News & Updates
COVID-19 Response Updates
California Roars Back: Governor Newsom Announces the Largest Small Business Relief Program in the Nation
5/13/2021 Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled another component of his $100 billion California Comeback Plan: making historic investments in small business relief. Governor Newsom’s Plan expands the state’s COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant program to a total of $4 billion, representing the largest such program in the entire country.
Governor Newsom Signs Legislation Supporting Workers Displaced by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed legislation to create a statewide policy for the rehiring of workers laid-off by the pandemic, bolstering the state’s efforts to ensure an equitable recovery from the pandemic. SB 93 requires employers in the hospitality and business services industries, including hotels, airports and large event centers, to offer new positions to qualified former employees laid off due to COVID-19 within five business days, through 2024.
Governor Newsom Signs Legislation to Ensure Access to Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for Workers Impacted by the Pandemic
Building on the state’s action to expand paid sick days protections for California’s workforce during the pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed SB 95, legislation to ensure access to up to 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for eligible employees, including those advised to quarantine or isolate and those caring for COVID-impacted family members.
California Leads with Public Health and Vaccine Equity to Safely and Sustainably Reopen
State introduces vaccine equity metric to update Blueprint for a Safer Economy based on vaccinating the state’s hardest hit communities against COVID-19. California sets aside 40 percent of vaccine doses for most impacted communities; seeks to reach 2 million vaccine doses in those communities to move counties through tiers and open more activities safely. As vaccination increases and disease spread slows, counties will be able to move through tiers more quickly with modestly higher case rates.
Governor Newsom Signs Legislation to Extend Eviction Moratorium and Assist Tenants and Small Property Owners Impacted by COVID-19
Legislation extends statewide eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021 and protects tenants’ credit. Creates State Rental Assistance Program to allocate $2.6 billion in federal rental assistance dollars to assist struggling tenants and small property owners.
Governor Newsom Signs Legislation to Protect California’s Workforce Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Governor Gavin Newsom today signed two bills as part of his worker protection package, SB 1159 by Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) and AB 685 by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino). SB 1159 expands access to workers’ compensation and makes it easier for first responders, health care workers and people who test positive due to an outbreak at work to get the support they need, including necessary medical care and wage replacement benefits.
In Stockton, Governor Newsom Announces Actions to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 in the Central Valley
Eight Central Valley counties – Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern – to receive $52 million for testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine efforts. State will deploy three Unified Support Teams to the Central Valley to provide hands-on technical assistance.
Proposal for Selective Sector Closing of Bars in Counties on the County Monitoring List
As part of the State’s efforts to address COVID-19, the State monitors county specific data and provides technical assistance, support and interventions to counties that have concerning levels of disease transmission, hospitalizations, or insufficient testing.
Joint Statement by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza Regarding Enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
SBA, in consultation with Treasury, will promptly issue rules and guidance, a modified borrower application form, and a modified loan forgiveness application implementing these legislative amendments to the PPP.
These Stanislaus County restaurants reopen dine-in service after coronavirus shutdown
On Wednesday the state granted the county’s variance, allowing dine-in restaurants and other retailer to reopen just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Establishments must follow social distancing rules and keep tables 6-feet apart, among other new healthy and safety protocols to continue to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Beware of Scams
Small business owners often get calls, emails or letters from entities with motives that are far from altruistic. A good thing to keep in mind is that, "If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true." The SBA doesn't offer grants to small business owners. Help from a particular business won't increase your chances of getting government contracts.
SBA Programs – Scams and Fraud Alerts
Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times. Be on the lookout for grant fraud, loan fraud, and phishing.
Scams and Fraud Schemes
Grants
- SBA does not initiate contact on either 7a or Disaster loans or grants. If you are proactively contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA, suspect fraud.
Information about fraud schemes and to report any suspected fraud to the SBA here.
Hundreds of businesses apply for coronavirus relief grants in Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County officials will use a scoring criteria to choose businesses for $10,000 relief grants to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic. County supervisors on April 7 approved a $1 million program providing relief for struggling businesses that complied with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s orders to help slow the spread of coronavirus. The county relief is intended as a bridge to other assistance from the federal stimulus package and other government sources.
Governor Newsom Announces Paid Sick Leave Benefits for Food Sector Workers Impacted by COVID-19, Additional Protections for Consumers
Governor’s Executive Order will benefit workers in grocery stores and fast food chains, and delivery drivers. Order will give two weeks of supplemental paid sick leave to certain food sector workers if they are subject to a quarantine or isolation order or medical directive. Order also calls for increased hand-washing measures at food facilities to increase consumer protection
Governor Newsom Announces New Initiatives to Support California Workers Impacted by COVID-19
Governor announces new initiative to expand call center hours at the Employment Development Department to better assist Californians with unemployment insurance applications. EDD will also implement a one-stop shop for those applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, including the self-employed and independent contractors. Governor announces $75 million in statewide Disaster Relief Assistance funding to provide financial support for immigrant workers affected by COVID-19 Philanthropic partners commit to raising an additional $50 million to support undocumented Californians.
Stanislaus County to provide $1 million in coronavirus assistance to ailing businesses
Stanislaus County leaders on Tuesday approved a $1 million relief program for small businesses that are trying to stay alive during the coronavirus epidemic.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the program Tuesday, providing up to $10,000 in microgrant assistance for eligible small businesses. The county will make 75 percent of the assistance available to businesses with 25 employees or less and 25 percent to businesses with 26 to 50 employees.
StanEmergency Facebook live April 8th 2020
U.S. Department Of Labor Announces New CARES Act Guidance on Unemployment Insurance for States in Response to COVID-19 Crisis
The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the publication of Unemployment Insurance Program Letter 14-20 (UIPL) outlining relevant provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act related to the administration of and eligibility criteria for state unemployment insurance (UI) programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for those not typically eligible for UI, such as gig workers, and expanded UI benefits.
Governor Newsom Announces New Help for Small Businesses & Workers Displaced by COVID-19
Federal government offering first-come, first-serve loans of up to $10 million for small employers. Governor Newsom announces $50 million in loan guarantees for small businesses that may not be eligible for federal relief.
Governor Gavin Newsom Announces Major Financial Relief Package
Governor Newsom announces financial institutions will provide relief for vast majority of Californians. Californians economically impacted by COVID-19 may receive 90-day grace periods to make mortgage payments. Financial institutions agree not to negatively impact credit reports as a result of accepting payment relief
How much money could you get from Uncle Sam for coronavirus relief?
Congress and the White House have been wrangling for days over the details of a $2 trillion package of legislation to come to the rescue of an economy ravaged into recession by the global coronavirus pandemic and the stay-at-home measures urged by medical experts to prevent the spread of the contagion. ...
‘Called to action’: How Stanislaus County teens are helping during coronavirus pandemic
While the novel coronavirus pandemic clearly has resulted in bad (hoarding) and worse (scamming) behavior, it’s also letting the goodness in people shine. In Turlock and Patterson, members of New Life Christian Center’s High School Ministry are...