COVID-19 Business Resources

CALIFORNIA DREAM FUND GRANT PROGRAM

The California Dream Fund Grant Program is a one-time program launched by the State of California to provide microgrants up to $10,000 to seed qualifying small business creation throughout California. In order to qualify for the grant program, applicants must attend an industry specific start-up training program, sign-up for NO-COST one-one-one advising offered through a designated Dream Fund training partner (such as the EDC SBDC!), obtain all necessary permits to operate legally and launch their business by making a first sale, hiring an employee, creating a business banking relationship or spending money on a qualified business expense. For full eligibility requirements and program information, click here.

The first training program is for retail start-up businesses! Designed to help those planning to open a retail (brick & mortar) business, the Ready, Set, Retail Dream Fund training program is an intensive 3-week series that will cover permitting and licenses, leasing retail space, cash flow, capital, and more. The classes will be held via Zoom in both English and Spanish. To register for the Dream Fund training Ready, Set, Retail, complete the registration questionnaire by April 17th.

Is retail not the type of business you are looking to start? Don’t worry! Other training cohorts will be coming soon.

COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA- MICROBUSINESS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM

The Santa Barbara County Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant offers $2,500 grants to qualified small business and nonprofit enterprises! Small businesses that earned less than $50,000 in 2019 are encouraged to apply. Grants will be awarded until grant funding is exhausted. Funded in part through a grant from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate.

Application Window NOW OPEN: March 7, 2022. For more information click here.

COUNTY OF VENTURA- MICROBUSINESS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM

The Ventura County Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant offers $2,500 grants to qualified small business and nonprofit enterprises! Small businesses that earned less than $50,000 in 2019 are encouraged to apply. Grants will be awarded until grant funding is exhausted. Funded in part through a grant from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate.

Application Window CLOSED on April 12, 2022 6:00pm. For more information click here.

CA SMALL BUSINESS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) is not currently accepting applications for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. For more information, click here.

EDC DISASTER BRIDGE LOAN FUND

In addition to our traditional EDC loan funds, EDC is offering 4.25% interest loans from $5,000- $50,000 and a 48 month term through our Disaster Bridge Loan Fund to give a cash flow boost to businesses impacted by reduced sales, supply chain disruption or other challenges related to COVID-19. Email loans@edcollaborative.com for more information.

WOMEN’S ECONOMIC VENTURES (WEV) RESTART LOAN

WEV’S Restart Loan provides capital to Santa Barbara County and Ventura County businesses who are now open or eligible to open under the most current government orders. Visit WEV’s website for more information.

COVID-19 ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS (EIDL)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is still accepting requests for increases, reconsideration and appeals for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program:

Increase Request: Borrowers can request increases up to their maximum eligible loan amount for up to two years after their loan origination date, or until the funds are exhausted, whichever is soonest.

Reconsideration/Appeals Request: Reconsideration and appeal requests for applications received on or before December 31 will be accepted and reviewed if the reconsideration/appeal is received within the timeframes in the regulation. This means six months from the date of decline for reconsiderations and 30 days from the date of reconsideration decline for appeals – unless funding is no longer available.

For more information, click here.

CALIFORNIA REBUILDING FUND

The California Rebuilding Fund is a loan program to support California’s small businesses- especially those located in economically disadvantaged and historically under-banked areas of the state. The loans are flexible, transparent and are designed to help businesses access the capital and advisory services they need to get through these challenging economic times. Businesses who employed 50 or less full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) and had gross revenues of less than $2.5 million or below in 2019 are eligible to apply. To fill out a pre-application and match with a participating community lender click here.

CALIFORNIA COMPETES TAX CREDIT AND GRANT PROGRAM

The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) and Grant Program (CCGP) are available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size, or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region.

Application window OPENS March 7, 2022 and CLOSES March 28, 2022. For more information, click here.

EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT

The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted December 27, 2020, made a number of changes to the employee retention tax credits previously made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), including modifying and extending the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), for six months through June 30, 2021. As a result of the new legislation, eligible employers can now claim a refundable tax credit against the employer share of Social Security tax equal to 70% of the qualified wages they pay to employees after December 31, 2020, through June 30, 2021.  For more information please visit the IRS website here.

WORKER OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain targeted groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment, including qualified long-term unemployment recipients. Qualified tax-exempt organizations will claim the credit on Form 5884-C, Work Opportunity Credit for Qualified Tax-Exempt Organizations Hiring Qualified Veterans, as a credit against the employer’s share of Social Security tax. The Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2021 authorized the extension of WOTC until December 31, 2025. For more information and to review the targeted groups click here.

SOCIAL SECURITY EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER PORTION DEFERRAL

The Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) allowed employers to defer the deposit and payment of the employer’s share of Social Security taxes and self-employed individuals to defer payment of certain self-employment taxes from March 27, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The deferred deposits of the employer’s share of Social Security Tax must be deposited on December 31, 2021 (50% of the eligible deferred amount) and on December 31, 2022 (the remaining amount). Review more information and frequently asked questions on the IRS website click here.

SALES AND USE TAX EXTENSION TO FILE AND PAY

California businesses will experience immediate relief in the form of tax deferrals. Small businesses are encouraged to use the sale tax they have already collected to float any applicable obligations. The tax extension is based on sales made and sales tax collected as follows: Provides an automatic three-month extension for taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax on the return; Extend the availability existing interest and penalty free payment agreements to companies with up to $5 million in taxable sales. Note- businesses in this category must fill out an online form; Broaden opportunities for more businesses to enter into interest-free payment arrangements; and Expand interest-free payment options for larger businesses particularly affected by significant restrictions on operations based on COVID-19 transmissions. For a full schedule of program and tax due dates click here.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (UI) BENEFITS

Unemployment benefits are available for self-employed individuals and employees. If you are out of work or have had your hours reduced, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Click here to apply for unemployment with the EDD.

Questions on unemployment related to COVID-19? Click here for information on EDD customer service.

NOTE: On July 11, 2021, Californians receiving unemployment benefits need to look for work to maintain their eligibility. The Economic Development Department (EDD) sent notices to claimants to inform them of the reinstatement of this requirement.

Federal unemployment benefit programs under the CARES Act ended on September 4, 2021. You will no longer be paid benefits for the following claim types after September 4:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
• Pandemic Additional Compensation (PAC)
• Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)

Federal-State Extended Duration (FED-ED) benefits will no longer be payable after September 11.

EDD WORKSHARE PROGRAM

The EDD Workshare Program allows employers to seek an alternative to layoffs – retaining their trained employees by reducing their hours and wages that can be partially offset with UI benefits. Visit the Work Sharing Program website here to learn more about its benefits for employers and employees, and how to apply. Note: Nonprofits are not eligible to participate in EDD Workshare.

2022 SUPPLEMENTAL PAID SICK LEAVE (CA-SPSL)

2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) took effect on February 19, 2022. This SPSL is only applicable to employers, public or private, with 26 or more employees. Smaller employers will not be covered but may be covered by local supplemental paid sick leave ordinances. Covered employees are entitled to up to 80 hours of SPSL from January 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022, immediately upon an oral or written request to their employer.

SPSL entitles covered employees up to 40 hours of SPSL for caring for yourself, caring for a family member or vaccine-related sick leave. SPSL entitles covered employees up to 40 additional hours of SPSL (same amount of leave the employee qualified for under the first category) if the employee tests positive, or a family member for whom the employee is providing care tests positive for COVID-19. SPSL authorizes the employer to require proof of a positive test in such situations.

Employers are required to post a notice about SPSL similar to the notice employers post regarding regular paid sick leave under Labor Code Section 247. For SPSL’s poster that can be used to be posted in the workplace, click here for English or click here for Spanish.

For more information on 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave, click here.

If you are looking for transitional housing or are on the verge of homelessness please see SOCIAL SERVICES below for additional resources. 

EVICTION PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL RENTERS

For the most up-to-date information on residential and commercial eviction protections review our EDC Guide for Advisors, Tenants and Landlords During COVID-19 February 2022 Update in ENGLISH or SPANISH.

Eviction protections in Los Angeles County for commercial renters expired on January 31, 2022. For the latest information CLICK HERE.

CALIFORNIA COVID-19 RENT RELIEF PROGRAM

If you’re an income eligible renter who has experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19 and have past due rent, or you’re a landlord who has experienced a loss in income because of unpaid rent, you may be eligible to get financial assistance now through the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program. Qualifying renters and landlords are now eligible for 100% of rent and utilities owed. The program is not first come first served, rather priority will be given to those households with the greatest risk of being evicted. Renters and landlords can determine eligibility and apply for funds directly at HousingIsKey.com or call 833.430.2122.

MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE

Foreclosure protection is available for homeowners or small landlords who have federally-backed mortgages through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Homeowners or small landlords who do not have federally-backed loans can contact their loan servicers to request forbearance. Your lender must provide detailed reasons if they deny your forbearance request. You can contest a denial. Find out more about mortgage help and how to get it.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION INSTITUTE

CRI is a community-based non-profit organization that provides mediation services, conflict resolution training and conflict resolution education to individuals and businesses in Ventura, Santa Barbara & LA County. Their services are provided on a sliding scale based on income /gross revenue. Their team is available to help address commercial and residential disputes. They can be contacted by calling 805.384.1313 or by emailing Info@ConflictResolutionVC.org.

Homeless Prevention for Ventura County: Call 805.385.1800 and leave a detailed message of your situation. Learn more on the Ventura County’s Human Services Agency website here.

211 VENTURA COUNTY

211 Ventura County is the comprehensive information and referral service for Ventura County, connecting over 30,000 callers and texters each year with information about health and human services available to them. 211 Ventura County phone and text service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in 150 languages through phone interpretation services. If calling from a local land line, dial 211. If calling from a cellular phone, dial 800.339.9597 or text your zip code to 898.211. Visit their website to learn more about resources for housing, mental health, income and legal assistance click here.

WELLNESS EVERYDAY

Wellness Everyday provides guidance and mental health resources in English and Spanish for individuals and families that are struggling to cope with the ongoing effects of trauma and COVID-19. Find local resources and guides for children, teens and adults on a variety of topics to support mental, physical and social wellbeing on their website here.

HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER

The Housing Rights Center is a private nonprofit organization that is contracted with the County of Ventura to provide Fair Housing Services. Their services include free landlord/tenant counseling, housing discrimination investigation and education on fair housing laws. To connect with the Housing Rights Center call 805.477.5977 and visit their website here.

Homeless Prevention for Santa Barbara County: Call 805.450.3558 or visit Northern Santa Barbara County United Way’s website to view walk-in resource centers here.

211 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

211 Santa Barbara is a comprehensive information and referral system connecting people quickly and effectively to health and human services, disaster relief and public information. The helpline is available in 150 languages, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost to the caller. If calling from a local land line, dial 211. If calling from a cellular phone, dial 800.400.1572. Visit their website to learn more about resources for housing, mental health, income and legal assistance click here.

SANTA BARBARA RESPONSE NETWORK

The Santa Barbara Response Network (SBRN) is a grassroots, non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting fellow community members’ through traumatic experiences and toward resilient recovery. Their trained volunteers offer services such as psychological first aid (PFA), stress management, education about short-term coping and long-term wellness behaviors, and referrals to local agencies for continued care. To learn more click here.

Homeless Prevention for Los Angeles County: Call 213.225.6581 or visit Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) website here.

211 LOS ANGELES COUNTY

211 LA (or 211 LA County) is the hub for community members and community organizations looking for all types of health, human, and social services in Los Angeles County. The call line and website chat is available 24 hours a day to provide information and referrals to the services that best meet individual needs. If calling from a local land line, dial 211. If calling from a cellular phone, dial 800.400.1572. Visit their website to learn more about resources for food, healthcare, housing, education, legal services, crisis services, transportation, utilities, immigration, disability and more click here.