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Beginning on May 17, the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) began accepting applications for California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grants.
The program will award competitive micro grants of $2,500 to 715 eligible microbusinesses impacted by COVID-19 in Alameda County. The grants will be administered by Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and will be given out on a first come, first serve basis.
for more information, including documentation requirements for applicants and grant eligibility, visit: microbusinessgrant.org.
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The City of Alameda launches its new parking enforcement service today, May 23, with improved enforcement in the Park Street and Webster Street areas. The program aims to increase compliance with parking rules to ensure spaces are available for visitors, crosswalks and bike lanes are clear, accessible parking zones are reserved for people with disability placards, street sweeping keeps debris out of our waterways, and more.
The new service moves most parking enforcement activities from the Police Department to the Public Works Department, which will enable Public Works to focus more closely on transportation and clean water goals. The Police Department will continue to handle vehicle towing in the public right-of-way, including the abandoned vehicle program.
The City of Alameda encourages drivers to do the following:
- Always check signs, curb paint, and parking meter screens, even if there’s a parklet between the parking space and the curb.
- Pay at the meter 9:00am - 6:00pm Monday - Saturday, except posted holidays.
- Do not overstay posted time limits.
- Never double-park, park in a red zone, block a sidewalk or crosswalk, or park in an area protected with bollards. These cause safety hazards.
- In the Park Street area, avoid circling for parking by going straight to the Civic Center Parking Structure at 1416 Oak Street. Parking here is cheaper and more plentiful than on the street.
- Bike, walk, or take transit.
For more information, visit the City’s newly published parking webpage at www.AlamedaParking.org.
Building on the Disposable Food Service Ware law passed by City Council in 2017, on Tuesday May 17, Council amended the Alameda Municipal Code to comply with Assembly Bill 1276, which prohibits food facilities and third-party food delivery platforms from providing specific single-use foodware accessories and condiments unless requested by the customer.
Single-use foodware accessories are defined: as utensils, chopsticks, condiment cups and packets, straws, stirrers, splash sticks, and cocktail sticks. Condiments include single-use packets of ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, salsa, soy sauce, sugar, and salt.
With the exception of straw violations, which will still be subject to the existing citation fines under the Food Service Ware law, all other fines will be consistent with AB 1276. This means that for first and second violations of the law, a notice of violation will be issued. For subsequent violations, there will be a fine of $25 dollars for each day in violation, with an annual cap of $300 dollars.
More information on the changes, including fines and definitions, can be found in Alameda Municipal Code and in the staff report presented to Council on May 17.
As many of the Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 financing programs offered over the past to years end, the SBA San Francisco District Office is holding online webinars to learn more about opportunities for additional financing, business advisor services, and other resources to help start new or grow existing business.
Join the SBA to learn how to start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA – including 7(a), Microloans and Community Advantage -- and hear from local lenders on what they are looking for when underwriting a loan.
Those interested can register here for the three upcoming online sessions:
- Tuesday, May 24 (12PM-1PM)
- Wednesday, June 1 (12PM-1PM)
- Tuesday, June 7 (9AM-10AM)
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