CITY OF ARCADIA SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM

THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.

The Small Business Grant Program under the new Arcadia Works! economic recovery plan, will utilize $245,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. These funds, primarily provided under the CARES Act to assist with COVID-19 relief, will be directly disbursed to small Arcadia businesses.  The application period has ended as of Wednesday, May 20th at 5:30 p.m.. Grants will be issued based on a lottery of all qualifying applications.  The small business grants represent an effort to provide direct relief to as many local businesses as possible.  Grants of $5,000 will be awarded until all available funding is utilized. 

BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWAL PAYMENT EXTENSIONS

The Small Business Relief Grants, which are part of LISC’s Rapid Relief & Recovery Fund programs to help business with immediate financial impact due to the pandemic, is now open for applications.  Applications must be completed by Wednesday, May 20, 11:59 p.m. ET.  Click here to apply.

Grant Information Overview and FAQ
If you have any questions not answered in the FAQ, please email smallbusinessgrants@lisc.org.

L.A. County Small Business Recovery Loan Program (Effective 4/15/2020) - Loans of up to $20,000 with an interest rate of 2.44%.  Eligible businesses must have 25 or fewer employees and have been operating for a minimum of 2 years.  The loan term is 5 years with no payments of principal or interest due for the first 12 months. For more information, click here. 

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Our nation's small businesses are facing an unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. On Friday, March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the CARES Act, which contains $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses. In addition to traditional SBA funding programs, the CARES Act established the following new temporary programs to address the COVID-19 outbreak.

Applications and additional information on all of these programs are available online at SBA.gov/coronavirus.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.

 PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM

This forgivable loan program provides loans for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program.  SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. 

ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN (EIDL)

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

EIDL LOAN ADVANCE

This forgivable loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application. This loan advance will not have to be repaid.  

SBA EXPRESS BRIDGE LOANS

Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.  These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loans or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan.

SBA DEBT RELIEF

The SBA is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBA will pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a) loans for a period of six months.  The SBA will also pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a) loans issued prior to September 27, 2020.

Applications and additional information on all of these programs are available online at SBA.gov/coronavirus.

SBA’s Customer Service Center
Phone: (800) 659-2955 |  TTY/TDD  (800) 877-8339.
Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov 

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) INFORMATION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ON CORONAVIRUS-RELATED TOPICS

 EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a new employee retention tax credit for employers who are closed, partially closed, or experiencing significant revenue losses as a result of COVID-19. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19.  For more information, click here.

PAID LEAVE FOR WORKERS AND TAX CREDITS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

• Small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees. For more information, click here.
  

• News Release – Tax Day Extended to July 15, 2020
• Website: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

On March 17, 2020, the City of Arcadia adopted Resolution No. 7300 putting into place residential and commercial tenant protections. These protections were extended and updated on May 5, 2020 by adoption of the County of Los Angeles Temporary Eviction Moratorium.  Together, these actions provide a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent by residential and business tenants impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.  Tenants may also be entitled to a temporary waiver of payment of rent provided that they repay the rent within a specified time-period; six months under the original March 17 resolution, extended to 12 months under the updated County Moratorium.

The most important thing is to please communicate with your landlord (or your tenant) to discuss this situation. The City is not providing enforcement, or acting as an intermediary between landlords and tenants. We are encouraging landlords and tenants to work together during this challenging time to ensure safety and normalcy to the extent it is possible.

Los Angeles County Eviction Moratorium Resolution Summary
Proclamation of the City Manager adopting the Los Angeles County Eviction Moratorium 
Resolution No. 7300 (Now superseded by County-Wide Moratorium)

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UPDATED INDUSTRY GUIDANCE RELEASED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM

Following up on the state’s announcement that it will begin modifying the stay at home order on Friday, May 8, Governor Gavin Newsom released an updated industry guidance – including for retail, manufacturing and logistics – to begin reopening with modifications that reduce risk and establish a safer environment for workers and customers.  Click here to see the new guidance.

Reslience Roadmap

The Resilience Roadmap stages that California is using to guide its gradual reopening process are:

• Stage 1: Safety and Prepardness
• Stage 2: Lower-Risk Workplaces
• Stage 3: Higher-Risk Workplaces
• Stage 4: End of Stay at Home Order

When modifications are advanced and the state's six indicators show we've made enough progress, we can move to the next stage of the roadmap.  We are now moving into Stage 2, where some lower-risk workplaces can gradually open with adaptations.  Stage 2 will be phased in gradually.  Some communities may move through Stage 2 faster if they are able to show greater progress, and counties that have met the readiness criteria and worked with the California Department of Public Health can open more workplaces as outlined in the County Variance Guidance.

Industry Guidance to Reduce the Risk

California moved into Stage 2 of modifying the state’s stay at home order on May 8, 2020. The state’s progress in achieving key public health metrics will allow a gradual reopening of California’s economy. 

The state recognizes the impact of economic hardship, but the risk of COVID-19 infection is still real for all Californians and continues to be fatal. That is why every business should take every step possible to reduce the risk of infection: 

• Plan and prepare for reopening 
• Make radical changes within the workplace 
• Adjust practices by employees and help educate customers

The state has outlined guidance for each early Stage 2 business to follow. The goal is a safer environment for workers and customers. Businesses may use effective alternative or innovative methods to build upon the guidance.  Each business should review the guidance that is relevant to their workplace, prepare a plan based on the guidance for their industry, and put it into action.   When complete, businesses can post the industry-specific checklist (below) in their workplace to show customers and employees that they’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.  Before reopening, all facilities should:

1.  Perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan 
2. Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them 
3. Implement individual control measures and screenings 
4. Implement disinfecting protocols 
5. Implement physical distancing guidance

The state has also set up a mechanism to gather input on future industry guidance through the California Recovery Roadmap survey.

 
While many elements of the guidance are the same across industries – such as cleaning and physical distancing – consideration was given to industry-specific methods. For example: 

• Retailers should increase pickup and delivery service options and encourage physical distancing during pickup – like loading items directly into a customer’s trunk or leaving items at their door. 
• Retailers should install hands-free devices, if possible, including motion sensor lights, contactless payment systems, automatic soap and paper towel dispensers, and timecard systems. 
• Manufacturing companies should close breakrooms, use barriers, or increase distance between tables/chairs to separate workers and discourage congregating during breaks. Where possible, create outdoor break areas with shade covers and seating that ensures physical distancing. 
• Warehouses should minimize transaction time between warehouse employees and transportation personnel. Perform gate check-ins and paperwork digitally if feasible. 
• Warehouse workers should clean delivery vehicles and equipment before and after delivery, carry additional sanitation materials during deliveries, and use clean personal protective equipment for each delivery stop. 

GENERAL INFORMATIONAL LINKS AND CURRENT POLICIES

   

Local Emergency Resolution No. 7300 

Los Angeles County