CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, State and County governments hoped to slow the spread of the virus by issuing public health orders that have included various restrictions on business operations.  These restrictions—such as reduced hours of operation, limited customer capacity, and prohibiting in-restaurant dining (and sometimes even outdoor dining)—have had serious financial impacts on local businesses. Many have been forced to close their doors permanently, and many more are struggling to stay afloat.

A coalition of local Chambers of Commerce—including the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce—recently presented the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors with a proposal for the COVID Public Health Order Compliance Incentive Program. Jim Lofgren, government affairs consultant for the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, explained that the idea is to encourage compliance with the public health orders by rewarding compliant businesses with financial incentives.

If the program is approved by the Board of Supervisors, businesses would be able to apply for reimbursement for expenses incurred as part of their compliance, such as costs for outdoor dining tents or setting up an online ordering system. The proposal suggests that money be allocated to local governments, which would then administer the funds to eligible businesses, with local Chambers of Commerce helping to promote the program. To ensure that money gets to as many businesses as possible, the proposed maximum reimbursement would be $2,000. While $2,000 may not seem like a lot, Lofgren said it can make the difference for struggling businesses. He said if the program keeps one business from going under, “it’ll be worth it.”

The proposal was met with support from many of the County Supervisors, and it is now under consideration.  Lofgren said the Supervisors are looking at federal funding proposed by the Biden Administration as the source of funding for the program, so he is “optimistic that the program will be approved as soon as the County receives the anticipated federal funding.”

District 4 Supervisor Sue Frost, current Chair of the Board of Supervisors, expressed her support for the proposal: “This funding is critical because businesses who have been trying to do the right thing by following orders have been getting decimated and are shutting down at a terrifying rate. The government are the ones shutting them down, so the government also needs to be the one to step up and provide help.”

Diane Ebbitt-Riehle, executive director of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce explained how important this funding will be to local businesses: “Most of the businesses in Citrus Heights are small business. They don’t have deep pockets and corporate backing to help them weather the financial storm that has resulted from the COVID crisis. They are struggling to keep their doors open because of the economic downturn and the costs incurred during the pandemic. With every state-mandated shutdown, they have had to spend money they didn’t have to pay their employees and stay in businesses. The Citrus Heights Chamber feels it’s imperative to assist our businesses with direct financial aid. This program will be of great value to the businesses in Citrus Heights.”

If you want to share your support for this proposal and encourage the Board of Supervisors to approve the program, you can email Supervisor Sue Frost, who represents Citrus Heights as part of District 4, at [email protected].