LAKE COUNTY
County of Lake awards $1.3 million to small businesses
$1.3 million in grants were issued to eligible small businesses through the Lake County CARES Small Business Assistance Grant Program. The County of Lake partnered with Lake County Economic Development Corporation to provide much needed financial relief to businesses at a key juncture of COVID-19 pandemic response.
“Local businesses are the backbone of our community,” emphasized District 2 Supervisor and County CARES Act Ad Hoc Committee member, Bruno Sabatier. “They offer so much to our communities; employment, support for programs and activities – many of the things we need to find comfort in our lives. COVID-19 has had a great impact on their financial stability, and we need to do what we can to provide the respite they need in these troubling times.”
COVID-19 has severely affected the hospitality industry: “The Hotel was closed for three months in the spring,” said Bernie Butcher of the Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Restaurant. “This grant from the Lake County Board of Supervisors will be extremely helpful in allowing us to retain staff and expand our services.”
“This grant is everything,” exclaimed Derick Fiske, owner of Middletown’s Perry’s Deli, another grant recipient. “It has helped keep our dream of running a small business in our hometown alive. We couldn’t be more proud to be part of Lake County. Thank you!”
Lake County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) shared the County’s vision to bring relief to a broad set of pandemic-affected businesses, and administered the program with support from Economic Development and Finance Corporation of Ukiah (https://www.edfc.org/).
“This grant program has helped bridge a funding gap for many small businesses,” said LCEDC President, Stephanie Ashworth. “However, the work is not done, and we all have a part to play. Continue to support your neighborhood businesses, by using local pick-up services and home delivery. Shop local even when you shop online, and continue to visit Lake County businesses that can safely provide in-person services.”
“The Small Business Assistance Grant Program brought a breath of fresh air, and we must continue to find ways to help businesses endure the pandemic,” affirmed Sabatier. Keeping our communities safe and supporting Lake County’s business community are among our Board’s top priorities.”
More resources for Small Businesses and a link to sign up for alerts regarding the State’s upcoming $500 million Small Business Relief Grant opportunity can be found at: https://business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019/
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WASHINGTON D.C.
Thompson receives COVID-19 vaccine
This weekend Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that he has received the first of two injections for the COVID-19 vaccine. This dose was received at the advice of the House Attending Physician for continuity of government purposes and he will receive the second dose in three weeks.
“At the strong recommendation of the Office of the House Attending Physician, I received the first injection of the COVID-19 vaccine. I plan to get my second and final dose in three weeks. These doses were made available to Members of Congress for continuity of government purposes, consistent with direction from the National Security Council. I have no reservations about the science and research behind this vaccine and I’m grateful to all the scientists who made this possible. I encourage everyone to get it after consulting with their physician and following local guidance on distribution timetables.
“My wife, Jan, is a nurse at St. Helena Hospital and she received her vaccination tomorrow. We feel very lucky to get these early doses and I’m going to do everything I can to deliver Federal funding to help speed up the rollout of this vaccine. We both want to remind everyone that we still need to continue safety protocols to keep every safe and crush the virus. Please continue washing your hands frequently, watching your social distance and wearing your masks. Let’s get through this together.”
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