COVID-19 Business Resources

Ready to Reopen - A Playbook for Your Small Business: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has prepared a guide to "...walk you through the steps your business will need to take to reopen as restrictions are lifted across the country and your business prepares for the 'new normal.'" Click here to learn more.

McKinsey & Company COVID-19 Response Checklist for B2B Marketing Leaders: COVID-19 Response Checklist for B2B Marketing Leaders is a resource offering practical solutions to help sales leaders and business decision-makers in B2B settings protect their people and navigate their organizations through an uncertain time. This checklist focuses on the first two of five stages in the crisis-response cycle, Resolve and Resilience— how to navigate the current situation. Click here to learn more.

Guidance for Cleaning & Disinfecting for Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools and Homes: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided Guidance for Cleaning & Disinfecting for Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools and Homes. Click here to view the flyer.

Face-Covering Signs for Your Business & Customers: The San Mateo County Health Officer issued an order requiring individuals to wear a face covering when they need to leave their home to work or obtain essential goods and services. Businesses can now download and print signs to provide guidance to their employees and customers who are now required to wear face coverings to help combat the spread of COVID-19. Click here to learn more.

Zonehaven: Find out what's open in San Mateo County (Medical, Social Services, Food, Parks & Recreation, Pet Services, Home & Auto, Financial & Legal, and other services). Click here to learn more.

CEO's Guide to COVID-19: Restarting After the Crisis: Read about eight actions CEO's can take to ensure a safe and successful relaunch of economic activity.

Women Business Owner Resources: The Tory Burch Foundation is one of many organizations that have mobilized to support female entrepreneurs during the pandemic, in ways ranging from resource gathering to professional mentorship to COVID-19-specific funding. Click here to learn more.

Layoff/Furlough Transition Webinars: NOVA and EDD are offering a Layoff/Furlough Transition Webinar every Thursday from 10:00 - 10:45 AM. They will be providing information about: Filing for unemployment insurance, Registering for Covered California, and Free job-search assistance. Click here to sign up.

OnwardCA Coalition: OnwardCA Coalition is an initiative of companies and foundations to get California workers displaced by COVID-19 essential life services and back to work as quickly as possible. They launched a platform connecting COVID-19 displaced workers with over 70,000 job opportunities in critical industries. Click here to learn more.

Guide to Applying for Unemployment Benefits in California: Workers are able to apply for the EDD’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). To help guide workers through application, the EDD is also launching a new “Guide to applying for unemployment benefits in California” page. The guide consolidates basic information about the process and takes customers to the UI Online system customers currently use for applying for regular UI.

NOVA Workforce Services: NOVA provides critical workforce development services to its customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the State’s and counties’ shelter-in-place orders, NOVA has closed its physical job centers and reinvented its programs to serve customers remotely in order to ensure the safety of job seekers, partners, stakeholders and NOVA staff. Click here to learn more.

COVID-19 Business Continuity Action Plan: The Business Continuity Action Plan - 2.2 is a first step in setting realistic expectations for the economic health of businesses in San Mateo County.

Legal Hotline: SAMCEDA and San Mateo County have opened a legal hotline and email for businesses with questions: Legal Call Center number: (650) 363-4588 (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). The public and businesses can also email: healthorderFAQ@smcgov.org. Frequently asked questions regarding the Shelter in Place Order can be found here.

Federal

NEW:   $7.25 billion additional for the Paycheck Protection Program, including expanding eligibility to additional nonprofits and digital news services

NEW:   $15 billion allocated for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. See SVOG Grant program for eligibility. SVOV now allows businesses to apply for both a PPP loan after Dec. 27, 2020, and the SVOG.

NEW:   $15 billion additional for Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance (EIDL) payments, including $5 billion for Supplemental Targeted EIDL Advance payments for those hardest hit

NEW: $28.6 billion for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund for industry-focused grants. (Information is forthcoming).

State

NEW: Fee Waivers for Most Impacted Licensees for two years of fee relief for restaurants and bars licensed through the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that can range annually from $455 to $1,235. It includes fee relief for barbering and cosmetology individuals and businesses licensed through the Department of Consumer Affairs.

California Small Business Relief Grant Program (2nd round of funding)

• Provides an additional $2 billion to the original grant program.
• Visit CAReliefGrant.com for eligibility, criteria, timeline, application process and updates.

State Tax Relief for Small Businesses 

• The agreement also partially conforms California tax law to new federal tax treatment for loans provided through the Paycheck Protection Plan, allowing companies to deduct up to $150,000 in expenses covered by the PPP loan.

California Rebuilding Fund

• Applications are being accepted from small business for this loan program.
• Small businesses will be able to seek loan capital through a central online portal where they will complete a pre-application to determine eligibility and match them with a participating community lender.
  • Maximum loan amount is $100,000.
  • Annual interest rate for loans will be fixed at 4.25%.
  • Eligibility for the type of loan will depend on financial qualifications, which will be determined by the lender.
  • For more information and examples, go HERE.

Bridging Re-Opening: Digital Tools & Strategies: Listen to the "Bridging Re-Opening: Digital Tools & Strategies" conversation to discover resources, strategies, and insights on how to adapt to the marketplace during COVID-19. Click to watch the webinar here.

Digital Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses: For businesses looking to adapt with the changing times and prepare for what’s next, Google has provided "Navigating the Road Ahead" with insights and strategies. Click here to learn more.

Small Business Development Center of San Mateo: Visit the Small Business Development Center of San Mateo for valuable tools for Small Businesses, including a FREE Webinars for Coping with COVID-19 and a COVID-19 Small Business Survival Guide.

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz): GO-Biz has compiled helpful information for employers, employees, and all Californians as it relates to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Click here to learn more.

State of California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response for Businesses and Employers: California resources for businesses and employers, including state and federal funding programs, questions and answers regarding tax relief for small businesses, and information about the U.S. Small Business Administration Stimulus Programs.

Foster City Chamber of Commerce: The Foster City Chamber of Commerce and its Business Leadership Council (BLC) launched their “Chamber Cares Initiative." Click here to learn more.

local.fostercity.org: Visit local.fostercity.org to learn which restaurants, cafes, and eateries reported as being open during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. To add your business to the list of open eateries or to make an update, please email supportlocal@fostercity.org.

San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA): SAMCEDA has compiled business continuity resources links to provide assistance and guidance for businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19. Additionally, SAMCEDA also provides information on COVID-19 through SAMCEDA's social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn).

American Express Stand for Small:  American Express established ‘Stand for Small,’ a coalition of more than 40 companies across media, technology, consumer goods, professional services, and many other industries, that have come together to provide meaningful support to small businesses as they navigate the impacts of COVID-19. Click here to learn more.

Google Support: Google is offering support to the small business community by allowing businesses to: Update your Business Profile, Mark a Location Temporarily Closed, Stay Connected with Your Customers & Employees, and get virtual 1:1 coaching session with a Googler.