Updated: 8/3/2020, 12:37 p.m.

 NEW RIVERSIDE COUNTY CLOSURES

Gov. Newsom has announced that Riverside County and 29 other counties must close until further notice the following indoor locations, unless they can be modified to operate outside or by pick-up:

• Fitness centers
• Worship services
• Protests
• Offices for non-essential sectors
• Personal care services, like nail salons, body waxing and tattoo parlors
• Hair salons and barbershops
• Malls

   CITY STRENGTHENS FACE COVERING ORDER

Effective immediately, the following additional requirements for wearing face coverings in a public setting now apply:

• Outdoors, standing, walking, hiking, bicycling or running, on any sidewalk that is adjacent to any business establishment.

• In fitness centers (including gyms, yoga studios, and dance fitness studios). Face coverings must be worn at all times within such locations, including while exercising.

• Picking up food, or in-person dining, at a restaurant that is allowed to be open.

For more information: City News Release | City Order

ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM TO REOPEN

The SBA announced that it is again opening up its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) grant and loan program.  

EIDL loans can provide vital economic assistance to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue Businesses are experiencing.  These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the COVID 19 pandemic. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses with a maximum term of 30 years. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%. 

The program includes an advance up to $10,000 which does not have to be repaid.  Recipients do not have to be approved for a loan in order to receive the advance, but the amount of the loan advance will be deducted from total loan eligibility.  You must have been in business as of January 31, 2020. The grants are available until December 16, 2020.  Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Eligible businesses include:

• Independent contractors
• Freelancers
• Sole proprietorships, with or without employees
• Gig workers
• Small businesses with less than 500 employees
• Agricultural businesses

 To apply, please visit:  https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/

 "UNITED LIFT" TO DISBURSE $33 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE; APPLICATION PERIOD BEGINS JUNE 15

United Lift, a rental assistance program coordinated between Riverside County, United Way of the Inland Valleys, and Lift To Rise, is launching this week with the goal of keeping 10,000 families and residents housed.

The program for Riverside County residents will provide $33 million in rental assistance between the months of June and November. Lift to Rise and United Way of Inland Valleys will administer the program, including dispersing the first round of payments in July.

Residents may apply at UnitedLift.org or by calling 2-1-1. The application portal will be live and available in English and Spanish beginning June 15. The first application window will be open for 10 days and close on June 25. Following the initial window, applications will be open every month for a period of 10 days.

Click HERE for more information.

  Stay Safe! Cover Your Face!

The face coverings do not have to be hospital grade but need to cover the nose and mouth. For example, bandanas, fabric masks and neck gaiters are acceptable. Fabric covers and bandanas can be washed and used again.

County Approves $45 Million in Grant Funding for Small Businesses; Applications deadline is June 19

Businesses located within Riverside County that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic are encouraged to apply for a $10,000 COVID-19 Small Business Grant from the County of Riverside.

Apply HERE for County grant funding

   Tenant Rights and Resources Info

RivCo EDA Subsidized Employment Program

The EDA has grant money, to help businesses save money on hiring new employees, overhead costs and staying afloat in these uncertain times.

Here's how it works:

1. After registering online, you give us a job description of who you need to hire.
2. The EDA will pre-screen candidates and match them to meet your job description at no cost to you.
3. We give you only those resumes.
4. You interview and you hire who is right for your company.

Here's what you get:

For each referral you hire, our program will subsidize you half of the new employee’s hourly wages for 6 months, if they work a minimum of 20 hours per week on average.

What do we need from you to register?

1. Completion of Online Vendor registration with the County of Riverside for prompt reimbursement.
2. Completed W-9 form for the business.
3. Copy of your ACORD Certificate of Insurance.
4. Completed job description for all available positions.

Vendor Registration can be found HERE.

For more information regarding the Subsidized Employment Program visit HERE.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for Self-Employed Workers & Independent Contractors 

If you are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19, an independent contractor or self-employed, don’t have sufficient work history, exhausted regular & extended unemployment insurance, you can now apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through the State of California Employment Development Department. 

 To apply, visit https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance.htm

Jobseekers in Riverside County may apply for workforce assistance programs

County residents who lost employment because of the coronavirus epidemic may receive up to $800 in job loss benefits thanks to a $252,000 state grant received by the Riverside County Workforce Development Division.

 “I am glad we have this additional resource from the State of California to assist job-seekers in Riverside County,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “This will support many people through the transition to new employment opportunities.”

 The funding will help provide supportive services for jobseekers enrolled in the agency’s various workforce assistance programs.  Eligible jobseekers will be eligible for up to $800 in financial support for:

 Housing assistance

• Utility assistance
• Telework equipment and internet access
• Childcare assistance
• Transportation assistance

 Jobseekers who suffered a permanent job loss due to economic impacts of COVID-19 will be prioritized for assistance.

 In addition to supportive services, jobseekers enrolled in the program will receive comprehensive workforce services which include: career coaching, paid training, on the job training and job placement.  Services are offered in a variety of formats such as internet, email and telephone to facilitate remote access.

For more information on the supportive service program, please call 951-955-9742 or contact us via email at workforcehelp@rivco.org.

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT CALIFORNIA WORKERS IMPACTED BY COVID-19

• Governor announces $75 million in statewide Disaster Relief Assistance funding to provide financial support for immigrant workers affected by COVID-19

• Philanthropic partners commit to raising an additional $50 million to support undocumented Californians

• Governor announces new initiative to expand call center hours at the Employment Development Department to better assist Californians with unemployment insurance applications

• EDD will also implement a one-stop shop for those applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, including the self-employed and independent contractors 

 REAL ESTATE PROTOCOLS UNDER SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER

Under Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-33-20, all individuals living in California were ordered to stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain the continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors. While not originally listed within such sectors, “residential and commercial real estate services” was subsequently included on March 28, 2020.

As a result, the City of Palm Springs believes, at this time and subject to any further guidance provided by State or County officials, that the following would be reasonable protocols to be implemented in providing real estate services:  Real Estate Protocols

WORKER BENEFITS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL WEBINAR FOR RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 

On Thursday, April 9, the City of Palm Springs, in partnership with the Riverside County Workforce Development Center and the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, hosted a webinar to provide information to residents who've been impacted by COVID-19. Please view here: Worker Benefits Town Hall Webinar

COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIAL ORDERS PUBLIC TO STAY HOME AND COVER FACE WHEN LEAVING

In response to the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases, Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser today ordered that no gatherings of any number of people may take place outside of family members residing in the same home.

Dr. Kaiser also ordered everyone to wear a face covering when leaving home, including essential workers. Face coverings can be bandanas, scarves, neck gaiters or other clothing that does not have visible holes. Residents should not purchase N95 or surgical masks, as these limited resources are needed for the healthcare community and first responders.

CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS URGENCY ORDINANCE FOR MORATORIUM ON RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL EVICTIONS

On April 2, 2020, the Palm Springs City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2022 enacting a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions. For more details, download the urgency ordinance by clicking here                                         Updated April 4, 2020

The City of Palm Springs will continue to provide residents, workers and visitors with updated information regarding health information, as well as resources and services for businesses and workers impacted by the City’s Shelter in Place Order.

This page will be updated regularly with more information.