George Koster
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VOC Series COVID-19 Resources Page

COVID-19’s Impact on San Francisco Nonprofit Series

 

Resources to help with Covid-19’s Impact

 
 

The State of Our Small Businesses in a Post Covid-19 Pandemic Marketplace. 

Here are some Key reports & What They Cover:

  • 2022 Small Business Survey on Economic Recovery — San Francisco Small Business Commission + SFSU (citywide survey of 800+ firms; detailed findings + recs). PDF. (San Francisco Media API)
    Companion slide deck summarizing results. (San Francisco Media API)

  • Office of Small Business Annual Reports (FY22-23, FY23-24) — program data (grants, fee waivers, technical assistance), policy changes, and recovery initiatives. (San Francisco Media API)

  • Civil Grand Jury: “Taking Care of Business: San Francisco’s Plan to Save its Small Businesses” (2023) — diagnosis of permitting/registration pain points; calls for integrated systems and fee relief. (San Francisco Media API)
    BLA follow-ups (2024) analyze costs/feasibility of the fixes (First Year Free; federated permitting).

  • City & County SLFRF Recovery Plan (2025 update) — where federal recovery dollars went (incl. $48.9M toward small businesses, activations, public space). (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

  • SPUR policy brief “Small and Mighty” (2024) — policy playbook for small-biz growth (streamline rules, fill vacancies, pilot pop-ups, support downtown). (SPUR)

  • Controller/Planning recovery materials & “Roadmap to San Francisco’s Future / Future of Downtown” — broader economic strategy with small-biz implications (residential conversion goals, activations, safety/cleanliness). (San Francisco Planning)

  • OEWD Annual Report (FY23-24) — updates on direct grants, storefront initiatives, and outcomes. (San Francisco Government)

What the Reports Collectively Say:

Top issues facing SF small businesses since COVID-19

1. Lower revenue & foot traffic (especially downtown); many firms still below 2019 levels. (San Francisco Media API)

2. Public safety & street conditions (theft, disorder) and the perception of safety hurting customer demand. (San Francisco Media API)

3. High operating costs (rent, labor, insurance) amid slower sales. (SPUR)

4. Complex, slow, and fragmented permitting/registration across departments; poor system integration. (San Francisco Media API)

5. Hiring difficulties / staffing shortages and uneven digital capacity (e-commerce, marketing). (San Francisco Media API)

Recommendations That Appear Across Sources

  • Improve safety & cleanliness in business corridors (more foot/bike patrols; expand ambassador programs; street maintenance). (San Francisco Media API)

  • Streamline the permit journey (one-stop support, cross-department data integration, clearer timelines, fewer touchpoints). (San Francisco Media API)

  • Targeted financial relief & incentives (fee waivers like First Year Free, small-biz grants, tax reforms for the smallest firms).

  • Activate commercial districts (pop-ups, events, temporary uses, storefront-filling programs to increase foot traffic). (SPUR)

  • Technical assistance & digital adoption (marketing, e-commerce, accounting, HR, language access). (San Francisco Media API)

  • Make Shared Spaces/parklets and public-realm improvements business-friendly to support restaurants/retail. (San Francisco Government)

Digital Marketing, eCommerce, Public Relations, Writing, Creative Design Resources

Our marketing experts from our Episode 84 Panel of Small Businesses & Digital Marketing Experts about digital marketing & e-commerce during a pandemic & holiday season; Rebecca Bertoldi, of Rebecca Bertoldi Marketing Company and Valerie Camarda, of Marketing Sense and Consultant with the City of San Francisco’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), have provided us with a great list of resources below for you to utilize for your small businesses, nonprofits or yourself.

  • Marketing Resources from Valerie Camara of Marketing Sense
    + Free consulting services and webinars you will use to help your business grow: Small Business Development Center/SF and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

  • + Social Media Management: Hoot Suite

  • + Creative Design Tools: Canva - Provides templates for presentations, social media, print products, video & marketing, and Printing Services:

  • + PS Print Provides inexpensive online printing services as well as templates at reasonable prices

  • + Market Research Tools: Poll your clients or prospects with this easy-to-use survey tool Survey Monkey

  • + Public Relations Tool: Help a Reporter Out This site is useful for developing content and finding experts you can use to substantiate your content. If you’re an expert in a particular field consider responding to an inquiry made on the site and get yourself some free publicity!

  • + Writing Tool: Heming Way App - Most people don’t enjoy writing. Here’s a tool that will make it easy by helping you streamline your content.

Small Business and NonProfit Funding Sources

The City of San Francisco has just announced a $62 Million Relief Plan for small businesses and you can read all of the details here and you can ready Mayor Breed's Medium post on how she's helping small businesses survive the Pandemic

Also, please check out the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development's page of resources for more information on business and workers programs and sign up for rapid response webinar for employees and businesses

California Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Program -Round One Closes January 13, 2021. Round Two to be announced.

Governor Newsom proposing $4.5 Billion in new funding for small businesses, nonprofits, and jobs

Small Business Administration Coronavirus Relief Funding Options

SBA will establish a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees

To get more information on this two-week window of opportunity you may want to participate in the series of webinars hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Public-Private Strategies Institute, & other stakeholders to hear about:

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. SBA is currently offering:
+ First Draw PPP Loans for first time program participants
+ Second Draw PPP Loans for certain businesses who have previously received a PPP loan

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners, including agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories can apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. The EIDL Advance program provides businesses located in low-income communities with additional funds to ensure small business continuity, adaptation, and resiliency
+ Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 EIDL Loans
+ Frequently Asked Questions about Targeted EIDL Advance

The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO 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.
+ For additional details, see our Shuttered Venue Operators Grants Frequently Asked Questions.

Americans For the Arts put together an extensive table of resources from spring 2020 to now in their 2021 COVID Arts Resources Table

Also, please check out the California Arts Council Grants resource page for grants and support.

Independent Sector’s Resources Guide

Arts & Culture Organizations

Californians for the Arts The put together a great Covid-19 Resources page that they’re trying to keep current and a wonderful summary. Californa Creative Corps Funding announcement

The CARES Act 2 has launched and the California Arts Council is helping to promote the US Small Business Administration's Program. On Thursday, Jan. 14, at noon PST, the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a webinar to give a preliminary overview of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program (a.k.a. "Save Our Stages") included in the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. The webinar will provide introductory information about the grants, who can apply, how potential organizations can prepare, and additional details re eligibility and applications. You have to register to participate

City of San Francisco’s Creative Corps - Here’s the Mayor’s Announcement and you can apply through Paint the Void by filling out this form For more information on the San Francisco Creative Corps Community Health Ambassadors, please contact aescobedo@ybca.org

SF Arts Commission Grants for the Arts

Theatre Bay Area Covid-19 Resources Page

American’s for the Arts - Put Creative Workers to Work - here’s the policy piece that American’s for the Arts is working with the Biden Harris Administration to execute. Check out their webinar series on how to tap into CARE ACT 2 funding. They have a two-part webinar on January 15 & 22 to help Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Artists learn how to tap into the new CARES Act 2

Save our Stages Act in the CARES ACT 2 - here’s the actual legal language from the US Senate. For more information on Save our Stages

Research/Other

Research and other resources regarding COVID 19:

Return to the Stage Study

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Otis College 2022 Report on California Creative Economy

Dive into the wonderful annual Otis College of Art and Design 2022 Report on Covid-19’s impact on the California Creative Economy.

Read the 2022 Otis Report

Arts & the Economy - The Economic Impact of the Arts in San Francisco

This is one of the most comprehensive reports developed on the economic impact of the arts and our creative economy on the City and County of San Francisco. This report was prepared by Sean Randolph, Senior Director at the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, Research Analyst Estevan Lopez, and Executive Director Jeff Bellisario. The Economic Institute wishes to thank its sponsors: Grants for the Arts, the San Francisco Arts Commission, the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, and SF Travel for supporting the project and the following individuals at those organizations for their support and guidance.

Read the 2021 Bay Area Council Economic Institute Report




 
 
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