Due to a surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations threatening the regional health care system, the City of Berkeley, along with five Bay Area counties, has updated its COVID-19 Health Order to align with new State rules limiting certain activities that could further escalate the already rapid spread of the virus.
Determined by State of California, the rules affect industries ranging from restaurants, which are now limited to take-out and delivery, to hair salons and personal care services, which are required to close.
Local orders started on Monday December 7 at 12:01am and will last for four weeks until 11:59pm on January 4.
Read about what’s open, what's closed and what's changed in Berkeley here.
As businesses across the state face challenges brought on by COVID-19, Governor Newsom announced the opening of the California Rebuilding Fund, a public-private partnership that drives capital from private, philanthropic and public sector resources to help impacted small businesses. The Fund provides a $25 million anchor commitment and $50 million guarantee from the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Grants (of up to $25,000) will be distributed to underserved micro and small businesses while supplies last.
Apply as soon as possible by submitting a pre-application. (Your business will be prescreened for eligibility and, if eligible, matched with a local community lender.)
The State of CA's temporary tax relief entails an automatic three-month income tax extension for taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax, extends the availability of existing interest and penalty-free payment agreements to companies with up to $5 million in taxable sales, and provides expanded interest-free payment options for larger businesses particularly affected by significant restrictions on operations based on COVID-19 transmissions.
These options for tax relief build on the state’s Main Street Hiring Tax Credit, which authorizes $100 million in hiring tax credit for qualified small businesses. The credit offers $1,000 per qualified employee, up to $100,000 for each small business.
Make a tax credit reservation online now.
On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, Berkeley City Council adopted an urgency ordinance revising the charges that may be imposed by third-party delivery services on retail establishments for the duration of the COVID-19 local state of emergency. Effective immediately, the delivery fee cap has been reduced to 10%. There is also a 5% limit on other fees and commissions. The resulting total amount that can be charged by a third-party delivery service is 15%.
See the ordinance adopted by Berkeley City Council here.
So far, outdoor dining and commerce permits have been created as a temporary measure to allow merchants and restauranteurs to conduct business outdoors, an environment that significantly reduces risk of COVID-19 exposure.
The City Council proposal seeks to develop a program transitioning these permits to a permanent status and welcomes any and all suggestions to make temporary spaces permanent.
Use the City of Berkeley's online forum, Berkeley Considers, to weigh in on this City Council proposal to develop a program to create permanent outdoor dining and commerce permits.
Learn more by reading Item 39 on the December 15, 2020 City Council agenda.
Redefining R&D in Berkeley
At the Dec. 16, 2020 City of Berkeley Planning Commission meeting, commissioners will discuss City Council's referral requesting an update to the definition of “Research and Development” as a land use. The staff report and presentation will cover analysis and research of the referral request, recommended modifications for consideration, and ideas for next steps.
See the 12/16 agenda item on the Planning Commission website after it is posted this Friday, 12/11.
Alameda County launched a CARES Grant program last month to provide grants to local businesses with an allocation of $5 million from the County's CARES Act funding allocation. To take advantage of an additional $3 million that the County set aside to match any city willing to pledge funds to the grant program, the City of Berkeley approved an allocation of $200,000 of funds raised by the Berkeley Relief Fund as matching funds on December 1, 2020. The East Bay Economic Development Alliance is administering the grant program and funds will be dispersed to qualifying businesses before the end of the year.
On the same date, Berkeley City Council also approved an allocation of $50,000 ($32,500 from East Bay Community Foundation and $17,500 from the prior phase of Berkeley Relief Fund) to provide grants to enable businesses to transition to outdoor commerce.
In case you missed it...
The #BerkeleyHolidays campaign encourages online shopping locally this holiday season. Check out the gift guide and social media contest for incredible Berkeley gifts!
The City of Berkeley is now accepting applications for its COVID-19 Resiliency Loan Program (RLP) to help existing Berkeley small businesses, non-profits and cooperatives to sustain their operations in Berkeley. Learn more & submit an application by Dec.18 at 5pm.
The City of Berkeley's COVID-19 Business Damage Mitigation Fund has funds available to help small businesses that have sustained damages during the Shelter-in-Place period. Learn more about the fund and how to apply for a grant (for up to $2,500).
If you own or manage an office-based business in Berkeley, please take a few minutes before noon on Monday, 12/14, to share your thinking regarding your future office needs in the Office of Economic Development's survey for office-based businesses.
|
