Businesses and Employers:

• Agency: Kern County has partnered with Valley Republic Bank, Mission Bank, Valley Strong Credit Union and AltaOne Federal Credit Union
• Description: The Kern Recovers Program provides $25 million in forgivable loans of up to $75,000 each to local small businesses like restaurants, gyms, and salons to directly mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19. 
• Link(s): https://www.kerncounty.com/government/kern-recovers
• Type of assistance: Loan
• Amount: up to $75,000
• Restrictions/Eligibility: If your answer is "yes" to all of the questions below then you are eligible to apply.

-Were you in business prior to March 1, 2020?
-Is your business independently owned and operated?
-Was your business directly impacted by COVID-19 and you will utilize loan proceeds to mitigate these impacts?
-Have you averaged fifty (50) or fewer concurrent employees from March 1, 2019, through March 1, 2020?
-In calendar year 2019, was your annualized revenue $5,000,000 or less?
-Has your business had a fixed office, or distribution point, located within Kern County for at least the past six (6) months?
-Do you hold any required business license issued by Kern County, or a city within the county?
-Do you employ at least one (1) full-time, or two (2) part-time employees whose primary residence is located within Kern County? If your business has no employees, is it at fifty percent (50%) owned by one (1) or more persons whose primary residence is located within Kern County?

• Due date:  Loan proceeds must be spent. 16 weeks from date of loan issuance or by December 30, 2020, whichever is first.
• Time before assistance is approved: TBD

• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: IRS
• Description: The employee retention credit is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll.
• Link(s): https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/new-employee-retention-credit-helps-employers-keep-employees-on-payroll
• Type of assistance: Credit
• Amount: The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19.
• Restrictions/Eligibility: 

  The credit is available to all employers that have experienced an economic hardship due to COVID-19. This includes tax-exempt organizations. Only two exceptions apply:

  -Federal, state and local governments and their instrumentalities, and
  -Small businesses that receive small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.

• Due date: Eligible employers can claim this credit for wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021.
• Time before assistance is approved: Employers can be immediately reimbursed for the credit by reducing their required deposits of payroll taxes that have been withheld from employees' wages by the amount of the credit.

• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: IRS
• Description: The paid sick leave credit is designed to allow business to get a credit for an employee who is unable to work (including telework) because of Coronavirus quarantine or self-quarantine or has Coronavirus symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis. 
• Link(s): https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-three-new-credits-are-available-to-many-businesses-hit-by-covid-19
• Type of assistance: Credit
• Amount: Employees are entitled to paid sick leave for up to 10 days (up to 80 hours) at the employee's regular rate of pay up to $511 per day and $5,110 in total.
• Restrictions/Eligibility: Employees who are unable to work (including telework) because of Coronavirus quarantine or self-quarantine or has Coronavirus symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis. The employer can also receive the credit for employees who are unable to work due to caring for someone with Coronavirus or caring for a child.
• Due date: 12/31/20
• Time before assistance is approved: Employers can be immediately reimbursed for the credit by reducing their required deposits of payroll taxes that have been withheld from employees' wages by the amount of the credit.

• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

Applications are now closed

• Agency: Hello Alice and Verizon
• Description: To ensure Business for All, Hello Alice with the support of Verizon, Silicon Valley Bank, Ebay, and others is offering $10,000 emergency grants, being distributed immediately to small business owners impacted by this pandemic.
• Link(s): http://www.covid19businesscenter.com/
• Type of assistance: grants
• Amount: $10K in emergency grants
• Restrictions/Eligibility: your business has been severely impacted by COVID-19
• Due date: Until funds are depleted
• Time before assistance is approved: not determined 

• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

The grant application process is now closed

• Agency: Salesforce has partnered with Ureeka
• Description: Salesforce is partnering with Ureeka to offer eligible small businesses the opportunity to receive a $10,000 grant to help them through the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Link(s): https://apply.salesforce.ureeka.biz/prog/salesforce_small_business_grants_west/
• Type of assistance: grants
• Amount: $10,000
• Restrictions/Eligibility: For-profit company, Have between 2 to 50 employees,Have been in business for 2 full years as of March 2020, Have an annual revenue between $250k and $2M, Have experienced challenges from COVID-19
• Due date: Applications will open in 2 phases. Each phase will have 1 week to apply. California phase 1 closes on May 4th
• Time before assistance is approved: You will receive a confirmation email with next steps within 24 hours after you have completed all parts of the application and submitted.

• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: betterfin
• Description: Betterfin Launches Free TurboTax-Like Concierge to Assist Small Businesses in Securing $350B in Fiscal Stimulus Funds. Hours filling out forms and, on average, forty-three days for funds is not good enough to save businesses who need help now. Betterfin has built an easy-to-use, consumer facing platform for small business owners and a white-label version for Small Business Development Center advisors to use with small business clients. ReadyRelief™ has digitized and simplified a process that is hindering businesses in dire need. The intention behind ReadyRelief™ is to take the entire process down from forty-three days to less than a week.
• Link(s):https://www.betterfin.com/blog/readyrelief
• Amount: NA
• Restrictions/Eligibility: Small Businesses
• Due date: NA
• Time before assistance is approved: NA
• Who can receive assistance: NA

• Agency: Kern Community Foundation
• Description: Kern Community Foundation established the Kern County COVID-19 Relief Fund to help those affected by the impact of the Coronavirus in Kern County. Grants from the fund will address the immediate and longer-term needs of our region’s most vulnerable residents who will be impacted by the Coronavirus.
• Link(s): http://www.kernfoundation.org/nonprofits/available-grants/
• Type of assistance: grants
• Amount: $5,000 to $30,000
• Restrictions/Eligibility: Grants are open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and other public agencies serving Kern County residents
• Due date: Until funds are depleted
• Time before assistance is approved: 2 weeks

• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

Notice: PPP Resumes April 27, 2020

• Agency: SBA- Small Business Administration
• Description: This loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. NOTE: Please contact your local participating bank for additional infomation, online applications vary per local bank. MORE INFORMATION FROM SBA HERE
• Link(s): https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form-2483-paycheck-protection-program-borrower-application-form
• Type of assistance: FUNDING $$$ - LOAN
• Amount: $1K to $100K
• Restrictions/Eligibility: Any small business concern that meets SBA’s size standards (either the industry based sized standard or the alternative size standard)
• Due date: Until funds are depleted
• Time before assistance is approved: Varies by bank application. Check with local bank
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

SBA will begin accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance applications on June 15 to qualified small businesses and U.S. agricultural businesses.

Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Agency: SBA- Small Business Administration
• Description: Apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

  The loan advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This loan advance will not have to be repaid. MORE INFORMATION FROM SBA HERE

• Link(s): https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loan-emergency-advance
• Type of assistance: CASH $$$ ASSISTANCE
• Amount: Up to $2,000,000
• Restrictions/Eligibility:  Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. For agricultural businesses that submitted an EIDL application through the streamlined application portal prior to the legislative change, SBA will process these applications without the need for re-applying.
• Due date: Until funds are depleted
  
• Time before assistance is approved: Varies by application. Check with local SBA office
• Who can receive assistance:

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: SBA- Small Business Administration
• Description: Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
• Link(s): https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-express-bridge-loans
• Type of assistance: Express Loan
• Amount: SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 
• Restrictions/Eligibility: TermsUp to $25,000Fast turnaroundWill be repaid in full or in part by proceeds from the EIDL loan
• Due date: Until funds are depleted
• Time before assistance is approved: Varies
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: SBA- Small Business Administration
• Description: As part of SBA's debt relief efforts,The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
• Link(s): https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-debt-relief
• Type of assistance: SBA's debt relief
• Amount: Based on your current SBA loan 
• Restrictions/Eligibility: The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
• Due date: December 31, 2020
• Time before assistance is approved: Call your local SBA office or lender who approved your current SBA loan
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
• Description: Effective March 30, 2020 all taxpayers who file a return less than $1 Million dollars will have an additional 3 months to file their return, between now and July 31, 2020.If you qualify for this extension it is automatic and you do not need to apply.
• Link(s): https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/covid19.htm#small-business-payment
• Type of assistance: DEFERRAL PAYMENT 
• Amount: Based on your current sales tax liability-will vary 
• Restrictions/Eligibility: taxpayers who file a return less than $1 Million dollars
• Due date: 7/31/2020
• Time before assistance is approved: Automatic - based on qualifications 
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
• Description: Effective April 2, 2020, small business taxpayers, those with less than $5 million in taxable annual sales, can take advantage of a 12-month, interest-free, payment plan for up to $50,000 of sales and use tax liability.
• Link(s): English- https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/covid19.htm#small-business-payment  Spanish: https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/covid19-es.htm
• Type of assistance: Payment plan requests
• Amount: Based on your current sales tax liability-will vary 
• Restrictions/Eligibility: At this point, the program is only available for sales and use tax liabilities.
• Due date: Effective April 2, 2020
• Time before assistance is approved: Payment plan requests can be made through our online services system in the coming months. Please bookmark this page and check back for additional updates.
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: Small Business Finance Center (SBFC)
• Description: The SBFC helps businesses create and retain jobs, and encourages investment in low- to moderate-income communities. The SBFC has several programs to support small business, including a Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee, a Jump Start Loan Program and more. The State of California is allocating $50 million to the Small Business Finance Center at California’s IBank to mitigate barriers to capital for those small businesses (1-750 employees) that may not qualify for federal funds (including businesses in low-wealth and immigrant communities). The $50 million allocation will be used to recapitalize the IBank Small Business Loan Guarantee Program.
• Link(s): https://www.ibank.ca.gov/small-business-finance-center/
• Type of assistance: Loan
• Amount: This disaster program provides guarantees for loans of up to $50,000 for small business borrowers in declared disaster areas
• Restrictions/Eligibility: Small Businesses located in California with 1-750 employees that have been negatively impacted or experienced disruption by COVID-19 Eligible Nonprofits
• Due date: Based on Funds availability
• Time before assistance is approved: Varies on Bank process 
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: Kern County
• Description: BAKERSFIELD, CA – Due to County buildings being closed to the public through May 1, 2020, the April 10
  Property Tax deadline is being extended to May 4, 2020. However, even after County buildings open, it is strongly recommended that you do NOT come into the office to pay. For your own health and safety, we do not want you to stand in long lines in close proximity to others. In fact, there may still be a statewide order against gatherings that would prohibit in person payments. 
• Link(s): https://www.kerncounty.com/government/coronavirus-menu
• Type of assistance: Due to County buildings being closed to the public through May 1, 2020, the April 10 Property Tax deadline is being extended to May 4, 2020.
• Amount: Extension 
• Restrictions/Eligibility: Kern County Business property and county residents
• Due Date:  All Taxes are due on May 1, 2020
• Time before assistance is approved: N/A
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund
• Description: Thanks to a $2.5 million investment from Verizon, we are offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing becomes available.
• Link(s): https://www.lisc.org/covid-19/verizon-small-business-recovery-fund/
• Type of assistance: Grant
• Amount: up to $10,000
• Restrictions/Eligibility: LISC will use the Verizon funding to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital.
• Due Date:  Applications for round 3 are now closed. Register here for updates.
• Time before assistance is approved: 28 days upon approval
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: CDTFA 
• Description: Under the program released today, qualifying businesses can enter into payment plans to distribute up to $50,000 of sales tax liability over a 12-month period, interest-free. For taxpayers choosing to defer their 1st quarter 2020 liability, for example, up to $50,000 of the obligation would now be paid in twelve equal monthly installments, with the first payment not due until July 31, 2020.
• Link(s): https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/news/20-07.htm
• Type of assistance: Payment plan
• Amount: varies
• Restrictions/Eligibility: gives all businesses with less than $5 million in annual taxable sales the ability to defer payment on up to $50,000 in sales and use tax liability without incurring any penalties or interest.
• Due Date: Check website for updates
• Time before assistance is approved: Check website for updates
• Who can receive assistance: 

  info

  US Citizens and Legal Residents:	ITIN and/or Undocumented:
  Yes	Yes

• Agency: CPUC 
• Description: Utility Consumer Protections During California COVID-19 Outbreak
• Link(s): https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/covid19protections/
• Type of assistance: Payment plan requests
• Amount: Based on current utilities
• Restrictions/Eligibility: Utility customers
• Due date:Based on Utility company
• Time before assistance is approved: N/A
• Who can receive assistance: 

• Agency: EDD
• Description: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic. 
• Link(s): https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance.htm
• Type of assistance: Financial Assistance
• Amount: up to $600.00 per week
• Restrictions/Eligibility: February 2, 2020, through the week ending December 26, 2020
• Due date:12/26/2020
• Time before assistance is approved: Based on Eligibility 
• Who can receive assistance: 

• Agency: IRS
• Description: Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19
• Link(s): https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-7200
• Type of assistance: IRS Credit
• Amount: up to 10,000 per qualifed Employee
• Restrictions/Eligibility: US employers
• Due date: December 31 2020
• Time before assistance is approved: Check with IRS
• Who can receive assistance: 

• Agency: City of Bakersfield
• Description: The City of Bakersfield's Economic and Community Development Division has created a resources guide for local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis.
• Link(s): https://bakersfieldcity.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=54556.37&BlobID=34231
• Type of assistance: Loans and Grants
• Amount: ranges
• Restrictions/Eligibility: see guide for specifications
• Due date: see guide for specifications
• Time before assistance is approved: see guide for specifications
• Who can receive assistance: 

• Agency: United States Department of the Treasury
• Description: If you received communication from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, please report that activity to the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline.
• Link(s): https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml
• Type of assistance: Public Information
• Amount: N/A
• Restrictions/Eligibility: N/A
• Due date: N/A 
• Time before assistance is approved: N/A
• Who can receive assistance: N/A