Business Update Email – July 8, 2022

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July 15, 2022

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This is an update from the City of Oakland’s Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) highlighting available resources for businesses and our partner organizations who support them.

For additional information about worker benefits, grants, loans and support services available, please visit our Business & Worker Resource web page. The site is updated regularly as more information becomes available, so please check it often.

If you need individualized business assistance, remember you can book a free, 30-minute appointment at 6 different Neighborhood Business Assistance locations.

Comments Sought on Flex Streets Draft Parklet Guidelines

OakDOT is seeking public review and comment on the draft Parklet Guidelines until Sunday, July 31, 2022. These guidelines will go into effect for all existing and future parklets starting July 2023. Please review the guidelines and share your feedback here.

OakDOT’s staff is also offering open office hours throughout the month of July:

Thursday, July 21, 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Tuesday, July 26, 1:30 – 3 p.m.

During these open office hours, stakeholders can connect with OakDOT staff (online or via telephone conference call) about questions or comments regarding the draft parklet guidelines.

The Oakland BID Alliance and the Oakland Chamber’s Small Business Council are hosting a virtual meeting to review the guidelines and gather merchant feedback on Tuesday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to Noon.

Take the Community Pledge

As we collectively work to help small businesses and the local economy recover from the pandemic, the City of Oakland encourages residents and workers in Oakland to recommit to the community, reconnect with each other and rediscover what makes Oakland great by taking the Community Pledge. Recommit to spending your dollars locally to support Oakland’s economy and its beloved small businesses. Oaklanders can reconnect and rediscover Oakland through upcoming community events.

Indoor Face Mask Mandate Update

Effective June 25, 2022, the local Health Order requiring masks in most indoor settings was rescinded. Alameda County is now aligned with California’s face masking guidance. The State and Alameda County continue to strongly recommend masking indoors. For more information, please see Alameda County’s Face Covering page.

Quarantine Update

Beginning June 29, 2022, Alameda County is aligned with the State’s quarantine guidance and definition of close contact.

The State defines close contact as “someone sharing the same indoor airspace (e.g., home, clinic waiting room, airplane etc.) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (e.g., three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during an infected person's (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) Infectious period.” The Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) FAQ also confirms that Cal/OSHA’s definition of close contact is in alignment with the State’s definition and it also applies to workplaces.

People who are close contacts but do not have symptoms are required by the Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to test within 3 to 5 days after last exposure and wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days. Anyone who develops symptoms should test immediately and stay home. Anyone who tests positive must follow isolation requirements. Work exclusion or quarantine continues to be required for some exposed workers and residents in high-risk settings and recommended for others.

Microbusiness Grants

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate has awarded funding to the Chabot - Las Positas Community College District for the Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to provide $2,500 grants to microbusinesses in the counties of Alameda, Amador, Contra Costa, and El Dorado.

Eligible, microbusinesses are those that:

have fewer than 5 employees and earn less than $50,000 per year
were in operation in 2019 and are still in operation
were impacted by the COVID-19 public health restrictions
were the primary source of revenue for the business owner
did not receive a California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, August 12. Learn more at: https://sites.google.com/swccd.edu/clpccd/home

Get a Free Website Redesign for Your Small Business

Hack the Hood helps future tech workers develop skills by providing small businesses and nonprofits with a free website redesign. With a website, you can establish your online presence, gain new customers and sell services or products. Businesses are responsible for the domain registration and web hosting fees, typically $130 per year. The small business website redesign is offered during Hack the Hood’s upcoming summer program starting July 2022. Apply today at https://www.tfaforms.com/4979728.

Resources for Re-Opening

Visit the City’s Planning Resources for Business Re-Opening website for the latest information on resources to support re-opening, including:

State’s SMARTER Plan
Make a vaccination appointment (for Alameda County residents)
Information on Vaccine Planning for Alameda County
Employer Vaccination Toolkit
Alameda County Community Testing Sites
State’s Mask Guidance and Face Coverings Q&A
Interim Guidance for Ventilation, Filtration, and Air Quality in Indoor Environments
County Workplace Guidance
City of Oakland’s Flex Street Initiative
State’s Shared Portal for COVID-19 Case Reporting

These are just highlights of available resources. For information about worker benefits, grants, loans and support services available, please visit our Business & Worker Resource web page.