Wednesday, April 1, 2020
COVID-19 Resources | New Businesses | Employment Trends | Auto Sales Report | Other Special Updates
This edition of the monthly newsletter important information and resources related to COVID-19 that may be helpful to our entire business community, not just current subscribers. If you received this email, and are not already subscribed to our monthly Newsletter, but would like to receive our monthly Newsletter, please sign-up  here . 
COVID-19 BUSINESS RESOURCES
There has been a lot of movement at the federal, state, and local level over the past week in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health emergency. The City has taken significant steps to adapt to the current situation in order to continue to provide excellent service to our residents and businesses. Here are some highlighted updates and resources that may be beneficial to our local business community.  

  • First and foremost, both the County of Ventura and City of Thousand Oaks took additional COVID-19 actions last night (March 31st). 
  • Ventura County’s New Public Health Order extends the expiration date of the March 17th Order to April 19,2020,  and imposes additional limitations on the activities of persons and entities. It specifically outlines new restrictions for Licensed, Permanent food facilities, and requires essential businesses to limit activities to essential goods and services. Read the full text here.  
  • City Council adopted a new resolution on March 31st authorizing temporary moratoriums of certain late fees, fines, and collection procedures during the COVID-19 health emergency. The temporary moratoriums relate to water and wastewater utility bills, parking citations, business license fees, and property damage. Read the full text here.  

  • City COVID-19 resource webpage: The City has created added a webpage to the City’s website with helpful information for businesses and residents alike. See the webpage here.  

  • Thousand Oaks Open Essential Businesses Lists:
  • Restaurant list: The City is working with our partners at the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce to identify and support restaurants offering takeout and delivery services. See the list the Chamber has compiled here. If your restaurant is offering takeout or delivery service, but is not yet listed, please contact the Chamber to have your restaurant added.
  • Non-Restaurant list: The City is launching an effort to identify essential businesses (as defined by the County’s Public Health Orders) that are currently open in Thousand Oaks. This essential business directory will be made available on the City’s COVID-19 webpage. To have your essential business added to this directory, please click here. 

  • Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) COVID-19 Resources and Business Assistance: The City of Thousand Oaks is a proud EDC partner. The EDC has developed an excellent COVID-19 guide for businesses. Businesses can also request free consultation and application assistance for Small Business Administration (SBA) and other business relief programs. You can check it all out and make an appointment with EDC online here.  
  • EDC Webinar Series: To help support the volume of people requesting assistance EDC is launching a webinar series starting this Friday @ 1:00 pm to help businesses, non-profits, self-employed individuals and employees navigate the CARES Act and expanded benefits under EDD. Moving forward, we will be hosting webinars weekly every Wednesday from 12:30-1:30. Registration is required in advance and space is limited. Register here. 

  • County of Ventura VC Emergency website: Here you will find daily COVID-19 case updates, information about the County’s “Stay Well At Home” Public Health Orders, which outlines essential activities and businesses, among other important resources for businesses and residents. 

  • California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-BIZ) COVID-19 resources: The Governor’s Office has developed a webpage to help California businesses understand the resources available to them during this health emergency.  

  • U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 resources: Recent federal legislation authorized significant additional appropriations for financial assistance programs geared towards small businesses, including Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Express Loans, Debt Relief, and a Paycheck Protection Program. Check it out here. Please consider contacting the EDC to assist you with the application process. 
Note: The following new businesses have received final approvals from the City to open for business. However, due to the current COVID-19 health emergency, some may not yet be open to the public at this time.
Pedals & Pints Brewing Company
Pedals & Pints Brewing Company located at The Oaks, located at 156 W. Hillcrest Drive (previously occupied by Red Lobster).  ( link )
Grabbagreen
Grabbagreen's second restaurant in the City is now located at Center Oaks Plaza, located at 540 N. Moorpark Road.  (link)
Lovisa
Lovisa, an on-trend fashion jewelry is now located in The Oaks at 372 W. Hillcrest Drive.  (link)
F45 Training
F45 Training, a fitness studio is located in Heritage Plaza at 820 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard.  (link)
Digital Knack
Digital Knack, a staffing and recruiting firm, opened at Gate One office plaza, located at 2625 Townsgate Road.  (link)
PennyMac
PennyMac Loan Services completed its operation expansion at 3059 Townsgate Road.  (link)
Note: The declaration of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) national health emergency and subsequent initial state and local actions occurred in March 2020. Impacts on local employment rates will be reflected in future newsletters.   
City of Thousand Oaks
According to the California Employment Development Department, the preliminary Thousand Oaks February 2020 unemployment rate is 2.8% (down from 2.9% in January 2020). The City has a total of 64,800 in the labor force with 62,900 who are employed. 
Ventura County
The California Labor Market report shows Ventura County’s February 2020 unemployment rate at 3.7%  (down from a revised 3.9% in January 2020). 

A total of 2,100 non-farm jobs were added in February 2020, however, 400 jobs were lost; amounting to a net gain of 1,700 jobs.  Job gains consisted of: 900 in government; 500 in leisure and hospitality; 400 in educational and health services; 200 in construction; and 100 in financial activities. Job losses consisted of: 400 in trade, transportation and utilities.   
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New & Pre-owned Vehicle Sales
A total of 1,400 new vehicles were sold in February 2020. New vehicle sales decreased by 0.6% from January 2000, but increased by 7.4% from a year ago.

Additionally, 741 pre-owned vehicles were sold.
City's Sales Tax Revenues (Q3 2019)
Third Quarter 2019 (July, August, September) local sales tax revenue is $8.16 million, a 1.3% increase from last year’s 3 rd  Quarter total of $8.06 million. 

Primary categories where sales tax decreases occurred included: Building and Industry (6%); General Consumer Goods (4.7%); Food and Drugs (0.5%); Auto and Transportation (0.4%); and Fuel and Service Stations (0.2%). 

Decreases were primarily offset by increases in the following categories: City’s share of countywide use tax allocation pool (online sales) (14.3%); Building and Construction (13.4%); and Restaurants and Hotels (1.2%).
Happy Census Day!
April 1, 2020 is official Census Day! While at home doing your part to help flatten the COVID-19 curve, take a few minutes to complete the  online 2020 Census form  for your household.  

Learn more about the importance of the Census and how Census data helps government and the business community make informed decisions  here .  

The U.S. Census also has a cool webpage for tracking self-response rates. As of March 31st, the City of Thousand Oaks’ self-response rate was 46.9% compared to Ventura County’s self-response rate at 40.4% and the statewide self-reporting rate of 35.7%. Track self-response rates  here .  

Your personal information is safe, secure, and protected by federal law. Answers can only be used to produce statistics and cannot be used against you in any way. For more information specific to Ventura County, visit: http://census.ventura.org/ 
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