Home Departments City Manager FBID-Fortuna Business Improvement District Disaster Assistance

As our local community has been experiencing natural disasters, the City of Fortuna BID would like to supply some resources for disaster assistance. Please feel free to send other resources available to local businesses to mdodson@ci.fortuna.ca.us. Also, please reach out to the specific provider of the information below for the most accurate information if questions or concerns arise. Thank you.

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in the

Rohner Recreation Hall to Relocate

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West announced today that SBA will relocate its Fortuna Outreach Center from the Rohner Recreation Hall to the Rio Dell Community Resource Center (Old Chamber of Commerce Building) on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.

“SBA opened the center to provide personalized assistance to California businesses and residents affected by the earthquake that occurred Dec. 20, 2022, with continuing aftershocks. Until the center closes, SBA customer service representatives will continue to be available to meet with businesses and residents to answer their questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans,” said Garfield. So far, SBA has approved more than $3,422,000 in federal disaster loans for California businesses and residents. The center will be open on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Rio Dell Community Resource Center

(Old Chamber of Commerce Building)

406 Wildwood Avenue

Rio Dell, CA 95562

Open at 8:00 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30

Mondays - Fridays, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. PT

Closes at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb.10

North Coast Disaster Response Update for Businesses

Thursday, January 19, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Register now at https://www.northcoastsbdc.org/event/disaster-response-update/

Link to U.S. Small Business Administration Fact Sheet - Disaster Loans

Link to U.S. Small Business Administration Fact Sheet - Disaster Loans - Spanish

Link to U.S. Small Business Administration News Release

Link to U.S. Small Business Administration News Release - Spanish

More resources for the above can be found at the website for the U.S. Small Business Administration at Home (sba.gov)

Please also take a look at the Humboldt County official website that has current emergency information available at Current Emergencies | Humboldt County, CA - Official Website (humboldtgov.org)

Here is the link for the Humboldt County survey for businesses affected by recent earthquakes: The Humboldt County 2022 Earthquake Business Recovery & Economic Impact Survey (google.com)

Here is the link to the Humboldt County Disaster Relief forms: DISASTER RELIEF | Humboldt County, CA - Official Website (humboldtgov.org)

If you are a local business in Humboldt County, click this link to be added to a local mailing list for updates from the Humboldt Community Economic Resilience Consortium (CERC) DISASTER RELIEF | Humboldt County, CA - Official Website (humboldtgov.org)

Helpful website provided by the CERC team on the Wednesday January 11, 2023 meeting:

https://www.gohumco.com/379/Economic-Earthquake-Recovery-Response

https://www.humboldtcoad.org/

https://humboldtgov.org/2383/Current-Emergencies

https://formsmarts.com/form/1wts

https://www.rotary5130.org/district-disaster-response-plan/

http://www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Taxes/Emergency_and_Disaster_Assistance_for_Employers.htm

https://www.grantinterface.com/Form/Preview?form=866616&urlkey=haf

https://ncidc.org/notice/ncidc-offers-emergency-assistance

https://www.vocalityccu.org/earthquake-storm-emergency-loans

https://www.gohumco.com/379/2022-December-FerndaleHumboldt-Earthquak

https://sd02.senate.ca.gov/news/2023-01-09-state-announces-3-million-recovery-funds-assist-residents-impacted-humboldt

https://www.times-standard.com/2022/12/31/my-word-commit-to-shopping-locally-and-supporting-local-business/

County Disaster hotline 707-441-5000

Information from Leila Roberts at North Coast Small Business Development Center

Vocality Community Credit Union is extending short-term no-interest loans to include both storm and earthquake impacted businesses. More here. Thanks to RREDC and HAF/WCF for channeling $ to Vocality to make sure these resources are well funded.

Webinars/in person briefings re disaster help for businesses: We're (SBDC) working on both and would like to discuss with you all tomorrow.

Re storms & SBA disaster loans: the SBA needs Gov. Newsom to formally request an agency (SBA) or federal disaster declaration in order for the SBA to enact its disaster response supports (like EIDL loans). He did the latter on Sunday, so we're now waiting to hear from the Biden administration.

Re earthquake & SBA disaster loans--some highlights from yesterday's meeting notes with Cynthia Cowell, the person in charge of the SBA's disaster loan desk in Fortuna, for those of you in touch with lenders and businesses. She'll join us tomorrow if she can. Also see attached flyers.

the SBA disaster declaration is open indefinitely (for now) to allow for the effects of ongoing aftershocks.
the SBA response encompasses adjacent counties as well, so if we know of folks in Del Norte, Mendo, Siskiyou, and Trinity who either experienced direct physical damage or indirect economic injury they can apply too.
Folks who are on the fence should apply anyway. They don't have to accept the loan offer, but at least they get themselves in the queue.
loan applicants must have filed taxes at some point in the past couple of years. But if they haven't they should apply anyway--their application will be put on hold and they'll be given 90 days to file, then request their application to be reconsidered.
NOT advertised: SBA also has $ for mitigation/preparedness: to harden home and business properties to future earthquake risks.

Beyond loans. Some business owners are hesitant to take on debt or may not qualify for SBA disaster loans.

For the hesitant folks: please send them to SBDC so we can help them run the numbers and figure out the actual costs vs benefits of a low interest, long term disaster loan. Sometimes the gut check is right, sometimes the loan ends up being doable. northcoastsbdc.org/join or 707 445 9720 x210 or admin@northcoastsbdc.org

For those who just won't qualify: We should talk tomorrow about getting a better sense of who they are, how big the $ gap is, and whether community agencies can step up.

Economic Injury data: There's some energy around making the OES-required economic injury surveys (see earthquake version here) more comprehensive, and more directly useful for local analysis and response. Bring your thoughts!

A side note: there's a lot of grant funding available through Jan 31 from CA Dept of Social Services for child care businesses looking to build or renovate. A post-disaster opportunity? More here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Governor's Press Office: (916) 445-4571

Businesses Impacted by Storms Now Eligible for Emergency Tax Relief

SACRAMENTO – Business owners and taxpayers impacted by California’s winter storms are now eligible for emergency tax relief from late payment interest and penalties.

“California is moving with the urgency this moment demands, rapidly bringing support to Californians recovering from the devastating impact of the recent storms,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Business owners across the state can now access much-needed assistance to help accelerate their recovery efforts, including relief from interest and penalties.”

Impacts of the storms have been felt throughout the state, and small business owners who have been affected by flooding, power outages, and other storm-related hardships may request up to an additional three months to file their tax returns. Taxpayers who face return deadlines between January 4, 2023 and January 31, 2023 who are granted relief will not have to pay interest and penalties if they are unable to file their returns and pay taxes and fees by the original due date.

“Help is available for California businesses,” California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Director Nick Maduros said. “If you cannot file or make a payment on time because of the storms, please reach out to us, and we can offer some relief.”

Impacted taxpayers can request relief:

On the CDTFA website
By mail at California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, PO Box 942879, MIC 35, Sacramento, CA 94279
In person at one of our field offices
By phone at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711), Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific Time), except state holidays.

Customers can also contact CDTFA to update account information, change an address or contact information, request replacement copies of CDTFA tax records, or ask questions about their account.

In addition to our State of Emergency Tax Relief webpage, information regarding relief requests is available in various languages online, via videos in English and Spanish, and on CDTFA’s Online Services webpage.

###

Here is a list of workshops happening in this new year:

Various Topics

February 7 - Owning and Investing in Real Estate for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs (NorCal SBDC)

February 7 - How to Manage and Repay Your SBA EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loans) (SBA)

February 23 - How to Do Business with the State of California - in person in Eureka (NorCal PTAC)

March 1 - Cybersecurity Basics (NorCal SBDC)

Starting and Running Your Business

February 7 - Financing Your Business (NorCal SBDC)

February 16 - Marketing Your Business (NorCal SBDC)

February 21 - Financial Management for Your Business (NorCal SBDC)