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Last week, the County CAO and the County Public Health Officer in partnership with the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County initiated an Economic Recovery Council that is tasked with coordinating the slow re-opening of businesses in specific industries — mainly retail, restaurants, hospitality centers and other selected businesses. This is welcome news for Santa Cruz County businesses. On Monday, the Governor made further announcements about the specific guidelines for re-opening that counties must meet: -- No more than one new COVID-19 case per 10,000 residents in the past 14 days -- No COVID-19 deaths in the past 14 days -- Essential workers must have access to PPE -- A minimum of 1.5 tests per 100,000 residents being conducted daily -- At least 15 contact tracers per 100,000 residents -- Ability to temporarily house 15% of the county's homeless population -- Hospitals are equipped to handle a 35% surge at minimum -- Nursing facilities have a two-week supply of PPE -- Continue to monitor metrics to potentially re-enact restrictions These guidelines are subject to change and can be modified on a daily basis as California continues to respond the global pandemic. The County’s Economic Recovery Council met for the first time last Wednesday, and started to set up the guidelines of the specific metrics and practices that would need to be in place for us to qualify for a regional attestation from the State, allowing for a greater re-opening of our economy. The 13-member group includes several Santa Cruz County Chamber representatives of member companies. This Council will help us navigate through the State guidelines in concert with the County Public Health Officer’s direction. The group will meet weekly, and we will keep you updated with specifics. I want to give a shout out to our County Supervisors Zach Friend, Ryan Coonerty, John Leopold, Bruce McPherson and Chair Greg Caput for making this decision following public health and safety guidelines first, the County CAO Carlos Palacios, Dr. Gail Newel and Susan True, the CEO of the Community Foundation for moving us in the right direction. Stay tuned for weekly updates on the Council’s effort. Now, to put some economic perspective on the impact to local Santa Cruz County businesses, we completed our COVID-19 Survey 2 and the results are included in this eNews report. Here are some of the highlights. -- The Survey was opened on May 5 and closed on May 18, with 111 responses from all industry sectors participated. -- Of the 111 responses received 58.5% did not participate in the first survey. -- As expected, 61% (full time) and 73% (part-time) responders have 10 or fewer employees. -- Half of the businesses are located in the City of Santa Cruz and the other half are from throughout Santa Cruz County. -- 29% of the Responders said their businesses are closed and 27% stated that their business is open with reduced hours of operation. -- When the Shelter in Place is lifted 32% of the responders stated they will be 100% operational. -- Nearly 46% of responders stated they suffered losses of more than $50,000. -- 74% of the responders applied for financial assistance and 76 of the 101 responders applied for SBA PPP loans. -- 70% of the 50 responders received $50,000 or more in funds to meet their current needs and 74% stated that they would need additional financial assistance. Here are comments from some of the responders: -- Resources for sole proprietors have been almost non-existent and there have been no community funds available which is disappointing. -- I understand if we need to “freeze” our business, but how long will we be forced to do this? I would like the City / Government Help for rent if I cannot reopen. -- Simple....just let us open and we can/will be good stewards and follow guidelines to keep everyone safe. Just like grocery stores or hardware stores....we can do it! We NEED to get people back to work BEFORE MEMORIAL WEEKEND and encourage travel to SC to keep our economy going. While this survey is only a sample of businesses impacted by the pandemic, the swiftness of the economic loss and the uncertainty how businesses can rebound is still not clear. We will get through this by working together. Be Calm, Stay Safe and Buy Local CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE GRAPHIC SURVEY RESULTS!
Last week, the County CAO and the County Public Health Officer in partnership with the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County initiated an Economic Recovery Council that is tasked with coordinating the slow re-opening of businesses in specific industries — mainly retail, restaurants, hospitality centers and other selected businesses. This is welcome news for Santa Cruz County businesses.
On Monday, the Governor made further announcements about the specific guidelines for re-opening that counties must meet: -- No more than one new COVID-19 case per 10,000 residents in the past 14 days -- No COVID-19 deaths in the past 14 days -- Essential workers must have access to PPE -- A minimum of 1.5 tests per 100,000 residents being conducted daily -- At least 15 contact tracers per 100,000 residents -- Ability to temporarily house 15% of the county's homeless population -- Hospitals are equipped to handle a 35% surge at minimum -- Nursing facilities have a two-week supply of PPE -- Continue to monitor metrics to potentially re-enact restrictions
These guidelines are subject to change and can be modified on a daily basis as California continues to respond the global pandemic.
The County’s Economic Recovery Council met for the first time last Wednesday, and started to set up the guidelines of the specific metrics and practices that would need to be in place for us to qualify for a regional attestation from the State, allowing for a greater re-opening of our economy.
The 13-member group includes several Santa Cruz County Chamber representatives of member companies. This Council will help us navigate through the State guidelines in concert with the County Public Health Officer’s direction. The group will meet weekly, and we will keep you updated with specifics. I want to give a shout out to our County Supervisors Zach Friend, Ryan Coonerty, John Leopold, Bruce McPherson and Chair Greg Caput for making this decision following public health and safety guidelines first, the County CAO Carlos Palacios, Dr. Gail Newel and Susan True, the CEO of the Community Foundation for moving us in the right direction. Stay tuned for weekly updates on the Council’s effort.
Now, to put some economic perspective on the impact to local Santa Cruz County businesses, we completed our COVID-19 Survey 2 and the results are included in this eNews report. Here are some of the highlights. -- The Survey was opened on May 5 and closed on May 18, with 111 responses from all industry sectors participated.
-- Of the 111 responses received 58.5% did not participate in the first survey.
-- As expected, 61% (full time) and 73% (part-time) responders have 10 or fewer employees. -- Half of the businesses are located in the City of Santa Cruz and the other half are from throughout Santa Cruz County. -- 29% of the Responders said their businesses are closed and 27% stated that their business is open with reduced hours of operation. -- When the Shelter in Place is lifted 32% of the responders stated they will be 100% operational. -- Nearly 46% of responders stated they suffered losses of more than $50,000. -- 74% of the responders applied for financial assistance and 76 of the 101 responders applied for SBA PPP loans. -- 70% of the 50 responders received $50,000 or more in funds to meet their current needs and 74% stated that they would need additional financial assistance.
Here are comments from some of the responders:
-- Resources for sole proprietors have been almost non-existent and there have been no community funds available which is disappointing. -- I understand if we need to “freeze” our business, but how long will we be forced to do this? I would like the City / Government Help for rent if I cannot reopen. -- Simple....just let us open and we can/will be good stewards and follow guidelines to keep everyone safe. Just like grocery stores or hardware stores....we can do it! We NEED to get people back to work BEFORE MEMORIAL WEEKEND and encourage travel to SC to keep our economy going.
While this survey is only a sample of businesses impacted by the pandemic, the swiftness of the economic loss and the uncertainty how businesses can rebound is still not clear. We will get through this by working together.
Be Calm, Stay Safe and Buy Local CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE GRAPHIC SURVEY RESULTS!