COVID-19 Business Resources – Berkeley

The following are resources available to support freelancers, independent artists, and small businesses impacted by COVID-19 in the City of Berkeley.

The following is a list of local, state, and national resources for any type of business in Berkeley.

• [General] City of Berkeley COVID-19 Response: Details of the shelter-in-place, frequently asked questions, and recommendations from the Berkeley Health Department.
• [General] City of Berkeley COVID-19 Support for Businesses: Resources for Berkeley businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19.
• [General] City of Berkeley Shelter-in-place Order for FAQ for Businesses: Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the shelter-in-place order in the City of Berkeley.
• [General] California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development: The State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development has compiled information for employers, employees, and all Californians as it relates to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• [General] CAMEO Network Coronavirus Resources for Business: Resource list for California businesses curated by California Association for Microenterprise Opportunity.
• [General] Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19: Business guidance and resources from the United States Small Business Administration.
• [Taxes] IRS Tax Day Now July 15: The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.
• [Taxes] IRS: The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in mid-April and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people.
• [Taxes] State of California Postpones Tax Deadline Until July 15: The State of California Franchise Tax Board is postponing until July 15 the filing and payment deadlines for all individuals and business entities for 2019 tax returns and tax return payments.
• [Health Insurance] Covered California: Because of COVID-19, people can apply now for health insurance coverage if they are uninsured and eligible.
• [Mental Health] Alameda County Behavioral Health: A resource for managing emotional health during uncertain times.

The following is a list of housing and utilities resources for individuals in Berkeley.

• [Housing] Executive Order to Protect Renters and Homeowners: On March 16, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order that authorizes local governments to halt evictions for renters and homeowners, slows foreclosures, and protects against utility shutoffs for Californians affected by COVID-19
• [Housing] City of Berkeley COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Factsheet: The City of Berkeley placed a moratorium on residential evictions for failure to pay rent due to financial impacts related to COVID-19 for the period of the local state of emergency, and on no-fault evictions other than Ellis Act evictions.
• [Housing] City of Berkeley Housing Retention Grants: The City of Berkeley is providing $10,000 housing retention grants for low-income Berkeley residents that are unable to pay rent or meet basic needs due to the COVID-19
• [Utilities] EBMUD: EBMUD will not disconnect customers’ water service due to billing/payment issues during this health emergency.
• [Utilities] PG&E: PG&E announces a moratorium on customer shutoffs for nonpayment:
• [Utilities] Comcast:  Comcast’s comprehensive plan COVID-19 plan to help keep Americans connected to the Internet.
• [Utilities] AT&T: Request a waiver of late fees and overage charges due to impact of COVID-19.
• [Utilities] Verizon: If you are experiencing hardship because of COVID-19 and cannot pay your bill in full, Verizon will not charge you a late fee or terminate your service during this difficult period. To qualify, you must let Verizon know about your hardship.

The following is a list of resources for freelancers and independent contractors in Berkeley.

• [General] Freelance Co-op: A Freelancer’s Guide to the CARES Act. 
• [Funding] KQED – Emergency Funds for Freelancers, Creatives Losing Income from Coronavirus: List of local and national emergency funds for freelancers and creatives.
• [Funding] The National Domestic Workers Alliance: Emergency assistance of $4 million to support 10,000 gig workers, including in-home care workers, nannies, and house cleaners.
• [Business Support] Freelancers Union: What freelancers need to know about coronavirus.

The following is a list of resources for independent artists in Berkeley.

• [Funding] The Safety Net Fund: A non-profit designed to support artists in the Bay Area during COVID-19.
• [Funding] KQED – Emergency Funds for Freelancers, Creatives Losing Income from Coronavirus: List of local and national emergency funds for freelancers and creatives.
• [Funding] COVID-19 & Freelancer Artists – Emergency Funding: List of national grants, relief funds, crowdfunding and collective action efforts for emergency funding for independent artists.
• [Funding & Business Support] Creative Capital List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak: List of funding and business support resources for artists.
• [Business Support] COVID-19 & Freelancer Artists – Working, Gathering & Teaching Online: List of resources to support independent artists in working, gathering, and teaching online.

The following is a list of resources for small businesses in Berkeley.

Open for Business

Find and support small businesses in the Berkeley community.

• Downtown Berkeley Association: Crowdsourced list of businesses open in Downtown Berkeley.
• [Taxes] Small Business Sales Tax Relief Payment Plans: Effective April 2, 2020, small business taxpayers, those with less than $5 million in taxable annual sales, can take advantage of a 12-month, interest-free, payment plan for up to $50,000 of sales and use tax liability.

Funding

A majority of the funding support for small businesses at this time is in the form of loans. We do not recommend loans as a means for funding unless your business fills an essential need in the current environment or provides a product or service that will likely withstand the economic impact of this crisis over the next few years.

• [Crowdfunding] GoFundMe: The GoFundMe Small Business Relief Initiative is intended to support local businesses facing financial loss.
• [Grants] Berkeley Relief Fund: Berkeley City Council has approved $3MM for emergency relief grants to small businesses, nonprofit arts organizations, and residential tenants, that are hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• [Grants] City of Berkeley Arts Organizations Continuity Grants: The City of Berkeley announced the Berkeley Arts Organization Continuity Grants. This is an emergency relief fund of $1 million to help COVID-19 related financial losses that Berkeley’s arts organizations have experienced. Arts organizations can apply online now, through April 20 at 5pm.
• [Grants] City of Berkeley Small Business Continuity Grants: Berkeley-based small businesses and nonprofits can apply for grants of up to $10,000.
• [Grants] Facebook Small Business Grants: Facebook is offering $100MM in small grants and credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in the 30 countries in which it operates.
• [Grants] Hello Alice Business for All Grant: Hello Alice is providing business grants to help small businesses in crisis. Grants up to $10,000 awarded on rolling basis.
• [Grants] The James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund: The purpose of the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund is to provide critical financial assistance to small, independent restaurants that, due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) national disaster, have an immediate need for funds to pay set operating expenses and keep from going out of business.
• [Grants] The Red Backpack Fund: Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx, has established a fund to provide business grants to female entrepreneurs. Grants up to $5,000.
• [Grants] Shea Moisture Black Business Relief Fund: Partnership between Shea Moisture and We Buy Black to provide business grants to We Buy Black’s top businesses. Grants up to $10,000. Applications due by April 13, 2020.
• [Grants] Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund: With a $2.5 million investment from Verizon, LISC is offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing becomes available.
• [Loans] City of Berkeley Revolving Loan Fund: Loans up typically up to $100,000 for Berkeley small businesses that do not qualify for a traditional bank loan.
• [Loans] Jewish Free Loan Association: No-fee and interest-free loan of up to $10,000 to cover business losses, lost wages, child care costs, and lost travel funds.
• [Loans] Kiva: Effective immediately, applicants for a Kiva crowdfunded loan will have access to expanded eligibility, crowdfunding limit increase to $15,000, and a grace period of up to 6 months.
• [Loans] Pacific Community Ventures: Loans from $10,000 – $250,000.
• [Loans] SBA Disaster Assistance Loan Program: The U.S. Small Business Administration announced on March 12 that it will provide disaster assistance loans for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
• [Loans] SBA Paycheck Protection Program: The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
• [Loans] Working Solutions: Loans from $5,000 – $50,000.

Employer Support

The following is a list of resources if your small business has employees or worker-owners in Berkeley.

• [Paid Sick Leave] Employee Paid Sick Leave Information: Information on the State of California’s Paid Sick Leave laws enforced by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office.
• [Telecommuting] Resources for Managing Teleworkers: Employers may be able to avert layoffs or work reduction by offering flexibility in work location and hours through telecommuting.
• [Unemployment Claims] Filing an Unemployment Insurance Claim: Information on how your employees can file unemployment insurance claims in the event of reduced hours or lay-offs.
• [Work Sharing] Work Sharing Program: California’s work sharing provides employers with an alternative to lay-offs if a temporary reduction in workforce is needed.
• [Worker Support] Bartender Emergency Assistance Fund: USBG National Charity Foundation’s emergency assistance fund for individuals employed as bartenders or the spouse or child of a bartender. 
• [Worker Support] California Restaurant Association: Restaurants Care offers emergency assistance to California restaurant workers experiencing unexpected hardship. Typical grants range from $250-$1500.
• [Worker Support] One Fair Wage Emergency Fund: Financial support for restaurant workers, gig worker and other hourly workers are facing unprecedented economic hardship from the coronavirus crisis.
• [Worker Support] Restaurant Cares: The California Restaurant Association Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the state’s restaurant workforce through educational grants, has an emergency loan program to help restaurant workers cover basic living expenses.
• [Worker Support] Restaurant Workers Community Foundation: Resources for restaurants and their workers coping with the COVID-19 emergency.
• [Worker Support] ROC United Fund: Restaurant Opportunities Centers United is providing resources and financial assistance to restaurant workers impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
• [Payroll Taxes] Request Extension on State Payroll Taxes: Employers may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the State of California’s Employment Development Department to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest.

Commercial Rent

The following is a list of resources if your small business is renting a commercial property in Berkeley.

• Prohibiting Evictions for Commercial Tenants: At a special meeting on March 17, the Berkeley City Council passed several emergency measures to address COVID-19’s impacts on Berkeley’s business and arts community. The emergency response ordinance prohibits evictions for delayed rent payment during the local emergency. Rent will still have to be paid once the local State of Emergency is over, but landlords will not be able to collect late fees. Commercial properties are covered by this ordinance. The City is currently developing guidelines for tenants to repay unpaid rent.