Coronavirus: Resources and strategies for the Oxnard Chamber community

** We will continue updating this post with resources to help our area businesses and organizations, as well as strategies other Chamber members are implementing during these uncertain times. Keep checking back! **

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RESOURCES FOR WORKERS

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave if you or a member of your household has been impacted by the coronavirus.
• File for Unemployment: If you have lost hours or wages due to the impact of the coronavirus, you are encouraged to file for unemployment benefits through California's Employment Development Department (EDD). The CARES Act provides an additional $600 over an applicant’s approved weekly benefit through July 31, 2020, and extends unemployment benefits to 39 weeks. Those who are self-employed, independent contractors or gig workers may be eligible for unemployment benefits.
• OnwardCA.org: OnwardCA is an initiative of companies, foundations, and humans to get California workers displaced by COVID-19 essential life services and back to work as quickly as possible.​

LOCAL RESOURCES

• VC Emergency | En Espanol
• Ventura County Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan for the Coronavirus
• City of Oxnard news updates (English and Spanish) 
• City of Oxnard Economic Development Department (includes links for resources, guidance and disruption loans)
• The Oxnard Downtown Management District​
• Economic Development Collaborative (EDC): COVID-19 Business Resource Guide
• EDC List of COVID-19 Business Resources​
• EDC Federal Funding Preparation Guide (English) / EDC Federal Funding Preparation Guide (Spanish). 

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BUSINESS UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF OXNARD

• Effective March 19, 2020: Commercial and residential evictions are suspended in Oxnard during the Coronavirus emergency.
• Effective March 19, 2020: There will be no restrictions on the hours of delivery to establishments that provide food and essential products, such as medicine, to the public; There will be no restrictions on drive thru hours to establishments that provide food and essential products, such as medicine, to the public.
• Effective March 17, 2020: Business tax payments in Oxnard can be made through dropboxes located outside of 214 South C Street, Oxnard, or mailed to that address; The city is waiving penalties during the emergency.

STATE RESOURCES

• Charity Governance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The California Attorney General’s Charitable Trusts Section has created the "Charity Governance During the COVID-19 Pandemic" publication to inform nonprofit corporations of the State laws that allow them to fulfill some of their governance obligations remotely to adhere to social distancing requirements. 
  
• California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) FAQ for California Small Businesses
• California Capital Access Program (CalCAP) (1-500 employees): CalCAP is a loan loss reserve program which may provide up to 100% coverage on losses as a result of certain loan defaults. Individual borrowers are limited to a maximum of $2.5 million enrolled over a 3-year period. Contact a Participating Lender to enroll.
• CalOSBA - Small Business Assistance & Resources: California’s network of small business centers help businesses figure out which loans are best for them, develop resiliency strategies, and find other resources. Click here to find the center nearest you.
• California Chamber of Commerce: Resources for Employers​
• California Department of Insurance: FAQ on business interruption insurance and other issues affecting California small businesses
• March 30: Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order Providing Tax, Regulatory and Licensing Extensions for Businesses 

​NATIONAL RESOURCES

• Small Business Administration: COVID-19 Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Combating the Coronavirus - Resources | Response | Impact​
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Small Business Fund: Funded by corporate and philanthropic partners, the Save Small Business Fund is a collective effort to provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers as they can. To qualify you must: 1) Employ between 3 and 20 people; 2) Be located in an economically vulnerable community (Oxnard is eligible with the exception of those in the 93035 zip code); and 3) Have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic.

LOCAL UTILITIES

Clean Power Alliance (CPA): CPA's Board of Directors approved a new $1 million COVID-19 Relief Program, which provides bill assistance to customers, including small businesses experiencing economic hardship due to COVID-19. Our impacted small business customers will be eligible for a one-time $50 bill credit by signing up for a payment plan through Southern California Edison (SCE) by calling 800-655-4555. Qualifying customers include GS-1 and GS-2 account holders. For more information on the program, visit: cleanpoweralliance.org/covid19.

Customers also have access to bill assistance plans and resources that can help you and your employees manage your energy bills, especially if you are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.

• CPA encourages customers now working from home to try energy savings tips, such as turning off and unplugging computers and other equipment at the end of the day, using washing machines on cold with full loads, and adjusting thermostats to help lower your energy costs. If you’re having trouble managing your electric bill, contact Southern California Edison and ask for a special payment arrangement or for one-time bill assistance.
• CPA also launched a new set of customer programs, CPA Power Response, that can help businesses with existing smart thermostats, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and solar and battery energy storage systems earn financial incentives and save money on energy bills. Eligible businesses receive an immediate $250 bill credit for enrolling in CPA Power Response and additional bill credits for managing their energy usage during times of peak demand.
• CPA is also offering a limited small grant program for commercial customers to help fund new battery storage installation. To see if your business qualifies and to enroll in CPA Power Response, call (888) 331-3534 or visit the CPA Power Response website.

SoCalGas: SoCalGas launched “SoCalGas CAREs” for customers whose income may have recently changed due to COVID-19 or other reasons. The campaign aims to let customers know of their eligibility to qualify for SoCalGas’ assistance program, California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE), saving them 20 percent on their monthly natural gas bills.  Customers who have become recently unemployed or who are currently facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic or for other reasons are encouraged to visit socalgas.com/care, complete the quick online application and find out instantly if you qualify. 

Southern California Edison (SCE): SCE offers a number of payment assistance options for customers, including payment extensions and arrangements for customers who may need more time to pay their bill. Visit their Help Paying Your Bill page to find out your options. 

• If you have recently lost your job or your income has changed, you may qualify for a reduced energy rate through our CARE or FERA programs, even if you are already receiving unemployment benefits. Both programs have the same application and it only takes two minutes to sign up with no additional documentation required.
• If someone in your home requires the use of electrically powered medical devices or equipment, you may qualify for our Medical Baseline Allowance program. 

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RECORDED WEBINARS

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz):
Navigating Federal Funding in a Time of COVID-19
1 hour | Originally recorded April 23, 2020
The Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Field Policy and Management and Grants Republic have released a webinar on understanding and navigating federal funding and grant resources during COVID-19. Watch now>>

California Chamber of Commerce:
Families First COVID-19 Response Act: What Employers Need to Know
1 hour
Learn more about the new federal legislation – Families First COVID-19 Response Act – as presenters Jennifer Barrera, Executive Vice President of the California Chamber of Commerce, and Ben Ebbink, Partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP, get into the details and identify important points. Watch now>>

ManpowerGroup:
COVID-19: Everything Employers Need to Know and Do Right Now
1 hour | Originally recorded April 4, 2020
COVID-19’s impacts are being felt across the globe and in nearly every aspect of life. Employers and employees are feeling the effects of the pandemic in new and uncertain ways that could change the way we do business forever. If you have questions about how all the new (and even the old) laws apply in this strange new world of work, you won’t want to miss this important presentation by ManpowerGroup North America Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer Mark Toth. Watch now>>

Express Employment:
Bend Don't Break: How To Lead During Challenging Times
1 hour | Originally recorded April 7, 2020
These are exciting and challenging times, loaded with opportunities to make better choices and create more success at work and home. Now, more than ever, HR professionals and business leaders need fresh and creative ideas to make the best decisions possible to remain flexible, creative, and innovative during these challenging times. Business leader and bestselling author Michael Veltri answers these important questions and many more in his fresh, relevant, and timely talk where you will learn how to BEND, NOT BREAK and grow as a leader. Watch now>>
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Central Coast Chambers of Commerce:
Update on the Federal CARES Act with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1 hour | Originally recorded April 7, 2020
The Central Coast Chambers of Commerce hosted an update from Allison Dembeck, Executive Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the United States Chamber of Commerce. She presented on the latest legislation related to the Federal CARES Act and what is on the horizon for businesses in the near future. This update includes a Q&A from local small businesses. Watch now>>

CHAMBER MEMBER STRATEGIES AND RESPONSES
What is your business or organization doing in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, other than closing down? If you have information and strategies that may help other members, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or posting in our official Oxnard Chamber Facebook Group. We will add your comments here. 

Haas Automation: 
Haas Automation purchased a FeverScanner M3000L, which uses infrared technology to scan/screen the temperatures of individuals for fever-like symptoms. Learn more about this technology>>

Food Share Ventura County (via Ventura County Star): 
Employees and volunteers are wearing gloves, keeping space between each other as they work, and the organization has hired a professional cleaning crew. They also are looking for more volunteers and finding ways to buy bulk groceries due to the public's panic buying. Read the full story>>

No Limits for Deaf Children
No Limits will continue REMOTELY by providing telemedicine, with individual AVT therapy, literacy, Teen Club, live streaming of language enriched activities, academic tutoring and parent classes. They will be providing resources via their website and Tips of the Day via social media. Read their update>>

The Collection at RiverPark (via press release)
Through April 3, the shopping center will modify operating hours to the following: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 12:00-6:00 pm on Sunday.

• Individual stores may have reduced or extended hours. Please check with stores directly to get their latest information.
• As a measure to support our community, restaurants and grocers, The Collection at RiverPark will be offering additional short-term and curbside parking options. 

The Collection has instituted the following measures:

• Suspend all common area events through April 4, 2020 to encourage social distancing.
• Cleaning and sanitizing commonly used touch-points throughout the center on a regular/recurring basis using a highly effective sanitizer including common area restrooms, door handles, faucets, countertops, soap dispensers, trash receptacles, benches, handrails, elevator push buttons, stairway handrails, drinking fountains, light switches, drawer pulls, etc.
• Cleaning and sanitizing tenant door knobs, handles, push bars of each storefront
• Cleaning and sanitizing children’s playground.

​Read their update>>

Gold's Gym Oxnard (via Facebook)
They made their GOLD's AMP at-home, digital fitness/training program free for all current members through May 31, 2020. Read their post>>