The deadline to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans is tomorrow, March 9th. The application process is simple and eligibility is focused on samll businesses. It is not too late to apply for (potentially forgiveable) funds. Call your bank now!

Four New Rounds of the California COVID-19 Relief Grant Program: The State of California just announced 4 new rounds of the COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. Additional funds above and beyond the original $500 million currently being distributed have been earmarked for small businesses and non-profit cultural institutions. 

  • Round 3 opens March 5th thru March 11th and is open to applicants who were waitlisted during the prior rounds. There is no need to reapply; no new applications will be selected in this round.
  • Round 4 opens March 16th through March 23rd and is open to non-profit cultural institutions only. Eligible non-profit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they have previously applied in an earlier round.
  • Round 5 opens March 25th thru March 31st and open to waitlisted applicants as well as new applicants that meet eligibility criteria.
  • Round 6 dates will be announced soon.

For complete program details, including applications and eligibility criteria, visit CAReliefGrant.com. 

In partnership with the LA84 Foundation, the Play Equity Fund and the National Football League (NFL) Foundation, the Super Bowl LVI Legacy Program – Champions Live Here seeks to shine a spotlight on the achievements of local community organizations who often go unrecognized and provide grants to help these nonprofits continue fulfilling their missions. The Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee will recognize 56 “unsung hero” grassroots organizations and nonprofits who are making a transformative impact in underserved communities across the Los Angeles region. The legacy program will honor each of the selected “Champion organizations” with a $10,000 grant award, a professionally produced marketing video spotlighting their organization, and public recognition of their work in lead up to the Super Bowl.  Additionally, six of these 56 organizations will be selected to each receive a total grant award of $50,000, to make an even bigger impact in their community. Click Here to Nominate an Organization

Stimulus/Relief: The Senate passed a version of President Biden's pandemic relief package. It includes payments to individuals, relief for small businesses, continued expansion of unemployment benefits and funds for restaurants and other hard-hit industry segments.

From the New York Times: President Biden’s sweeping $1.9 trillion stimulus bill passed a deeply divided Senate on Saturday, as Democrats pushed through a pandemic aid plan that includes an extraordinary increase in safety net spending in the largest antipoverty effort in a generation.

The package, which still must pass the House before it heads to Mr. Biden’s desk to be signed into law, is the first major legislative initiative of his presidency. The measure seeks at once to curtail the coronavirus pandemic, bolster the sluggish economy and protect the neediest people within it. Republicans voted unanimously against it and assailed it as unnecessary and unaffordable.

It would inject vast amounts of federal resources into the economy, including one-time direct payments of up to $1,400 for hundreds of millions of Americans, jobless aid of $300 a week to last through the summer, money for distributing coronavirus vaccines and relief for states, cities, schools and small businesses struggling during the pandemic.

Beyond the immediate aid, the bill, titled the American Rescue Plan, is estimated to cut poverty by a third this year and would plant the seeds for what Democrats hope will become an income guarantee for children. It would potentially cut child poverty in half, through a generous expansion of tax credits for Americans with children — which Democrats hope to make permanent — increases in subsidies for child care, a broadening of eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, and an expansion of food stamps and rental assistance.

You can find more detailed information on the releif package here: https://pasadenastarnews-ca.newsmemory.com

The Numbers: On Saturday, Pasadena reported an additional 6 new cases and one additional fatality. So far, Pasadena has seen 10,983 cases and 320 associated deaths. 33,865 Pasadenans have received at least on dose of vaccine as of Saturday. On Sunday Pasadena reported no new cases and no new deaths.

On Friday, LA County reported an additonal 1,823 cases and 98 fatalities. LA County has seen more than 1.2 million cases of the virus and 22,008 deaths from COVID-19. 

California has reported more than 3.6 milion cases and 54, 140 deaths. 

Reopenings:

Following revised guidelines from the state, the Rose Bowl announced a return of in-person events. Rose Bowl Manager Darryl Dunn said Saturday that under new California Department of Public Health orders announced late last week the stadium will host the return of the in-person Rose Bowl Flea Market on April 11 and confirmed the Bowl’s first scheduled major sporting event will come August 28 when UCLA hosts the University of Hawaii.“The new guidelines and tier protocols that were announced by the Governor [were] very exciting as this may allow patrons to get back to attend events inside our beloved stadium,” Dunn said in an email. “At this time we are planning the Rose Bowl Flea Market and hope people come to the event on April 11,” he said.

Under the guidance announced Friday, outdoor sports and live performance venues can reopen on April 1, with capacity limits based on the county’s tier ranking. For counties in the most restrictive “purple” tier, outdoor venues will be limited to a total of 100 people, with only local residents permitted, advance reservations or tickets required and no concessions or concourse sales allowed. But when counties reach the less-restrictive “red” tier, capacity will be increased to 20%, with primarily in-seat concessions allowed. In the even less-restrictive “orange” tier, 33% capacity will be allowed, and in the top “yellow” tier, capacity will increase to 67%. Only in-state visitors will be permitted to the venues in counties in the “red,” “orange” and “yellow” tiers.

Pasadena Unified School District will reopen classrooms for Pre-K to 2nd Grade beginning March 29th. After a seven hour meeting, the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education voted 5-2 to resume the process of opening classes for PreK-2 students on March 29, with Board Members Michelle Richardson Bailey and Tina Fredericks voting against the resolution. Pre-K and kindergarten students will return to class on Tuesday, March 30 and first and second graders will return on Thursday, April 1. Students in grades 3 to 5 will return April 13. High schools can reopen once the county maintains a ratio of 7 infections per 100,000 people. On Tuesday the state reported a case count of 7.2 per 100,000. The district must open its doors to K-2nd grade students before April 1 in order to get its share of $2 billion promised by Gov. Gavin Newsom. In total, the legislature passed $6.6 billion in aid to California schools. Half of the district 2400 employees have now been offered the vaccine. It was not immediately known how many of those employees are teachers.

Vaccines: From the New York Times: Health officials have worried that some people may see the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson as inferior to those from Pfizer and Moderna, but the initial rollout of the new shot is turning that notion on its head. From a public health standpoint, the latest vaccine is shaping up to be the best choice for many people, including for the country’s most vulnerable populations.

Because it’s a single shot, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can offer protection for those who might not have access or time for a second shot — like people in rural areas, migrant workers, those on the verge of release from prison and meatpacking plant workers, among others. Dr. Joseph Kanter, the top health official in Louisiana, called it “a potential breakthrough.”

In North Dakota, Johnson & Johnson doses will be put to use at pharmacies and urgent care clinics where people don’t have regular access to health care. In Missouri, most of the state’s Johnson & Johnson doses are going to community health centers, which are taking advantage of the easier storage conditions because the vaccine doesn’t require ultracold temperatures. And in North Carolina, health providers are holding a series of events to inoculate meatpacking, farm and grocery workers.

The vaccine also tends to have fewer side effects than other options, and it may be a better choice for people who don’t want to risk missing a day of work to recover from chills or fever. Importantly, it may also help address vaccine inequality. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s comparatively easy delivery may allow states to use it to target communities with low inoculation rates. 

The Pasadena Public Health Department is pleased to invite the following eligible groups to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: 

  • Healthcare Workers 
  • Residents and Staff at Long-Term Care Facilities 
  • Pasadena residents over age 65 
  • Childcare and Education Workers 
  • Food and Agricultural Workers 

 

  • You ARE REQUIRED to have an appointment to receive a vaccine. Individuals without an appointment will NOT be able to receive a vaccine.  

 

Food industry workers, including restaurant and grocery workers, are now eligible for the vaccine. The City of Pasadena, however, is awaiting its next vaccination supply from the state, so food and agricultural workers may sign up to be notified when the vaccine is available. To sign-up to be notified when appointments become available, click here.

Food and agricultural workers need not wait to get a vaccine through the City's vaccination supply. Individuals may also contact their local healthcare provider or local pharmacy for vaccine availability. For more information, click here.

You will be required to present proof of eligibility.  
For 65 and over: Proof of age and proof of City of Pasadena residency required. 

For those eligible by employment:  Valid identification PLUS proof of employment (ID/pay stub) at a Pasadena healthcare, childcare or education or food or agricultural employer; OR Valid identification PLUS proof of employment (ID/paystub) at a healthcare, childcare or education or food or agricultural employer outside of Pasadena AND proof of Pasadena residence required. 

Here are your options for appointments. We will continue to email you as new clinics and opportunities to access vaccine are available:   California Department of Public Health My Turn: https://myturn.ca.gov  
 
For more information on vaccine availability at local pharmacies, visit:  
Rite Aid: https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier  
Vons: https://www.vons.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html  
Pavilions: https://www.pavilions.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html  
Ralphs: https://www.ralphs.com/rx/covid-eligibility  
CVS: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine  
Walgreens: https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp  

To view more information on COVID-19 vaccination locations by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidvaccinedistribution/.  

Offerings by the Pasadena Public Health Department: If you have any questions about the registration process or need additional assistance, please reach out to the Citizen's Service Center at (626) 744-7311, or by email at csc@cityofpasadena.net.  The citizen service center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  
 
Pasadena Public Health Department and Huntington Hospital Clinics: This clinic is a walk up clinic, not a drive through clinic. The vaccine you will be receiving is the Pfizer vaccine. These vaccines are very safe and effective. If you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, please go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Pfizer-BioNTech.html.  Proof of a valid Pasadena address (either business or residential) and proof of eligible employment will be required at the time of your appointment to be eligible for a vaccine.  This clinic is for people who need their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.  

The Economy:

From the Wall Street Journal: Most businesses are optimistic about the economic recovery this year as coronavirus vaccines are more widely distributed and hiring picked up slowly across the country, a Federal Reserve report said Wednesday. The Fed’s periodic compilation of anecdotes from business contacts, known as the Beige Book, said the U.S. economy continued to grow modestly in the first several weeks of 2021, though some industries, such as leisure and hospitality, continued “to be restrained by ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.”

The U.S. economy is set up for a stronger recovery this spring after a February surge in hiring at restaurants and other hospitality businesses created the best monthly job growth since last fall. Employers added 379,000 jobs in February and January gains were revised higher to 166,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Friday. The pickup comes after employers cut jobs late last year. The unemployment rate, determined by a separate survey, ticked down to 6.2% last month. The rate is well below a near 15% pandemic peak in April 2020, but remains above 2019’s 50-year lows. Overall, the U.S. has 9.5 million fewer jobs than a year earlier, just before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in much of the country.

From the New York Times: Even as the economy shows signs of rebounding, employers continue to lay off large numbers of workers, a sign of how long it will take for the job market to recover fully from the pandemic. The pressure was evident Thursday with a new report from the Labor Department showing a rise in initial jobless claims last weekafter a big drop the previous week.

Although unemployment claims are down from their peak early in the year, when a spike in coronavirus cases prompted new restrictions on business, layoffs remain extraordinarily high by historical standards. A jump in claims after the devastating winter storms in Texas contributed to the increase last week, but the weakness was broad-based.

A total of 748,000 workers filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits in the week that ended Saturday, 32,000 higher than the week before. In addition, 437,000 new claims were filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federal program covering freelancers, part-timers and others who do not routinely qualify for state benefits, a rise of 9,000. Neither figure is seasonally adjusted. On a seasonally adjusted basis, new state claims totaled 745,000, an increase of 9,000.