COVID-19: SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
We know that local businesses are struggling during the current COVID-19 crisis. We have compiled these resources to assist San Bruno businesses during this difficult time.
We will be updating this webpage as we receive current information.
Do you have questions about how the San Mateo County Reopening Plan applies to your business?
Consult the FAQs on the San Mateo County website.
IMPORTANT UPDATES
March 17, 2021: The state of California today announced beginning tomorrow San Mateo County is moving into the less restrictive “orange tier” which allows the easing of certain restrictions and most indoor businesses to operate with modifications.
The shift to orange at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2021, comes one year to the day of the Bay Area’s first stay-at-home order. The county was last in the less-restrictive orange tier in the state’s color-coded plan for reducing COVID-19 in October 2020. The county had been in the red tier for three weeks.
The County of San Mateo follows all applicable California COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines and is fully aligned with the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
For the full press release and list of activity and business restrictions under the orange tier, please visit the San Mateo County website.
For the latest requirements and guidance from the County, visit San Mateo County Health's COVID-19 Requirements and Resources page.
August 28, 2020: Additional Outdoor Business Allowances for San Bruno Business Affected by COVID-19 Limitations of Indoor Operations
The City of San Bruno has developed additional outdoor regulations to assist our local businesses that are required to closed in order to modify their operations in a safe manner. While we all continue to work hard towards preventing the spread of COVID-19, we also want to resume some normalcy in our lives. Similar to the previous established temporary outdoor dining program, the new temporary regulations were developed to support our business community. Below is the list of the categories covered by the City’s temporary outdoor business regulations:
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Dining
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Cardrooms
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Personal Care Services (hair care, nail salons, massage, tanning and tailoring)
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Gyms
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Non-Critical Businesses (offices)
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Places of Worship
For complete guidance from the City, please visit the City of San Bruno website at https://www.sanbruno.ca.gov/news/displaynews.htm?NewsID=616&TargetID=1.
San Mateo County Strong
Restaurant, Brewery & Winery Relief Grant Program
The Restaurant, Brewery, and Winery Relief Program will provide grants of up to $10,000 each to qualifying establishments to ensure continued operation and assist in covering current business operating expenses, including, for example: rent, payroll, and facility modifications needed to accommodate on-site indoor and outdoor dining.
The application portal opened on Monday, February 22, 2021, and is scheduled to remain open until Monday, March 8, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.
For more information, visit the SMC Strong website.
City of San Bruno
Commercial Eviction Moratorium
Urgency Ordinance No. 1879B: Temporary moratorium on evictions of commercial tenants for non-payment of rent directly caused by COVID-19. The term of this temporary moratorium shall be from the date of adoption until March 31, 2021, unless extended or replaced by an affirmative vote of the San Bruno City Council.
With funding from the San Bruno Community Foundation, the Bay Area Entrepreneur Center of Skyline College is teaming up with the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce to provide San Bruno small businesses with advising and assistance as they reopen and recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program offers no-cost one-on-one expert advising, assistance, workshops, and online resources for the small business community. We are here to serve our businesses during these difficult times.
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Accounting Advice, Business Consulting, Application Assistance for Funding, Pivot Strategy
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Accounting, Bookkeeping, Payroll & Tax Advice, Quickbooks Training & Referral, Other Online Business Resources
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Legal /Contracts Assistance & Referral, Small Business, Retirement Information
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Creative Marketing, Business Strategy, Contingency Planning, Spending Habits, and more!
SIGN UP FOR THIS PROGRAM HERE
NEW PROGRAM FEATURE: Micro Grants
Sixteen $4,000 grants will be awarded to San Bruno small businesses participating in the Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program. Eligibility requirements include:
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Must operate a San Bruno-based business
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Must attend six SBRAP coaching sessions
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Must attend an information session
Applications subject to financial and need-based review.
Information sessions are scheduled for November 23 and 24 at 6:00 p.m. RSVP at Eventbrite.
Applications open: November 20, 2020
Application deadline: December 4, 2020
Application now open here.
Contact for more information.
The $500 million California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, as announced by Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature, supports small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 and the health and safety restrictions.
Applications for Round 2 will open on February 2, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. on February 8, 2021. Eligible small businesses and nonprofits may apply during these times, directly, at CAReliefGrant.com, or with assistance from a partner. Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the business' annual revenue.
One of the state’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Lendistry, is supporting the State to distribute these grants and partnering with other CDFIs and small business centers to assist with applications. To connect to a partner or find more information on the program and requirements, visit CAReliefGrant.com or join one of our small business webinars available daily in multiple languages. If interested in a webinar briefing on the grant program register here.
Small businesses (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons) and nonprofits are eligible for COVID-19 emergency relief under the federal CARES Act. Visit the Small Administration (SBA) website to find out how you can apply. Key relief programs include:
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Paycheck Protection Program: A loan program to help small businesses including nonprofits to cover payroll during the immediate crisis. SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met and the funds are used for eligible expenses. In order to reach the smallest businesses, SBA is offering PPP loans to businesses with fewer than 20 employees and sole proprietors only from Wednesday, February 24, through Wednesday, March 10, 2021. President Biden has also announced additional program changes to make access to PPP loans more equitable.
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Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Emergency Advance: The EIDL program provides small businesses including nonprofits with working capital loans to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
SBA is currently accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications from all qualified small businesses, including agricultural businesses, and private nonprofit organizations.
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For assistance, contact the SBA San Francisco District Office.
As part of the CARES Act, the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or whose services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic.
The federal government has approved an additional 11 weeks of PUA benefits. This extension began December 27, 2020, under the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020. With the new extension, PUA includes up to 57 weeks of benefits, beginning February 2, 2020.
For information on this program, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the EDD website.
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