Business Information

Public Health Orders | COVID Business Compliance | General FAQs

COVID BUSINESS COMPLIANCE – PHONE: 844 VC-OPENS (844-826-7367)| EMAIL: covidcompliance@ventura.org

Questions about business? Please contact public health at covidbusiness@ventura.org.

Ventura County is currently in the ORANGE Tier
See what businesses can be open by clicking HERE

The following resources are provided for compliance with business outbreak reporting laws.

• Business Outbreaks (Map)
• Business Outbreak Reporting Form
• Daily Business Screening Questions
• Employer Playbook for Safe Reopening (September 2020)
• Guidance for Face Coverings
• Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
• Ventura County Business Guidance

All Businesses within the County of Ventura must register to be open for business. Click this link to go to our registration site: www.vcreopens.org
What businesses are allowed to open? What are the rules I need to follow? Find the Answers at www.VCreopens.org

RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND (RRF)

Registration for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) begins Friday, April 30 at 6:00 am, and SBA will begin accepting applications via the application portal on Monday, May 3 at 9:00 am. The application portal will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. In preparation, businesses are encouraged to register for an account in advance and review the sample application, program guide and cross-program eligibility chart.

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

Reach out to the SBA’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund Program Hotline at 844.279.8898 (Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm ET).

VENTURA COUNTY – BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS PROGRAM

$5000 Grants for Eligible Business and Nonprofits — APPLICATION WINDOW HAS CLOSED.

The County of Ventura launched a second COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program to assist business and nonprofit organizations that did not receive a grant during the County’s first program in 2020. Qualified business and nonprofit organizations may receive a $5,000 grant. For more information and to apply visit the grant website at www.VCBusinessGrants.org.

CALIFORNIA STATE FEE WAIVERS

On February 23, 2021 the Governor signed a legislative package that included fee waivers.

ABC License Fee Waivers provide two years of fee relief for roughly 59,000 restaurants and bars licensed through the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control can range annually from $455 to $1,235.

• • • 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.
    • This renewal fee waiver program does not apply to licensees with expiration dates prior to March 31, 2021.
    • Eligible licensees whose licenses expire in January or February 2021 may request a waiver of their future applicable renewal fees due in January 2022 or February 2022 when they receive the renewal notices for that year.
    • The annual license renewal process will continue as normal and licensees will need to request a waiver for each of the two years authorized. A second waiver request must be completed when the licensee receives the renewal notice for 2022.
    • If a licensee pays their renewal fee, and later find that they were eligible for a waiver, unfortunately, they will not receive a refund. ABC is not authorized under this law to provide any refunds. A fee waiver request can be submitted for the 2022 renewal at the appropriate time next year.

For more information on ABC Fee Waivers click HERE.

Barbering and Cosmetology Fee Relief for more than 600,000 barbering and cosmetology individuals and businesses licensed through the Department of Consumer Affairs

• • • Board of Barbering and Cosmetology license renewal fees will be waived for all licenses that expire in calendar years 2021 and 2022.
    • Every establishment/salon owner pays a renewal fee of $40 every 2 years, and individuals performing services at each establishment pay a license renewal fee of $50 every 2 years.
    • The fee waivers will be automatic for all license renewals. There is no application. The Board will issue new licenses prior to the license expiration date.
    • During the first week of March 2021, the Board will begin sending out renewed licenses for licensees that had license expiration dates in January 2021, February 2021, March 2021 and April 2021, and have not paid the fees. For licenses expiring from May 2021 through December 2022, the renewed licenses will be mailed out approximately 83 days prior to the expiration date. Licensees are encouraged to update their address but do not need to do anything in order to receive the renewed license.
    • For individuals who already paid their fee for a license that expired in 2021, the renewal date will be extended until January 1, 2025 so they will not have to pay for your next renewal period.

For more information on Barbering and Cosmetology license renewal fee relief, click HERE.

CALIFORNIA RELIEF GRANT

The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program provides micro-grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 and the related health and safety restrictions.

Round 6: APPLY Wednesday, April 28 at 9 AM to Tuesday, May 4 at 5 PM. 

• • • Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and/or nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria.
    • Eligible grant award: $5,000 to $25,000
    • Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, 3 & 5 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 6. New applicants will need to apply on the California Relief Grant website.

SECOND ROUND OF PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) IS OPEN

SALES TAX RELIEF

The Governor directed the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to provide sales tax relief to businesses. The tax deferment up to $1 million is automatic; no need to apply. Businesses can use the money they would normally pay in sales tax to float other expenses, interest free for three-months. This is how the sales tax relief would apply:

• • • Automatic three-month extension for taxpayers filing less than $1M in sales tax
    • Extends the availability of existing interest and penalty-free payment agreements to companies with up to $5 million in taxable sales
    • Provides expanded interest free payment options for larger businesses particularly affected by significant restrictions on operations based on COVID-19 transmissions

Click HERE to learn more…

EDD UNEMPLOYMENT AND PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (PUA)

Unemployment benefits are available for self-employed individuals and employees. If you have lost hours or wages due to the impact of COVID-19. Apply for unemployment with the EDD here. For more information on self-employed unemployment benefits (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) click here.

EDD WORKSHARE PROGRAM

The EDD Workshare Program allows employers to seek an alternative to layoffs – retaining their trained employees by reducing their hours and wages that can be partially offset with UI benefits. Visit the Work Sharing Program to learn more about its benefits for employers and employees, and how to apply. Note: Nonprofits are not eligible to participate in EDD Workshare.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE DISASTER LOAN FUND

EDC is offering 4.25% interest loans from $5,000- $50,000 and a 48 month term through our Disaster Loan Fund to give a cash flow boost to businesses impacted by reduced sales, supply chain disruption or other challenges related to COVID-19. Email loans@edcollaborative.com for more information.

WOMEN’S ECONOMIC VENTURES (WEV) RESTART LOAN

WEV’S Restart Loan provides capital to Santa Barbara County and Ventura County businesses who are now open or eligible to open under the most current government orders. Visit WEV’s website for more information.

CALIFORNIA COMPETES TAX CREDIT PROGRAM

The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size, or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including the number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region. You can find informational webinars, FAQs and other resources to apply here: https://business.ca.gov/california-competes-tax-credit/

If your business has been negatively impacted by Covid-19, visit the Economic Development Collaborative’s Covid-19 Business Resources webpage. The EDC will guide you through the fundamental steps every business should be following:

1. Get financial consulting to find the right assistance for your situation.
2. Connect with your landlord. If you are a commercial tenant and unable to pay rent due to Covid hardship, the EDC has information to preserve your rights as a tenant.

Other information available from our Partners:

• Webinars to gain the skills business thrive, grow and/or recover
• Financial resources including SBA loan programs
• Links to partner organizations such as Womens Economic Ventures and SCORE that help businesses navigate the current environment

The County of Ventura launched a Covid Ambassador program for our citizens and businesses to ask questions or to report possible violations of the County’s health orders.

CovidCompliance@Ventura.org or call (805) 202-1805 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Spanish speakers will also be available to return calls.

Winter Guidelines for Outdoor Business Operations

• Click HERE for guidance on Use of Temporary Structures for Outdoor Business Operations (Updated November 25, 2020)

Helpful Quick Links

• What to do if an employee has Covid-19 – Guide from Ventura County Public Health
• Employer Playbook for Covid 19 – Supporting a Safer Environment for Workers and Customers
• California GO-Biz – California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
• U.S. Small Business Administration – Loan programs for small businesses
• CDC Guidance for Business and Employers – Centers for Disease Control
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Resources, news, tools for small businesses
• California Department of Public Health – Read the latest health orders that impact your business
  • • Information from the California Department of Public Health about AB 685
• Blueprint for a Safer Economy – At a glance, what can be open in each Tier (Purple, Red, Orange, and Yellow)
• Industry Guidance from the State of California
• Resuming Business Tookit from the CDC

Chambers of Commerce are excellent resources for businesses to connect, promote, and find local resources for their businesses.

• Camarillo Chamber
• Greater Conejo Valley Chamber
• Moorpark Chamber of Commerce
• Ojai Valley Chamber
• Oxnard Chamber
• Santa Paula Chamber
• Simi Valley Chamber
• Ventura Chamber

The County of Ventura’s new Mobile COVID-19 Testing Trailer can be requested at the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/covid-testing.

Mobile Testing Team Onsite Testing Requirements

• Business or organization must have at least 100 people that would like to get tested for the COVID-19 virus.
• Outdoor location must include 100′ x 50′ open space suitable for parking a truck and 28′ trailer for our testing team.
• Host location must provide access to restroom facilities within 200′ walking distance of the testing location.
• Set up begins one hour before opening for testing.

COVID-19 testing is offered at high volume sites 7 days a week. More information at: https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/coronavirus-testing/.

Eviction moratoriums provide protections from eviction due to Covid hardships. Read this summary of what these moratoriums mean for you and your business.

EDC – Advisor, Tenant and Landlord Guidance During COVID-19