JEDE COVID-19 Update for the Week of July 27 to 31, 2020

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS

DISASTER- AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE-RELATED LEGISLATION

  • US Senate Leadership Announce Stimulus Deal:  Senate Republican and the White House announced that they have come to an agreement on the elements of the next federal stimulus package.  The details of the agreement will be released on Thursday.   News agencies are reporting that the stimulus bill will include:  $105 billion for schools with K-12 receiving $70 billion, higher education $30 billion; and $5 billion in discretionary spending; $25 billion for testing ($16 billion in new funds and a commitment for $9 billion in leftover funds).   According to the NCSL, the proposed package does not include specific funding for states, but does allow up to 25% of the remaining funding in the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund to be used by the states after certifying that at least 25% of the total Coronavirus Relief Fund was awarded to local governments.

  • Improve Access to EIDLs:  US Senator Jacky Rosen [NV] introduced S 4227 on July 20, 2020, to improve access to economic injury disaster loans and emergency advances under the CARES Act.  The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4227?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S+4227%22%5D%7D&s=3&r=1

  • Expand PPP to Rural Hospitals:  US Senator Roger Wicker (MS) introduced S 4217 on July 20, 2020, to include hospitals serving rural areas or areas of persistent poverty in the paycheck protection program.  The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.    https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4217?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S+4217%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1

  • Broadband Funding:  US Senator Cory Gardner (CO) introduced S 4291 on July 23, 2020, to provide appropriations for the deployment of rural broadband.  The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4291?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S+4291%22%5D%7D&s=5&r=1 

  • American Made Products Act:  The Senate passed S 4065 (Mike Lee – UT) Reinforcing the American Made Products Act of 2020 on a voice vote on July 22, 2020.  According to the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, this bill specifies that the Federal Trade Commission's regulation of the labeling of products as Made in the U.S.A. or Made in America supersedes any conflicting state laws. S 4065 is pending in the House.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4065?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S+4065%22%5D%7D&s=4&r=1

  • HEROES Act:  HR 6800 (Lowey N-17) is currently pending in the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, which held a hearing on the bill on July 23, 2020.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6800  According to the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, the $3.5 trillion bill:

    • Provides FY2020 emergency supplemental appropriations to federal agencies.

    • Provides payments and other assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

    • Provides additional direct payments of up to $1,200 per individual.

    • Expands paid sick days, family and medical leave, unemployment compensation, nutrition and food assistance programs, housing assistance, and payments to farmers.

    • Modifies and expands the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides loans and grants to small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

    • Establishes a fund to award grants for employers to provide pandemic premium pay for essential workers.

    • Expands several tax credits and deductions.

    • Provides funding and establishes requirements for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing.

    • Eliminates cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments.

    • Extends and expands the moratorium on certain evictions and foreclosures.

    • Requires employers to develop and implement infectious disease exposure control plans.

  • House Oversight Hearing on Coronavirus:  The US House Committee on Oversight and Reform is holding a hybrid hearing, The Urgent Need for a National Plan to Contain the Coronavirus.   The hearing is scheduled for July 31, 2020, beginning each day at 9:00 am (EST).   https://coronavirus.house.gov/

  • Experiences of Vulnerable Populations During Disaster:  The US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a hearing, Experiences of Vulnerable Populations During Disasterhttps://www.congress.gov/event/116th-congress/house-event/110927

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

GRANTS AND LOANS

  • Loan and Grant Database:  Small Business Majority is hosting and updating a list of loans and grants available to small businesses in California.  https://venturize.org/resources/covid-19-emergency-loans?state=California

  • SBIR/STTR Grant Application Assistance:  The Department of Energy (DOE) is offering a Phase 0 Grant Application Assistance Program, which helps eligible small businesses successfully prepare a grant application for DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I funding.  Eligibility is limited to first-time applicants with a focus on serving under-represented business owners, including women- and minority-owned small businesses and economically disadvantaged small businesses.  https://doephase0.dawnbreaker.com

  • Community Advantage Recovery Loan:  The Small Business Administration has launched the Community Advantage Recovery Loan Program (CARL).  Not all lenders are approved to offer CARLs; CDC Small Business Finance and Lendistry are two of California’s participating lenders.  The SBA has developed a Lender Match tool (https://catran.sba.gov/lendermatch/form/contact.cfm).  Loans must be approved by September 27, 2020, and funded by October 1, 2020.  Selected program details (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/15/2020-14852/community-advantage-pilot-program-temporary-changes-community-advantage-recovery-loans): 

    • Loans of up to $250,000, for working capital

    • 6 months of payments, interest and fees waived

    • Minimum term: 5 years

    • Max interest rate: Prime + 6%

    • Comes with 15 hours of business support from the lender

DATA, SURVEYS, AND ANALYSES

  • State Unemployment Insurance Numbers Released:  EDD released unemployment insurance data for California for the week ending July 18.  Among other information, the weekly UI report stated:

    • 359,582 UI and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims were filed for the week ending July 18.

    • Between March 14 and week of July 18, 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.

  • State-Level Unemployment Data Released:  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%.  

  • New CRS COVID-19 Reports:  The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released several new reports related to business development and COVID-19, including:

UPDATES ON COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS

  • Virtual Trade Services:  The US Commercial Service sent a reminder to exporters and potential exporters about their free and reduced cost virtual export promotion services during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Services include, but are not limited to, market intelligence, matchmaking assistance, in-country promotion, and due diligence on prospective foreign customers.  https://www.trade.gov/virtual-services

  • PPP Forgiveness Platform:  The US Small Business Administration announced the processes for submitting PPP borrower loan forgiveness applications to SBA and requesting payment of the forgiveness amount determined by the Lender.  https://www.sba.gov/document/procedural-notice-5000-20038-procedures-lender-submission-paycheck-protection-program-loan-forgiveness-decisions-sba-sba

  • PPP Aggregate-Level Data Update:  The US Small Business Administration released program utilization information for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  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 US Small Business Administration released program utilization information for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).  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 Small Business Administration (SBA) released its weekly lending report for the week ending July 24, 2020.   Information includes race, ethnicity, gender, and veteran participation in 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 received updates from the US Small Business Administration on small businesses that are utilizing the two federal disaster loan programs, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program.

US Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance
CA Loans (EIDL) Approved (as of 7/15)
422,078
Dollar Amount of CA Loans (EIDL) Approved (as of 7/15)
$27,408,785,547
CA Loan Advances (EIDL) Approved (as of 7/15)
809,792
Dollar Amount of CA Loan Advances (EIDL) Approved (as of 7/15)
$2,666,662,000
Payment Protection Plan (as of 7/10)
584,057
Payment Protection Plan Approved (total) (as of 7/10)
$67,434,221,209
Great Plates Delivered (as of 7/27)
Letters of Intent Received from Local Administrators
53
Meals served as of 7/24
4,695,322
Individuals Served This Week as of 7/24*
37,978
Estimated meals served per week
495,972
Food Providers Contracted as of 7/24*
676
*Data received from Great Plates Data Portal updated twice per week. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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