JEDE COVID-19 Update for July 24, 2020

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS

• American with Disabilities Day:  Governor Newsom declares July 26 as "Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Day" in the State of California.  This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the enactment of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, banned discrimination in employment and ensured equal access to public services and accommodations, telecommunications and transportation.   https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/07/24/governor-newsom-issues-proclamation-declaring-americans-with-disabilities-act-awareness-day/

• Workplace Safety Actions:  Governor Newsom announced a range of new activities (https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/07/24/governor-newsom-announces-new-supports-for-california-workers/) to help stop the spread of the coronavirus in commercial, office, and industrial worksites, including:

  • Places to Quarantine to Help Stop the Spread of the Coronavirus:  Allocating existing federal funds to local public health departments and community-based organizations to assist with supportive services for isolation and quarantine.  The Governor also announced a new program, Housing for the Harvest, which will provide temporary isolation spaces for agricultural workers who test positive or were exposed to the virus.  This program, according to the announcement, will operate in partnership with counties and local partners in the Central Valley, Central Coast, and Imperial Valley (regions with the greatest number of agricultural workers).

  • #WearAMask and #StoptheSpread:  Expanding the employer focused campaign #WearAMask and #StoptheSpread to also include community-based organizations, promotoras, labor unions, and worker advocacy groups as another means to reach workers and their families. 

  • Clean Workplace:  Released a new Employer Playbook (https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/employer-playbook-for-safe-reopening--en.pdf) on how to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 by providing a clean environment for workers and customers.  The Labor and Workforce Agency will provide employers with technical assistance, a model training program, and information to share with their workers regarding health insurers’ COVID-19 testing coverage and eligibility requirements.

  • Heightened Enforcement:  Increasing enforcement actions in high-risk industries and expedited enforcement authority and advanced reporting of health and safety hazards at work will improve enforcement outcomes. Requiring employers to report outbreaks to their local health departments will help track county transmission. Governor Newsom will work with the Legislature to establish this authority.

• New CA COVID-19 Infographics:

• Mask Stockpile:  Governor Newsom announced that the state will maintain a stockpile of 100 million N-95 respirators and 200 million surgical masks in preparation for the anticipated surge in the fall.  The stockpile is in addition to the state’s current mask distribution program.  According to the announcement, the state has already distributed 86.4 million N-95 respirators and 297 million surgical masks to hospitals, emergency responders, farm and factory workers, and nursing home workers.  https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/07/22/governor-newsom-announces-enhanced-state-stockpile-purchase-of-420-million-new-protective-masks/

• $600 a Week Supplemental UI Payments Expire:  The Pandemic Additional Compensation, i.e. the extra $600 in UI checks, is set to expire for people receiving UI and PUA benefits for unemployment on or after July 26.  Congress is in discussions over an extension.  EDD reports that the supplemental payments will be added to all UI and PUA checks for unemployment or reduced hours between March 29 and July 25, even if the claim is processed after the July 26 sunset date.  https://www.edd.ca.gov/About_EDD/pdf/news-20-35.pdf

• West Coast Port Declines:  Fifty-two business and trade organizations sent a letter to Governor Newsom, Lt. Governor Kounalakis, and the Legislature requesting action to reverse the decline in West Coast ports’ market share.  Based on a recent economic analysis, west coast ports’ market share has declined 19.4% since 2006, resulting in approximately 5.6 million fewer containers.  The letter states that this loss of market share has many negative impacts on California, including loss of jobs, increased cost to consumers, increased environmental damage when containers are shipped through ports with lower environmental standards, and a loss of local and state revenues.  https://files.constantcontact.com/3190e792601/fb6bc5f3-9c0c-4f6f-9358-1bff11fed4f5.pdf

• California Entrepreneurship Task Force Hosts Webinar in Spanish:  The California Entrepreneurship Task Force (ETF), with the support of the Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) at GO-Biz, hosted another rapid response session, Alivio y Recuperación de Pequeñas Empresas, featuring a discussion on small business recovery and strategies for marketplace adaptation, capital, and technology.  https://zoom.us/rec/play/v5UrceH-p2g3E9bGuASDB6R7W420Kf6s0ycW_vcIy0mzW3cLOwHwMrNEYOrITj-WI0UmBuIIvlhTZVKz?startTime=1595613621000&_x_zm_rtaid=t4WjkB2jQgilV8Rq6WyaWg.1595621041268.95472cf2ab420135c30a6aef220bbed6&_x_zm_rhtaid=595

• The Orange County YMCA Steps-up to Help Working Families:  The Orange County YMCA announced that it will be offering child care, learning support, and physical education for children in kindergarten through 8^th grade who have working parents.  Fees will be based on family incomes.  https://voiceofoc.org/2020/07/oc-schools-will-start-online-but-ymca-will-offer-in-person-child-care-services-in-fall/

• Staycation and Foreign Market Research Combined:  The Northern California World Trade Center is hosting a staycation series highlighting foreign destinations.  The engaging series gives a short profile of the location with beautiful pictures underlining the geography, culture, and food (recipes provided).  Recent posts include Chefchaouen, Morocco, and Berlin, Germany.  https://www.norcalwtc.org/around-the-world-staycation-series-chefchaouen/

HIGHLIGHTING COVID-19 RESOURCE HUBS – HOSTED BY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Across California, chambers of commerce have worked diligently to provide current information and support for local businesses.  Many chambers have established, on their own and within partnerships, COVID-19 resource hubs to help members of the business community access financing tools, legislative orders, employee resources, and other COVID-19 related information.  Below are links to a few of these sites.  If you have recommendations for other great local chambers of commerce, send us a link at: JEDE@asm.ca.gov.

• Corona Chamber of Commerce:  https://www.mychamber.org/covid-19/

• Fresno Chamber of Commerce:  https://fresnochamber.com/coronavirus/

• Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/eq8ty2czr14a3r9/COVID-19%20Resources%20DIGITAL%20WEBSITE.pdf?dl=0

• Lake County Chamber of Commerce:  https://www.lakecochamber.com/covid-19/

• Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce:  https://lalcc.org/coronavirus_toolkit

• (Sacramento) Metro Chamber of Commerce:  https://rapidresponse.metrochamber.org/  

• Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce:  https://www.sacasiancc.org/

• San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce:  https://sdchamber.org/coronavirus/

• San Louis Obispo Chamber of Commerce:  https://slochamber.org/covid-19-resources-for-businesses/

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

• Investment Promotion Agencies:  The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development released a report, Post-COVID-19: Investment Promotion Agencies and the New Normal. https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/diaepcbinf2020d5_en.pdf?utm_source=World+Investment+Network+%28WIN%29&utm_campaign=bb61f632bd-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_05_18_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_646aa30cd0-bb61f632bd-69999177  Highlights from the report include:

  • Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) have expanded their online presence during the pandemic.

  • Many IPAs are transitioning from online crisis management to online services and information to support recovery.

  • IPAs are using social media strategically to enhance and complement their investment promotion and facilitation functions.

  • The offering of investment facilitation and aftercare services by IPAs has expanded. Their enhanced role as troubleshooters will likely remain post-pandemic.

  • IPAs are investing in data to strengthen their functions, including a more robust policy advocacy role.

  • Support is needed from the international community to help IPAs from developing countries undertake their transformations to emerge stronger from the crisis.

• EB-5 Program Update:  The US Citizen and Immigration Service has updated its Policy Manual with new guidance on the deployment of investment capital under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.   These changes reflect the November 21, 2019, changes to the program.

  • Updated Manual:  https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual

  • Updated Regulation:  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/24/2019-15000/eb-5-immigrant-investor-program-modernization

  • EB-5 Program Background:  https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/eb-5-immigrant-investor-program

• Trade Tensions Continue to Rise:  The People’s Republic of China announced the closure of the US consulate in Chengdu, China, following the US directive to China to close its Houston consulate.  According to various news reports, the US gave China 72 hours to vacate its consulate.

DATA, SURVEYS, AND ANALYSES

• 330 Million Americans:  The US Census Bureau announced that the US population reached 330 million at 8:02 am on July 23.  This figure is based on the population estimate model used by the Bureau to estimate the population between the decennial censuses.  https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/07/census-bureau-estimates-united-states-population-reached-330-million-today.html?utm_campaign=20200723msacos1ccstors&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

• Credit Access for Minority-Owned Businesses:  The Office of the Small Business Advocate at the federal Small Business Administration issued a report, Minority-Owned Employer Businesses and their Credit Market Experiences in 2017.  This study finds that minority-owned businesses continue to face greater challenges in accessing financial capital and are more likely to be financially constrained when compared to their non-minority counterparts.  While the report is based on data from 2017, the findings may be instructive in developing responses to COVID-19.  https://cdn.advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/22172533/Minority-Owned-Employer-Businesses-and-their-Credit-Market-Experiences-in-2017.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

• Weekly Unemployment Insurance Numbers Released:  EDD released unemployment insurance data for California for the week ending July 17.   https://www.edd.ca.gov/About_EDD/pdf/news-20-35.pdf   Among other information, the weekly UI report stated:

  • 359,582 UI and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims were filed for the week ending July 17.

  • Between March 14 and week of July 17, 7.1 million UI and PAU claims have been filed with EDD.

  • $49.7 billion has been paid to out-of-work Californians since start of pandemic.

• June Unemployment Numbers for States:  The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released state unemployment figures for June 2020.  Employment was lower in 42 states, higher in 5 states, and stable in 3 states and the District of Columbia.  The national unemployment rate declined by 2.2% over the month to 11.1%.  Massachusetts had the highest unemployment rate in June 2020 (17.4%), followed by New Jersey (16.6%) and New York (15.7%).  California unemployment in June 2020 was reported as 14.9%.   

  • National and 50 State Data:  https://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm

  • California Data from EDD:  https://edd.ca.gov/Newsroom/unemployment-july-2020.htm

• Economic Impact of Reducing Supplemental UI Payments:  The Economic Policy Institute published a blog on the economic impact of reducing the $600 in supplemental UI payments to $200.  They estimate that the lower UI payments would result in a 2.5% reduction in US GDP and 3.5 million fewer jobs being created over the next 12 months.   https://www.epi.org/blog/cutting-ui-benefits-by-400-per-week-will-significantly-harm-u-s-families-jobs-and-growth-3-4-million-fewer-jobs-will-be-created-over-the-next-year-as-a-result/

• West Coast Trade Report:  The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association released its July 2020 West Coast Trade Report, which provides data and analysis of the anticipated June 2020 container trade data.  Jock O’Connell provides commentary, Toys and Tires.  https://files.constantcontact.com/3190e792601/784b1971-0d8a-412b-bfcb-0b0fd7d64169.pdf

UPDATES ON COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS

• RFI on Paid Leave and FMLA:  The US Department of Labor issued two Requests For Information (RFI) in order to obtain feedback from stakeholders, including small businesses, regarding their experience with paid leave and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).  Paid leave comments are due by September 14, 2020, and FMLA comments are due September 15, 2020.

  • Paid Leave RFI:  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/16/2020-14874/request-for-information-paid-leave

  • DOL Paid Leave Announcement:   https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/wb/wb20200715

  • FMLA RFI:  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/17/2020-14873/family-and-medical-leave-act-of-1993?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

  • DOL FMLA  Announcement:  https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20200716-0?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

• RFI on Small Dollar Loans:  The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund issued a Request for Information from Community Development Financial Institutions, Federally Insured Depository Institutions, trade organizations, and the general public about the Small Dollar Loan Program (SDLP).  The SDLP provides grants for Loan Loss Reserves and technical assistance to assist CDFIs in establishing and maintaining small dollar loan (less than $2,500) programs.  Comments are due by September 10, 2020.  https://www.cdfifund.gov/Documents/FRN%20SDLP%20RFI%202020.pdf

• New Workplace Guidance:  The US Department of Labor has issued additional guidance, new fact sheets, and an FAQ on wage and hour rules and the Family and Medical Act.  https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20200720-0

• PPP Aggregate-Level Data Update:  The SBA released program utilization information for the Paycheck Protection Program.  As of July 17, 4.9 million PPP loans have been approved in the US for a total of $517.4 billion.  In California, 584,057 PPP loans have been approved for a total of $67.4 billion.  Link to a PowerPoint displaying data for loan activity through 7/17/2020:  https://www.sba.gov/document/report-paycheck-protection-program-report-through-july-17-2020

• EIDL Aggregate-Level Data Update:  The SBA released program utilization information for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan.  As of July 15, 2.6 million EIDL loans have been approved in the US for a total of $150.1 billion.  In California, 422,078 EIDL loans have been approved for a total of $27.4 billion.  Link to a PowerPoint displaying data for loan activity through 07/15/2020: https://www.sba.gov/document/report-covid-19-eidl-loans-report-07-15-20

• SBA Weekly Lending Reports:  The US SBA released its weekly lending report for the week ending July 17, 2020.  The report includes information on the SBA 7(a), 504, and Advantage loan programs.  https://www.sba.gov/document/report-2020-weekly-lending-reports

• CA Small Business Loans:  The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services receives updates from the SBA on small businesses that are utilizing the two federal disaster loan programs, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program.

• Great Plates Delivered:  The Great Plates Delivered program provides three meals a day to qualifying seniors.  FEMA just granted a 30-day extension to allow the program to continue to August 9.  Interested restaurants and food providers are encouraged to fill out this form: https://state-of-california-agency.forms.fm/great-plates-delivered-food-provider-interest-form/forms/7917   

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