Weekly Headlines
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Week of April 27, 2020
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BETTER HURRY - EXPECTED TO GO FASTER THAN ROUND ONE. UPDATE, 4/27/20:
The Small Business Administration (SBA) resumed
accepting
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
loan applications on Monday, April 27 from approved lenders on behalf of eligible borrowers. The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, signed into law on April 24, boosts funding for the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program by $310 billion. A portion of the funds will be granted by smaller lenders that cater to truly small, local businesses. $60 billion will be granted by SBA-approved small banks, community financial institutions, and credit unions. The $60 billion will be split evenly between institutions with less than $10 billion in assets and those with between $10 billion and $50 billion. The PPP, created under the
CARES Act
, provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. All eligible borrowers who need these funds should work with an approved lender to apply. Borrowers should carefully review PPP regulations and guidance and the certifications required to obtain a loan.
As of April 26, 2020 | The Small Business Administration (SBA),
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS
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Last Friday, the
Office of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
hosted a Town Hall webinar for Small Business Owners in California that addressed questions and provided answers surrounding the Paycheck Protection Program and other COVID-19 loan programs.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24 2020 AT 2:00 PM (PDT)
The following links were
referenced
during the webinar
Contact the office of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier,
click here
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WE'RE OPEN!
Last week, the
Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau,
Walnut Creek Downtown
, and the
City of Walnut Creek
launched a new campaign to bring attention to open businesses in Walnut Creek.
Please look for the
WE'RE OPEN!
signs displayed in
Countrywood Shopping Center, Encina Grande, Newell Shopping Center, Newell Promenade,The Orchards at Walnut Creek, Palos Verdes Mall, Shadelands Business Park, Ygnacio Plaza,
and many other local businesses in and around our downtown. There are so many ways that we can work together to
Support Walnut Creek Businesses!
Many Chamber members are offering special deals or could use your help assisting our front line heroes, seniors, and others in need.
Click here
and visit the
Chamber Facebook
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East Bay Business Recovery Survey
The East Bay Economic Development Alliance
is dedicated to serving as a resource to support economic relief and recovery as our region continues to grapple with COVID-19. They are
asking business owners and leaders in our region
, for help in gathering crucial information about various impacts to business so the
y may effectively advocate for resources that meet those needs.
As of today, 1,062 have completed the
East Bay Business Recovery Survey,
yet only 13 responses are from Walnut Creek businesses.
If you are a business owner in Walnut Creek, your participation is apprectiated.
To complete the survey.
Click here
.
For a list of current available resources and news, check out their comprehensive guide by visiting
www.eastbayeda.org.
For any questions about this survey or other information, please contact East Bay EDA at
info@eastbayeda.org
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All Work & No Play? No Way!
Tutti aTavola a Mangiare Pizza!
Virtual Happy Hour...
Pizza & Plaid
Thursday, April 30 | 4:00 - 5:00pm
Fill your beer mug or wine glass and pull out the plaid...we're having a pizza party! Join us this Thursday for our weekly
Virtual Happy Hour
. Mangiare pizza with Chamber members
Justin O'Neill
, General Manager,
Skipolini's Pizza
, and
Rocco Biale
,
Owner,
Rocco's Ristorante & Pizzeria
. A little
take-out or delivery
along with a little beer or wine will make for another fun networking and social hour. Be sure to join us. It's contagious!
*Download www.zoom.com
A meeting link will be sent directly to your registration email address
30 minutes prior to this event.
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New Call Center for Small Business Owners & Workers
The
Workforce Development Board
(WDB) and
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
are pleased to announce the opening of a new call center to meet the needs of Contra Costa businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The call center, will offer information and resources to help businesses navigate the current economic climate. The
WDB COVID-19 Call Center
will operate Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information,
click here
.
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Facebook Launches Small Business Grants Program
Facebook is offering $40 million
to provide U.S. businesses with cash grants and ad credits during COVID-19 in the thirty-four cities where Facebook has offices or data centers – prioritizing 50% of grants to minority and women-owned businesses. Small businesses can visit
facebook.com/grantsforbusiness
to find out if they are eligible and how they can apply.
To view the Chamber Facebook,
click here
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Chamber Members in the News
Commercial Real Estate Podcast
w
ith
Ed Del Beccaro,
San Francisco Regional Bay Area Manager for
TRI Commerical
and
Board Director, Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitiors Bureau
With 40 years in the industry and more energy than most 25-year-olds, San Francisco Regional Bay Area Manager for
TRI Commerical
,
Ed Del Beccaro
is highly qualified to offer bold predictions about commercial real estate post-COVID19. On a podcast with
The Registry
, Del Beccaro discusses industry changes and shares insights on what we can expect after this crisis.
For the complete article and podcast interview,
click here.
For a look at
Walnut Creek Magazine’s Weekly Brief
and
Walnut Creek Magazine
,
click here
.
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Yours Humanly Founder Sunny Singh
Named 2020 Jefferson Award Winner
Sunny Singh, founder of Yours Humanly,
a global nonprofit that provides underprivileged children in underserved communities access to quality educational programs and resources, has been honored with a
2020 Jefferson Award
for Public Service and will be featured on KPIX Ch. 5 TV and KCBS 740AM radio in the coming weeks. The Jefferson Awards Foundation is committed to the empowerment of others who create positive change and maximize their impact in the community through helping others.
To read the entire article,
click here
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Like a Good Neighbor
NEW! Walnut Creek Neighbor Express
NEW! Walnut Creek Neighbor Express
matches volunteers with those in need of grocery delivery. The
City of Walnut Creek
has partnered with U.S. Digital Response (USDR), a volunteer-run, non-partisan effort to help connect one neighbor to another to deliver groceries and provide a helping hand to the vulnerable community members during COVID-19. Through the new
Walnut Creek Neighbor Express
website, vulnerable community members can request frozen meals, order groceries, or ask for other help. A volunteer will delivery right to the door!
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We Need You
Out of work because of the coronavirus?
These businesses are hiring:
With unemployment soaring toward staggering levels and Californians
staying home
because of government health orders
,
people are seeing their livelihoods threatened by the coronavirus pandemic. But some industries — everything from grocery stores to security firms to e-commerce and shipping businesses — are hiring.
Here is a list of firms that have announced hiring plans, and what they’re looking for:
Click here
To view current member job posting on the Chamber website,
click here
REMINDER:
Chamber members may add job posting directly to the above link. If you need assistance, please contact Membership Director Linda Vesneski at lvesneski@walnut-creek.com.
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Save These Dates and Save Lives
FRIDAY, MAY 15
1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek
SATURDAY, MAY 30
2625 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek
The US Food and Drug Administration has announced that US blood supplies have decreased amid the coronavirus epidemic. On
May 15,
the
Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
will partner with
Vitalant
and
Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church,
and with
Muir Orthopaedic Specialists on May 30
in the hopes of making a difference. Vitalant is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit community blood service providers. They supply comprehensive transfusion medicine services to nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients across 40 states. More details to follow
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Not Worth the Wait!
Hospitals stress the importance of seeking emergency care
While it is understandable that people have been wary to visit hospitals, it is important to understand that non-COVID medical emergencies are still emergencies.We're now seeing patients coming in with strokes that have been delayed for several days, people sitting at home with appendicitis for five or six days," explained
Dr. Russell Rodriguez M.D.,
the
Director of Emergency Medicine
for
John Muir Health
.Please take care of yourselves and help us spread this message by sharing this
Facebook post
.
To view news video, click
here
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Something New in a Drive Through
In Contra Costa, anyone with coronavirus symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath and fatigue
can get the free COVID-19 drive-up testing if they
make an appointment
.To make an appointment for a test and confidential screening by a health professional, call 1-844-421-0804. Telephone screenings will be available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Drive-up Testing Sites: Contra Costa Public Health Clinic Services
, 2500 Bates Ave., Concord;
Martinez Health Center
, 2500 Alhambra Ave., Martinez;
Pittsburg Health Center
, 2311 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg; and
West County Health Center
, 13601 San Pablo Ave., San Pablo
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COVID-19 INFORMATION
Small Business Resources All In One Place
- Paycheck Protection Program
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance Program
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance Program
NEW:
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
As part of the federal
CARES Act
, the new
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
(PUA) program
helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible
for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic.
Click here
.
Other Assistance: SBA Debt Relief:
T
he SBA is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.
- The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
Defer Payment of Sales and Use Taxes -
California is providing broad assistance to small businesses and employers impacted by COVID-19. This includes Small business interest
free deferral of sales/use tax
up to $50,000 for businesses with less than $5 million in taxable sales.
Click here
.
Qualifying small businesses may apply for the federal loans offered through the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
Act.
Episode 58
of
The Workplace podcast,
click
here
.
FUNDING OPTIONS -
In addition to traditional SBA funding programs, the CARES Act established several new temporary programs to address the COVID-19 outbreak.
Click
here
.
Northern California SBDC - Forms &
Online Webinars, click
here
More helpful podcasts on
The Workplace
by CalChamber
Telephone Town Halls with Senator Glazer, click
here
.
COVID-19 Information
on a Variety of Topics is Continuously Updated and Available on the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Website.
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GOOD TIMES AND SUNSHINE ARE ON THE WAY!
NEW EVENT DATES
39th Annual Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival
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In accordance with City and State directives, the Chamber office is operating virtually. While the Chamber office location is closed, all phone calls and emails will be returned promptly. We will continue to serve our members and community.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if we can assist you or your business in any way. We will continue to keep you updated in the weeks ahead. Updates will also be included on the Chamber website. Please visit
walnut-creek.com
Stay well.
Jay Hoyer, President/CEO
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Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
1280 Civic Drive | Suite 100 | Walnut Creek | CA | 94596
t.925.934.2007 f.925.934.2404
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