
It is a two-part application process, and businesses apply through Provider Partners discussed in the above paragraph. In Stage 1, businesses complete the online application, upload their most recent tax returns, and provide a copy of an acceptable government ID. If selected for funding, businesses will be sent an email requesting additional required documents. For a complete list of eligibility requirements, grant fund usage guidelines and application guides for businesses and nonprofits, visit
https://careliefgrant.com/
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Federal legislation signed into law on December 27, 2020, authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to approve additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of up to $2 million through an allocation of $284.5 billion in funding. The legislation sets aside $12 billion specifically for minority-owned businesses. This new round will offer initial loans for those businesses that are first-time PPP loan borrowers and allows for a second PPP loan for certain qualifying borrowers that have used all of their first loan amounts. Eligibility qualifications include having fewer than 300 employees and being able to demonstrate at least a 25 percent year-over-year drop in sales in at least one quarter. While we are awaiting guidance from the SBA, we encourage you to check with your banking partner to see if they will be participating in this new round of PPP loans. As soon as partner banks are identified, we will post a resource roster here. While specific guidance has not been released, we suggest you review and familiarize yourself with the SBA’s documentation requirements for previous rounds to prepare for applying in the next round.
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New State Employment Laws Related to
COVID-19
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On January 1, 2021, AB 685 went into effect. The law requires businesses to notify employees of potential COVID-19 exposure at the workplace within one business day. The law remains in effect until January 1, 2023.
SB 1382 expands family leave for more workers. It requires employers with 5 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected family leave. Previously, the threshold was 50 or more employees. The law
also expands care of family members to include grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, domestic partners, and children of domestic partners. If an employee uses leave for the care of an eligible family member, an employee is no longer required to use their sick leave and may choose the type of accrued leave to take.
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A list of up-to-date resources, including information about worker benefits, grants, loans and support services for small businesses, nonprofits and independent contractors, can be found on the City of Oakland’s Business & Worker Resource web page. The site is updated regularly as more information becomes available, so please check it often.
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Upcoming Online Workshops & Webinars
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Monday, January 11, 11 a.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
Programa de Subvenciones de Ayuda COVID-19 para Pequeñas Empresas de CA (en español)Lunes 11 Enero, 11 a.m. – Noon AnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree COVID-19 Business Reopening -Understanding and Managing the Process-East BayMonday, January 11, 2 – 3 p.m.AnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree Programa de Subvenciones de Ayuda COVID-19 para Pequeñas Empresas de CA (en español)Lunes 11 Enero, 4 – 5 p.m. AnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree
Tuesday, January 12, 9 – 10 a.m.
Alameda County SBDC
Free
Tuesday, January 12, 11 a.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
Wednesday, January 12, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. AnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree
Tuesday, January 12, 3 – 5 p.m.
Alameda County SBDC
Free
Wednesday, January 13, 9 – 10 a.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
Wednesday, January 13, 11 a.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
Thursday, January 14, 4 – 5 p.m. AnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree COVID-19 Business Reopening -Understanding and Managing the Process-East BayFriday, January 15, 11 a.m. – Noon
AnewAmerica Women’s Business Center
Free Small Business Q&AFriday, January 15, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Alameda County SBDC
Free
Tuesday, January 19, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. AnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree
Tuesday, January 19, 3 – 5 p.m.
Alameda County SBDC
Free
Wednesday, January 20, 10 – 11 a.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
Wednesday, January 20, 10:30 a.m. – Noon
NorCal SBDC
Free
Wednesday, January 20, 11 a.m. - NoonAnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree Keeping Customers & Winning New Ones During COVID 19 - East BayThursday, January 21, 9 – 10 a.m. AnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree
Thursday, January 21, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
State of California, Employment Development Department
Free
Thursday, January 21, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Alameda County SBDC
Free
COVID-19 Business Reopening -Understanding and Managing the Process-East BayFriday, January 22, Noon – 1 p.m. AnewAmerica Women’s Business CenterFree
Tuesday, January 26, 10 – 11:20 a.m.
East Bay SCORE
$15
Tuesday, January 26, Noon – 1:30 p.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
Wednesday, January 27, 1 – 3 p.m.
Alameda County SBDC
Free
Thursday, January 28, 10:30 a.m. – Noon
NorCal SBDC
Free
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