Good morning everyone,

Thank you to all who took the time to speak to us during our merchant check-in yesterday. Many of you shared your concerns and asked many questions. We did encourage everyone to apply for the various programs/loans that available and to seek assistance from API Legal Outreach right away.

Since the shelter in place was ordered some of you have donated food to hospitals whose employees are bravely doing their work on the front lines of this pandemic. When we asked one merchant if they had extra face masks to share with another restaurant, there was no hesitation and staff brought it over right away.

Through all the uncertainties the small businesses are facing during this difficult time we keep seeing that determination and community spirit that makes Japantown a very special place. It’s that same spirit that will continue to give us strength so that Japantown can once again thrive.

Please continue to stay safe!

We mentioned in an email campaign that API Legal Outreach staff is now available to assist one-on-one with our Japantown small businesses to help guide you through the various COVID-19 programs, services and loan programs.

Please call 1-415-567-6255 and leave a message requesting help in the language preferred. Currently they provide assistance in the following languages: Korean, Japanese, Tagalog, Cantonese, and Spanish. The information will be routed to staff with that language for assistance. Please do not forget to leave your name, business name and phone number.

We deeply appreciate API Legal Outreach for their assistance to help our Japantown small businesses through this difficult time.

Verizon-LISC  Small Business
Recovery Grant Application

Thanks to a $2.5 million investment from Verizon, LISC is offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing becomes available. 

Who is eligible?
LISC will use the Verizon funding to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital.

What it can be used for?

• Paying rent and utilities

• Meeting payroll

• Paying outstanding debt to vendors

• Other immediate operational costs

What’s next?
We’re now accepting applications. Click here to apply. 

Applications for the 1st round of grants must be completed TODAY, April 4th, 11:59 PM ET. They will continue to accept applications for the 2nd round. 

California Small Businesses
Get Sales Tax Reprieve

Yesterday Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the state is offering a one-year reprieve for small businesses not paying sales tax.

Small businesses can keep up to $50,000 in sales tax receipts for the next year as the COVID-19 outbreak has forced people to stay home and many shops to close.

This means businesses with $5 million in sales or less will get up to a year to give the state up to $50,000 in sales taxes they collect from customers. It's essentially an interest-free loan aimed at keeping small businesses afloat in a state where the governor has ordered everyone to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We will keep you updated as more information comes in on the sales tax reprieve.

Important news about property tax services and the second installment deadline from the San Francisco Treasurer’s Office

As the San Francisco shelter-in-place order has been extended and in accordance with state law, the new property tax deadline is May 4, 2020 (the first business day after the shelter-in-place order is lifted). Taxpayers who are unable to pay by this date for reasons related to COVID-19 should submit a request for a penalty waiver request online. Please note that penalty waiver requests will not accepted until after the property tax deadline. 

Currently our City Hall offices are closed, and the Treasurer’s Office cannot accept in-person payments.  To make a property tax payment, please pay online or by US mail (preferably certified). There is no cost for e-Check payments online. Do not send cash in the US mail.

If you have any questions, please review SF Treasurer Office Frequently Asked Questions page or  visit our Help Center or call 3-1-1.

Bay Area Shelter in Place Order has been extended to May 3,
with new rules for grocery stores and restaurants. 

Appendix A - Social Distancing Protocol form and flyer that lists protocols for anyone coming into your place of businesses.

The completed form and flyer MUST be posted at the entry way.
Business owners must be ready and able to show evidence of implementation to any authority enforcing this order upon demand.

Restaurants and grocery stores (as well as other businesses that might have lines) must place “tape or other markings at least six feet apart in customer line areas inside the store and on sidewalks at public entrances with signs directing customers to use the markings to maintain distance.”

Reusable bags are now banned for sanitary reasons.

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000.

This information is available in: Japanese / Korean

This advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application.
This loan advance will not have to be repaid.

STREAMLINED PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
SBA is collecting the requested information in order to make a loan under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to the qualified entities listed in this application that are impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The information will be used in determining whether the applicant is eligible for an economic injury loan. If you do not submit all the information requested, your loan cannot be fully processed.

The Applicant understands that the SBA is relying upon the self-certifications contained in this application to verify that the Applicant is an eligible entity to receive the advance, and that the Applicant is providing this self-certification under penalty of perjury pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746 for verification purposes.

Please go to: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/ to start the application process.

The estimated time for completing this entire application is two hours and ten minutes, although you may not need to complete all parts. You are not required to respond to this collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB approval number.

Program Overview
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.

This information is available in: Japanese / Korean

Who Can Apply
This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by coronavirus/COVID-19.

Small businesses in the hospitality and food industry with more than one location could also be eligible at the store and location level if the store employs less than 500 workers. This means each store location could be eligible.

How to Apply
Download your application here. Starting April 3, you can submit your application (and required documentation) to a participating lender. You should consult with your local lender as to whether
 it is participating. Applications close on June 30, but we encourage you to apply as quickly as you can because there is a funding cap. 

Japantown branches of Union Bank and California Bank & Trust have confirmed their participation in this program.

Additional information for borrowers can be found here and full terms here.

Loan Details and Forgiveness
The loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Loan payments will also be deferred for six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.

Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels.  Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.

This loan has a maturity of 2 years and an interest rate of .5%.

Please notethe changes in operating hours for the Japan Center Garage. Please share this information with your staff and customers.

SF Assessing Local Business Needs
Please take the time to fill this survey out. It only 5 minutes to complete. It will provide the Office of Small Business, OEWD, SBA, and other CIty departments info as to specific help our small business owners need now and how to reach them.