Business Roundtable – 3/23/2021 - 10:00am

MISSION: Success in two stages during the Coronavirus threat:
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. Distribution of vaccines expanded; hospitality, food service, homeless population primarily; City Council to consider a letter to State Water Resources Control Board for relief from condition 2 of Cease-and-Desist order to have water for affordable housing; politics are involved in opposition to this move.

2.   General Conversation: While the local economic restrictions are slowly getting lifted, should we update our Business Roundtable as a weekly occurrence but limit it to 30 minutes? Or should we have a conference every other week? To be continued via survey.

3.   Hospitality & Tourism. National advertising campaign planned for end of April; create Monterey County as a national travel brand; target drive market and markets serviced by Monterey Airport (Portland, OR starting soon); State allows small groups based on tier system.

4.   Retail. Activity rebounded during weekends; optimism without complacency.

5.   Health Care. Good news on low hospitalization (no new cases), widespread vaccinations and removing some of the visiting restrictions at CHOMP; testing is still prominently needed and to remain cautious because of variants.

6.   Community Foundation for Monterey County. Packard Foundation issued a grant for project managers; community health workers hired (111); landscape study completed to overview of all vaccinations and testing sites, costs, locations; stress on caution as complacency is the enemy.

7.   Financial, SBA, Loans & Grants. State grants and federal PPP loans are still available (PPP extended to 5/31/2021); shuttered venue economic grants: $16B administered by SBA; note: eligibility requirements are very specific; opening date to apply: April 8, 2021.

8.   Non-Profit sector. United Way Rental Assistance program: see link below.

9.   Education. Hartnell College predicts hybrid classes (career and technical education, plus some health professions) for Fall 2021; classroom instruction to resume by Spring 2022.

10.Transportation. MST is getting staff vaccinated; ridership is at highest since pandemic; free day pass for anyone who brings proof of vaccination appointment.
 
Next teleconference will be held Tuesday April 13 at 10:00am. 


Community Information
Monterey County moves to Orange Tier. California is expected to lift most restrictions by June 15.

California has reached 4 million vaccination doses in the vaccine equity metric. New Blueprint tier assignments were announced on April 6, 2021, with an effective date of April 7, 2021.

The Blueprint for a Safe Economy listed below provides the latest guidelines and protocols.

Key Business Information
SBA Shuttered Venue Operations Grant (SVOG)
Application Portal Opening April 8

Here are a few key points regarding the SBA's Shutter Venue Operations Grant:

Upcoming Events
Monterey County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Thursday, April 6 @ 1:00pm

United Way Monterey County is offering a Landlord webinar regarding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. Using state and federal relief funding, Monterey County SB91 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will distribute $28 million of rent and utility assistance to low-income eligible households located in Monterey County that are facing housing instability because of loss or reduction in income due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

This webinar is specifically geared to the landlord perspective, with the goal of sharing out the ways landlords can participate in and benefit from the program. 
Member Features
Bay Federal Credit Union Awards $9,000 in Scholarships to Local Students

Bay Federal Credit Union has announced the winners of its annual financial education scholarships. Their Member Education Scholarship recipients are Daniela Arreola, Jakelin Escobar, and Michell Roldan. The “Mac McCormac” Employee Scholarship winners are Micaela DiPiero, Ana Gonzalez Torres, and Albert Vizcarra. All scholarship winners were honored at Bay Federal’s Annual Meeting on March 30, 2021.
 
Since 2008, Bay Federal has awarded 64 scholarships totaling $561,500 to students who are pursuing a degree or certificate program at any college, university, or professional school. The Mac McCormac Scholarship, established in 2012 in honor of the Credit Union’s first employee, provides college financial assistance to Bay Federal employees.
 
Below are the Member Education Scholarship winners!
  • Daniela Arreola is pursuing an Associate’s Degree at Hartnell College. Her long-term goal is to complete a four-year nursing degree and become a registered nurse.
  • Michell Roldan graduated from Cabrillo College with three Associate’s degrees before transferring to California State University Monterey Bay, where she is currently majoring in psychology.
  • Jackie Escobar is working towards an Associate’s degree in Kinesiology at Cabrillo College, after which she plans to enroll in medical school to become a doctor.
  •  
Below are the Mac McCormac Employee Scholarship winners!
  • Micaela DiPiero is an undergraduate at the University of Arizona Global Campus, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Communications. Micaela is Bay Federal’s Service Manager at their River Street Branch in Santa Cruz.
  • Ana Gonzalez Torres, a student at Cabrillo College, plans to enroll in Cabrillo’s nursing program, and then transfer to a four-year school to complete a Bachelor’s of Science degree. Ana is Bay Federal’s Member Services Specialist at their Aptos Branch.
  • Albert Vizcarra, also a Cabrillo College student, is completing the necessary coursework for transfer to California State University Monterey Bay, where he plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Albert is Bay Federal’s Service Manager at their Salinas Branch.
Please forward this e-blast to your colleagues, customers, clients, friends, family and fellow community members!