TOURISM INDUSTRY NEWS & RESOURCES |
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This partner communication exists to provide timely information on Sonoma County’s tourism and hospitality industry, along with resources to help partners navigate through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. |
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Happy FeBREWary,
As we cautiously work our way into reopening, February offers a few wonderful opportunities for us all to invite visitors back to the destination. The long weekend of Valentine’s Day and President’s Weekend is usually a tourism goldmine, and although somewhat subdued this year, should see an influx of visitors. Santa Rosa’s celebration of all things beer during FeBREWary, is a great way to highlight the coveted brews. The month ends with Restaurant Week and a more-important-than-ever opportunity to support local restaurants. Please be generous!
A great way for visitors and locals to enjoy a weekend of outdoor tastings is through the Sonoma County Tasting Pass. This offers opportunities to enjoy wines, beer and liquor with a cost-effective solution. If you’d like your property to be included on this pass, please contact Jennifer Richards (jrichards@sonomacounty.com) for more information.
We truly hope this is the start to our eventual return to business operation. I know many of you are watching and assisting with the critical vaccine distribution and reopening guidelines. We too are monitoring our path to recovery. Please mark your calendars for February 24 at 9 a.m. for an all-industry call regarding our plan for recovery.
Take good care.
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Claudia Vecchio
President and CEO
Sonoma County Tourism
707-522-5804
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California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program + SBA Resources
The Sonoma County Economic Development Board sent out a helpful newsletter today with an overview of the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. The newsletter also provided a summary of—and links to—various SBA resources, including the following:
- Paycheck Protection Program
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
- Targeted EIDL Advanced Grant
- Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
A copy of today’s newsletter can be viewed here.
Additional grant and financing opportunities can be found on the EDB’s Coronavirus Business Assistance page here.
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KKR Small Business Builders Fund Grants
KKR Small Business Builders are now offering recovery grants to companies in communities around the world. KKR Small Business Builders place an emphasis on companies that are pivoting their business in response to the pandemic; are operated by historically underrepresented groups (HUGs); and/or are providing important community services.
For more information, including eligibility requirements, visit the application page here.
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Latinx Ready/Sonoma Ready Virtual Town Hall
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The County of Sonoma is hosting a virtual townhall meeting on emergency preparedness for Latinx residents on February 3 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom and Facebook Live. The meeting, featuring panelists Supervisor Gorin and Supervisor Gore, will provide an opportunity to learn about resources available to Latinx residents. Full information on the meeting is available here.
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Good Food Award Winners 2021
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Back in November, we reported on the Sonoma County businesses nominated for Good Food Awards. Today, we’d like to extend our congratulations to the 2021 West Region winners, including:
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Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma
Ethic Ciders, Petaluma
Tomales Farmstead Creamery, Petaluma
Laura Chenel, Sonoma
Little Apple Treats, Sebastopol
Spirit Works Distillery, Sebastopol
Seismic Brewing Company, Santa Rosa
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The Good Food Foundation exists to "celebrate, connect, empower and leverage the passionate and engaged, yet often overlooked, players in the food system who are driving towards tasty, authentic, and responsible food in order to humanize and reform our American food culture."
To view the full list of West Region winners, click here.
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The State of the Travel Industry Recap
Last week, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow delivered U.S. Travel’s annual update on the state of the American travel industry. The hour-long address covered relief and stimulus policy priorities to reignite domestic and international inbound travel. The address also outlined U.S. Travel’s new and comprehensive Power of Travel Policy Platform, which serves as the roadmap for how to rebuild travel and further elevate our industry.
A full transcript of Dow’s remarks can be accessed here.
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Sonoma County Tourism has a Coronavirus Partner Toolkit regularly updated here.
The Sonoma County Economic Development Board has compiled a comprehensive list of local, state, and government resources (including financing options) for businesses at their SoCo Launch website here.
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Get tested and help Sonoma County eliminate the coronavirus. Broad COVID-19 viral testing is now available. Learn more here.
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