Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance and Resources for Businesses

The County of Santa Cruz acknowledges that most businesses will be impacted by the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak and encourages all businesses to closely document your short and long term financial impacts related to COVID-19, as this could be the basis for future allocations if funding is identified or awarded to our community from the state or federal level. We also recognize that our business community is particularly impacted by the guidance to practice social distancing and other steps needed to both continue business operations and protect employees and customers.

To help with continued commerce and assist businesses and their employees, the Office for Economic Development has developed the following list of resources:

General Information about the COVID-19 Pandemic, Including Local Orders:

Tax Extensions/Payment Relief:

Funding Opportunities and Advice:

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration. (Businesses in Santa Cruz County are eligible to apply now for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and must be sure to select “Economic Injury Application” when they begin the application)
  • State Treasurer's Office: California Capital Access Program, CalCAP (a loan loss reserve program which may provide up to 100% coverage on losses as a result of certain loan defaults. With CalCAP portfolio support, a lender may be more comfortable underwriting small business loans.)
  • CA Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, IBANK (Offers loan programs for businesses affected by disasters in California.)
  • Facebook (Offering $100 million in cash grants and advertising credits to help small businesses during this time)
  • Small Business Development Center, SBDC:  (Available to provide free, individualized and confidential one-on-one advising for financing assistance and building a strategy to plan or recover from impacts to your business. The SBDC is also available to help you understand the financial resources available and prepare applications for funding.)
  • SCORE (Coronavirus Small Business Resource Hub)

Employer & Employee Resources:

Business and Industry Specific Resources:

How to Support Local Businesses:

Webinars & Other Information Resources:

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