Updated January 25, 2021

We understand that there are many issues facing you as a business during this difficult time. We want to do what we can to assist you so you can find the information you need to make informed decisions for you and your employees. This page is actively updated as state mandates and regulations change.

Latest Updates: 

• (1/25) The State has lifted the Regional Stay Home Order. San Diego County is now in Tier 1, or Purple Tier. Businesses allowed to reopen with 100% masking and social distancing include:
  Restaurants: Open for outdoor service, 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. Can have live entertainment. Takeout or delivery allowed 24 hours.
  Wineries. Outdoor only. Live entertainment allowed.
  Bars, breweries, and distilleries that serve food. Outdoor only, operate as restaurant.
  Retail: Indoor operation at 25% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
  Shopping centers: Allow indoor access at 25% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. No food courts.
  Grocery stores. Stand-alone grocery stores where principal business activity is sale of food may operate at 50% capacity. Special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
  
  Please visit San Diego County’s website for specific reopening guidelines.
  

• (1/22) The State of California launched a $500 million COVID Relief Grant Program for small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic and accompanying safety restrictions. California’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will open for another round of applications Tuesday, February 2 and will close Monday, February 8. Learn more at CAReliefGrant.com.
  
  Please note: Applications are not first-come, first-served. Take the time to ensure your application is accurate via San Diego and Imperial SBDC Network‘s on-demand webinars (in English and Spanish). Any eligible applicants who did not receive funding during the first round will automatically be considered and do not need to re-apply.

• (1/7) The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Companies of any industry, size, or location may apply for part of $180 million available in tax credits to relocate or stay and grow in California. For more information on eligibility and assistance, visit the State website and apply by January 25.

• (1/7) In December 2020, the U.S. House and Senate came to an agreement over the details of a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill; learn more here. Support for small business includes:
  • Companies with fewer than 300 employees that have experienced a greater than 25 percent reduction in gross receipts will soon be able to apply for a second Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, with priority given to hardest-hit industries. Companies may receive both a PPP loan and EIDL loan without compromising PPP forgiveness. PPP loans are nontaxable and will be forgivable if used for appropriate expenses. For more information, visit the SBA website.
  • EIDL has reopened applications for grants up to $10,000. Businesses that did not previously receive the grant can apply, with priority given to small businesses with less than 300 employees, located in low-income neighborhoods, and that have experienced a 30 percent reduction in gross receipts. Apply now.
  • The Employee Retention Tax Credit has expanded. Companies may now receive a credit against employment taxes for up to 70 percent on $10,000 in wages per quarter (or a maximum $14,000 per employee through June 30). Employers that experienced a decline of more than 20 percent in gross receipts may apply. For more information, visit the IRS website.

• (1/7) The San Diego County Small Business Stimulus Grant awards small businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 100 employees grant funding. Final awards will be made by individual district offices based on availability of funds, program guidelines, and the submission of all required information. Apply now.
  
• (1/7) The Employee Training Panel COVID-19 Pilot Program allows manufacturers in select industry sectors including food and medical manufacturing to receive assistance for training new and rehired employees. The program provides a training off-set for as little as four hours of training per new or rehired employee earning at least $17.50 per hour. For more information, visit the State website.

Resources

• Federal Resources for U.S. Small Businesses
• PPP forgiveness factsheet for borrowers for forgiveness process
• The County of San Diego released a COVID-19 case rate map shown by by zip code and jurisdiction.
• San Diego County Health and Human Services updates the number of local cases.
• San Diego County Health and Human Services Department general updates.

Outdoor expansion permit:

• Carlsbad permit application
• Escondido permit application
• San Marcos permit application
• Oceanside permit application
• Vista permit application

County of San Diego reopening plan

• The County of San Diego has released its safe reopening business plan. Details about the plan here.
• Businesses must fill out this form in order to reopen. 
  
  As of January 25, 2021, the following businesses are allowed to reopen with 100% masking and physical distancing:
• Restaurants: Open for outdoor service, 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. Can have live entertainment. Takeout or delivery allowed 24 hours.
• Outdoor recreational facilities: Open. Sales of food, drink or alcohol allowed. Campgrounds can open. 
• Retail: Indoor operation at 25% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems. 
• Shopping centers: Allow indoor access at 25% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. No food courts.
• Grocery stores. Stand-alone grocery stores where principal business activity is sale of food may operate at 50% capacity. Special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems. 
• Hotels and lodging: Open. 
• Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible. 
• Gyms and fitness centers. Outdoor only
• Places of worship. Outdoor only
• Political expression: Outdoor only.
• Hair salons and barbershops
• Personal care services (includes nail salons, tattoo, piercing, tanning) 
• Museums, zoos, and aquariums. Outdoor only
• Movie theaters (except drive-in). Outdoor only
• Wineries. Outdoor only. Live entertainment allowed.
• Bars, breweries, and distilleries that serve food. Outdoor only, operate as restaurant.
• Family entertainment centers. Outdoor only. Includes kart racing, mini golf, batting cages.
• Cardrooms and satellite wagering. Outdoor only
• Limited services. Open
• Entertainment production: Industries, studios, and other related establishments such as establishments that provide content for professional broadcast can operate without live audiences.

City-specific pages:

• City of Oceanside Coronavirus information here.
• City of Vista Coronavirus information here.
• City of San Marcos Coronavirus information here.
• City of Carlsbad Coronavirus information here.
• City of Escondido Coronavirus information here. 

North County: Still Hiring.

• List of local companies that are still hiring here.

Paycheck Protection Program 

• Details about the paycheck protection program, an SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus.
• Overview of program here.
• Fact sheet for borrowers here.
• Fact sheet for lenders here. 

SBA loans:

• A breakdown of all SBA Coronavirus Loans are here.

Tax relief resources:

• IRS Taxpayer relief information here.
• Executive order for the State of California which extends the tax deadline by 60 days for individuals and businesses (see provision 5, page 2) here.

Loan programs/funds available:

• Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund here.
• Small Business Stimulus Program here.
• SDG&E coronavirus relief information here.
• COVID-19 business center resources here.
• Federal Stimulus Programs Available for North County Businesses here.
• CDC Small Business Finance emergency loan program here.
• Small Business Relief Initiative from GoFundMe and Quickbooks here.
• San Diego Worker Assistance Fund here. 
• See if your business qualifies for an Economic Injury Diaster Loan with the briefs here and here.  
• US Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, Guidance for Busineses and Employers and other important information here. 
• San Diego COVID Community Response Fund information here.

Businesses open for takeout:

• City of Vista businesses open for takeout here.
• City of Oceanside businesses open for takeout here and here.
• City of Escondido businesses open for takeout here.
• City of Carlsbad businesses open for takeout here and here.
• City of San Marcos businesses open for takeout here.

Business/employer resources:

• Free legal counsel for small businesses and non-profits here.
• Small Business Stimulus Program here.
• Small Business Resource guide from California State Treasurer Ma’s office here.
• A comprehensive listing of resources offered by private, public and non-profit entities to help California businesses here.
• Small Business Development Center open for business during the Covid-19 crisis, details are here.
• CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers here.
• Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath’s resource page here.
• San Diego Brewers Guild information and resources here.
• San Diego Workforce Partnership resources here.
• Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development: helpful information for employers, employees and all Californians here.
• SDG&E will waive late payment fees for businesses facing hardship, details here.
• Adapting to the online world –  If you are a small business that is new to online tools, please contact us at info@innovate78.com– we’ll put you in touch with a member of our community that has offered to help businesses get set up with Zoom and other online tools
• Sick or Quarantined: If you’re unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), you can file a Disability Insurance Claim.
• Reduced Hours: If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, you can file an Unemployment Claim.
• Testing for COVID-19 here.
• ICIC Small Business Resource Center here.

If you find these resources do not have what you need, please email us at the email addresses below. Please select the city within which your businesses resides and we will answer your questions within 24 hours, and we will do our best to answer them more quickly.

City of Carlsbad – business@carlsbadca.gov
City of Escondido – atarrac@escondido.org
City of San Marcos – tsangster@san-marcos.net
City of Oceanside – mgeller@oceansideca.org
City of Vista – econdev@cityofvista.com
San Diego North Economic Development Council – ebruvold@sdnedc.org
Innovate78 – info@innovate78.com