Many of You Have Contacted Us About the Status of the CA Relief Grant

To our Valued Clients, Partners and Friends:

Many of you have contacted us about the status of the CA Relief Grant, and we are excited to share that CalOSBA has announced an additional $1.5 BB in relief grants and we have details below. We also have new information on PPP loan forgiveness. As always, we have advisors available to help you with disaster funding.

August tends to be a slower time for many of our clients, and that makes it a great time to work ON your business. The Pasadena SBDC has several workshops to help you do just that....

• Our three-week HR series was very well received, and we are running it again here in August. If you have employees, you should get an update on California requirements for hiring, wages and sick leave. • Our HR advisor, Xiomara Palma, is also offering a workshop on developing an employee handbook. They are required, and now is the time to complete or update them. • We have also significantly expanded our social media workshops to help you drive NEW revenue. These include a six-week program on how to sell on Instagram, and how to create a social media content calendar. Don't miss them! • Finally, we have added a new workshop on accessing capital. Many small business owners don't know what is available to fund the growth of their business, and our advisor, Spencer Rich, will walk you through how to prepare and succeed at raising funds. This will include valuable, real-world examples of how clients have leveraged capital to grow.

The Pasadena SBDC has expert advisors available to help you with your business. Contact us for NO-COST advising, and please share this information with your friends and colleagues. We are here to help.

The Pasadena SBDC Team

NEW ROUNDS ANNOUNCED

California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

CalOSBA announced three additional rounds with the $1.5B expansion of the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program.

ROUND 7 (Waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds)

Important Dates for Round 7

Selection Window: Aug 3, 2021 - Sept 16, 2021

ROUND 8 (Nonprofit cultural institutions only)

Important Dates for Round 8

Application Opens: August 27, 2021 Application Closes: September 8, 2021

Start of Selection Notifications: TBD

ROUND 9: (New Applicants and Waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds)

Important Dates for Round 9

Application Opens: September 9, 2021

Application Closes: September 30, 2021

Start of Selection Notifications: TBD

Visit www.CAReliefGrant.com for more eligibility, criteria, and updates.

SBA Announces Opening of Paycheck Protection Program Direct Forgiveness Portal

The SBA just announced a new, streamlined process for PPP loan forgiveness. This applies to loans under $150,000, and a new portal opens tomorrow, August 4th. See below for the press release and a link to the portal. Our advisors can help answer questions as well.

View Press Release for more Information

SBA Direct PPP Forgiveness Portal

SBA Increases EIDL Amounts

The U.S. Small Business Administration has increased the maximum amount small businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow through its COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Starting the week of April 6, 2021, the SBA raised the loan limit for the COVID-19 EIDL program from 6-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $150,000 to up to 24-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $500,000.

To apply for additional funds, use the portal https://covid19relief1.sba.gov/ and look for the Green Button – “Request More Funds”

SBA Extends Deferment Period for all COVID-19

Disaster Loans until 2022

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration announced extended deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022.

· All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2020, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note.

· All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2021, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 18-months from the date of the note.

Questions on SBA COVID-19 EIDL and disaster loan payments can be answered by email at [email protected] or by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339).

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.

Learn More

HR Webinar Series

Join us for a 3 week series presented by HR Expert, Xiomara Palma

Hiring Employees in CA - Week 1

As more Covid-19 restrictions are being relaxed and more businesses fully reopening, employers are hiring again. Join us on this hiring practices webinar to help businesses stay

compliant with CA regulations. You

will learn compliance with:

• Required posters & notifications Date: Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 • Governing agencies (EDD, DFEH, OSHA, DIR) Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Worker classification • Independent contractor regulations • Recruiting/Interviewing/compensation do’s and don’ts Register Here

Wage & Hour - Week 2

The state of California has some of the most robust wage requirements for employers of all sizes. In this webinar, we will help businesses understand the hefty requirements of:

• Minimum wage ordinances Date: Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 • California wage orders that all employers must comply with Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Commissions, bonuses, and miscellaneous payments • Potential claims & penalties for non- compliance Register Here

Paid Sick Leave - Week 3

Covid-19 created a nightmare for employers required to provide paid sick leave in addition to already confusing paid sick leave ordinances in California. Join us as we take a deep dive on:

• Covid-19 paid sick leave requirements Date: August 24th, 2021 • Local paid sick Leave ordinances • Paid sick leave vs. Paid Time Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Off/Vacation interaction

Instagram Webinar Series

Join us for a 6 week series presented by

Social Media Goddess, Deborah Deras

How To Sell On Instagram - Week 1

Instagram has become even hotter since quarantine began, and people are now using it for voting campaigns, yoga classes, and more. In this webinar, you will learn the basics of how to develop your brand on IG so

you can sell. You will learn:

• What the Instagram platform is and how it is very Date: August 19th, 2021 different from other platforms • How to set up your Profile to be found by your Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM target audience • How to schedule your content for the entire week • How to organically get followers • How to turn “likes” into sales with one link Register Here • How to create compelling content

• How to use Highlights as sales tools

• How to create appealing content that aligns with your brand

How To Use Instagram Hashtags To Get Ideal Clients - Week 2

On Instagram, hashtags are the key to targeting new clients/customers. Without the proper ones, you will not be discovered, but with the right

ones, you can gain attention for your

brand from your ideal target market and current customers. In this session you will learn:

• What are hashtags? Date: August 26th, 2021 • Why are hashtags not all created equal? • A case study of how a hashtag booked a $3,500 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM client • How to make money from a hashtag • How many hashtags can you use, and what should you use to attract ideal customers? Register Here • How to do market research on hashtags to come

up in the feed

• How to use hashtags in IG Stories, and why?

How To Use Instagram Stories for Sales Success - Week 3

As of 2020, the main “feed” is dead and everyone is paying attention to IG stories. Why? Because these kinds of stories are the unfiltered authentic version of your brand. People want to like, trust, and respect your brand in order to buy from

you. You will learn:

• What types of stories should you post, and how Date: Sept 2nd, 2021 that is different from the feed? • How to create a systematic storyboard that Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM focuses on your brand and inspires sales • How to use engagement stickers, locations, and hashtags to double your reach

• How to increase conversions in stories to get Register Here sales

• How to get shoppable stickers

How To Do Instagram Live for Sales - Week 4

We all know a picture paints a thousand words. Well, a video says 10,000 words, and a live video has infinite possibilities! Results may vary, but when you learn to master this tool on Instagram, you can position your

business and brand for an increase in sales. You will learn:

• How to start an Instagram Live Date: Sept 9th, 2021 • How to write a script for your Live • How to increase engagement of the audience on Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM the IG Live • What happens after the Live is over • How to re-purpose the Live in other places by promoting replay Register Here • How to position your IG strategy into leads,

relationship building, and sales

How To Use IGTV To Grow Business - Week 5

We all have heard of YouTube, but Instagram can now provide you with your own broadcasting networking on Instagram, called “IGTV.” This is one of the newest features that gives you the ability to create long-form videos. You

will learn:

• How to set up your IGTV Date: Sept 16th, 2021 • How to post on IGTV • How to edit my IGTV Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM • What content to post on IGTV • How to convert to sales • How IGTV can build your brand Register Here

How To Use Instagram Reels - Week 6

Instagram’s take on the ever- popular TikTok (and other new tools like Byte and Triller), Instagram Reels is a completely new format on Instagram that allows you to

record and edit multiple 15-second videos set to popular songs.

• What are Instagram Reels Date: Sept 23rd, 2021 • How to select the music, speed, and filters • How to shoot your video Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM • How your reels are found in the discovery tab to target potential new customers • How to optimize your reels to target your ideal client/customer Register Here • How to convert reels into sales

Webinars

Access to Capital Webinar

For many small business owners, understanding the role debt plays in the business readiness process isn’t so clear. This workshop will help entrepreneurs and small business owners bring finance into focus for long term success.

Topics for discussion will include:

• Common ways to fund a business • Financing options available to small businesses • Loan readiness and how you can prepare for funding • Real-world examples of how to leverage financing programs.

Presented by: Spencer Rich

Wednesday, Aug 11th 11:00 AM Wednesday, Aug 25th 3:00 PM

Basics of SEO & Web Analytics

Are you looking to get more traffic to your website from Google search? Curious how to measure the effectiveness of your SEO activity? Join us for a seminar on how to build an effective SEO strategy as well as a dive into the tools and metrics that are used to measure SEO success. We will provide vital techniques that any

small business can use to attract more visitors, drive more leads, and ultimately drive sales. We’ll help you find valuable keywords, optimize your website for Google, and measure the success of your SEO and marketing campaigns.

In this seminar, we will be covering:

• What is SEO? • On-page vs. off-page SEO • The importance of rankings • How to identify profitable keywords • The difference between local and national SEO • How to measure website traffic and success • An overview of Google analytics and Google search console • Conversions and conversion measurement

Presented by: Colin Smith

Thursday, August 12th 2:00 PM

Business Plan Webinar

A business planning process is a necessity whether you are trying to build an internal roadmap for your business concept or looking for funding. In this current and post COVID-19 landscape, a business plan is more important then ever. This workshop will cover all aspects of creating a business plan, as well as emphasize the importance of setting measurable strategies to achieve these

goals.

Presented by: Andrew Cohen

Wednesday, August 18th 10:00 AM

Employee Handbook Webinar

Learn how to protect your business from employment lawsuits through the use of a well-written, compliant employee handbook. In this webinar you will learn:

• The purpose of an employee handbook • Policies required by law • Legally sound operational policies • Avoiding employment promises or

implied agreements • Best practices

Q&A to follow

Presented by HR Specialist: Xiomara Palma

Thursday, August 19th 10:00 AM

How To Do Social Media For Sales

So many business owners I talk to hate Social Media because they don’t like using Social Media for personal use or for fun and don’t know the strategy behind Social Media for Sales. I wrote an ebook with 5 steps to go from likes to sales and since expanded it to a 7 step system that will help you shift

from hating Social Media to Loving

it.

During this interactive Webinar you will discover:

• Who are the main players in the Social Media Game and how to set yourself up to win • Why are SEO and hashtags so important in Social Media • How to clarify your message so your target market responds to you with a purchase • How to be creative to stop the scroll • How to use Collabs to grow your following faster • How to create a Community so your followers become loyal customers and brand ambassadors • The SECRET to Social Media success that will cost you zero dollars • How to measure your success • Once you get the sale how to create brand loyalty

Plus much more in our Q&A sessions

Presented by: Deborah Deras

Monday, August 23rd 1:00 PM

Google My Business

Google My Business (GMB) has become one of the most important tools in a local search strategy and companies need to fully understand how to utilize Google's GMB toolset to drive more customers to their store.

In this seminar, we will be covering:

• Introduction to GMB and its perks • How to create and validate your listings

• How to optimize your listings to get the most out of them

Tuesday, August 24th 2:00 PM

Bolstering Your Business Through E-Commerce

For business owners looking to get an overview of the current e-commerce landscape.

In this seminar, we will be covering:

• Review of the e-commerce landscape • Emerging trends in e-commerce

• Overview of the different e-commerce

platforms • Evaluating the marketing channels • Discussion of content strategies

Open to all experiences but most ideal for business owners just getting started with e- commerce and setting up their first store. Come with ideas and inspiration. Feel free to ask questions.

Presented by: Alex Vasquez

Friday, August 27th 10:00 AM

How to Create a Social Media Content Calendar

We all get overwhelmed by Social Media because we are wearing many hats and think we need to be on every platform. The fact is we only need to be posting on the platforms where our target market is spending their time. The best way to get organized and efficient is to create a social media calendar. I have a saying: schedule it in your calendar, see it in your life and I will

show you how to do it to save time, energy and make you money.

During this interactive Webinar you will discover:

• Who is your ideal target market not who you can serve who you would like to serve because they are your best customers/clients • Which platforms are they spending their time on • What are their top three pain/problems that your product or service solves • What 2-3 Social Media Platforms are best for your business • What will you post • How do you organize posting • How can you systemize posting • How you can delegate posting

Plus much more in our Q&A sessions

Presented by: Deborah Deras

Monday, August 30th 1:00 PM

The Small Business Development Center at Pasadena City College

is part of the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and through a grant with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. Funding is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, or service. All opinions, conclusions and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Stay Informed

Pasadena City College SBDC | 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., Rm. 122, Pasadena, CA 91107 Contact Us: [email protected]