Updated: August 28, 2020

SDBG ROLE: Your association continues to be an information source for breweries and tradespeople. We are actively promoting and marketing San Diego craft breweries and seek to create an open line of communication among brewers — connecting our strong and vibrant community. We are working with the CCCBA to support their work with the Office of the Governor, state legislature, the California ABC, and county health officials to advocate for financial and economic support for the 1,000 craft breweries in the state of California.

CURRENT STATUS:

San Diego County Public Health Order and Blueprint for a Safer Economy: Effective Monday, August 31, 2020 breweries are allowed the following privileges:
Indoor dining (25% capacity OR 100 people, whichever is fewer), AND
Purchase of a bona fide meal required in the same transaction as alcohol. All meals shall be served by a food operator permitted by the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health.
Breweries are classified as essential food manufacturing facilities, which means you are still allowed to brew beer, fill to-go orders, ship or deliver your beer directly to consumers in California and distribute or self-distribute your beer unless your county health order specifically bans these privileges.
The ABC released guidance to help define a meal. Review here.

REGIONAL UPDATES & RESOURCES

For County updates about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our community, text COSD COVID19 to 468311.
You must put a space between “COSD” and “COVID19” to make your sign up valid
2-1-1 San Diego Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information & Resources
COVID-19 Posters Available for Facilities - to request English or Spanish posters for your business, please e-mail COVID-Business@sdcounty.ca.gov with your contact information, drop-off location, and delivery instructions. A member of the Outreach & Education Team will contact you to coordinate delivery and obtain any additional details (if necessary). Additional resources and materials are available here for your use.

CALIFORNIA ABC REGULATORY RELIEF

California ABC relaxed restrictions on:
Expansion of licensed premises for social distancing. Info here.
Charitable donations, free delivery and extended delivery hours. Info here.
Returns, off-sale privileges, extensions of credit, deliveries to consumers and more. Info here.
The ABC also announced a 30-Day extension on Annual License Renewal Fees and Late Renewal Penalty Fees
Ongoing Q&A can be found on the ABC FAQs.

CALIFORNIA TAX RELIEF

Property Taxes: Governor Newsom signed an executive order that waives penalties for property taxes paid after April 10 for taxpayers who demonstrate they have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic through May 6, 2021. This will apply to residential properties and small businesses. Read more here.
The Employment Development Department is allowing people to request a 60 day delay in payroll taxes. This extension is for filing state payroll reports and/or depositing payroll taxes without penalty or interest.
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) is offering a 90-day extension for sales and use tax returns and tax payments for all businesses filing a return for less than $1 million in taxes. See more info online here.
CDTFA will also allow small business taxpayers to enter into 12-month, interest-free payment plans for up to $50,000 of sales and use tax liability. Info here. More info on state tax relief here and on state based loan options here. This includes EXCISE TAXES.
Excise tax refunds on “unmerchantable” beer:
CALIFORNIA: View form to submit for tax refunds via CDTFA here and additional information on filing for a refund here.
FEDERAL: View full FAQ online here.
San Diego Treasurer-Tax Collectors office is now accepting penalty cancellation requests for those that have been directly impacted by the Corona Virus pandemic. If you have been affected by the virus and unable to pay the second installment of your property taxes, you can use the TTC's special penalty cancellation request form for consideration. Click here to apply.

LEASE AND MORTGAGE RELIEF

Governor Newsom’s executive order suspends all state laws that would prevent local governments from enacting policies to protect you as a resident or business owner from eviction because of nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19.
Additional moratoriums on lease payments and evictions may be in place. Check with your county or city.

SMALL BUSINESS LOANS & FINANCIAL RESOURCES

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the COVID-19. Full Details
The SBA Customer Center is enabled to guide you through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan application process, check the status of a loan application, and answer individual questions. Call the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Payroll Protection Program - PPP forgiveness changes coming
Current PPP borrowers can choose to extend the eight-week period to 24 weeks, or they can keep the original eight-week period. New PPP borrowers will have a 24-week covered period, but the covered period can’t extend beyond Dec. 31, 2020.
The payroll expenditure requirement drops to 60% from 75% but is now a cliff, meaning that borrowers must spend at least 60% on payroll or none of the loan will be forgiven.
Borrowers can use the 24-week period to restore their workforce levels and wages to the pre-pandemic levels required for full forgiveness. This must be done by Dec. 31, a change from the previous deadline of June 30.
Allows borrowers to adjust because they could not find qualified employees or were unable to restore business operations to Feb. 15, 2020, levels due to COVID-19 related operating restrictions.
New borrowers now have five years to repay the loan instead of two. Existing PPP loans can be extended up to 5 years if the lender and borrower agree. The interest rate remains at 1%.
Allows businesses that took a PPP loan to also delay payment of their payroll taxes, which was prohibited under the CARES Act.
California iBank has a Small Business Loan Guarantee Program. The program is run through the Small Business Finance Center.
California Treasurer’s Office has a small business loan program with special disaster assistance that is used extensively by the CDFI community: CalCAP
Additional information on accessing capital & other small business resources can be found here

REGIONAL SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF

Mayor Faulconer Outlines Economic Relief Package for San Diego Businesses Affected by COVID-19. Relief Package to Include Small Business Loans, Fee Deferrals Extension of Building Permits. Info here.
Funds like the San Diego Foundation’s San Diego COVID-19 Response Fund have been set up to help those in need in our community.
SDG&E Supports Business and Residents with assistance - Click Here
Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund

CALIFORNIA SPECIFIC HR Q&A

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program via the CARES Act, provides UI coverage to business owners, SE individuals and independent contractors directly impacted by COVID-19. Here is the link to applications.
FAQs on layoffs, payroll unemployment
Difference between a layoff and a furlough
Update to Labor Law in Governor’s Executive Order on CalWARN Act - Read the full order here
CCBA FAQ on HR and Payroll Questions
Additional HR and Workers Comp Guidance
State & Federal Resources
EDD Unemployment Insurance for Workers with Reduced Hours
Department of Labor: Questions about Family Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor standards act
How to apply for Unemployment (EDD) in CA during the COVID-19 Crisis
Guidance on Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Resources Available to Employees
Worker benefits chart for employees who are impacted by COVID-19, including unemployment, disability, and paid sick leave: https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/#chart
Labor and Workforce Development Agency’s primary website for COVID-19, including information on support services for workers and interim guidelines for protecting workers: https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/
13-step guide detailing measures you can take to remain financially stable after losing your job due to Covid-19

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

California Governor's Office: Resources for Emotional Support and Wellbeing
California Surgeon General’s Playbook: Stress Relief during COVID-19
CDC: Mental Health & Coping During COVID-19
CDC: Stigma and Resilience During COVID-19
CDC: Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
SAMHSA: Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health: Social Distancing
SAMHSA: Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Access & Crisis Line: If you need support or are actively seeking services, please call the ACL at 1 (888) 724-7240, and an experienced counselor will provide you with a referral to meet your needs and help determine eligibility.
SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Line: Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor
Teen Line: Phone lines will temporarily be closed starting Friday March 13th, text lines and email will remain open. Text "TEEN" to 839863 between 6:00pm-9:00pm PST to receive person teen-to-teen education and support.
The Peer-Run Warm Line: Call 1-855-845-7415 for peer-run non-emergency emotional support.
NAMI San Diego is a nonprofit organization that provides education and services to improve the quality of life of everyone affected by mental illnesses. If you or someone you know needs support during these emotionally tolling and mentally challenging times, contact NAMI San Diego at 1-800-523-5933.
Sleep During a Crisis - How to support your mental health and sleep

CALIFORNIA INSURANCE

All insurance companies in California must provide no less than a 60-day grace period to employers/insureds to pay premiums. The official announcement can be found here. More resources can be found here.

FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGES

The IRS posted an explanation of the refundable tax credits available to small and midsize businesses that are required to provide the leave. Some additional guidance here.
TTB Deferred Filing/Payment Due Dates Period Has Ended. The 90-day postponement period for federal excise tax filings and payments, as well as operational reports and other filings, announced by the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on March 31 has come to a close. it is important to file your excise tax returns to avoid a failure to file penalty. Making a payment, even if you are only able to make a partial one, is also strongly encouraged.
US Department of Labor released guidance for employers on Families First Act and your new requirements as small businesses. Info here.

HOSPITALITY WORKER RELIEF FUNDS

National Restaurant Association Fund will provide grants to restaurant industry employees who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 financially, whether through a decrease in wages or loss of employment that results in a lack of resources to pay for essential expenses.
Restaurant Strong is a nonprofit family of restaurant owners, service providers, chefs & cooks, management, servers, hostesses, delivery partners, and beyond. Our focus is to make a positive impact to many of those impacted by COVID-19.
Restaurants Care is an established program of the California Restaurant Association Foundation (CRAF), a 501(c)(3) providing emergency assistance to employees working in restaurants, food service and hospitality. Grants are evaluated to help the most vulnerable affected by COVID-19 and cover needs such as food, gas, utilities and rent.
Restaurant Workers Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has created a restaurant workers’ COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund. The fund helps individual workers facing economic hardships or health crises because of COVID-19 and provides no-interest loans to small businesses to assist in re-opening once the crisis is over.
United States Bartenders’ Guild National Charity Foundation, a 501(3)(6) nonprofit, provides emergency assistance grants to bartenders and their families. Applicants do not need to be a USBG member. Donations can be made to the COVID-19 Bartenders Emergency Assistance Program.
Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund has been launched by the James Beard Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, to provide micro-grants to independent food and beverage businesses in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OTHER RESOURCES

CA Dept of Public Health Statewide Guidance
San Diego County Health and Human Services
Brewers Association Coronavirus Resource Center
California Craft Brewers Association COVID-19 Resource Center
California Restaurant Resource Center
The California Office of the Small Business Advocate is available to help businesses identify resources and obtain answers to key questions (to the extent known). They created a very user friendly page, “How We Can Help,” and continue to update a helpful FAQ for small businesses.
Find your local small business assistance center through the California TA Providers Guide. At these state- and federally-funded business assistance centers, small businesses and nonprofits can access free one-on-one business and management counseling and training, including the discussion of options for accessing capital.
California Small Business Development Centers has a resource page, which includes both state and federal information for small businesses: https://www.californiasbdc.org/covid19 There is also a California Resource Guide with detailed information about federal programs serving California, including the SBA Disaster Economic Injury Loan Program.
GO-Biz is hosting a COVID-19 resource web-page with links to the IBank, Labor and Workforce Agency, Franchise Tax Board, and Department of Tax and Fee Management: https://business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019
Google is offering free ad credit to some small businesses
Resources for manufacturing hand sanitizer available via the FDA and the WHO.

Please feel free to recommend additional information and links to info@sdbeer.com. We recommend you follow government mandates, CDC guidance, and remember that this, too, shall pass.

LINKS

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