• County of Santa Cruz Business Grant Program
  • California Blueprint For A Safer Economy
  • Black Lives Matter Mural Downtown 9/12/2020
  • Emergency Preparedness Plans
COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
Deadline 9/15/2020
Awarded through a lottery system with the county divided into South, Mid, and North. This small business grant funding is for businesses who don't qualify as an essential business (per the March 16, 2020 public health order), and have not received either SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) or other SBA, government, or other grant sources related to COVID‐19.

Application and information here: 
Send application and documents to scccaresrecovery@santacruzcounty.us
State Releases New "Blueprint for a Safer Economy" Framework for Business Operations 
Santa Cruz is the first Bay Area County to be removed from the State data monitoring list.

Santa Cruz has also just been moved to the “Red tier” (aka “substantial” tier) under the new California Blueprint for a safer economy.

County Health posted this press release on 9/8/2020 announcing the move to the red tier:

You can keep updated on any restrictions specific to your business industry.
For example, when you type in movie theaters for Santa Cruz County, under the red tier it says this: 
Movie theaters
Can open indoors with modifications
– Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer
See guidance for Movie theaters and family entertainment centers


As the County Health press release states, the red tier might be short lived as a surge is anticipated due to all the evacuations from the CZU Fire. If the case rate goes up, we could be back on the purple tier again in 14 days.
Black Lives Matter Mural - Saturday 9/12/2020 on Center St.
We were contacted by one of the organizers who is part of the Black Lives Matter mural effort being painted this weekend on Saturday Sept.12th from 9:45am-7:00pm in front of City Hall on Center St (between Locust and Church St.). They wanted to let downtown businesses know about this action.

With the waves of volunteers coming downtown in per hour shifts, downtown businesses might see more of an impact of people due to this effort, and they hope that it supports our local businesses.

For any questions contact:
Sean McGowen
sean.s.mcgowen@gmail.com

An artist’s rendering shows the expected look of a Santa Cruz city-sanctioned mural planned to be painted by community volunteers Saturday on Center Street. (Abi Mustapha — Contributed)
Emergency Preparedness Plans

Now is the time to prepare for emergencies! The Santa Cruz Volunteer Center has free programs in English and Spanish for families, seniors, and everyday Californians to get ready.

With many of us still sheltering in place, and many more now displaced, NOW is the time to create or update your emergency/disaster preparedness plans.

Text LISTOSCA to 72345 to receive easy plans via text: 7 days of texts, a text class, which will help you get prepared.



They are asking for help to get the word out via newsletter, website, social media or elsewhere for your customers, friends, and family.

For more information, email events@scvolunteercenter.org or call at 831-427-5070.
Is your Downtown business hiring? SUBMIT A JOB HERE

Current list of DOWNTOWN JOBS HERE



JOIN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SLACK MESSAGING APP TO STAY IN COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.

Downtown Association Staff:
Sent to you by your good friends at the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz!