LAKE COUNTY
Lake County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Team advocates for fair share of California Relief Grant funds for local businesses
County and community leaders are committed to helping local businesses struggling to overcome challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Late last year, the Lake County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Team was established as a collaborative advocacy group, with the intent of ensuring Lake County businesses have a fair and equitable opportunity to access high demand COVID-19 relief funding programs, such as the State’s California Relief Grants and the Federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Rural communities, such as Lake County, frequently have fewer businesses, even in the best of times. According to 2018 and 2019 Census data, there are just over 17 “employer establishments” for every 1,000 Lake County residents, significantly lower the ratios of neighboring Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa Counties (28.5-31.3/1,000).
The loss of one Lake County business has a significant community effect, and the representatives of the County of Lake, Cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lake County Economic Development Corporation and Middletown Area Merchants Association that comprise the Lake County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Team want to see that fact recognized in the distribution of public COVID-19 relief funding.
On Tuesday, the group approved a letter to the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), urging the following changes to the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program:
- An equitable share of grant funding for Lake County businesses
- An equitable share of grant funding for California’s Rural Counties
- Consideration of the “economic weight” a business carries within a county in the prioritization formula for distribution of funds.
County officials noted this letter is a meaningful step, and demonstrates the alignment of Lake County leaders across sectors. Local business owners are likewise encouraged to add your voices, and share your stories, with Director Guzman and CalOSBA, at isabel.guzman@gobiz.ca.gov.
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LAKEPORT
Valentine Candy sales help County residents and organizations
See’s candy in Valentine special packaging is available daily at North Lake Medical Pharmacy. Delta Iota Tau, a Lake County Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, sells See’s Candy all year through North Lake Medical Pharmacy located in the Bruno’s Shop Smart Center on Lakeport Boulevard. The money raised through these sales enables Delta Iota Tau to make a variety of community donations all year long. All monies raised are donated to Lake County residents and organizations only.
Donations each year have included: Clear Lake High School scholarships, Park Study Project, Wreaths Across America, Sponsoring Survivorship, Lake County Habitat for Humanity, Senior Center Christmas Gifts, Operation Tango Mike, Clear Lake High School Sober Grad Night to name just a few.
When the public purchases See’s Candy from Delta Iota Tau please remember that the purchases provide far more joy than to the person who receives the candy. “Many deserving people benefit from your purchase of See’s Candy, far more than you may imagine, states Chapter President, Toni Funderburg, thank you for supporting our community giving.”
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CALIFORNIA
Californians have a new incentive for going electric on their next vehicle: Up to $1,500 off the price
Planning to shop for a new vehicle during the Presidents’ Day weekend? California has a new incentive for going electric. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and other electric utilities have teamed up with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to offer the California Clean Fuel Reward, a point-of-sale price reduction of up to $1,500 off the purchase or lease of any eligible, new electric vehicle (EV). Consumers can receive this instant price reduction at any participating automotive retailer.
“The goal of the program is to accelerate the number of electric vehicles on California’s roads and highways,” said CARB Vice-Chair Sandy Berg. “The instant point-of-sale price reduction of up to $1,500 will help make these ultra-clean cars more affordable, especially for low-income families or those living in disadvantaged communities.”
The California Clean Fuel Reward is available to everyone in California and taking advantage of the reward is easy. When buying or leasing an EV at an enrolled retailer in California, the retailer will simply include the reward in the transaction at the point of sale. The customer does not need to do any paperwork after the sale to receive the reward.
Lists of enrolled retailers and eligible battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles are on cleanfuelreward.com, which will be continually updated as new retailers and EV models are added.
More than 20 cars from 15 manufacturers are eligible for the reward including 2021 models eligible to receive the full $1,500. PG&E recommends customers explore the entire list of available vehicles and rewards.
The California Clean Fuel Reward can be combined with existing post-sale federal, state and local incentives, such as the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, Clean Cars 4 All, and the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, to potentially help customers save over $10,000 on their EV purchase.
PG&E EV Resources
PG&E’s EV Savings Calculator at https://ev.pge.com/?utm_source=pge_zr&utm_medium=press_release&utm_campaign=2020_10 helps customers who are considering purchasing or leasing an EV to compare cars and evaluate total cost of ownership of an EV compared to gas-powered cars. The tool provides customers with a personalized recommendation that includes estimated costs, savings, and rebates or incentives of up to approximately $10,000.
To learn more about PG&E’s support and resources for customers with EVs, visit pge.com/ev.
More Information on the California Clean Fuel Reward
The California Clean Fuel Reward is funded by electric utilities participating in CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program.
Southern California Edison is administering the program on behalf of, and in collaboration with, all participating utilities.
For more information, customers can visit cleanfuelreward.com, email info@cleanfuelreward.com or call 1-800-880-0320.
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