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This is the 33rd Weekly Message to Businesses from San Jose Downtown Association since the end of the COVID-19 "tier" system June 15.
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To our members:

What a difficult start to 2022 we’re having.

Thankfully, our community's focus to wage the good fight against the omicron variant of COVID-19 appears to be paying off.  If what we’re hearing is true – that data shows we’re on the back side of this virus – it is because we’ve stayed home and isolated if we’re sick; that we’re wearing the correct masks; that we’re ordering tests and know when to use them; that we’re doing everything we can to protect our customers, families and friends; and that we’re going to the Emergency Room for emergencies only.

Please hang in there.  Better times, healthwise and businesswise, are ahead for us.
In Today's Message
Meetings

SJDA February 10, 2022 Public Meeting:  Everything PBID

Join us on Thursday, February 10 at 8:15 a.m. to hear about the Property Based Improvement District's (PBID) once a decade renewal.  What new services will Groundwerx provide?  How will social impact teams improve solutions for the unhoused?  Where have the district boundaries expanded?  Are property assessments changing?  What is the process for approving the PBID? 

The meeting will feature a detailed presentation on the current and proposed PBID services, and what we plan to accomplish with a renewed district, followed by a Q&A.

Please register to attend SJDA's public meeting on February 10. 

Upon registration, you will receive a link providing you with access to the Zoom webinar. 

The meeting will also be streamed live on Facebook.

It is up on the SJDA and SJDA Public Meeting page.

San Jose City Council available virtually on Jan. 25

Out of an abundance of caution, the Jan. 25 City Council meeting will be conducted virtually. The virtual meeting will start at 1:30 p.m. Councilmembers and presenters will teleconference from remote locations. The public can watch the meeting on the City’s YouTube Channel. To make public comment during the meeting, email councilmeeting@sanjoseca.gov. Additional instructions for public comment are posted in the meeting agenda.

Provide feedback through Downtown Transportation Plan online open house

The Downtown Transportation Plan online open house has officially launched! The downtown business community represents a key stakeholder in downtown transportation planning.

The entire open house has been translated into Spanish and Vietnamese, 

By 2040, Downtown San Jose will welcome 30,000 new residents and 50,000 new workers. New buildings and commercial activity will make the streets buzz with life. But all this new activity can have negative consequences, too, like traffic and dangerous collisions.

The San José Downtown Transportation Plan proposes changes to help us go from today’s car-dependent transportation system to a future that is more people-focused. You’re invited to this online open house to learn more about the plan and share your feedback at bit.ly/DTPOnlineOpenHouse.
Financial Opportunities

State offers two new grant and tax credit programs for small businesses
Starting this month, California Competes offers two opportunities for San Jose businesses – the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) and the California Competes Grant Program (CCGP).

Business owners can apply during two application periods, Jan 3-24 and March 7-28.   There are no restrictions on the size, type of business or location that can apply. More information on evaluation criteria are in the Frequently Asked Questions.

  • The California Competes Tax Credit offers a credit against the State income tax. With $180 million available, the minimum credit request is $20,000 and no more than 20% of the total available ($78.9 million) may go to a singular applicant.  
  • The California Competes Grant Program - The grant request can range between $5 million and $36 million. It has a $120 million one-time fund available for grants to businesses of any size that meet at least one of the following criteria:
    • Will create at least 500 new full-time jobs in California
    • Will make capital investments of at least $10 million
    • The jobs and/or investment will take place in an area of high unemployment and/or poverty as defined in the California Competes Tax Credit regulations

For details, see the Cal Competes website. Apply online. Questions? Call (916) 322-4051, or email calcompetes@gobiz.ca.gov. Explanations in other languages are here.

2022 State Arts Grant Opportunities
Grant Cycle A (opens Jan. 19)

  • Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief – Up to $30,000 in operational funding for arts and cultural organizations, prioritizing small organizations.
  • Cultural Pathways – Up to $30,000 for two years of support for arts programs in communities of color, recent immigrant and refugee communities, or tribal groups.
  • Impact Projects – Up to $20,000 for collaborative projects that center artists and artistic practice in responding to issues currently faced by California’s communities, prioritizing projects of small organizations.
  • State-Local Partners – Up to $60,000 for general operating support and technical assistance for county-designated local arts agencies.
COVID Updates

Place your order for free at-home COVID tests

Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:

  • Limit of one order per residential address

  • One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests

  • Orders will ship free starting in late January

More info

Also, the Biden Administration requires insurance companies and group health plans to cover the cost of eight over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests per member per month, effective Jan. 15. People will be able to get the tests at their health plan’s preferred pharmacies and other retailers with no out-of-pocket costs or purchase the tests elsewhere and file claims for reimbursement.
Updates from the Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County provides guidance to COVID-19 testing options

With the high demand for COVID-19 testing locally, the County Public Health Department offers guidance on what kind of test to use, when a test is needed, and where you should and should not go to get tested. The testing options are a PCR test, typically administered in a clinic or drive-through operation, and an antigen test, which is available for home use.guidance on what kind of test to useWith the high demand for COVID-19 testing locally, the County Public Health Department offers

The County recommends that the antigen tests be used for purposes of shortening isolation or quarantine periods for those who have tested positive or been exposed to a person with COVID-19. PCR tests are generally more sensitive than antigen tests, but antigen tests are good at detecting when people are most infectious.

You should get tested if you have new symptoms that might mean you have COVID-19: fatigue, headache, body/muscle aches, cough, fever, sore throat, and/or congestion.

You may consider getting testing if it’s been two to five days after you have a known exposure to someone with COVID-19, especially if you are unvaccinated or have symptoms.

You should not get tested with PCR testing if:

  • You have already tested positive by a home/antigen test. You should assume you have COVID-19 and isolate accordingly.
  • You have tested positive in the last 90 days. You do not need to get tested again unless you are newly symptomatic or required to quarantine. If this is your situation, use a home/antigen test.

If you have symptoms and are unable to get tested:

  • Assume you have COVID-19 and follow isolation guidelines. If members of your household are having similar symptoms, and at least one of them tests positive for COVID-19, assume that all members are positive.
  • If you are having difficulty breathing or other severe symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Avoid fake COVID-19 tests and tests that have expired

Only buy or use tests authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration. The FDA's website has a list of more than 40 authorized home tests, some of which have age restrictions. You can buy these tests online, at pharmacies and some retail stores.

Check the FDA's list of fraudulent COVID-19 products to ensure the test kit you're about to buy or use, or the company you're going to buy it from, isn't on there.

City services online due to omicron variant outbreak

City Hall permit center, cashier services and Code Enforcement Fourth Floor window services   have switched to virtual appointments only, through Jan. 28.  Visit www.sanjoseca.gov/PermitCenter and www.sanjoseca.gov/CodeEnforcement.

Temporary Pause on Library Indoor Programs

Due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases in the community, and to ensure the safety of library staff, volunteers, and members of the public, indoor programs are temporarily on pause until further notice. Virtual and outdoor programs will continue to be offered. 
Updates from the State of California
State Extends Mask Mandate Until February 15: This week, the California Health and Human Services Agency extended its requirement for masks to be worn in indoor public places, regardless of vaccine status, until February 15. For more information and a list of exemptions to the mask requirements, visit State Public Health Guidance for Face Coverings.

Everyone is required to wear masks in:
  • Indoor public spaces (until February 15)
  • Workplaces (until February 15)
  • Public transit
  • Healthcare settings (including long term care facilities)
  • Adult and senior care facilities
  • Indoors in K-12 schools, childcare, and other youth settings
  • State and local correctional facilities and detention centers
  • Homeless shelters, emergency shelters, and cooling centers

Masks are required for unvaccinated people and recommended for everyone in places of worship.

Children’s Discovery Museum hosts vaccinations Jan. 23
Children's Discovery Museum, 180 Woz Way
Sunday, Jan. 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Children’s Discovery Museum has teamed up with Santa Clara County Public Health Department to support local families with creative vaccination clinics for young children at the beloved institution in downtown San Jose. Every family whose child or adult is vaccinated will receive a family pass (FREE MUSEUM VAXPASS) for a free museum visit. Families can use the pass the day of their vaccination or return within six months of the clinic date. At least two more clinics will be scheduled at the museum.

The clinics are open to all eligible people age 5 and up for first and second doses and booster shots for eligible people age 18 and up (six months after a second Pfizer and Moderna vaccination and two months after a J&J shot).  Special outreach is underway to target Medi-Cal recipients whom have a lower vaccination rate than the rest of the population. Presently, only 63% of Santa Clara Family Health Plan Med-Cal members age 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
Events

Notre Dame invites you to a beloved annual tradition! The 19th annual Crab Fest takes place on Saturday, Feb. 5. Crab dinners are on sale now for drive-thru pick-up style in the Notre Dame 280 parking lot. All proceeds support Notre Dame's co-curricular programs. More information can be found at:  https://www.ndsj.org/support-nd/crab-fest

Silicon Valley’s Future of Downtown San Jose event changed to Feb. 24 at Marriott San Jose.  Due to COVID omicron variant, an online viewing option is also available.  Tickets here.
Downtown San Jose and Silicon Valley in the News
Recent media reports involving Downtown San Jose/Silicon Valley. Subscriptions may be necessary to see the article:

San Jose Inside:  Santa Clara County Supervisors study mental health crisis for three months

Mercury News: New investor in large property south of downtown

NBC Bay Area:  COVID causes SJPD staffing shortages

San Jose Spotlight:  Santa Clara County emergency rooms overextended with COVID testers  
COVID-19 Links
Newer Links
Let us know how else we can help your business by replying to this email. We’ll have another message next week.
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