COVID -19 Business Resources

New Shelter-in-Place Order Allowing Curbside Retail and Manufacturing to Open Across Marin

The public health officer for Marin County issued a new shelter-in-place order allowing curbside retail and manufacturing to open across Marin cities, towns and unincorporated areas on May 18. This builds on the May 4 order, which re-opened outdoor businesses and construction.

Marin Recovers Industry Advisors – comprised of industry experts, business representatives, residents, public health professionals and local government – has created industry-specific working groups to collaborate on reopening the economy and community while supporting businesses with the reopening process.

The result includes clear guidelines for reopening that are aligned with state and local public health requirements and result in safe and productive businesses environments.  The goal of the guidelines is to ensure that every business owner is well prepared to protect both employees and customers when they reopen. 

Protocols for businesses are based on state and industry guidelines and have been finalized in partnership with Marin’s business community, the Public Health Officer, and legal counsel. These protocols expand upon the county’s physical distancing protocols and offer business specific standards to support a safe and productive business environment.

Its ultimately up to each business to determine when it is able to reopen following authorization by the county’s Public Health Officer. General information regarding the Marin Recovers business reopening process may be found here.

Site-Specific Protection Plan (SPP)

Each business must complete the COVID-19 Site Specific Protection Plan (Revised Appendix A) prior to reopening (businesses already allowed to operate under prior orders have a two-week grace period until June 1 to complete and comply with the plan).

The Site-Specific Protection Plan (SPP) template combines state-level guidance published in the California State Resilience Roadmap and local Marin County public health policies.

The State of California requires all businesses to:

  1. Perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan (SPP)
  2. Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them
  3. Implement individual control measures and screenings
  4. Implement disinfecting protocols
  5. Implement physical distancing guidelines

As the COVID-19 public health crisis continues to evolve and new Public Health Orders are issued both at the State and local levels, amendments to individual businesses’ SPPs may be needed in order to incorporate new requirements. Check the Marin Recovers website frequently for updated information and tools for you to use in developing any needed amendments.

Please make sure to verify your business is following the appropriate guidelines. Click on the following link and select the industry your business falls under.: https://marinrecovers.com/agencies/guidelines-for-businesses/ 

For all of our retail businesses, here is the link to the full guidance provided by the County: https://marinrecovers.com/retail/ 

It is very important to stay up-to-date on changes in the County Orders. Please make sure to sign up to receive notifications directly from them. Please click here to register. 

Please visit the County of Marin’s Coronavirus page for the most current information: https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/   

Guidelines for Businesses


                                                      

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Financial Assistance and other Relevant Information

Economic Injury Disaster Loan information and Clarifications. 


To view a pdf with important information on EIDL Loans and other assistance information from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), please click here.  

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act


On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in response to the public health crisis that has emerged from the spread of COVID-19. To read the text for the CARES Act, please click here. To view the Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARES Act, please click here. The Small Business Owner's Guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available form the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA. 

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act)


Under this Act, certain employers are required to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. To view the entitlements, learn if you are eligible and learn about enforcement, please click here. 

California Assistance for Small Businesses and Workers 


  • Governor Newsom announced $50 million in loan guarantees as part of the Small Business Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program available for small businesses that may not be eligible for federal relief. To get information on this program, please click here. 
  • OnwardCA.org is a new resource available for the people of California who have been impacted by job loss during the COVID-19 Pandemic. To visit the site, please click here. 
  • Governor Newsom announced the availability of 12 month payment plans for small businesses. To learn more about this opportunity and to learn how to request for an extension to file your return or prepayment, please click here. 
  • California IBank has low-interest and state-guaranteed business loans and microloans for small business borrowers who have been impacted by regional disasters and who need term loans or lines of credit for working capital. For more information click here.
  • The California Capital Access Program (CalCAP) for Small Business encourages banks and other financial institutions to make loans to small businesses that have difficulty obtaining financing. If you own a small business and need a loan for start-up, expansion or working capital, you may eligible for this program. Loans are available up to $5 million. To learn more, please click here. 
  • The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) wants to keep workers, employers, co-workers, and families safe. Knowing what employees are entitled to may be confusing and for that reason, LWDA has guidance that should help you determine what is best for you, your family and your workplace. To learn more, please click here. 
  • The Employment Development Department (EDD) provides a variety of resources for employers who anticipate a reduction of work hours or potential closure or layoffs as a result of Coronavirus.  Employers experiencing a hardship as a result of Coronavirus may also 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. For questions, employers may call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center at (888) 745-3886 or visit their site by clicking here.