Resources for Businesses & Employers Affected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus Crisis
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9/2/2024 UPDATE: This page was originally a blog post from by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce on March 11th to help businesses navigate through the COVID-19 crisis. As the crisis escalated, we began keeping a list of resources from all kinds of sources—from local organizations to state and federal governments—as they became available. You can find those resources here. (For the original post from the Oxnard Chamber, please scroll the bottom of this page.)
Also, we have begun a series of free, weekly webinars in both English and Spanish designed to answer all your questions about the resources available to businesses through the CARES Act and how you can apply for those. Click the button to register for one of our webinars:
We’re passionate about this community. Our families, neighbors, friends, and loved ones are here, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help us all get through this and come back stronger on the other side. So stay safe and encouraged, everyone. We’re in this together.
COVID-19 / Coronavirus Local Resources (updated 9/2/2024):
COVID-19 Resources for Businesses from QuickBooks Online — From QBO: “We recognize that small businesses are facing unique challenges right now. If your business finances feel uncertain, you’re not alone. To help support you and your community during this unprecedented time, visit our dedicated COVID-19 page within the Resource Center for information, articles, and guides to help organize your small business.” Link: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/small-business/coronavirus/
Recursos Para Pequeñas Empresas en California Afectadas por COVID-19 (Español) — Un webinar / seminario gratis de Small Business Majority para pequeñas empresas afectadas por coronavirus. Haz click en https://bit.ly/2K1jSQH.
NEW COVID-19 BUSINESS, NON-PROFIT, SELF-EMPLOYED AND EMPLOYEE WEBINAR SERIES — To help support the volume of people requesting assistance, EDC is launching a webinar series starting this Friday @ 1:00 pm to help businesses, non-profits, self-employed individuals and employees navigate the CARES Act and expanded benefits under EDD. Moving forward, we will be hosting webinars weekly every Wednesday from 12:30-1:30. Registration is required in advance and space is limited. Register @ https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uJ0ufuGpqDgtjPiohZ1uwTopOaG1Y41bKg.
EDC BUSINESS RESOURCE HOTLINE — In addition to our webinar series, we have created a Business Resource Hotline (805-409-9159) to help answer questions and direct the business and non-profit community to available resources. We hope that adding these new opportunities will increase our capacity to serve the Ventura and Santa Barbara community.
Economic Help for Small Business — “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses” (source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce). Download the PDF at https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/023595_comm_corona_virus_smallbiz_loan_final.pdf.
Sales Taxes — Taxpayers may request assistance by contacting the CDTFA. Requests for relief of interest or penalties or requesting an extension for filing a return may be made through their online services. Taxpayers may also request assistance in writing by sending a letter to the address below or contacting CDTFA via email. They are also available to answer questions and provide assistance for taxpayers that call their Customer Service Center at 800-400-7115. This includes assistance if you are unable to make a timely tax payment. Click https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/covid19.htm to visit CDFTA website directly.
State Income Taxes — Tax file and pay deadlines extended to July 15, 2020 Click https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/covid-19/extensions-to-file-pay.html to visit Franchise Tax Board website directly.
Federal Income Taxes — July 15 is now the deadline to file and pay your taxes. Taxpayers now have an extra three months to both file their federal income taxes and pay them. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties. Click https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus to visit IRS website directly.
Employment Development Department (EDD) — The EDD provides a variety of support services to individuals affected by COVID-19 in California. For faster and more convenient access to those services, we encourage the use of their online options, including Workplace Health and Safety, Reduced Work Hours, Potential Closure or Layoffs, and Tax Assistance. Click https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm to visit EDD website directly.
Secretary of State — The Secretary of State’s office processes filings, maintains records and provides information to the public relating to business entities that include corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability partnerships and other business filings. Click https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/covid-19/ to visit their website directly.
City of Oxnard — For city of Oxnard news, visit https://www.oxnard.org/oxnard-news/.
City of Ventura — For Ventura City updates, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1817/Coronavirus-COVID-19.
County of Ventura — For Ventura County updates, visit https://www.vcemergency.com/.
City of Santa Barbara — For City of Santa Barbara updates, visit https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/cityhall/onlineservices/service_updates.asp
County of Santa Barbara — For Santa Barbara County updates, visit https://www.countyofsb.org/
Disaster Relief Assistance — Learn how to get no-cost assistance from the LA Small Business Development Center. The Economic Development Collaborative has 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. You may access it at https://vcportal.ventura.org/covid19/EDC_COVID-19_BUSINESS_RESOURCE_GUIDE.pdf or to learn more, visit https://smallbizla.org/covid19-response-guide/.
Quick Response Loans from Women’s Economic Ventures — In addition to their existing Small Business Loan Program, WEV wishes to provide financial support and assistance to businesses experiencing economic hardship as a result of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 visit them directly at https://www.wevonline.org/loans-2/quick-response-loans/ to learn more.
SBDC California Los Angeles Network — How You Can Prepare and Recover
Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce — Coronavirus Resources
SCORE — SCORE provides a resource guide with important links to assist you with trusted information. Access it at https://santabarbara.score.org/covid-19-business-resource-guide-score-santa-barbara.
This article was originally published on March 11, 2020 via eblast by our friends at the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, which in turn was in reference to this post by Ventura County Public Health. The article also included a link to live, real-time updates on Coronavirus developments in Ventura County, which you can find at http://www.vcemergency.com.
CORONAVIRUS: Strategies for Employers [Ventura County Public Health Announcement]
From the Oxnard Chamber:
Below is a graphic with simple tips to keep in mind during this time of alert. Here are 10 additional recommended strategies for the workplace:
Create plans to communicate with your staff, and volunteers.Learn about plans in place in each community where you have a business.Be prepared to modify, postpone, or cancel large conferences or events.Allow staff to stay home if someone in their house is sick or school closures have occurred.Consider strategies such as telecommuting and staggered shifts to protect employees who are at higher risk for adverse health complications.Provide tissues, no-touch disposal receptacles, soap and water, alcohol-based hand rubs, and/or disposable disinfecting wipes for employee use.Cross-train personnel to perform essential business functions in the event of increased numbers of employee absences.Do not require a healthcare provider’s note for employees or volunteers who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare providers may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.Plan to minimize exposure between employees and also between employees and the public, if public health officials call for social distancing.Review human resources policies to make sure that policies and practices are consistent with public health recommendations and are consistent with existing state and federal workplace laws.
And here is the above-referenced graphic:
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