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Alameda County is currently in the Red Tier of the State's Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Updates for Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries
Last week the State of California announced that breweries, wineries and distilleries that do not serve meals may open outdoors only with modifications in the Purple and Red tiers. Alameda County is aligning with these changes. Please click here for more information, and here for the updated framework.
New Vaccine Eligibility Starts This Week
Starting March 15, the following additional groups are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in California:
- Individuals age 16-64 who are deemed to be at the very highest risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 as a direct result of one or more severe health conditions or as a result of a developmental or other severe high-risk disability.
- Individuals who reside or work in a high risk congregate residential setting, such as an incarceration/detention facility, homeless shelter, or behavioral health facility. This includes all people experiencing homelessness, who are at risk of transitioning into congregate settings at short notice.
- Public transit/airport and commercial airlines workers.
Please visit the City of Alameda's Guide to Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine webpage for more information on how and where to get a vaccine.
What Should Employees Do if they Feel Symptoms After Receiving a Vaccine?
Alameda County has released guidance for symptomatic employees/workers who have received a COVID-19 vaccine within the past 5 days and have NOT had a close contact with a COVID-19+ person during the previous 14 days. Please click here to review the guidance.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has been approved to provide fee waivers for two years to approximately 59,000 businesses heavily impacted by health and safety restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants, bars, and other specified on-sale licensees will be eligible for fee waivers of licenses with expiration dates between March 1, 2021, and February 28, 2023.
Please click here for more information.
Last week, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act, which provides additional relief for the nation’s small businesses and hard-hit industries, including:
- $7.25 billion additional for the Paycheck Protection Program, including to expand eligibility to additional nonprofits and digital news services.
- Additional funds allocated for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, and now allows businesses to apply for both a PPP loan after Dec. 27, 2020, and the SVOG.
- $15 billion additional for Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance (EIDL) payments, including NEW $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.
- NEW: $100 million to establish a Community Navigator pilot program; grants will go to eligible organizations supporting efforts to improve access to COVID–19 pandemic assistance programs and resources.
More details about these new efforts are expected in the coming weeks. Updates on SBA’s current relief efforts can be found below, and at www.sba.gov/coronavirusrelief.
Paycheck Protection Program
The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a new rule revising the calculations of PPP loan amounts for sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals who file a IRS Form 1040, Schedule C: PPP Interim Final Rule - Revisions to Loan Amount Calculation and Eligibility (sba.gov) Schedule C filers may now use gross revenue or net income as the basis for their PPP loan amount calculation.
This rule also expands eligibility for small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions and student loan debt delinquency and default.
For more information and all PPP updates: Paycheck Protection Program (sba.gov)
New COVID Relief Program Report has been posted with top-line data as of 3/4/21.
EIDL
Breaking news... on March 11, SBA announced extended deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022.
- All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2020, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note.
- All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2021, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 18-months from the date of the note.
Targeted EIDL Advance
- SBA is actively sending invitations to apply for the Targeted EIDL Advance grant to EIDL applicants that received a partial EIDL Advance (between $1,000 - $9,000) in 2020.
- SBA launched a mapping tool to help businesses determine if the business is located in a low-income community SBA Targeted EIDL Advance Mapping Tool (policymap.com)
FAQs are also available on the SBA website Targeted EIDL Frequently Asked Questions (sba.gov).
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
Tuesdays @ 2 is a weekly, zoom-based Town Hall series for Alameda businesses, hosted by the Downtown Alameda Business Association. This series provides an opportunity for Alameda businesses to hear about the City's COVID-19 response and other updates directly from City leadership. Substantial time is also provided for businesses to share their questions and concerns.
The meeting is held every Tuesday at 2pm.
Join Online:
https://alamedaca-gov.zoom.us/j/83105449641
Dial by phone: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 831 0544 9641
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