TOMORROW: Governor Newsom to Visit Californians Grappling with Fires & Utility Power Shutoffs

Published:


 State is leveraging non-profit, business, labor and local partnerships to help Californians impacted by PSPS

 Governor will visit mobile food bank and resource center in Santa Rosa

 Governor will later hold press conference after visiting mobile home park in American Canyon 

SACRAMENTO – On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom will meet with Californians who are grappling with evacuations and the impacts of consecutive utility power shutoffs. He will stop at a mobile food bank and resource center in Santa Rosa where impacted Californians can pick up food, and learn whether they could qualify for fire or Public Safety Power Shutoff-related unemployment benefits and access other services.

The Governor will then return to a mobile home park in American Canyon to check in on residents who he visited this past weekend ahead of this week’s utility-led Public Safety Power Shutoffs. He will share resources to help the residents receive support to replace food and prescription medications they lost during the power shutoffs. Following his visit, he will hold a press conference in the mobile home park’s community room to highlight the resources available to all Californians affected by the fires and power shutoffs.

Details: 

Event 1: Governor visits mobile food bank and resource center 

WHEN: October 30, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: 2240 Mercury Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95407.

Event 2: Governor visits residents of mobile home park 

WHEN: October 30, 2019 at 12:30 p.m., with press conference scheduled for approximately 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Las Casitas Mobile Home Park, 3000 Broadway St, American Canyon, CA 94503.

STREAM: You can watch the press conference remotely at CAL FIRE’s Facebook page.

**NOTE: This press conference is open to credentialed media only. Reporters interested in attending must RSVP to govpressoffice@gov.ca.gov.

Resources and partnerships for residents:

Throughout the state of emergency, Governor Newsom has highlighted new and existing partnerships in which local, state, business and philanthropy entities are working together to assist families and businesses. Californians can go to Response.ca.gov for more.

Resources for Residents:

  • Workers who have lost work due to extreme weather events can apply for benefits immediately, the Governor waived the one-week waiting period suspension for unemployment insurance benefits. Find more information at the Employment Development Department website;
  • Protections from price gouging on housing, gas, food, and other essential supplies, are in place for thirty days following the Governor’s State of Emergency proclamation.
  • Families enrolled in the CalFresh program who have suffered food loss as a result of PSPS events are eligible for food replacement.
  • California Emergency Medical Services Authority has positioned emergency ambulance strike teams to support individuals with power dependent health equipment.
  • Wellness checks are available for vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which is coordinated through a partnership with the Health and Human Services Agency, SEIU and UDW;
  • Telecommunications companies are providing mobile hotspots and data access without charge;
  • Community foundations are taking donations to support victims of the recent wildfires and those who have been impacted by PSPS events.

For Businesses:

  • GO-Biz has developed a business resource guide with low-interest loan information and advisory services for businesses. For more information, click here.
  • Three state loan programs to support small businesses with funds as low as $500 and up to $5 million through a network of private lending partners, banks and mission-based nonprofit lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).    
  • IBank Loan Programs
    • Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program: IBank will issue loan guarantees up to 95 percent of the loan through its partner Financial Development Corporations to help small business borrowers who were impacted by disasters or public safety power shutoffs and who need term loans or lines of credit for working capital. This disaster program will help lenders and small businesses by providing loan guarantees of up to $1 million for small business borrowers in declared disaster areas. Small businesses, including small farms, nurseries, agriculture-related enterprises and nonprofits that have suffered an economic loss Resources for Businesses and/or physical damage may apply. For more information on how to apply, visit http://www.ibank.ca.gov/small-business-finance-center/
    • Jump Start Loan Program: IBank is offering loans from $500 to $10,000 to low-wealth entrepreneurs in the declared disaster and emergency areas through its Jump Start Loan Program. IBank established the Jump Start Loan Program in 2016 as a small loan and financial literacy/technical assistance program designed for low-income small businesses in low-wealth communities, including businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities and those previously incarcerated. Access to IBank’s Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program and Jump Start Loan Program can be made through its partner Financial Development Corporations (FDCs). For more information on how to apply, visit http://www.ibank.ca.gov/small-business-finance-center/.
  • California Capital Access Program
    • The California Capital Access Program for Small Business (CalCAP SB or Program) encourages banks and other financial institutions to make loans to small businesses that have difficulty obtaining financing. If you own a small business and need a loan for start-up, expansion or working capital, you may receive more favorable loan terms from a lender if your loan is enrolled in the CalCAP Loan Loss Reserve Program. This program helps communities by providing financing to businesses that create jobs and improve the economy. Loans are available up to $5 million.
    • CalCAP is a loan loss reserve program which may provide up to 100% coverage on losses as a result of certain loan defaults.  With CalCAP portfolio support, a lender may be more comfortable underwriting small business loans. Check to see if your commercial lender or financial institution participates in CalCAP or find a participating lender. If your financial institution does not currently participate, it is easy for lenders to sign up. Please have your institution complete the Financial Institution Application and send to CalCAP to get started. For more information, visit https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/cpcfa/calcap/sb/index.asp. Or, find a participating lender at https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/cpcfa/calcap/sb/institutions.pdf
  • Partnering with Kiva, a nonprofit that crowdfunds loans for the underserved small businesses who are not “lender-ready.” Kiva is prepared to deploy its network of trustees in local communities and help them access the Kiva platform for no-interest/no-fee loans up to $10,000.  To learn more about the kiva model, visit  https://www.kiva.org/borrow.

For Business Operations, the State:

  • Waived state procurement rules to allow the state to contract with businesses to mitigate emergency events;
  • Relaxed licensing requirements to allow facilities to continue operations and accommodate patient needs;
  • The Air Resources Board is exercising maximum discretion in use of portable generators;
  • Relaxed some requirements to allow interstate trucks to enter CA to assist in restoration of power lines and other forms of recovery.

Community and Corporate Philanthropy:

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