By Tracy Beard, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce
The Economic Development Collaborative at the Solvang Chamber of Commerce have compiled a list of resources now available for employees and employers who have been impacted by COVID-19. As new resources become available, the response guide will be updated as needed and information sent out by the Chamber.
As the spread and impact of COVID-19 is still an unknown, the EDC recommends employers and self- employed individuals to take the following action steps –
Contact your business insurance – Do you have business interruption insurance? If so, you may have coverage that supplements any income or sales loss during this time.
Track your losses – During moments of disruption it is important to track any loss your business may have incurred as programs designed to assist cash flow needs and access to capital depend on accurate counts of economic injury or production loss.
Do you have performance based contracts – reviewing your current contracts and obligations will clarify limitations of liability and force majure.
For businesses that have experienced the following concerns or disruptions our EDC SBDC Advisors can assist providing guidance during this time. Please contact the EDC office at 805.409.9159 to request an appointment.
Visit and register (when applicable) with the following websites to keep up to date with the latest news and information related to COVID-19.
County of Ventura https://www.ventura.org/
County of Santa Barbara http://www.countyofsb.org/
VC Emergency http://www.vcemergency.com/
California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development https://business.ca.gov/
California Department of Public Health https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/
Employers experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the Coronavirus impact on the economy may apply for the UI Work Sharing Program through the EDD. This 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.
Workers of employers who are approved to participate in the Work Sharing Program receive the percentage of their weekly Unemployment Insurance benefit amount based on the percentage of hours and wages reduced, not to exceed 60 percent.
Visit the Work Sharing Program to learn more about its benefits for employers and employees, and how to apply.
Assistance for Employees
Unemployment Insurance- Individuals who have had their hours reduced or have lost their job through no fault of their own may be eligible for unemployment benefits. Learn more by visiting the EDD website.
NOTE: Governor’s Emergency Proclamations waive the non-payable one-week waiting period for regular UI benefit payments to eligible individuals affected by current disasters. This means individuals can be paid benefits for the first week they are unemployed due to the disaster.
Disability Insurance– Individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim.
Disability Insurance provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50 –
$1,300 a week.
Paid Family Leave – Californians who are unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim .
Paid Family Leave provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child.
Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50 – $1,300 a week.
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Business Interruption Loans
EDC DISASTER LOAN FUND
In addition to our traditional EDC loan funds, EDC is offering low interest micro loans from $5,000-
$50,000 through our Disaster Loan Fund to give a cash flow boost to businesses impacted by reduced sales, supply chain disruption or other challenges related to COVID-19. Contact Marvin Boateng, Lending Manager to apply. Email marvin@edcollaborative.com or call (805) 409-9158.
SBA ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS
NOTE: At this time, assistance will become available when the State of California qualifies for federal aid. We believe this will be eminent.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.
For additional assistance in navigating access to capital contact Marvin Boateng, Lending Manager to apply. Email marvin@edcollaborative.com or call (805) 409-9158.
