MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Extra Focus on San Joaquin Valley: Governor Newsom announced $52 million for Central Valley counties – San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern – to help expand disease investigation, contact tracing and quarantine efforts. His announcement also stated that the state will be deploying three Unified Support Teams to assist in their emergency response efforts. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/07/27/in-stockton-governor-newsom-announces-actions-to-slow-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-the-central-valley/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The Federal Communications Commission approved final plans for an easy to remember, three-digit number to serve as a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Starting on July 16, 2022, individual in need can dial “988” to reach the service. The three-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is the next generation of 1-800-273-8255 / 1-800-273 (TALK). https://www.fcc.gov/document/designating-988-national-suicide-prevention-lifeline-0
Embedding Equity in Emergency Response: The Bay Area Regional Health Inequality Initiative and the Public Health Alliance of Southern California released a report, Embedding Equity into Emergency Operations: Strategies for Local Health Departments During COVID-19 & Beyond. The report includes case studies, resources, and recommendations for local governments. There is also a companion webinar on August 7 from 9:00 to 10:30 am. https://phasocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Embedding_Equity_Into_Emergency_Ops_Brief.pdf?mc_cid=0dda359e16&mc_eid=00dac7ade3
Expanding Diverse Data Reporting: California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued regulations that expand data reporting requirements for providers and laboratories. The new regulations require providers to continue to collect and report race and ethnicity data to the state, as well as additional information as to the patient's gender identity and sexual orientation. According to the announcement, current reporting on race and ethnicity is inconsistent with nearly 36% of patient records missing. The new guideline (https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OLS/CDPH%20Document%20Library/DPH-20-021-Text.pdf) is intended to reinforce and expand data collection to ensure the state has accurate information in which to base public policies and future investments. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR20-175.aspx The CDPH publishes this data at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Race-Ethnicity.aspx.
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 Disaster. https://www.congress.gov/event/116th-congress/house-event/110927
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Minority Financial Institutions: Minority Depository Institutions’ (MDI) Subcommittee of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Community Banking met on Monday. The MDI Subcommittee (https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/minority/subcommittee/index.html) was established last December to provide a “platform for minority-owned and managed banks to build partnerships, to share best practices, and to highlight the work of MDIs in their communities.” MDI Subcommittee members include two Californians: Jesse Kung, President and CEO, Evertrust Bank, Pasadena, and Benjamin J.B. Lin, President and CEO, Pacific Alliance Bank, Rosemead. Two weeks following the meeting, a recording is available for on-demand review at: http://fdic.windrosemedia.com/index.php?category=Community+Banking+Advisory+Committee&source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Business Support: The Pew Trust published a Stateline article discussing how states are using federal COVID-19 mitigation dollars. According to the article, at least eight states have chosen to use their funds to make supplemental deposits into their Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund in order to avoid the automatic UI tax increase that occurs when a state UI Trust Fund is in a deficit. Other states, however, are taking a different approach for economic recovery by providing rental assistance and money to food banks. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/07/27/states-use-covid-19-relief-dollars-to-hold-down-business-taxes?utm_source=National+Conference+of+State+Legislatures&utm_campaign=532722c1e8-27_JULY_2020_NCSL_TODAY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1716623089-532722c1e8-377792280
Calling for New Federal Investments in Workforce: Eric Flores, advocate with the California Workforce Association, had an article published regarding the importance of additional workforce training funding to addressing the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The U.S. invests 25% less in our workforce development system than we did before ARRA, all while the system has experienced a more than 200% increase in the number of Americans seeking reemployment and training services. Now, we face a crisis [that] is even more severe...” Flores joins 45 local workforce boards in California and over 500 other stakeholders in calling for a $15 billion appropriation for workforce development and training, consistent with investments proposed in the Relaunching America’s Workforce Act (H.R. 6646). https://medium.com/@enflores289/for-workers-in-the-us-the-heals-act-is-not-enough-eb5f987ec5a4
Hearing on Trade Distorting Policies: Office of the United States Trade Representative announced two public hearings to take testimony on “trade distorting policies that may be causing harm to US seasonal and perishable producers and contributing to unfair pricing in the US market. The virtual hearings are scheduled for 9:00 am (ET) on August 13, 2020, and August 20, 2020. https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Releases/Hearings%20on%20Seasonable%20and%20Perishable%20Produce.pdf
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%.
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
New CRS COVID-19 Reports: The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released several new reports related to business development and COVID-19, including:
Fiscal Policy and Recovery: The Congressional Research Service released an updated report, Fiscal Policy and Recovery from the COVID-19 Recession. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46460
Small Business Recovery: The Congressional Research Service released a report, COVID-19 Relief Assistance to Small Businesses: Issues and Policy Options. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46284
Large Business Recovery: The Congressional Research Service released a report, Larger Businesses and COVID-19: Financial Relief and Assistance Resources. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11368
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: 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
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. |