Covid-19

Federal Resources

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) 

SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses.

• • PPP loans have an interest rate of 1%.
  • Loans issued prior to June 5 have a maturity of 2 years. Loans issued after June 5 have a maturity of 5 years.
  • Loan payments will be deferred for borrowers who apply for loan forgiveness until SBA remits the borrower's loan forgiveness amount to the lender. If a borrower does not apply for loan forgiveness, payments are deferred 10 months after the end of the covered period for the borrower’s loan forgiveness (either 8 weeks or 24 weeks).
  • No collateral or personal guarantees are required.
  • Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.

How to Apply:

You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, and federally insured credit union that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.

Expanded Employee Retention Tax Credit

The new law significantly expands the employee retention tax credit beginning on January 1, 2021. The credit expires on June 30, 2021. The prior credit was 50% on $10,000 in qualified wages for the whole year (or a maximum of $5,000 per employee). The new credit is 70% on $10,000 in wages per quarter (or a maximum $14,000 per employee through June 30th).

• • The new law also expands which employers are eligible. Prior to the new law, the employee retention tax credit applied only to an employer who experienced a decline in gross receipts of more than 50% in a quarter compared to the same quarter in 2019. Eligibility is now expanded to include employers who experienced a decline of more than 20%.
  • In addition, the employee cap under which it is easier to claim the tax credit has been raised to 500 employees from 100 employees. Now, employers with 500 or fewer employees can claim the credit for wages to paid to employees irrespective of whether the employee is providing services.
  • Employers can now also receive both the Employee Retention Tax Credit and a PPP loan, just not to cover the same payroll expenses.
  • Remember: This is a refundable tax credit. See the Chamber’s original Guide to the ERTC for more information.

American Rescue Plan COVID Leave Tax Credit 

Under the American Rescue Plan, employers are entitled to tax credits for providing paid leave to employees who take time off related to COVID-19 vaccinations.

• • The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) allows small and midsize employers, and certain governmental employers, to claim refundable tax credits that reimburse them for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave to their employees due to COVID-19, including leave taken by employees to receive or recover from COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • The ARP tax credits are available to eligible employers that pay sick and family leave for leave from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.
  • For information on eligible employers, paid sick and family leave for which tax credits can be claimed, the amount of the tax credits and how they are calculated, and how to claim the tax credit click here. 

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL)

The new law reopens the $10,000 EIDL Grant program. Priority for the full amount of the EIDL grant will be given to small businesses with less than 300 employees, located in low-income neighborhoods, who have experienced a 30% reduction in gross receipts during any 8-week period between March 2, and December 31, 2020 compared to a comparable 8-week period before March 2. If you meet this description and received a grant that is less than $10,000 you can reapply to receive the difference.

SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund

Applications are now open!

This program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19.

• • The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open.
  • This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location.
  • Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
  • You can apply through SBA-recognized Point of Sale (POS) vendors or directly via SBA in a forthcoming online application portal: https://restaurants.sba.gov. Participating POS providers include Square, Toast, Clover, NCR Corporation (Aloha), and Oracle. If you are working with Square or Toast, you do not need to register beforehand on the https://restaurants.sba.gov application portal
  • Eligible entities who have experienced pandemic-related revenue loss include:
    • Restaurants
    • Food stands, food trucks, food carts
    • Caterers
    • Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
    • Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars
    • Bakeries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
    • Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
    • Breweries and/or microbreweries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
    • Wineries and distilleries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
    • Inns (onsite sales of food and beverage to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
    • Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products

To apply click here

SBA Shuttered Venue Operator Grants Application Portal

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

• • The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program will open on Thursday, April 8, 2021. 
  • Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. For more information click here.

SBA Disaster Loan info for solopreneurs, single member LLCs and Independent Contractors

Independent contractors, Solopreneurs, Single Member LLC owners are also eligible to apply for Unemployment Insurance, even while applying for PPP and/or EIDL.  

CA Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank)

IBank has Finance Programs for Small Businesses (1-750 employees). Click here for more info.

U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance 

State Resources 

California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

In accordance with the signed legislation (SB 151), there will be a closed round for existing eligible applicants who were waitlisted in previous rounds. These applicants do not need to reapply. There will be at least one additional round for nonprofit cultural institutions. Additional information can be found at CAReliefGrant.com and below:

Round 7: Waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds

Selection Window: Tuesday, August 3rd through Thursday, September 30th

Eligible applicants: This is a closed round and only available to eligible applicants who were waitlisted in certain previous rounds – only existing waitlisted applicants will be selected to move forward in the validation and verification review process. Selection does not guarantee approval or an award. If you were waitlisted, you do not need to reapply. New applications will not be accepted in this round.

Eligible grant award: $5,000 to $25,000

Details: This is a closed funding round; no new applications will be accepted

Round 8: Nonprofit cultural institutions only:

Application window: Friday, August 27th EXTENDED through Thursday, September 30th

Eligible applicants: Only non-profit cultural institutions with any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com

Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000

Details: Approximately $16 Million dollars remain under the Nonprofit Cultural Institutions Program. Eligible nonprofit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1,2, 5, or 6.; nonprofit cultural institutions that applied in Round 4 do not need to re-apply; grants will only be available to nonprofit cultural institutions that did not receive funding in any previous rounds; grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019

Round 9: New Applicants and Waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds

Application window: NOW OPEN - Thursday, September 9th through Thursday, September 30th

Eligible applicants: current waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com

Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000

Details: Applicants not selected to move forward in the review process in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, or 7 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 9. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com

Additional information can be found atwww.CAReliefGrant.com

California Rebuilding Fund

The California Rebuilding Fund is a loan program to support California’s small businesses—especially those located in economically disadvantaged and historically under-banked areas of the state. Businesses who employed 50 or less full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) and had gross revenues of less than $2.5 million or below in 2019 are eligible to apply. Full eligibility requirements are included in the Business Requirements tab.

The loans are flexible, transparent and are designed to help businesses access the capital and advisory services they need to get through these challenging economic times.

To fill out a pre-application and match with a participating community lender, please click here.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

As a part of the Federal CARES Act, the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular State Unemployment Insurance benefits. The provisions of the program include: Up to 30 weeks of benefits starting with weeks of unemployment beginning February 2, 2020, through the week ending December 26, 2020, depending on when a person became directly impacted by the pandemic. An additional $600 to each PUA weekly benefit amount a person may be eligible to receive. Only the weeks of a claim between March 20 and July 25 are eligible for the $600 payments. For more information, click on the following link EDD PUA.

California Capital Access Program (CalCAP)

CalCAP is a loan loss reserve program for businesses with 1-500 employees, which may provide up to 100% coverage on losses as a result of certain loan defaults. Individual borrowers are limited to a maximum of $2.5 million enrolled over a 3-year period. Contact a Participating Lender to enroll.

Unemployment Insurance

Paid Family Leave Information

County Resources 

LA County Regional COVID Fund:

LA county has partnered with LISC LA to distribute $4.7 million in grants to personal care and retail sector small businesses in need of financial support due to COVID-19. There are $10,000 grants to personal care and retail businesses. Grant Winners will be chosen through a randomized application system.

Eligible business must:

• • Have an annual revenue under $1M in the personal care and retail sectors
  • Have documented financial hardship as a result of COVID-19
  • Have NOT received COVID-19 relief funds from the County in 2021

Applicants who meet the following criteria will be weighted more heavily in the system:

• • Veteran-owned
  • Located in a CALEnviroScreen Map community with a 90% health hazard range
  • Located in County Districts with higher poverty rates, lower educational attainment, and lower median income.

Apply to Round 2 beginning April 26! 

Small Business Stabilization Loan Program

The Los Angeles County Development Authority has launched an affordable and flexible business loan program to support and help stabilize businesses in the region. Small Business Stabilization Loans range from $50,000 to $3 million, and can be used for working capital, equipment purchases, inventory, or refinancing of existing loans at higher interest rates.

Business Eligibility: 

• • Businesses must have a physical location within Los Angeles County.
  • Businesses must have been in operation for a minimum of two years at time of application.
  • Click here for a list of ineligible businesses.

Interest rate:
Fixed Wall Street Journal Prime rate. (Currently at 3.25%)

Loan Term:
Working Capital - 5-7 years.
Equipment - Up to 10 years.
Real Estate Acquisition and Construction - Up to 20 years.

For more information click here. 

LA County Early Childhood Education COVID-19 Response Team's "Childcare Heroes"

The LA County Early Childhood Education COVID-19 Response Team has released the new website to help early childhood educators safely provide critical services to children and families during the pandemic. It also gives families information on safely sending their children back to child care. The new website helps early childhood educators understand guidance and provides best practices for how to adapt their programs and activities to serve children and families safely. It includes information and resources to implement the specific guidance, ensure maximum health and safety of children and staff, and continue to offer high-quality care and education.

The website is also available in Spanish.

Free PPE for Small Businesses in Los Angeles County 

PPE made available through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) in collaboration with the Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). The PPE Unite™ program is a joint effort to give small business owners and their employees access to much-needed personal protective gear. This public and private partnership program creates access to PPE, promotes PPE use, and provides additional resources for businesses.

Get your 30 day supply of free Personal Protective Equipment to keep your business compliant and employees safe. Sign up now to get PPE while supplies last. Please note businesses must have 100 or fewer employees, and be located in LA County.

Los Angeles County Financial Navigators Program for Residents: 

Given the significant financial impact COVID-19 has had on many households, the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has launched the new Financial Navigators Program to assist LA County residents with their financial concerns.

This no-cost program connects residents with Financial Navigators from DCBA who can help with: managing financial issues, identifying immediate action steps, and accessing additional resources.

How to Get Help From A Financial Navigator: 

• • Visit dcba.lacounty.gov/financial-navigators to complete a short interest form.
  • The interest form will ask you for your name, zip code, language preference, phone and/or email address.
  • Call 800-593-8222 if you need help completing the form.
  • A Financial Navigator will follow-up with you within 48 hours.

What Happens During a Financial Navigation Session: The free session will last between 30 minutes to an hour. A Financial Navigator will ask you a series of questions about your concerns.

Some topics that may be discussed during your session include: Prioritizing payments for expenses like housing, food, and insurance; Maximizing income, through accessing unemployment benefits, emergency loans and other public benefits; Managing debt by providing guidance on contacting and negotiating with creditors; Avoiding scams.

LA County residents may visit https://dcba.lacounty.gov/financial-navigators/ to get more information on the program and sign up for a financial navigation session by completing an Interest Form. Please note that while Financial Navigators will provide personalized guidance, they do not provide direct financial assistance such as cash or loans. They are also not long-term counselors who provide ongoing financial assistance.

City Resources 

City of Long Beach Announces New Commercial Rental Assistance Grant Program: (Funding available for businesses that lost revenue as a result of COVID-19 health restrictions)

The Commercial Rental Assistance Grant application period begins June 11, 2021, at noon and closes Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 5 p.m. To apply, businesses may visit the City’s Commercial Rental Assistance Grant webpage, review eligibility requirements and submit an application and all required documentation.

Applicants must meet all the following requirements:

• Be a for-profit business with Long Beach as its location of business.
• Have a Long Beach business license.
• Have 50 or fewer full-time employees.
• Have experienced financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and State and local Health Orders.
• Have a physical location with a current, active commercial lease.
• Be in a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) area.
• Be in compliance with local Health Orders.
• Not be permanently closed.

The following documentation is required:

• Current commercial lease/rental agreement.
• Landlord contact information.
• W-9; Request for Taxpayer ID number and certification.
• Copy of photo ID.

Read Full Press Release here

COVID-19 Relief Payment Plan Program
The Long Beach COVID-19 Relief Payment Plan Program is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to providing support and resources to businesses and residents critically impacted by the pandemic. The program allows eligible participants the opportunity to pay interest-free and penalty-free payments for up to 18 months for the following:

• Business-Related & General Fees – Long Beach residents and businesses can apply for payment plan assistance for business taxes and other general fees (including but not limited to business license fees, false alarm fees, health fees and police board-up fees) billed between March 16, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The enrollment period will run July 1 through August 13, 2021. For more information, business owners and residents may email FM-CityCollections@longbeach.gov or call 562.570.7600.
• Parking Citations – This program is for people who have incurred parking citations and lack the resources to pay the fines. Qualifying residents can apply for payment plan assistance for all parking citations issued between March 16, 2020, and March 31, 2021, and the City will create individualized payment plans that do not include late fees or interest charges for up to 18 months. The enrollment period runs April 1 through May 17, 2021. For more information, people may email FM-ParkingCitation@longbeach.gov or call 562.570.6822.
• Extension of Existing Relief Programs
  In addition to the new COVID-19 Relief Payment Plan Program, the City has also extended existing deferral and relief programs for Long Beach businesses and residents.
  • The Long Beach COVID-19 Business Tax and Fee Payment Deferral Program, which already provides payment deferrals for various business license taxes and health and fire fees for Long Beach businesses critically impacted by COVID-19, was set to expire March 31 but has been extended again through June 30, 2021.
    • Businesses with outstanding taxes and fee balances are encouraged to participate in the new COVID-19 Relief Payment Plan Program come July so they can pay the outstanding balance over time, penalty-and-interest-free. Special mail notices with information to participate in the COVID-19 Relief Payment Plan Program will be sent to businesses with outstanding balances in May. For more information, business owners may email FM-CityCollections@longbeach.gov or call 562.570.7600.
  • Also extended from March 31 to June 30, 2021, is the City’s Street Sweeping Relief Program, which provides free temporary parking permits for people in parking impacted areas. The program also provides some relief to qualifying individuals impacted by street sweeping parking citations issued between March 16, 2020, and June 30, 2021, who are facing financial hardships due to the pandemic. Temporary parking permits provide relief for those experiencing hardships and impacted by street sweeping parking citations, and deter vehicles from parking along roadways to allow for more effective street sweeping, a vital health service for the City. 
    • Residents in parking-impacted areas are reminded to take advantage of the City's free parking opportunities or find alternate solutions to park their vehicles during street sweeping days. For more information about citation relief, residents may email FM-ParkingCitation@longbeach.gov or call 562.570.6822.

More information about the various other services and resources the City offers to those affected by the pandemic is available by calling the City’s Resource Line at 562.570.INFO(4636), option 5.

SafeBiz Physical Distancing Self-Certification for Businesses

The City of Long Beach launched SafeBiz, a web-interface which allows businesses, which may open according to the “Safer at Home” order to self-certify that they are committed to re-opening their business safely. Read more.

City of Long Beach Small Loan Programs

Kiva Long Beach Loan Program: Kiva Long Program is a creative online crowd-lending program that is designed to support Long Beach small businesses. Loans up to $15,000 are available at a zero percent interest rate; approved borrowers may access a grace period of up to 6-months, loan proceeds may go toward business expenses, such as personnel, rent, supplies/materials, utilities, professional services, and more; all loan applications are reviewed by Kiva, a nonprofit organization; approved loans on Kiva’s online crowd-lending platform have 30 days to successfully raise the entire loan; 25 Long Beach businesses have benefited from this program. To get started, potential borrowers should contact BusinessDevelopment@longbeach.gov or 562-570-4249. 

City of Long Beach Emergency Microloan Program: The Emergency Microloan Program is designed to support Long Beach businesses and non-profits with 5 or less employees that have been financially burdened by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Between $2,500 to $10,000 is available for small businesses operating in Long Beach Interest rate: 2.44 percent
No fees Repayment period ranges from 5 to 7 years Borrowers may access a grace period of up to 9 months.
Loan proceeds may go toward business expenses, such as personnel, rent, supplies/materials, utilities, professional services, and more. Funding is subject to availability and submittal of a loan application does not guarantee funding. To get started, potential borrowers must sign-up for an appointment with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at longbeachsbdc.org or by phone at (562) 938-5100.

Microenterprise Loan Program: The Microenterprise Loan Program is designed to support Long Beach small businesses. Between $25,000 to $100,000 is available for small businesses operating in Long Beach. Interest rate: Wall Street Journal prime rate + 1.5 percent. Fees: 2 percent loan fee, if loan closes. Term: 5 to 10 years Loan proceeds may go toward business expenses, such as personnel, rent, supplies/materials, utilities, professional services, and more (proceeds cannot be spent on construction). Must create 1 full-time job for every $35,000 borrowed. Businesses must be a for-profit entity. 

Grow Long Beach Fund: Partnership between the City of Long Beach and National Development Council Grow America Fund. Between $100,000 to $2 million is available for businesses that have been operating in Long Beach for at least two years. Interest rate: based on current Wall Street Journal prime rate. Term: 3 to 25 years. Loans underwritten by National Development Council and guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. Business must be a for-profit entity. Funds can be used for any legitimate business expense (construction, tenant improvements, equipment, working capital, etc.). 

• Flexible Payment Options with the Long Beach Water Department
• City of Long Beach Economic Development COVID-19 Resources
• Long Beach Disaster Relief Fund