COVID-19: Resources For Your Small Business

From: Jose Pecho, President, San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce.
Contact: jose at sffilamchamber dot org
Subject: Update Covid-19 For Small Business

The San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce created a content curation in our website to support Filipino-owned businesses that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19. This content curation can be found at our website under the heading, RESOURCES. Please check in for updates at SFFilAmChamber.org.

Check out our updates as of April 28, 2020 (scroll below):

– on CITY & COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: Give2SF Funding for Seniors, Undocumented San Franciscans, and Small Businesses

– On STATE OF CALIFORNIA: #CaliforniansForAll Service Initiative

– on EDUCATION:

RENAISSANCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER offers FREE online classes.

A FREE Partner Event: Pivot Your Restaurant ~ The Virtual Tasting Room
May 4 @ 1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Food Business Course: Setting up Delivery and Take Out Model
May 27 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Duration: Meets once a week for three hours for 6-Weeks

NaFFAA E3 FREE WORKSHOPS on digital tools and skills training (donations accepted)
(National Federation of Filipino American Associations)

– on HELPFUL COMMUNITY LINKS

FILIPINO FOOD MOVEMENT encourages everyone to support Filipino restaurants, catering companies, and chefs around the world, offering takeout or delivery services during the Covid19 Shelter In Place.

COVID19Coalition.org, a coalition of Santa Clara County community leaders working together in unity to support coronavirus front line fighters and to help our community recover from the pandemic.

Just a reminder that there is still time to respond to the 2020 Census online.
Go to my2020census.gov OR 2020census.gov

March 24, 2020
From: Desi Danganan, Kultivate Labs, RepublikaSF
RE: Filipino-owned businesses in the San Francisco Greater Bay Area/Silicon Valley and anywhere else in the US – Please respond to this survey!

Congress is about to pass a gigantic $250 billion business bail-out. That money will trickle through various state and local agencies. To make sure that money reaches our community, we need to collect data so we can advocate for reasons for Filipino owned businesses. If you own a brick and mortar, online business, or you’re an entertainer like a DJ — please take 5 minutes to fill-out this survey.

The early results are unsettling. Most Filipino businesses have less than 2 months’ worth of cash to weather this crisis. 80% have seen an 80% or more drop in sales.

I run Kultivate Labs, a non-profit known for UNDISCOVERED SF where we incubate emerging Filipino businesses. We’re going to release the findings of this data (but keep individual business data private) so we can better advocate for our community in the coming weeks.

March 23, 2020
From Jose Pecho

To Our San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Family and Friends,

Our Policy Team has been working diligently to ensure the voices of the business community are heard as we advocate for you during the COVID-19 crisis. Please take a look at three recent letters we’ve sent to local and state civic leaders on your behalf.

Economic Recovery Package Memo – COVID-19 (March 10, 2020) – The SF Chamber and our community partners urged our federal, state, and local elected leaders to develop an economic recovery package for Bay Area businesses impacted by COVID-19.

COVID-19 and Employee Lost Wages (March 17, 2020) – The SF Chamber and our small business members urged Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors to consider allocating unused HealthySF dollars held by the City to provide restaurant, bar, and retail workers wages from lost hours during this public health crisis.

Business Interruption Coverage (March 19, 2020) – The SF Chamber requested that Mayor Breed issue a Civil Authority Order to ensure that small businesses impacted by COVID-19 have access to insurance benefits.

The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce is working hard to advocate for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@sfchamber.com. View the SF Chamber’s Small Business Resource Page here.

PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATES

For the most up-to-date COVID-19 information concerning new cases in San Francisco and best practices for staying healthy, please visit the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s webpage.

IMPORTANT SURVEYS

Has your business been impacted by COVID-19? Please share your experience and complete the short survey here.

Do you have services, goods, or other items available? Respond to this survey and share your stories so we can pass on your creative ideas to others.

FEDERAL RESOURCES

Federal Resources for Employers:

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) – The SBA provides a number of loan resources for small businesses and assists with access to capital. The SBA will work directly with state and local governments to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofits that have been severely impacted by COVID-19. Learn more here.

Assistance to Access SBA Loans– San Francisco OEWD will provide direct technical assistance to local small businesses and nonprofits to ensure they can immediately access the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) federal loan program once it becomes available. Learn more here.

IRS RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYERS – The IRS has set up a special section to help taxpayers and businesses affected by COVID-19. The page will be updated as new programs are made available. Learn more here. Check in for updates.

Federal Resources for Employees:

IRS RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYEES – The IRS has set up a special section to help taxpayers and workers affected by COVID-19. The page will be updated as new programs are made available. Learn more here. Check in for updates.

STAY INFORMED

Listen to public health messages from reliable sources:

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) – Website, Twitter

The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (SFDEM) – Website, Twitter

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Website, Twitter

For official updates, text COVID19SF to 888-777.

SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service: Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Benefits.gov is here to help you find the right assistance programs for you and your family. Learn about managing stress during the outbreak and take the Benefit Finder to discover what benefit programs you may be eligible for (Benefit Finder): http://ow.ly/t5dV50yXOSA

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” or the “CARES Act”: PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP)

Congress intended the Paycheck Protection Program to accomplish two fundamental goals: 1) help small businesses cover their near-term operating expenses during the worst of the crisis, and 2) provide a strong incentive for employers to retain their employees. In short, it is intended as a partial revenue replacement program to allow deeply affected businesses to hibernate through a period of severe disruption without making drastic changes to their footprint.

FEMA – Corona Virus Rumor Control
Click here.

The purpose of this FEMA page is to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Rumors can easily circulate within communities during a crisis. Do your part to the stop the spread of disinformation by doing 3 easy things; don’t believe the rumors, don’t pass them along and go to trusted sources of information to get the facts about the federal (COVID-19) response.

Always go to trusted sources of information like coronavirus.gov or your state and local government’s official websites or social media accounts for instructions and information specific to your community.

For more information on the coronavirus, please visit coronavirus.gov. You can also visit our coronavirus (COVID-19) response page for more updates on the federal response. Follow state and local officials as well for instructions and information specific to your community.

MORE LINKS FROM CITY & COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

Give2SF Funding for Seniors, Undocumented San Franciscans, and Small Businesses: Mayor Breed announced the allocation of $5.35 million after the first round of funding from the Give2SF COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. $2.5 million will be dedicated to food insecurity, including an initial $500,000 in grocery gift cards for undocumented individuals and families. $1 million will go toward supporting DAS-funded community-based food and nutrition providers to ensure that older adults and people with disabilities continue to have access to food during the pandemic.

SF311 is the primary customer service center for the City of San Francisco. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone, web, mobile, and Twitter.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

#CaliforniansForAll Service Initiative: Governor Newsom launched California Volunteers’ service initiative, which will connect organizations in desperate need of volunteers with Californians looking to serve, while ensuring stay-at-home and physical distancing protocols are met. The initiative will focus on recruiting younger Californians to help the most vulnerable throughout the state, including the elderly who are at higher risk of infection. Interested volunteers can visit CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov.

About 2-1-1 CALIFORNIA: Who to call if you don’t know who can help you out.
2-1-1 is a free information and referral service that connects people to health and human services in their community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

EDUCATION

RENAISSANCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER
Ingrid Marielos Marthy
Women’s Business Center & SoMa Programs Director
imarthy@rencenter.org
(415) 348-6217

Free Online Classes And Workshops
These trainings were originally going to be held in person, but we have changed the format to an online training.

A FREE Partner Event: Pivot Your Restaurant ~ The Virtual Tasting Room
May 4 @ 1:45 pm – 3:00 pm; Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
This is a partner event presented by your local NorCal SBDC. Not a Renaissance class.
Pivot Your Restaurant ~ Three Webinars in Three Weeks with Three Changemakers

Is your restaurant or food business either closed or partially open in response to Coronavirus? If you are looking for ideas and resources to Pivot Your Restaurant or, if you just want to see what others are doing to navigate these turbulent industry waters, then turn off your Netflix and join us for three webinars and come and meet the Changemakers! Register here.

Food Business Course: Setting up Delivery and Take Out Model
May 27 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Duration: Meets once a week for three hours for 6-Weeks

A 6-week online food business class designed for food entrepreneurs who want to pivot their food business and set up a delivery and take out model into their business. Food Business consultant and trainer, Viridiana Ponce, will guide you through the logistics of pivoting to this new model by defining your menu and prices, understanding your target audience, learning technology tools you need to sell online, and more. We will also have Food Business entrepreneurs as guest speakers and local commercial kitchen representatives. The last class will be a Virtual Food Market!
This 6-week online course is free to the public. Register here.

Check the schedule here.

Small Business Resources During COVID-19. Check it out!

Free Individual Consulting
If you are a small business owner impacted by COVID-19 and looking for individualized support, please reach out to Erin Morris at emorris@rencenter.org with the location and description of your business, as well as the current issues you are experiencing and would like assistance with.

NaFFAA E3 WORKSHOPS for digital tools and skills training

NaFFAA E3 Workshops are Online Webinars that we hope will positively impact members of the Filipino American community, by providing them with digital tools and skills training to help them succeed with their personal / business endeavors, or simply give them the confidence to navigate technology and the digital world. All this is in recognition of Comcast Universal’s commitment to the communities where its customers and employees live and work.

Sign up here. now at https://naffaa.org/e3/

COMING NEXT: WORKSHOP 3 – MOVING MEDIA
May 9 (Saturday) 1pm ET / 10am PT
Please send us your email to receive the Zoom Conference link.

BUSINESS OUTREACH LINKS

Annuity.org
Andrew Robineau, Outreach Coordinator
arobineau@annuity.org
(P): 321-593-1195
1 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32801

FINANCIAL LITERACY – Annuity.org’s Guide to COVID-19 and Your Finances: What You Need to Know

HELPFUL COMMUNITY LINKS

BALAY KREATIVE: Shop Local & Support Small Businesses

We were moved by the response to “Comfort Food During Trying Times” and wanted to release a directory of Filipino retail businesses in our community and beyond whose digital doors are open 24/7.

Community Childcare Council of Santa Clara County, Inc. (4C)

Filipino Food Movement
Support Filipino Takeout! Support Filipino restaurants, catering companies, and chefs around the world, offering takeout or delivery services during the Covid19 Shelter In Place. Click on the names and will take you to their respective websites for menus and service details.

A coalition of Santa Clara County community leaders working together in unity to support coronavirus front line fighters and to help our community recover from the pandemic.

COVID-19 Coalition
A coalition of Santa Clara County community leaders working together in unity to support coronavirus front line fighters and to help our community recover from the pandemic. The COVID-19 Coalition aims to organize the private-sector response to the ongoing pandemic, and help healthcare workers save lives and also help our community members recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

4C’s is a 501(c) non-profit, community-based agency whose mission is to empower every child, senior and family that they serve. Whether it’s giving them access to training, resources, or child care, 4C’s helps members in our community to achieve their greatest potential.
Click here for updates on the COVID-19 Outbreak.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DELIVER GROCERIES/FOOD TO PEOPLE AT RISK SHELTERING AT HOME: Julian and Divina Chung created the following websites to facilitate connecting volunteers with people in need. FREE DELIVERIES!
SafeFoodSF – For San Francisco
SafeFoodDalyCity – For Daly City

HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER DURING THIS PANDEMIC?

As an inclusive and diverse community of business-driven individuals, companies, and organizations, we continue to fuel economic prosperity and innovation. The San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce focuses on community involvement and development.

Economic hardship means we are in this together. We want to provide all impacted Filipino-owned and supported businesses information and access to resources.

For the remainder of 2020, we are offering FREE CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP to new members due to economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

Come and join us here.