Title
a. Receive the Monterey County Workforce Development Board's proposal to create a Small Business Relief program in response to COVID-19 impacts, using the County's Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economics Security (CARES) Act funding; and
b. Provide further direction to staff (ADDED VIA ADDENDA)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive the Monterey County Workforce Development Board's proposal to create a Small Business Relief program in response to COVID-19 impacts, using the County's Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economics Security (CARES) Act funding; and
b. Provide further direction to staff
SUMMARY:
On October 6, 2020, the Board of Supervisors received an Expenditure Progress Report from key departments indicating that all County departments were on track to meet their CARES funding expenditure goals with the exception of the District Attorney's department, which stated that it will not spend its allocation and will generate savings of $468,000.
In addition to receiving the Expenditure Progress Report for the CARES funding, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to explore the creation of a Small Business Relief program with a budget of approximately $500,000 to assist the County to fully expend the CARES funding by providing grants to small businesses directly affected by COVID-19.
DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Workforce Development Board (WDB) provides business engagement services to County businesses, including providing small COVID-19 relief grants to local small businesses under its Monterey County Works program. Grants of up to $2,500 are provided to help businesses to retain their employees and deal with unanticipated financial impacts arising from COVID-19.
The WDB proposes to provide a similar program that conforms with the requirements for CARES expenditures, including the requirement for records retention and audit participation, that leverages and enhances the WDB's existing, business-serv...
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