The City of Menlo Park recognizes that many small businesses are experiencing very difficult financial impacts due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Menlo Park values its small business community and understands that resources are imperative during this time. The City has compiled some helpful resources at menlopark.org/businessresources.

At last week’s telephone town hall with the Mayor and City Manager, there was a question from a small business owner regarding funding for small businesses during COVID-19, since the Payment Protection Program is no longer accepting new applications. The caller asked about additional funding, resources and who he can contact from our congressional offices that may help his business and many in the area.

Contact information for Menlo Park's elected officials, including U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo, Senators Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris, and others is available on the city website. It is our understanding that our representatives are in favor of additional funding and are currently working on this issue in Washington, D.C.

There are still many other resources that small businesses can take advantage of like the San Mateo County Strong Fund, which is a grant program designed to help those in San Mateo County. The SMC Strong Fund will be distributing grant money in the near future. Businesses interested in taking advantage of this program should visit smcstrong.org.

The San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA) has also put together an excellent list of resources for small businesses as well as a checklist of options/suggestions to sustain a small business with substantially reduced revenue. This resource can act as the best single source of information for business owners feeling overwhelmed by the number of acronyms and programs out there, visit samceda.org/business-continuity.