Need Help Making a Plan for Your Business or Figuring Out Which Financial Options Are Best For Your Situation?

Contact the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)! The SBDC has expert business consultants available to provide free, individualized and confidential one-on-one advising to help you develop a strategy to plan and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBDC is also available to help you understand the financial resources available and prepare applications for funding. Please visit their COVID-19 resources page for instructions on how to apply for SBA disaster loan funding and information on how to request one-on-one assistance.

Need Help Developing an Online Presence or Online Payment System?

Tech entrepreneurs, educators, and local business support groups have come together to create Get Virtual- a program designed to help retailers impacted by the shelter in place closures improve their online presence while also helping students get college credit for their assistance to businesses.

GetVirtual gives local businesses affected by COVID-19 the tools to adapt to the virtual landscape and extend their businesses online. Learn more and sign up for help.

ARCHIVED WEBINARS & INFORMATION RESOURCES:

• Understanding SBA Disaster & Economic Injury Loans - Presented by Small Business Majority on Thursday, March 19
• Restaurants - Responding to COVID-19 - Presented by Norcal SBDC on Friday, March 20
• County of Santa Cruz Webinar on Resources for Local Businesses - Presented by the Santa Cruz County Office for Economic Development, in conjunction with the Workforce Development Board and Small Business Development Center on Friday, March 20
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Continued Guidance and Resources for Santa Cruz County Businesses - presented on Friday, March 27
• Keeping Stores Safe From Burglaries - Facebook Live presentation from the Santa Cruz Police Department to help shop owners protect their business from burglary crime.

Industry Specific Resources:

• Restaurant Specific Resources: Eater magazine has developed "A List of Relief Funds for Restaurants, Bars, and Food Service Workers"
  • ABC has issued regulatory relief designed to support the alcoholic beverage industry in its efforts to assist California in slowing the spread of the virus while assisting the industry in dealing with the economic challenges it is facing as a result: Learn about these changes here.
• Freelance Artist Resources: This list is specifically designed to serve freelance artists, and those interested in supporting the independent artist community. This includes, but is not limited to, actors, designers, producers, technicians, stage managers, musicians, composers, choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, craft artists, teaching artists, dancers, writers & playwrights, photographers, etc. View the resources here: covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com
• Visit Santa Cruz: Covid-19 Information for hospitality & restaurant businesses
• Visit California: Impacts, talking points, and media statements for hospitality industry businesses
• Santa Cruz Works: Information to enable your business to convert your meetings to online
• Open for Business Hub: Listing of technology companies that are helping small businesses by enabling remote work throughout this period
• Freelance Artist Resources: This list is specifically designed to serve freelance artists, and those interested in supporting the independent artist community. View the resources here.