June 12, 2020
Community Development Department
Business Update
County of Ventura Pandemic Rental Assistance, Applications Accepted June 17-July 1
El condado de Ventura aceptara aplicaciones para asistencia para inquilinos del 17 de junio al 1 de julio
The County of Ventura Pandemic Rental Assistance Program will begin accepting online applications from Wednesday, June 17, 2020-July 1, 2020.

The program will help stabilize housing for the lowest-income residents and those at greatest risk of homelessness by providing a tiered grant/voucher amount based on rental unit size, up to a maximum of two months of rent owed; the program will have two rounds of funding at $5 million each.

This process begins with the tenant applying online and culminates in a rental assistance check being issued to the landlord directly.
Basic Eligibility Requirements

  1. Applicant/tenant is a Ventura County resident
  2. Applicant’s/tenant’s income was impacted due to COVID-19 (i.e., loss of employment, loss of work hours, inability to work due to child care or family/elder care needs, and/or substantial medical costs)
  3. Applicant’s/tenant’s annual household income is less than 80% Area Median Income (AMI) with priority on annual household income of less than 50% AMI
  4. Applicant/tenant’s name is on the Rental/Lease Agreement
  5. Applicant/tenant is unable to pay rent that is past due
  6. Only one tenant per household may apply; 2+ roommates who are not part of the same household may apply

Ventura County Pandemic Rental Assistance does not ask about immigration status.
El programa de asistencia para los inquilinos del condado de Ventura no pregunta sobre el estado inmigratorio.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions in English here.
Lea las preguntas frecuentes en espa ñ ol aqu í .

View the flyer in English here .
Vea el volante en espa ñ ol aquí .

Questions? Call the City of Oxnard at 805-385-7401 or email Eva.magana@oxnard.org.
Preguntas? Hable a la Ciudad de Oxnard al 805-385-7401 o mande un correo electr ó nico Eva.magana@oxnard.org. Hablamos espa ñ ol.
County of Ventura Business Assistance Grant Program Update
The County of Ventura Business Assistance Grant Program is scheduled to be finalized by the County Board of Supervisors during its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 16; and is expected to begin accepting applications on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.

The program will provide grants of $5,000 each for small businesses (including non-profit organizations) to alleviate impacts from COVID-19 for allowed uses such as payroll support, rent and lease payments, costs for personal protective equipment, purchases related to the operation of their businesses, and extraordinary business expenses for adhering to compliance protocols for reopening (e.g., cleaning services, signage, customer interface capabilities, additional security, etc.).

The application will be available online in multiple languages, and is expected to include a relatively small number of questions that will take a short amount of time to fill out. The program will have two rounds of funding at $5 million each.

Businesses that have registered at vcreopens.com will receive direct communication about the program when it is finalized.

 Interested businesses can sign up to receive updates here .
Negocios pueden recibir anuncios acerca del programa de subsidios del condado para empresas pequeñas si se apuntan aqu í .
Ventura County Health Department Issues M odified Health Order that Allows for Reopening of Additional Sectors Effective June 12
Ventura County Public Health Department has issued a modified health order permitting the reopening of additional businesses that were previously closed. This Order became effective June 11, 2020 11:59 pm and will continue to be in effect until extended, rescinded, superseded or amended in writing by the Public Health Officer.

Sectors that may reopen on Friday, June 12 with modifications, social distancing protocols, and completion of the attestation process include, but are not limited to:

Gyms and Fitness Facilities
Read the state guidance here . Modifications required in addition to those found in the state guidance are as follows:
  1. Outdoor activities can follow the guidance as written
  2. Indoor activities must keep a 12-foot distancing requirement

Day Camps
  1. Groups sizes are limited to a 10-1 or 10-2 ratio for each group (10 campers with one or two instructors)
  2. Each group must be stable. The same campers and instructor stay together and do not mix with other groups
  3. Any camp activity must maintain 6-foot social distancing. Individual skills and drills can be done, but no group or contact sports such as football or basketball games may be played

Family Entertainment Centers
  1. Examples that may be opened include bowling, miniature golf, batting cages, and private skate parks
  2. Movie theaters, arcades, playgrounds, rock climbing walls, and trampoline venues are not allowed to open at this time

Hotels and Lodging for Tourism or Individual Travel
  1. Hotel rooms must be left vacant for 24 hours after a guest has departed

Campgrounds, RV Parks and Outdoor Recreation
  1. RV parks and campgrounds at the beach are allowed 2/3 capacity
  2. RV parks and campgrounds not at the beach are allowed 50% capacity

Restaurants, Wineries, and Bars
  1. Bars and wineries that serve food can be open with the existing requirement that alcohol must be sold on the same ticket as a meal
  2. Restaurants should continue to follow the previous guidance

Zoos, Aquariums, and Museums
  1. Follow state guidance here.

Public and HOA Pools
  1. 50% capacity
  2. Use a reservation system
  3. Follow County of Ventura Environmental Health guidance for pools here

Music, Film, and TV Production
  1. No live audiences
  2. *Do not register at VCReopens.com. Attestation is included through permit issuance
  3. Must have a COVID-19 Compliance Officer on site
  4. Follow industry guidance
Read more about production criteria here .

These sectors may be open only while adhering to social distancing protocols provided by the Governor and the Ventura County Health Officer and after completing the County’s attestation process (*except for those noted).

Businesses must follow the guidelines and review the Frequently Asked Questions at www.vcreopens.com .

Other State Guidance and openings still under consideration:
  • Cardrooms, Satellite Wagering Facilities, and Racetracks
  • Professional Sports without a Live Audience

Read the June 11, 2020 Stay Well Ventura County Order here .
Did you know that all businesses, including essential businesses, are required to register?

Register Your Business at vcreopens.com

Questions? Contact the Ventura County COVID-19 Hotline at 844-VC-OPENS.
Read about California's Resilience Roadmap Stages here .

Review safety protocols and compliance measures by industry-specific guidance here.
Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020
The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 was signed into law on June 5, 2020, and makes several critical changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The changes provide relief to many businesses currently using PPP loan proceeds and preparing to seek loan forgiveness within the requirements of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act.



Key takeaways:
  • Extends the time period in which borrowers must spend their PPP loans from 8 weeks to 24 weeks
  • Lowers the percentage of loan proceeds that must be spent on payroll from 75% to 60%
  • Extends the loan coverage period from June 30 to December 31, 2020
  • For the portion of the loan that isn't forgiven, the measure extends the loan term from 2 years to 5 years
  • Confirms that June 30, 2020, remains the last date on which a PPP loan application can be approved

Need assistance or have questions about the PPP Flexibility Act? Contact the Economic Development Collaborative for assistance at (805) 409-9159.
Read the Bill here .
Learn about Federal, State and Local Relief Packages here .

Free business assistance is available :
Economic Development Collaborative, visit EDC online here .
Find a SCORE Mentor here .
Women's Economic Ventures, 805.456.2342 | Visit WEV online here .
Contact Our Staff
Our Economic Development staff is available to assist you.

Contact us by email at communitydevelopment@oxnard.org , or phone at (805) 616-6862. H ablamos español.

The Community Development Department continues to be open remotely for business; visit us online .
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Questions regarding business compliance? Contact Ventura County COVID-19 Business Compliance by email at CovidCompliance@Ventura.org  or call 805-202-1805.