Briefing on COVID-19 for Pasadena Business Community March 31, 2020

News & Announcements

In an effort to keep you informed of developments related to COVID-19, the City of Pasadena offers the following information to the Pasadena business community. Our goal is to disseminate accurate public health information, offer recommendations to prepare for and slow the spread of the virus, and provide links to resources for additional information. Please disseminate this information with your businesses, community partners, etc.

The COVID-19 Briefings will continue in the coming weeks, but on a less frequent basis. As developments and resources become available, we remain committed to sharing information with the Pasadena business community. 

Proposed City Economic Stimulus

At the March 30, 2020 Special Meeting of the City Council, the City Manager proposed an economic stimulus measure that benefits Pasadena Water & Power electric customers. The measure, if approved, would provide a 2 year rebate on a surtax collected from electric rate payers, and suspend the same surtax for 6 months moving forward.

The recommendation will return to Council on April 6, 2020, and once approved, checks could be issued in as early as 2 weeks. To view the presentation provided to the City Council on March 30th, click http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/councilagendas/2020%20Agendas/Mar_30_2020/AR%2018%20PPT.pdf

Federal CARES Act Guide For Small Business

To help small business owners and entrepreneurs better understand the new programs that will soon be available to them, the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship has created a comprehensive guide to many of the small business provisions in the the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress. These programs and initiatives are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now.

CARES Act resources will become available through the Small Business Administration (SBA). To read the comprehensive guide, click https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/2/9/29fc1ae7-879a-4de0-97d5-ab0a0cb558c8/1BC9E5AB74965E686FC6EBC019EC358F.the-small-business-owner-s-guide-to-the-cares-act-final-.pdf

Connect Pasadena! Virtual Content from Businesses Needed

The City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau are putting together a directory of virtual educational and engaging content for our businesses to share with our residents as we all practice safe social distancing. 

Content must be free so that everyone can access it. Content should feature ideas for activities or lessons that people can do from home and allow for safe social distancing. Finally, content should be educational, engaging, or instructional (read: not a sales video).

To sign-up and share your virtual content with all of Pasadena, click https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=APzZgmYsAkSij8a83DLkkWtZOGDTOd5AkUO_vpuEwKhUMjdSMlo5NDlVNDRSMTg1U1hLSEVDOE1TNy4u

Restaurant Promotions - Opportunity to Expand Your Reach

Over the next three weekends in April, the Pasadena Center Operating Company (PCOC) will be providing students from the Pasadena Unified School District with 1,550 meals each day. The PCOC is offering restaurants an opportunity to share a promotion or deal with families who pick-up meals through the City/PUSD Grab-and-Go meal program. To participate, enter your business name, website, and discount.deal by April 2nd at noon. Businesses can sign-up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJ49L3xYNq3KDovarZNMJuXRPQj_lScHV1RKUstAJIlEc2wg/viewform

Pasadena Takeout & Delivery Directory Live + Add Your Business Link

To access and share the Directory of Pasadena restaurants, bakeries and cafes offering takeout & delivery, click https://www.visitpasadena.com/pasadenabusinesses/

Please help spread the word to show our restaurants a little love and help them keep the lights on. The directory updates every 24 hours, Monday-Friday.

All Pasadena restaurants and cafes that are offering takeout and delivery, please continue to add your business to the directory now being compiled by the City of Pasadena & Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau. Business can sign-up https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=APzZgmYsAkSij8a83DLkkWtZOGDTOd5AkUO_vpuEwKhUOFZGN0FCOUdPT05GWjZQNTQ0WVpWRkYyWi4u

Takeout Operations Guidance for Restaurants

The Pasadena Public Health Department has issued new food preparation and delivery guidance for restaurants during COVID-19. This document provides guidance for safely preparing, delivering, and receiving food, and can be used by food facilities, and food delivery companies, and charitable organizations. For more information, click http://www.cityofpasadena.net/economicdevelopment/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Food-Delivery-Guidance-COVID-19.pdf

Modifications to Restaurant Operations

Many restaurants and bars are looking for creative ways to serve the community. The Pasadena Public Health Department will work with restaurants and bars to make those modifications safe. Facilities operating outside the scope of their health permit may be closed until they are able to safely revise their operations to protect the health of the community. To contact the Environmental Health Office, please call (626) 744-6004. 

Local Store Marketing Tool To Help Your Business

The City of Pasadena is pleased to offer Pasadena businesses an additional marketing tool to target potential customers, especially in planning for future marketing campaigns. The LSMx program is intended for small and/or independent business owners and provides customer and trade area insights. Here is a demo video https://buxtonco.wistia.com/medias/vso6m902jh. To learn more and to sign-up to access this FREE tool, Pasadena businesses should click https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=APzZgmYsAkSij8a83DLkkWtZOGDTOd5AkUO_vpuEwKhUMlY1U0M0U1pHUjhEMEdCSEdGRVFOMEo1RS4u. 

Huntington Hospital Needs Your Help!

Huntington Hospital is need of donations to support healthcare providers so that they have access to critical supplies. If you'd like to help support healthcare providers at Huntington Hospital and community, please review now at the link https://www.huntingtonhospital.org/our-services/emergency-trauma/hospital-preparedness-covid-19-information/how-you-can-help/. 

Foothill Workforce Development Board Resources During COVID-19 Disruptions

Small Business Development Center Resources During COVID-19 Disruptions

The California Small Business Development Centers are a resource for businesses that need assistance navigating business impacts from the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The SBDC is offering the following services:

  • SBDC Virtual Business Consulting - always at no cost - Schedule a virtual consultation by calling 1-866-588-SBDC (7232). Get help with applying for relief, guiding you through available resources, cash flow concerns, supply chain interruptions, workforce capacity, insurance coverage and more.
  • A dedicated webpage with info about SBDC services during COVID-19 is https://smallbizla.org/covid19-response-guide/.

Helpful Links For State Business Resources: 

  • The State Employment Development Department (EDD) has a dedicated webpage for worker and employer issues related to COVID-19. Info for workers includes: unemployment & disability insurance, paid family leave, reduced work hours, etc. Info for employers includes: tax assistance, potential closure or layoffs, and workplace health & safety.
  • EDD Tax Assistance - Employers experiencing a hardship as a result of COVID-19 may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the EDD to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. Call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center 1-888-745-3886 (toll-free).
  • The Small Business Finance Center (SBFC) partners with Financial Development Corporations to provide loan guarantees and direct loans for small businesses that experience capital access barriers. For more info about loan programs can be found https://www.ibank.ca.gov/small-business-finance-center/.

Helpful Links Regarding COVID-19:

Sign-Up for Business Briefing Updates: 

Please encourage your merchants, business owners, and associates to subscribe to receive these business updates related to the City of Pasadena's response to COVID-19. To subscribe, click http://www.cityofpasadena.net/covid-19-updates/.

We appreciate our business community's patience, understanding, and support as we navigate the challenges related to COVID-19. We are a resilient community. We are in this together. Please stay healthy and safe. 

If you would like to receive future email updates regarding COVID-19, please sign up on City of Pasadena website.