COVID-19 Update for June 26, 2020-Pasadena Small Business Relief Fund application online at 5pm, Minimum Wage in Pasadena increases July 1st and more.
Remember: whatever you may need to re-open or remain open please purchase it locally. For a list of those selling COVID-related items CLICK HERE. Please support those who may be your customers and clients.
Here is the latest information (as of Friday, June 26, 2020):
Over the weekend Governor newsom ordered bars in LA County and others to close because ofthe increased rate of infection, especially among 18 to 34 year olds. Pasadena's Public Health Office issued the following (similar) order:
The U.S. logged more coronavirus cases in the past week than in any week since the start of this outbreak. Los Angeles County has seen the most cases anywhere in the US.
More than 40,000 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the U.S. on Thursday, the largest single day increase since the pandemic began, smashing a record that had only been set the day before. California, Texas and Florida, the three most populous states, have all seen surging numbers of infections. Consequently, The New York Times reports, the White House announced that they will reconvene the coronavirus task force for a briefing today, the first since April 27.
The governors of Florida and Texas announced that they are pausing the reopening process in their states. Meanwhile, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut now direct visitors from Covid-19 hotspots to self-quarantine for 14 days if traveling to the region, NBC reports. That list of states currently includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Texas, based on rates of infection and percentage of tests that come back positive.
While some states are pausing re-openings, Governor Newsom has not announced any new closures or restrictions as of today.
All Californians are now required to wear face masks in public.
From The Atlantic online:
This latest phase is striking states that were relatively spared earlier, such as Texas and Arizona. Residents of the Sun Belt “face a nearly unbroken chain of outbreaks stretching from South Carolina to California,” Alexis C. Madrigal and Robinson Meyer, who helped build the COVID Tracking Project, report.
The American coronavirus pandemic is once again at risk of spinning out of control,” they warn in their latest.
Three resources worth revisiting, given the spike
1.See how many cases are in your state. Remember to consider the size of your local outbreak when calculating how much risk to take on.
2. Here’s a guide to staying safe as states reopen. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should: Legal doesn’t necessarily mean safe.
3. Better understand the “patchwork” nature of this pandemic. This Ed Yong story is worth rereading: “What’s happening is not one crisis, but many interconnected ones.”
PPP Loan information:
Urgent reminder! The deadline for SBA to approve Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications is Tuesday, June 30. This loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program.
Pasadena COVID-19 Disaster Small Business Relief Fund Online Application Portal Opens Friday, June 26th at 5pm
Relief Fund will provide up to $10,000 grants to local storefront small businesses in Pasadena
Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) launched the online application portal for Pasadena COVID-19 Disaster Relief Small Business Relief Fund grants on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. The Fund is a collaboration between the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Pasadena Community Foundation, and the City of Pasadena to assist small businesses in recovering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and resulting business closures, and will provide grants of $10,000 to storefront retail businesses.
Please CLICK HERE (https://pasadenacf.org/nonprofit-support/grant-programs/covid-small-business-relief-fund-grant/) to review the grant guidelines and access the application or visit the PCF website at www.pasadenacf.org. The grant application will be available starting at 5:00 p.m. on June 26, 2020. Applications will be accepted through July 10, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
The Pasadena COVID-19 Disaster Small Business Relief Fund is intended to augment federal, state, and local aid in supporting Pasadena businesses and sustaining the local economy. The City of Pasadena has seeded the fund with an initial gift of $500,000, with the goal of assisting 50 or more small businesses. The City will match all private philanthropic gifts to the fund up to $250,000, creating the potential for $1 million in assistance. The Fund will accept donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations.
Local storefront retail and restaurant businesses are strongly encouraged to apply. The fund will prioritize business owners who have not received financial assistance from federal and state-level COVID-19 relief programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Businesses receiving grants must be located within the physical boundaries of Pasadena. The selection process will also consider local ownership and whether businesses employ Pasadena residents. Once awarded, grant funds may be used for business-related operational costs, including COVID-19-related expenses and re-opening compliance costs.
"The Pasadena COVID-19 Disaster Small Business Relief Fund is intended to help preserve those Pasadena storefront businesses that are vital to the personality of our city’s neighborhoods and contribute to our local economy,” said Pasadena Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Little. “We want to be sure the stores and cafés that contribute to the character of Pasadena have a chance to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Successful small businesses and a healthy economy are critical to a thriving city, which is what PCF is always working towards,” said Jennifer DeVoll, Pasadena Community Foundation president and chief executive officer. “The Small Business Relief Fund will play an important role in reviving existing small businesses and laying the groundwork for our city’s long-term economic and social recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.”
The City of Pasadena, Chamber of Commerce, and PCF have assembled a diverse and experienced selection committee to review all applications and make recommendations for funding. PCF will administer the fund, accept gifts, and provide acknowledgement letters for tax purposes. All gifts to the Pasadena COVID-19 Disaster Small Business Relief Fund are tax deductible.
PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG TO ANYONE WHO MAY WANT TO APPLY FOR A GRANT.
Pasadena, unincorporated LA County minimum wage increases on July 1, 2020.
In Pasadena and unincorporated LA County employers with 26 or more employees must pay at least 
$15 per hour to all employees. This with 25 or fewer employees must pay at least $14.25 per hour.
Download the required poster here: http://www.pasadena-chamber.org/sites/default/files/media/OFFICIAL-NOTICE-ENGLISH-LARGE-NOTIFICATION-EFFECTIVE-JULY-1-2020.pdf
Here is the Spanish Language version: http://www.pasadena-chamber.org/sites/default/files/media/OFFICIAL-NOTICE-SPANISH-26-or-More-Revised-April-29-2020-1.pdf