Updated May 7, 2021 – Yellow Tier Updated Health Officer Order
The revisedHealth Officer Order Blueprint for a Safer Economy – Yellow Tieris effective as of 12:01 am on Thursday, May 06, 2021. The recent changes are highlighted in yellow: Aligns with the Yellow Tier safety modifications of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
The following protocols have been updated and are effective as of Thursday, May 06, 2021:
This Health Officer Order, protocols and other pertinent information and resources can be found on the Los Angeles County Department of Public HealthCOVID-19 webpage. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to protect the health and well-being of Los Angeles County residents.
Small businesses have an additional two months to apply
PPP applicants can go through the loan process with the following changes:
The PPP program is open through May 31, 2021 or until the new funding is exhausted.
If you are a 501(c)(6), a 501(c)(5), a local news media organization, or a housing cooperative you may be newly eligible for a loan.
You may qualify even if you took advantage of the Employee Retention Tax Credit.
If you are a publicly traded company, you are now prohibited from receiving a loan.
Group insurance payment can be included in your payroll costs when determining your maximum loan amount (see Step 3 in our original Guide).
If you are a seasonal employer, you have greater flexibility in picking the 12-week period between February 15, 2019 and February 15, 2020 used to determine your payroll costs and thus your maximum loan amount.
Small businesses have an additional two months to apply which may also open the door to apply for a second PPP loan if the first draw was recently received and not enough time passed between loans to apply for a second one. (Eight weeks must pass between the loans so there’s time to spend the money on payroll.)
The Paycheck Protection Program ends on March 31, 2021. All eligible entities can apply through a participating lender until then.
Second Draw PPP Loans can be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations.
Maximum loan amount and increased assistance for accommodation and food services businesses.
For most borrowers, the maximum loan amount of a Second Draw PPP Loan is 2.5x the average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs up to $2 million. For borrowers in the Accommodation and Food Services sector (use NAICS 72 to confirm), the maximum loan amount for a Second Draw PPP Loan is 3.5x the average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs up to $2 million.
A borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if the borrower:
Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses
Has no more than 300 employees; and
Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020
Don’t miss the SBDC’s webinar series on PPP to find out who is eligible, how to apply, loan details and how to use the funds. Register for the SBDC’s PPP webinar here.
Update: What If I Never Received a PPP Loan?
For new PPP applicants, the PPP program is open through May 31, 2021 or until the new funding is exhausted.
As of March 30, Los Angeles County has met the threshold for the less restrictive orange tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Los Angeles County is entering the Orange Tier with key sectors reopening, resuming indoor operations and/or increasing capacity starting Monday, April 5. The Health Officer Order and modified directives for businesses will be posted on Friday, April 2, with an effective date of April 5.
and increase the number of participants obtaining in-person behavioral health or substance use disorder support in therapeutic small group meetings and obtaining in-person faith based small group counseling services, where the services cannot reasonably be practiced remotely.
Please continue to stay safe and keep our businesses open.
March 15, 2021 – LA County has entered the “Red Tier” of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy and is lifting some local activity-specific restrictions, which went into effect Monday, March 15, 2021. However, Los Angeles County continues to experience substantial rates of COVID-19 transmission, and the danger COVID-19 poses to our community has not subsided. Vaccinations are occurring as quickly as supplies allow, but most people in our community are not vaccinated. New variants of the virus that may spread more easily or cause more severe illness are present in our county; however, their impact on our local pandemic is largely unknown.
The LA County Department of Public Health urges businesses, entities, and residents to continue exercising caution even as certain restrictions are lifted. Just because certain activities are allowed or certain reopening protocols are revised, that does not mean that those activities are “safe”. Businesses and customers should continue to regularly check the County Public Health website for updates to their sector-specific protocol(s) to ensure they are in compliance with the most current safety modifications.
The updated Health Officer Order adds three protocols: Appendix S – Youth and Adult Recreational Sports; Appendix W – Limited Services; and Appendix X – Movie Theaters.
Newly permitted activities and modified safety protocols in the red tier will include the following:
Museum, Zoos and Aquariums can open indoors at 25% capacity.
Gyms, Fitness Centers, Yoga and Dance Studios can open indoors at 10% capacity with masking requirement for all indoor activities.
Movie Theatres can open indoors at 25% capacity with reserved seating only where each group is seated with at least 6 feet of distance in all directions between any other groups.
Retail and Personal Care Services can increase capacity to 50% with masking required at all times and for all services.
Restaurants can open indoors at 25% max capacity under the following conditions: 8 feet distancing between tables; one household per table with a limit of 6 people; the HVAC system is in good working order and has been evaluated, and to the maximum extent possible ventilation has been increased. Public Health strongly recommends that all restaurant employees interacting with customers indoors are provided with additional masking protection (above the currently required face shield over face masks); this can be fit tested N95 masks, KN95 masks, or double masks and a face shield. In addition, Public Health strongly recommends that all employees working indoors are informed about and offered opportunities to be vaccinated. Outdoor dining can accommodate up to six people per table from 3 different households.
Indoor Shopping Malls can increase capacity to 50% with common areas remaining closed; food courts can open at 25% capacity adhering to the restaurant guidance for indoor dining.
Institutes of Higher Education can re-open all permitted activities with required safety modifications except for residential housing which remains under current restrictions for the Spring semester.
Schools are permitted to re-open for in-person instruction for students in grades 7-12 adhering to all state and county directives.
Private gatherings can occur indoors with up to 3 separate households, with masking and distancing required at all times. People who are fully vaccinated can gather in small numbers indoors with other people who are fully vaccinated without required masking and distancing.
Health & Wellness Day at the Market! Health and Wellness Day gives customers education and tips on making positive healthy lifestyle choices. Find resources and local businesses that can help with health and wellness needs.
Come meet Members of the Chamber’s Health & Wellness Committee at the Lomita Farmers Market:
Be sure to visit Still Got It Fitness! Frustrated with getting older, gaining weight and struggling to do the activities you once loved? Come talk to the health and fitness specialists to help you build strength, balance and motivation to live a long, healthy and active life. Offering a 1-week trial and free book!
New to Medicare or assisting someone who has Medicare?John Ballard can help you. Medicare can be confusing. John can give you peace of mind by helping you with your Medicare questions.
Come by for a no-cost consultation with your friendly Lomita Medicare Guide.
Stop by Adam Chiropractic Working from home, increased sitting due to endless Zoom calls, it’s no wonder we’re all probably feeling a little off balance these days. Say hi to the friendly team from Adam Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Set up an appointment, get your questions answered or enjoy a mini massage. Offering complimentary mini massages and spinal screenings!
Say hello to Mary & John with The Wellness Company Learn more about The Wellness Company, an American Manufacturer of more than 400 products that are available only online and contain no harmful ingredients.. The catalogue includes nutrition, safe and effective household cleaners, beauty, personal care for babies, kids and adults, pure essential oils, medicine cabinet items. Switch stores and save up to 50% off market value.
Meet other other local businesses and Chamber members at the Market including:
South Bay Credit Union
Project Barley
State Farm Insurance Shabby Shaw
Kettle Corn King & Acai Bowls
And of course our farmers and food vendors featuring…
Veggies, Herb Plants, Berries, Eggs, Honey, Strawberries AND… Craft Beer, Fresh Breads, Vegan Pastries, Acai Bowls, Kettle Corn, Hummus, Tamales, Loose leaf tea… and some great home goods, jewelry, candles, clothing and accessories.
See you Sunday, January 31st 10am-2pm at Lomita Farmers Market (Lomita City Hall: 24300 Narbonne Ave, Lomita, CA 90717).
“The California economy cannot fully recover until businesses are allowed to reopen… At the same time, California continues to suffer a significant exodus of employers to other states… California needs to address both crises immediately.”
On January 13, 2021, the Lomita Chamber of Commerce along with nearly 160 fellow California Chambers of Commerce and industry organizations rallied to appeal to Governor Gavin Newsom to take executive action to immediately and temporarily suspend for at least six months, specific laws and regulations, to reduce burdens on employers without affecting the health and safety of Californians.
The Small Business Administration launched an online portal for eligible businesses to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans based on the latest Covid-19 stimulus package.
Overview
Applications will initially be reserved for first-time community-based borrowers.
In an effort to make the process more equitable, the SBA is aiming to prioritize the distribution of the much-needed aid to smaller and financially vulnerable business, including borrowers participating in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and Microloan Intermediaries.
First-time borrowers are welcome to start submitting applications now.
Second-time borrowers can start requesting a new loan starting on Wednesday, January 13.
According to the latest regulations approved by Congress, Business with fewer than 300 employees and who suffered a decrease in gross receipts of at least 25% in any one quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019 are eligible to apply for the PPP loans.
How to Apply
You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.
If you wish to begin preparing your application, you can download the following PPP borrower application forms to see the information that will be requested from you when you apply with a lender:
Please contact the Lomita Chamber of Commerce if you need assistance with any of these areas. We’re happy to connect you with a resource to help answer your questions.
Be sure to read up on the laws that will apply to employers and small businesses including the California Family Care Act, Leaves of Absence, Workers Comp and more. Read more about these laws at the CalChamber website.
Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training
By January 1, 2021, employers with five or more employees must provide one hour of sexual harassment prevention training to nonsupervisory employees and two hours of such training to supervisors. These new requirements expand the prior harassment training law, which required employers with 50 or more employees to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisors in California. The mandatory sexual harassment prevention training can be purchased on the CalChamber Store.
PPP Forgiveness Simplified Application
The SBA has released a 1-page forgiveness application for borrowers to apply for loan forgiveness for loans $50K or less. For loans larger than $50K here’s a link to the PPP EZ Application. Borrowers need to apply within 10 months after the last day of the borrower’s loan forgiveness covered period. For more info visit the SBA PPP Forgiveness FAQs.
California’s $100 Million Main Street Hiring Tax Credit
Qualified California small businesses that employed 100 or fewer employees as of December 31, 2019, and suffered a 50 percent decrease or more in income tax gross receipts can apply. Learn more about this credit.
CA Work Sharing Program Offers Employers Temporary Alternative to Layoffs
Employers can apply for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Work Sharing program as a temporary alternative to layoffs if the business’s production or services have been reduced. (The program is optional.) Visit the EDD website here.
Please contact the Lomita Chamber of Commerce if you need assistance with any of these areas. We’re happy to connect you with a resource to help answer your questions.
On November 23, 2020, the Lomita Chamber of Commerce along with many of our local Chambers of Commerce in the South Bay Cities rallied to share appeals on behalf of the business community to the LA County Board of Supervisors (BOS) concerning shutting down outdoor dining once again due to COVID-19.
Despite these efforts, the BOS voted 3-2 to shut down outdoor dining and reduce capacity at their November 24th meeting.
On October 9th, Heidi Butzine, President & CEO of the Lomita Chamber of Commerce; Donna Dupperon, President & CEO, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce and Elise Swanson, President & CEO, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce met with Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (4th District) to discuss Public Health Councils, a motion put before the LA County Board of Supervisors.
Public Health Councils would be made up of employees at a workplace working with other organizations certified by the Health Department, to monitor, document, and report any violations of the public health guidelines.
The Health Department engaged various labor organizations and some businesses to discuss the formation of public health councils, which would add another obstacle for businesses already struggling to remain open and keep employees working during the COVID-19 recession.
Bringing questions and concerns forward, Butzine, Swanson and Duperron focused discourse with Supervisor Hahn on recommendations and clarification on four areas of importance. These include prioritizing industries of greatest concern where outbreaks are supported by data, concentrating public health councils in those companies and industries with a documented record of noncompliance and violations; focusing the program’s application to those businesses with 75+ employees; further definition and explanation of the “third party organizations” qualifications and clearly defined authority; ensuring that labor unions or bargaining groups are exempt from consideration as “third party organizations”; specifications for how a business may have the chance to defend or implement changes if reported; and the need for better outreach to the business community and a robust public service campaign that supports existing reporting mechanisms for COVID-19 violations.
The Lomita Chamber will continue to monitor and participate in this ongoing dialog.
