>> coping with covid-19. today's special guest. >> i am chris manners, you are watching coping with covid-19. my guest is the director of economic and work force development here to talk about the programs the city has in place during this crisis to help small businesses and vulnerable and disconnected residents.

welcome to the show. >> thank you for having me. it is a pleasure to be here, chris. >> start by talking about gift to sf. it provides many of the resources we are talking about. could you tell us a little bit about the focus of gift to us. then we will talk about specific programs. >> i very much appreciate the question. for anyone who is watching right now, so much of the work that has been accomplished to serve most vulnerable is because of very generous donations to the give to sf covid-19 response and recovery fund. over $28 million has been fund raised to support areas as important as housing stabilization for vulnerable communities, food security programs which has been a big issue not only in san francisco but up and down california and of course across the nation.

very much thinking about workers and family members who may not have been access to state and federal programs the same way that others who are impacted have and do. that was to make sure families and workers were supported with woulrelief. small business community to make sure they have access to loan was and grants. we are excited how diverse we have been able to do this. we have been able to roll these out to ensure that our communities are supported by our city together with all of us with city funds and philanthropic dollars to help realize them on behalf of the community's needs. >> that is great. now, many of our small businesses don't have large payrolls. they are unable to qualify for the federal ppp loans. does the city have active programs available for small businesses to help with ongoing expenses such as rent while they

are still closed? >> certainly. one of the programs we launched in partnership and because of the ability of the give to sf loan fund presented us with was for loans and grants to do that. we knew in the beginning that it was not easy for smaller businesses not connected or those who were to get an answer around relief provided through ppp. we have seen success of the program. we knew it was important at the time to also have the san francisco hardship mcwas emergency loan program be launched and designed to support businesses who needed resources the most. we have committed $15.5 million in ongoing covid-19 small business financial relief. we have awarded grants and loans to over 400 small businesses thus far. we wanted to make sure that we

were equitable about that approach always guidings work through racial equity lens. one of the most important pieces is ensuring every district would be represented and also more equitable work and places where we were doing that work would be supported through these efforts. in the first phase $1 million to 128 small businesses and 29 different neighborhoods with up to $10,000 in funds to support those who were experiencing loss. we set aside a minimum of $2 million for low and moderate income owners to ensure they were supported with relief efforts. neighborhood goes like lower filmore, bayview, castro and excelsior. long-term businesses have given to the city and we want to give bamto them as well.

then because we were looking for additional funding sources, we took dollars that we had with existing partners already with our partners to do small business work and help convert to support women entrepreneurs around san francisco and very specific neighborhoods for mini grants to serve immediate needs. every little dollar helped. >> one of the programs that just become available. right to recover. >> i am glad you are asking about right to recover. we know that it is extremely valuable right now as we look to incentivize community members disproportionately impacted by covid-19 by economic hardship, spaces to work in because they need to provide for families, having access to the economic relief or wages that you count on to protect yourself,

stabilize your families, support your families and children or parents or extended family. that is a huge disincentive if you believe you may not have access to quarantine to do what we want you to do. if you are sick to get tested. if you test positive to quarantine and stay home. so that you can get better and not infect anyone else. that comes at a cost. you are not going to work, not making wages. for so many low income workers that is not acceptable. this is to provide relief based on the individual to give minimum wage for that period of time. when they walked into the testing site they knew if i test positive is there a program to help me, we could say yes? that was important to mayor breed, extremely important to

supervisor ronen and they worked together to make $2 million available to support these individuals. together with the department of public health we have a holistic system to fill the gaps that may exist to encourage people to get tested to do the right thing. wear a mask, social distancing, not going places when they are sick and doing our part to make sure they were incentivized. >> not having sick pay with the virus would be really stressful. >> iit is important for undocumented. we know the lat inx is more than 50% of the positive cases and may not have access to sick leave or financial hardship to do the right thing and to

quarantine with financial reli relief. >> as we start another new releaf program. african-american small business revolving loan fund. how will that fund work? >> well, i am very, very proud. this fund. i do have to give a shout out to our invest in neighborhoods team who worked day and night with the african-american chamber of commerce and main street launch to support the zero percent interest loan up to 50 thousand dollars. we have been striving to be specific and target communities of color and african-american small business entrepreneur community. it is so much more difficult for this community to access resources and it was important to do something in this moment that is reflective of a movement we know has been emotion for such a long time. for us to do something real,

provide financial relief for the community in this ka this way ar them specifically. we are very proud to get this up and running. we look forward to applications being live so people from the african-american and black business communities to get relief. flexible terms. forgiveness up to $50,000 for those loans which can make a huge difference fought only for relief when you think about rent for a small business but also in terms of long-term recovery and being smart about the moment. there are businesses with the ability to be open, even a little bit. it is a stress on them. there are others that don't have the ability to do this at all. where is their relief? they wait for us to do our collective part to ensure we can re-open. these dollars, very specifically for the black entrepreneur

community are important for long-term viability success. that is good for them, the diversity of the city we hold dear and we need to be proud of. >> do we have active programs for disconnected or underserved communities? >> absolutely. as i was mentioning just simply about the right to recover program. when people go to the mission hub at 701 alabama within the mission district to serve the community, they are providing food security, access to resources. what they have done is extraordinary in terms of partnering with the city with relief efforts to help pay and maintain food distribution for families. thing are important like the latin x to do so many dishes with one item masa. access to rise, cereals, milk,

butter, fresh foods and vegetables. that is across the city in the entirety in those areas of need. to ensure those programs are made available for our most vulnerable communities. seniors or families who desperately need that help. >> finally, is there a website specifically designed to provide access and information about these resources? >> one of the easiest things to do, people have a general question and to want don't have access to the internet call 3-1-1. reach out. we have been working closely to ensure the members and staff have the information they need to get what you need. as you call in. most specifically for workers, employers, nonprofits to go to our website oewd.org and click

on covid-19 which is a large button on the site. you will find a full list of information specifically designed for you as employer, as worker and nonprofit so that you know where to go for resources. also, our phone number 554-6134 for the small acciden small bus. the incredible staff are administering those lines. if they don't answer they will get back to you so you can talk to a real person in multiple languages. also e-mail sfosbasfgov.org. again, visit the website oewd.org and you can find that. in terms of workforce

(415)701-4817. someone will get back to you if they don't pick up immediately to answer your questions if you are a worker. then to donate. give to sf.org. all of that information is to find to the website if you need resources or you need an understanding how we are phasing re-opening or updated information, please visit us. we will get back to you. we look forward to serving you and the community to get through this very, very challenging time. >> that is great information. thank you so much for coming on the show. i really appreciate the time you have given us today. >> it is a pleasure, chris. thank you for helping get information out to our communities. people are aware your government is hard at work on your behalf to get you what you need during a dynamic and challenging time. >> that is it for this episode. we will be back with more

information shortly. this is coping with covid-19. i am chris manners, thanks for watching on sfgovtv. .

>> shop and dine the 49 challenges residents to do they're shopping with the 49ers of san francisco by supporting the services within the feigned we help san francisco remain unique and successful and rib rant where will you shop the

shop and dine the 49 i'm e jonl i provide sweets square feet potpie and peach cobbler and i started my business this is my baby i started out of high home and he would back for friends and coworkers they'll tell you hoa you need to open up a shop at the time he move forward book to the bayview and i thinks the t line was up i need have a shop on third street i live in bayview and i wanted to have my shop here in bayview a quality dessert shot shop in my neighborhood in any business is different everybody is in small banishes there are homemade recess pesz and ingredients from scratch we shop local because we

have someone that is here in your city or your neighborhood that is provide you with is service with quality ingredients and quality products and need to be know that person the person behind the products it is not like okay. who

>> the meeting is being called to order at 5:31p.m. the small business commissioner thanks media service and sfgov tv for televising the meeting which can be viewed on sfgov tv2 or (inaudible). i'll remind all of the commissioners to please mute yourselves if you are not speaking at this time. members of the public who will be calling in, the number is (408)418-9388 again, that is (408)418-9388. the access code is 146 705 4896.