Business Update Email – June 24, 2022

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June 24, 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.

Make Your Voice Heard in the Oakland General Plan Update

Complete the Oakland Visioning Survey by Tuesday, July 5 to let the City’s Planning & Building Department know what issues you care about, and what the priorities for Oakland’s future should be. Your input will help shape Oakland’s 2045 General Plan, a visionary blueprint for the future focused on creating an equitable and just city.

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CalSavers Retirement Savings Plan

By June 30, 2022, employers with five or more California-based employees are required to have a retirement plan in place for workers – either through a private-market option, like a 401(k) or Simple IRA retirement plan, or through the state-run CalSavers program. Your employee count is calculated by averaging the number of employees you report to the Employment Development Department on your filings from the previous calendar year. The State law is meant to help more people save for retirement with a convenient payroll deduction and applies to both for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations with paid employees.

Employers can register through the CalSavers website or, if they are offering a qualified private-market alternative like a 401(k), file an exemption on the same site. After registering, the employer is required to add employees within 30 days of completing the registration.

Additional information in multiple languages, including frequently asked questions, webinars and step-by-step instructions, are available at: www.calsavers.com

Alameda County Requires Masking

As of Friday, June 3, Alameda County is requiring Masking in Most Indoor Public Settings. This Health Order directs that face coverings must be worn over the mouth and nose – regardless of vaccination status – in all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and workplaces, including but not limited to offices, retail stores, restaurants and bars, theaters, family entertainment centers, conference and event centers, and State and local government offices serving the public.

Individuals are not required to wear face coverings in the following circumstances:

While working alone in a closed office or room;
While actively eating and/or drinking;
While swimming or showering in a fitness facility;
While obtaining a medical or cosmetic service involving the head or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.

Alameda County will not require masking in K-12 school settings through the end of the 2021-22 school year, but masking is still strongly recommended. Masks will be required in all other children and youth settings, including childcare, summer school, and youth programs, as practicable.

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

Loans for Food and Wellness Businesses

Feed the Hunger Fund is supporting Oakland food and wellness businesses with loans of up to $100,000. Businesses must have a valid City of Oakland business license to qualify. The loans have a 5.5% interest rate and terms of up to 5 years. Food businesses include restaurants, markets, food trucks, etc., while Wellness businesses can be chiropractic and massage therapy, vitamin stores, etc. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Meche Sansores at meche@feed-hunger.com or (415) 533-7171.

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.