Fresno businesses are hurting over coronavirus. Here’s how some can get relief
The Fresno City Council set up a small business relief fund Wednesday — the latest move to help those that have closed down due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
The city adopted a shelter-in-place order last week, asking everyone to stay home when possible during the coronavirus outbreak. A similar mandate by the state came the next day.
The relief fund will make zero percent interest loans a possible option for businesses that have been ordered to close, or those that are otherwise taking a hit because of coronavirus, according to City Attorney Doug Sloan.
Businesses will be able to apply by contacting the city’s Economic Development Department.
“We want to ensure that while we had to make the decision to prevent the spread of COVID-19, that we’re also going to take responsibility to provide relief to some of these small businesses,” Councilmember Mike Karbassi said.
Businesses that are deemed essential have been able to continue to operate, but some had to change their protocols to prevent gatherings of people. They can also apply for one of the small loans if they have been affected financially.
Along with unanimously approving the fund, the City Council also identified $750,000 to go into it. The bulk of that money, $500,000, was originally programmed for a senior center. The remaining $250,000 came from the city attorney’s budget.
The fund could also take donations or the city could add more money at a later date to increase its size.
The loans are forgivable after a year, but only if the business is still operating.
Also adopted on Wednesday were amendments to emergency measures adopted last week. The city ordered any landlords who have small business tenants to refrain from charging interest or late fees to those businesses hurt by the response to the pandemic.
“We are putting some protections for small business owners who can’t pay their rent,” Councilmember Esmeralda Soria said.
Similar protections were also adopted for residents who rent their housing.
Fresno leaders also said administrative fines would be charged to any business not operating properly under the city’s emergency measures. Businesses would get a warning before fines of $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 could be issued for subsequent violations.
Other measures
In response to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to shut down all bars and slash restaurant occupancy to flatten the coronavirus curve, the state liquor bureau offered some relief by allowing drinks to go.
The Fresno City Council added language to their emergency measures on Wednesday allowing to-go cocktails and other drinks.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued a series of regulatory relief measures last week, including the to-go policy, a few days after Newsom requested that all bars, wineries, night clubs and brew pubs in the state voluntarily close to limit the spread of the virus and further social distancing. He later requested the same of restaurants.
Public records
The Fresno City Council last week adopted emergency measures that included a clause that did away with the city’s responsibility to respond to public records requests.
That measure was met with skepticism from the journalism community, which uses those requests to ensure transparency and allows reporters to be a watchdog of government.
The council adopted new language Wednesday that said the records requests could be delayed during and following the pandemic, but that the requests would be fulfilled.
