On Wednesday (Sept. 16), the third round of applications for the business assistance grant will open and run through October 30, or until funds are exhausted. Expanded eligibility in round three includes recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $75,000 and under.

Over $30million has been awarded to more than 3,000 Riverside County small businessesthrough the COVID19 business assistance grant program. The program was approved by the County of Riverside Board of Supervisors June 2 using $45 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) grant funding to aid small businesses enduring hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Eligible businesses for the business assistance grant include private for-profit businesses that have experienced a financial hardship as a result of COVID-19, businesses with less than 50 employees, and those operating for a minimum of one year as of March 1, 2020. Sole proprietors and businesses that received the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) or advance are also eligible.

In addition, the County of Riverside launched the Business Ambassador Program to help businesses in readiness and reopening efforts. Through the program, a business ambassador will conduct an individualized in-person, virtual, or telephone consultation at no cost to identify ways businesses can operate safely and within compliance of state and local reopening guidelines.

During the visit, businesses are provided a toolkit which includes state industry guidance and checklists, protocols for when employees test positive for COVID-19, face masks, mask compliance posters and other resource information. Businesses are also encouraged to take the Greater Together, Safer Together pledge to demonstrate to their customers and employees their commitment to safe and healthy operating practices. To date, 75 businesses have been visited by the ambassador program and 413 businesses have taken the Greater Together, Safer Together pledge.

Coachella Valley Small Business Development Center (CVSBDC), hosted by Riverside County Business & Community Services, is an SBA, GO-Biz and Riverside County funded small business assistance centerproviding technical assistance and training to businesses to assist them to launch and grow. Consultants provide oneon-one consultation and training at no-cost to businesses and individuals wanting to start a business.

Coachella Valley Small Business Development Center’s economic impact and capital infusion for the first six months of 2020 include: 2,305 hours of consulting to 1,000 clients, assistance to 309 clients with nearly $42.7 million in capital funding and supporting 6,312 jobs. The negative economic impacts due to COVID-19 have required an aggressive response to assist the many local businesses that were affected. In comparison, during the first six months of 2019, consulting hours were 58% less than 2020, while capital infusion in 2019 was less than $1 million.

For more information on any of these programs, visit www.rivcobizhelp.org, call 951.955.0493 or email bizinfo@rivco.org.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that it has expanded support services enabled by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to make available immediate relief for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The CARES Act allocates $17.2 billion for the Veterans Health Administration, $300 million of which will be used this fiscal year to address the challenges faced by homeless and at-risk Veterans.

“A significant percentage of homeless Veterans or those at risk of homelessness are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19 due to their living conditions, age and chronic health complications,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “The funds from the CARES Act are vital and will allow VA to continue working diligently to prevent the spread of infection in communities and keep Veterans safe and on the pathway to permanent housing during this perilous time.”

Funding is provided for three critical VA programs to assist with the emergency response needed for Veterans living without safe, stable housing.

Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program

– $202 million has been allocated to provide emergency housing and homelessness prevention assistance to very low-income Veteran families to mitigate the expected wave of evictions and potential homelessness that will result from extensive unemployment. Funds for this program will also assist the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing program in placing Veterans in safe housing to isolate them from the virus.

Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program

– Grants from the GPD program usually consist of a capped per diem payment from VA to community organizations to provide transitional housing and supportive services to Veterans. $88 million has been allocated to this program, which allows VA to waive per diem limits during the crisis and help GPD grantees to provide all needed emergency housing and supportive services, including emergency placement for Veterans who need to be isolated for their safety or the safety of others.

Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program

– $10 million has been allocated to provide emergency shelter and supportive services during the crisis, including placement in hotel rooms for Veterans needing emergency shelter or isolation to avoid spreading the virus. Housing will be paired with care, treatment and rehabilitative services.

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