REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Small Business Assistance Grant Program in Response to COVID-19 [Council Pillar: Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency]
Report
BACKGROUND
In response to the growing COVID-19 outbreak in the United States and specifically in Santa Clara County, on March 16, 2020, the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara directed all individuals living in the County to shelter at their place of residence except to provide or receive essential services, effective March 17, 2020. The Health Officer further directed that all business and governmental agencies cease non-essential operations at physical locations in the County.
On March 17, 2020, the Council ratified the City Manager's March 11, 2020 proclamation of a local emergency.
On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-33-20 directing all residents to immediately heed current State public health directives to stay home, except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors and additional sectors as the State Public Health Officer may designate as critical to protect health and well-being of all Californians. This directive, as well as the previous "shelter-in-place" mandate for six Bay Area counties, including Santa Clara County, requires individuals to remain in their homes and for non-essential businesses to close or require staff to work from home. Order N-33-20 does not have an end date and therefore is in place until further notice.
On March 24, 2020, Council directed staff to develop a COVID-19 relief program for small businesses and return to the April 7 Council meeting with a program for Council consideration. Council approved the allocation of $250,000 for this relief program for small businesses located in Santa Clara. During the meeting, Council also expressed interest in the following: 1) working with the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) to explore opportunities to grow ...
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