Weekly Message | Facebook: Business Funding Applications Open Now!

Weekly Message ~ April 2020

Business News

Facebook: Business Funding Applications Open Now!

Small Business Grant Applications Open NOW for the San Francisco Bay Area, San Mateo County.

Up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in more than 30 countries where we operate will be able to receive the grant.

To be eligible to apply, you must:

Be a for-profit company
Have between 2 and 50 employees
Have been in business for over a year
Have experienced challenges from COVID-19
Be in or near a location where Facebook operates

View Application Guide here .

Learn more

IRS Unveils Online Application to help with Economic Impact Payments

Working with the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service today unveiled the new Get My Payment with features to let taxpayers check on their Economic Impact Payment date and update direct deposit information.

With an initial round of more than 80 million Economic Impact Payments starting to hit bank accounts over the weekend and throughout this week, this new tool will help address key common questions. Get My Payment will show the projected date when a deposit has been scheduled, similar to the “Where’s My Refund tool” many taxpayers are already familiar with.

Available only on IRS.gov , the online application is safe and secure to use. Taxpayers only need a few pieces of information to quickly obtain the status of their payment and, where needed, provide their bank account information. Having a copy of their most recent tax return can help speed the process.

Face Coverings Now Mostly Required Within San Mateo County

San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow has issued a new order requiring members of the public and workers at essential businesses to wear face coverings outside the home for certain activities and in places of business.

While people should follow this mandate immediately, the order will not be enforced until 8 am, April 22, 2020 . It will remain in effect until it is amended or superseded by a new order from the health officer.

Face coverings are not a substitute for staying home, staying 6 feet apart and washing your hands regularly. A covering over mouth and nose is an additional tool in our arsenal of weapons to fight COVID-19.

Learn more

IRS Issues Warning About Coronavirus-Related Scams

"We urge people to take extra care during this period. The IRS isn't going to call you asking to verify or provide your financial information so you can get an economic impact payment or your refund faster," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "That also applies to surprise emails that appear to be coming from the IRS. Remember, don't open them or click on attachments or links. Go to IRS.gov for the most up-to-date information."

The IRS reminds taxpayers that scammers may:

Emphasize the words "Stimulus Check" or "Stimulus Payment." The official term is economic impact payment.
Ask the taxpayer to sign over their economic impact payment check to them.
Ask by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information saying that the information is needed to receive or speed up their economic impact payment.
Suggest that they can get a tax refund or economic impact payment faster by working on the taxpayer's behalf. This scam could be conducted by social media or even in person.
Mail the taxpayer a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount, then tell the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it.

Learn more

Paid Sick Leave Benefits for Food Sector Workers

"Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to support California workers from large employers in the food sector industry impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with two weeks of paid sick leave, filling a gap left by federal relief that had provided similar paid leave benefits for employers with fewer than 500 workers.

Workers in the food sector, including farmworkers, agricultural workers, and those working in grocery stores and fast food chains, and as delivery drivers, are part of the state’s essential infrastructure workforce, and have continued to work to serve Californians."

Read the Press Release

Around Menlo Park

Webinar: An Employer’s Guide to Addressing Coronavirus Concerns

The Coronavirus may have brought much of the world as we know it to a temporary halt. Employment laws, and employers’ obligations, however, are not on hold. Employers still have an obligation to provide their employees a safe, workplace, free of harassment and discrimination. Employers are still required to make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

But how does an employer meet these seemingly competing interests? With Congress just having passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and some States looking to file suit, the legal landscape has changed and may continue to change for a while. In this webinar we will explore those and other issues relevant to employers in today’s climate. This webinar will discuss an employer’s legal obligations in the face of the pandemic and provide some practical guidance for dealing with crisis.

Thursday, April 23, 12 pm

Webinar Duration: 90 minutes

Cal Water Expands Assistance to Small Business Customers

"On behalf of California Water Service (Cal Water), I wanted to reach out to our fellow Chamber of Commerce members to offer our support during this health emergency. We recognize the impact the coronavirus is having on all of our customers, and there may be some of your members who have had to involuntarily close their doors due to the pandemic. If any small business customers with Cal Water have had to close and are not using water, or are open but facing financial difficulty, we encourage them to contact our Customer Center for assistance with their account.

Now more than ever, we want our customers to know we are here for them. Even though we’re six feet apart, we’re all in this together."

Sincerely,

Robert Seeley

Visit their website

Members at Work

M essage from Marcela's Village Gallery

"Greetings, and best wishes that you and your love ones are safe and healthy during these challenging times.

Who would think a month ago that our lives were going to be changed so dramatically and forever. During this times of shelter at home many of us are learning to slow down, to take it easy, going back to do things almost forgotten; like taking a little siesta, cooking a good meal, calling a friend, writing letters, getting back to our favorite hobby, etc.

Our Gallery has been closed since March 7th, and we still waiting to hear from the city of MP and from our Governor when we will be able to reopen again. Meanwhile we are always available to you by appointment. We are a small business gallery, 90% of our artists are local from San Francisco to San Jose; men, women, young and old; well known and emerging artists.

If you are looking for a special piece of Fine Art or sculpture to embellish your home, office, I will be happy to search it for you. Thank you for patronizing our local artists."

Fondly,

Marcela Del Alcazar

Marcela’s Village Gallery