VENTURA COUNTY – BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS PROGRAM
$5000 Grants for Eligible Business and Nonprofits
Notice: The County of Ventura Business Assistance Grant Program is closed to new applications. On May 18 the County Board of Supervisors approved funding for a third Business Assistance Grant Program that will provide an additional $5,000 to qualified business and nonprofit organizations from the first and second programs. THERE IS NO NEED TO RE-APPLY. Recipients from the first and second programs will be notified by the end of July of their eligibility status and instructions to receive the additional $5,000 grant.
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.
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- 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
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- 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.
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:
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- 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…
CALIFORNIA RELIEF GRANT
Notice: The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is TEMPORARILY closed. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a plan to invest an additional $1.5B into the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. We are waiting on further information and we will update the website as soon as it becomes available. The full announcement can be read HERE. Visit the California Relief Grant website for more information www.CAreliefgrant.com.
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/
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP)
Notice: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended on May 31, 2021. Existing borrowers may be eligible for
PPP loan forgiveness.
EDC is also offering no-cost financial consulting. Call the EDC to set up your no-cost appointment to review your questions and discuss the financial opportunities available. 805.409.9159 (ENGLISH) or 805.309.5874 (SPANISH)
For updates on all other currently available COVID-19 resources visit our COVID-19 Business Resources Website
CLICK HERE
RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND (RRF)
Notice: Registration for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) is CLOSED.
Eligible entities who have experienced pandemic-related revenue loss include:
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- 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).
