Economic Development Newsletter
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A Message from Estelle Bussa,
City of Ventura Economic Development Manager
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The City of Ventura's Economic Development Division is committed to providing local businesses with timely information and resources to help our community navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay connected at the City's
Economic Development webpage
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REOPENING OF PERSONAL SERVICES, MOVIE THEATERS AND WEDDING CEREMONIES
Personal Services:
Nail salons, massage, skin care and cosmetology services, electrolysis, body art, tattoo parlors and piercing shops
- Can open June 19, 2020. Required to follow state guidance.
- Facial massages, waxing, tattoos, makeup, piercings or electrolysis services may be performed so long as they can be done without the removal of the client’s mask.
- There is a 30-minute limitation on procedures and massages conducted in confined spaces.
Movie Theaters
- Can open June 26, 2020. Required to follow state guidance.
Wedding Ceremonies
- Outdoor wedding ceremonies may be performed with up to 100 persons present who can be safely physically distanced or a lesser number up to what the venue can safely support.
- Indoor wedding ceremonies with 25% capacity or up to 100 people, whichever is less.
- No reception or party permitted.
- These sectors may be open only while adhering to social distancing protocols provided by the Governor and the Health Officer and after completing the County’s attestation process.
REMINDER: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE REOPENING
- Upon reviewing the guidance, complete a detailed risk assessment of your business in accordance with the state guidelines.
- Complete a written worksite-specific COVID-19 Prevention Plan and post it at your business.
- Implement the prevention measures identified in your worksite-specific COVID-19 Prevention Plan.
- Designate an on-duty employee responsible for monitoring compliance with your plan.
- Complete the attestation form at:
- www.vcemergency.com/business-attestation.
- Post the COVID compliance hotline contact information on a flyer in an area where customers can easily view it.
On behalf of the City of Ventura, thank you for your resiliency and willingness to adapt to new ways of doing business and helping support one other.
Stay safe and healthy Ventura,
Economic Development Manager
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Outdoor Business Expansion
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On May 18, 2020, the Ventura City Council unanimously approved a pilot program to allow retail business and restaurants throughout the City of Ventura to expand their business operations onto sidewalks, private parking spaces and some sections of the public right-of-way as part of the city’s expanded temporary retail and restaurant program.
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State of California Now Requires Face Coverings in Public Spaces
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On
June 18, 2020
, the State of California announced that face coverings are required in indoor public spaces, unless exempted by state guidelines for specific public settings (e.g., schools or childcare centers).
Cloth face coverings or
masks
may help reduce the spread of coronavirus especially when combined with physical distancing and frequent hand washing.
All people in California, including those in Ventura County, must wear face coverings in public indoor spaces and outdoors when six-foot distancing is not possible. Learn more about the state issued
guidance and limited exceptions here
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County of Ventura Allocates $20 Million In Grants Towards Rental and Business Assistance Programs
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Housing Assistance -Ventura County Pandemic Rental Assistance
The County of Ventura is accepting
applications
as of
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. noon to Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
for the Pandemic Rental Assistance (VCPRA) program. This program may provide temporary rental assistance for Ventura County residents who:
- Owe past-due rent because they have experienced a particular loss due to COVID-19;
- Have very low incomes;
- Meet all program criteria; and
- Ensure a complete application
Basic eligibility criteria includes, but is not limited to:
- Applicant/tenant is a Ventura County resident
- 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)
- 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 (see chart below)
- Applicant/tenant’s name is on the Rental/Lease Agreement
- Applicant/tenant is unable to pay rent that is past due
- Only one tenant per household may apply; 2+ roommates who are not part of the same household may apply
Business Assistance Grant Program
Ventura County Rapid Response COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program will include grants of $5,000 awarded to small businesses and nonprofit organizations located in Ventura County to alleviate impacts from COVID-19.
Key Details
:
- Applications will be available from June 24 to July 8, 2020.
- $10M in funding will be awarded in two phases. For the first phase, Business Assistance Grants will be $5,000 awards to 1,000 recipients
- Please “Sign-up for Updates” on VCReopens to be notified when the application website is opened.
Criteria
- The business or nonprofit organization maintains a business license in Ventura County.
- The business or nonprofit organization was in business on, or before, March 17, 2020.
- In 2019, the business or nonprofit organization had total annual gross revenue between $25,000 and $2 million.
- The business or nonprofit has registered with www.vcreopens.com if eligible.
- The nonprofit organization is exempt from tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) per an IRS determination letter.
Allowed Use for Grant
:
- 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.).
For additional information on the grant programs, please review the County of Ventura
press release
/
Spanish
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Paycheck Protection Program Updates
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The key provisions include:
- 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 percent.
- 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.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently published the
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application which allows borrows to apply for forgiveness. Applications should be submitted to your lender or borrowers may complete the application electronically directly through their lender.
Our partners at the
Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) can assist in answering your PPP and EIDL questions as well as provide business consultation services, COVID recovery services, free webinars, employer resources, access to capital, and much more. Connect with an EDC representative by calling:
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Additional Funding, Business & Eviction Information
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR LAID OFF OR FURLOUGHED WORKERS
The County of Ventura Human Services Agency is offering up to $800 to employees whose hours have been reduced or eliminated due to the economic impact of COVID-19.
Funds will be for supportive services, like equipment for telework or assistance with housing, utilities, childcare or transportation. Priority will be given to English language learners, low-income individuals and those with barriers to employment. Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
SBA REOPENS EIDL PORTAL FOR ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
- Long-term, low interest loans for a small business or non-profit.
- EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses.
- EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties
- These emergency grants DO NOT have to be repaid.
ASSISTANCE WITH SBA LOAN STATUS AND DENIAL
HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR SBA'S EIDL LOAN AND NOT HEARD STATUS?
If you have applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and have not heard from the SBA on approval or denial status, please contact the
Economic Development Collaborative
(EDC). They will contact the SBA on your behalf to inquire on the status of your loan application. Email your full name, application number (which should start with a 3) to
info@edcollaborative.com
with the subject reading as “SBA EIDL Loan Status Unknown.”
Note: If you have received an EIDL advance with no further communication from the SBA, please be patient as they are processing an unprecedented number of applications at this time. You should consider the loan advance a status of receipt of your loan application.
WAS YOUR ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN DENIED?
Individuals have up to 6 months to reapply for consideration for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan after a denial. If you have been denied, you can reapply for consideration by first emailing
pdcrecons@sba.gov
.
Note: At this point, the EDC are not aware of a path for reconsideration of a loan amount that has been approved for an amount lower than what was expected or needed.
EDD UNEMPLOYMENT OVERPAYMENT CONCERNS
DO YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVING AN OVERPAYMENT?
If you believe that you may be receiving an overpayment of unemployment benefits considering your previous wages, the EDC recommends the following:
- Contact the EDD. We know this can be difficult. Hours: 8 a.m. to 12 noon (Pacific time), Monday through Friday except state holidays. 1-800-300-5616.
- Consider saving the portion of money you believe to be an overpayment. The EDD may conduct audits on the claims that have been paid. If an overpayment has been found, EDD can request repayment. For more information on overpayment, please visit here.
INFORMATION ON COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONS
CALIFORNIA EXTENDS MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS UNTIL JULY 28TH
Are you currently a commercial tenant? Governor Newsom has issued an
Executive Order
implementing a statewide moratorium on evictions through July 28th. If you are currently renting and unable to pay rent due to financial hardship and the impact of COVID-19, we encourage you to inform your landlord by completing a
Notice of Coronavirus-Related Inability to Pay Rent
in order to preserve your rights as a tenant. For more information on Covid-19 moratorium related eviction guidelines in Ventura and Santa Barbara County please visit this
website
.
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CITY OF VENTURA
501 Poli St, Ventura, CA 93001
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