Business Roundtable – 2/23/2021 - 10:00am
MISSION: Success in two stages during the Covid-19:
1) Response to the immediate threat
2) Economic recovery when the threat diminishes.
Recap
Response to immediate threat
1. City of Monterey. Recap of current measures within the City. City Council of 2/24 will address commercial cannabis distribution; sales tax impact featured; staff resources directed based on council’s determination; federal relief expected for cities of Monterey size (approximately $5.9M).
2. Hospitality & Tourism. Priorities on testing of returning ag workers; time to start using zip codes for allowing businesses to re-open; indoor dining musty happen soon to help restaurants survive.
3. General Conversation: Human Resources – Michaelle Stanford 2021 updates – Employers obligations regarding vaccination and testing. Businesses with 5 or more employees (was 50) now have to allow expanded family leave as part of the FFCRA; list of options is attached; if mandating vaccinations or testing is part of a company policy, recommendation is to consult with a lawyer familiar with the issue; CDC defines who should get tested because not everyone needs it; since January 1, CFRA requires modification of policies regarding right to be rehired if an employee needs 12 weeks off.
4. State of California. Sacramento Report. More COVID relief coming through at the State level, including quadrupling the amount devoted to small business relief (was $500 Million now $2 Billion)
5. Health Care. CHOMP has now only 10 COVID patients in-house; when doses are available, vaccination clinics (Marina and hospital) run smoothly; looking to reinstate visitation at the hospital possibly within the next two weeks.
6. Community Foundation for Monterey County. Collaborative has 65 members participating weekly; close to getting third-party funding for hiring project managers for different business sector coordination; testing remains high priority; community health workers have been trained but still a work in progress; $300K grant has helped with tablets and communication devices; wage replacement fund also in the works.
7. Financial, SBA, Loans & Grants. Small Business Relief Grant program from the State of California has additional funding about to be released in round 3; SBA released changes to PPP program: businesses with less than 20 employees can apply, sole proprietors, non-citizen business owners lawfully in the country, prior felons also accepted; County grants available through Workforce Development Board (apply prior to March 8 for business with 5-25 employees.)
8. Non-Profit sector. United Way reports more support for home delivered meals; 211 bilingual information and referral line used to register for vaccine; working on more rental assistance for low-income tenants.
9. Transportation. MST reports signage adjustments to face covering in conformance to federal guidelines; public survey available now on their redesigned transit program.
Next teleconference will be held Tuesday 3/2/2021 at 10:00am – Understanding the actual technology of UV Lighting in the fight against COVID-19. Meredith Nole, MIES – Edges Group
