Business Updates For January 25, 2021
State of California Lifts Regional Stay at Home Order for All Regions - Ventura County in the State’s Purple Tier Effective Immediately

The California Department of Public Health has announced that the Regional Stay Home Order has been lifted in Southern California. Four-week ICU capacity projections for the region are above 15%, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order. 

The action allows Ventura County to return to the rules and framework for the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity.

Services and activities, such as outdoor dining and personal services, may resume immediately under the Purple Tier with required modifications. Tier updates will be provided weekly on Tuesdays by the California Department of Public Health.

Indoors With Modifications
  • All retail (maximum 25% capacity)
  • Critical infrastructure
  • Hair salons and barbershops
  • Libraries (maximum 25% max capacity)
  • Nail salons and electrolysis operations
  • Personal care services (e.g. body waxing, estheticians, tattoo, massage)
  • Professional sports (without live audiences)
  • Shopping centers (e.g. malls, destination centers, swap meets, excluding food courts and common areas - maximum 25% capacity)

Outdoors Only With Modifications
  • Cardrooms/satellite wagering
  • Family Entertainment Centers (e.g. bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, kart racing, and arcades)
  • Gyms and Fitness Centers (12 feet social distancing required)
  • Movie theaters
  • Museums, zoos, aquariums
  • Places of worship
  • Playgrounds and recreational facilities
  • Restaurants
  • Wineries

Bars, pubs, brewpubs and breweries may operate outdoors if they are offering sit-down, outdoor meals. Outdoor operations may be conducted under a tent, canopy, or other shelter if no more than one side is closed.

Additional information for outdoor dining establishments:

  • Sit down dining may only take place with members of the same household, it must be outdoors and must end by 11:00 p.m. 
  • Restaurants can remain open for takeout or delivery past 11:00 p.m. as their permit allows.

The Best Way to Keep our Businesses Open Continues To Be To:
  • Wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Self-isolate if you are sick
  • Practice physical distancing
  • Wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside your household
  • Avoid participating in group/private gatherings with others from outside your household (group gatherings continue to be a high-risk activity)
  • Get tested regularly (see COVID testing information below)

Blueprint Active & Business Tier Chart
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California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program
 
NEW DATES AND DEADLINES:
Round 2 Opens: February 2, 2021
Round 2 Closes: February 8, 2021
Approval Notification Start : February 11, 2021 
 
Round 1 for the CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program closed on January 13, 2021. All applicants that completed their application and submitted necessary documentation during the first round will be notified if they are selected to receive a grant, waitlisted for the second round or not selected. Any applicant that is waitlisted will be notified via email by January 25, 2021 and will NOT need to complete an application during the second round.
 
Round 2 will open February 2, 2021 and will close February 8, 2021. Round 2 will NOT be a first-come, first-serve application process or rolling approval process- all eligible applicants will be considered for the grant at the close of Round 2 on February 8, 2021 and not before.
 
Prepare for Round 2:
  • Join the EDC's next COVID-19 Business Resources- EIDL, PPP, UI and Grants free webinar on Wednesday, January 27th at 12:00 pm. This webinar series is held on alternating Wednesdays and Fridays to provide up-to-date information on all currently available COVID-19 business resources. This is an excellent opportunity to hear about new changes and to have your questions answered. Register early! Space is limited. 
  • Register HERE 
 
  • For detailed information on the application process with step-by-step instructions please review the CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Application guides at CaReliefGrant.com. Scroll down on the homepage to view the "All Businesses Application Guide" or the "Non-Profit Application Guide."
 
  • EDC SBDC Financial Advisors are available to answer questions and help you prepare for Round 2. Get started today with their no-cost consulting by calling 805.409.9159 (ENGLISH) or 805.309.5874 (SPANISH). Visit the EDC resource page for list of current COVID-19 related assistance available. CLICK HERE
January 13, 18, 20, 25, 27, Feb 1
EDC Partner- SCORE Santa Barbara: Digital Marketing Webinar Series
A six part webinar series presented by SCORE Santa Barbara covering all aspects of digital marketing. Every Monday & Wednesday at 4:00 pm starting January 13, 2021.
January 13, 2021 #1 Create a Marketing Plan
January 18, 2021 #2 Skyrocket your Brand
January 20, 2021 #3 Instagram Marketing Essentials
January 25, 2021 #4 Facebook Marketing Essentials
January 27, 2021 #5 Email Marketing Essentials- Basics to Advanced
February 1, 2021 #6 Social Media DIY: Calendar, Create and Promote!

January 27, noon
COVID-19 Business Resources- EIDL, PPP, UI and Grants Free Webinar
Join the EDC's next COVID-19 Business Resources-EIDL, PPP, UI and Grants free webinar. This webinar series is held on alternating Wednesdays and Fridays to provide up-to-date information on all currently available COVID-19 business resources. This is an excellent opportunity to hear about new changes and to have your questions answered. Register early! Space is limited. 

January 29, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Café Conexito
Conéctate, Colabora y Aprende con WEV. Café Conexito es nuestro grupo de empoderamiento /reunión virtual mensual en la que te invitamos a conectarte (con tu bebida matutina preferida) un Viernes al mes de 9:00 am a 10:00am. Conocerás a un invitado especial cada sesión y disfrutaras de la oportunidad de compartir, escuchar y apoyarse mutuamente mientras alcanzas las metas de tu negocio. Esta sesión estará titulada: Metas Inteligentes para ti y tu negocio, y será facilitada por Irene Kelly, Administradora del Programa de Educación Financiera de WEV con nuestro invitado especial, Armando Sahagun, Asesor de Negocios de WEV.

February 3, 10:30 a.m.
Email Marketing that Gets Results
Email marketing is a powerful way to leverage your current customers, referral sources and supporters. Email Marketing will help you to stay top-of-mind, and create action. This free webinar will look at best practices and some list building idea as well as discuss real-world examples to help you generate ideas for your business. Sponsored by SCORE.

February 9, 10:30 a.m.
QuickBooks® Online and Best Accounting Practices for Small Businesses
This live, interactive webinar session is designed to help you understand the features, functions and benefits of QuickBooks Online for small business owners as well as assist you in implementing accounting best practices to manage your business finances. Sponsored by SCORE.

February 10, 10:30 a.m.
The Amazon “Effect” - It’s Impact on Your Customer’s Expectations
In this webinar we will discuss how Amazon (and companies like them) have changed your customers’ expectations and some basic steps on how you can adjust your business to meet them. These concepts can be applied to your business no matter if you have products to sell or you deliver services. Sponsored by SCORE.

February 16, 10:30 a.m.
Bankruptcy Primer For Small Business
Bankruptcy- You have heard the term, but what do you really understand? The Small Business Reorganization Task Force has a mission to educate business owners in Central and Southern California about both bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy options when in financial distress. If you are contemplating bankruptcy, educating yourself is a must! Sponsored by SCORE.

February 23, 10:30 a.m.
How to Utilize Social Media to Build Your Business’s Brand and Increase Awareness
Social media is constantly evolving, which can make it difficult for your business to keep up. In this webinar, we will break down social media marketing for businesses with best practices that you can use to improve your digital marketing strategy. Sponsored by SCORE.
COVID-19 Testing Information

For an updated list of countywide COVID-19 testing locations and hours, please visit:


The best way to keep our businesses open continues to be to:
  • Wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Self-isolate if you are sick
  • Practice physical distancing
  • Wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside your household
  • Avoid participating in group/private gatherings with others from outside your household (group gatherings continue to be a high-risk activity)
  • Make a plan to get tested regularly
Ventura County COVID-19 Updates, Business Registration & Testing Info

COVID-19 Hotline
For inquiries regarding state and local orders or COVID-19 business compliance questions or concerns, please call the County of Ventura COVID-19 Hotline at:
  • 1 (844) VC-OPENS or 1 (844) 826-7367

CDC Updates

Download & Print Free COVID-19 Print & Digital Graphics
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