Building on previous CARES Act-funded COVID-19 recovery efforts, the City of Sacramento has launched a new program offering free technical assistance and other professional supportive services to small businesses in Sacramento.
Designed to help mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic, the $7 million technical assistance program is open to small businesses located in the City of Sacramento and provides them with access to resources to increase their resiliency and develop new business plans to aid in their recovery efforts.
“Small businesses trying to recover from the COVID-19 shutdown will emerge on a stronger footing if they’re advised by experts who can help them formulate business plans, obtain financing and market their products,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “With this and our other CARES Act-funded programs, we are paying particular attention to assisting businesses in underserved neighborhoods that have historically had less access to capital. I’m proud of our City for putting our CARES Act dollars to work helping our community.”
The City has contracted with nine organizations to provide the consulting services — the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Asian-Pacific Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, California Capital Financial Development Corporation, Berkeley Strategy Advisors, the Black Small Business Association of California, Streetsense, Alchemist CDC and Erica Castillo Consulting.
“Our local business community and other experts bring a breadth of experience and knowledge to the table that will put Sacramento’s small businesses on a solid foundation as we work toward a recovery,” said Councilmember Jay Schenirer. “This program aims to cover what a small business operator needs to survive this crisis, getting resources out quickly for maximum impact right now.”
Small business supportive services offered in this effort include:
- One-on-one consulting for small business owners. Various subject matters and industry specific insights will be offered to help business owners create new websites, sell their products and services online, create business plans or prepare loan documents and more.
- Webinars focused on essential business recovery needs. Topics to include subjects such as COVID-19 workspace safety best practices, creating a stronger digital presence and how to gain access to capital. Over 100 webinars will be offered in total and recorded for wide distribution.
- Retail and hospitality consulting services. Consultants will help evaluate and augment COVID-19 response strategies for restaurants, bars, and independent retail operators.
- Industry-specific supportive services for small fitness facilities. This includes assistance in virtual content creation, fitness facility COVID-19 operating standards, employee training and retention, and advocacy.
- A Spanish language-specific portfolio of services. These services are tailored to meet the needs of the City’s Latinx small business owners.
The City of Sacramento currently is working with dozens of community-based outreach partners to help share information about this program and others throughout all parts of the city.
“As an advocate for Black-owned small businesses, I am grateful to Mayor Steinberg and City leaders for investing and providing resources to the Black community,” said Salena Pryor, Black Small Business Association of California. “Thanks to the City for their commitment to using CARES Act funding to assist the Black-owned small businesses that are the lifeblood of many communities in Sacramento.”
Find a full list of the nine organizations, the services they are offering and how to access them here.
This Small Business Recovery Technical Assistance program is just one of several ways the City is helping area residents and businesses affected by COVID-19. Information on other programs are listed on the City’s Coronavirus Relief website at www.sacramentoCOVIDrelief.org.