Vote Madera
If you are registered to vote, you will be mailed a Vote by Mail Ballot and a County Voter Information Guide approximately 29 days prior to an election. If you do not receive your Official Ballot and County Voter Information Guide by at least a 20 days prior to an election, call the Elections Division at (559) 675-7720 or (800)-435-0509.
It is important that your voter registration reflect both your current residence address and mailing address, if different than your residence. Because Voter Information Guides reflect the candidates and issues for the area in which you reside, they are not forwardable. If you have moved within Madera County since you last voted and did not re-register, you should call the Elections Division to determine your status. For more information you can also go to: www.votemadera.com
Vote Early – Vote Safely
CalMatters
California Election 2020 Vote Guide –
Come rain, shine, pandemic or crippling recession, California voters can always count on one thing: a very long, very complicated ballot.
Though the presidential race will gobble up most of the attention, the choice between GOP President Donald Trump and former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden will be an easy one for most California voters. But Californians will make other vital decisions:
- Deciding the fate of 12 statewide ballot measures that seek to raise taxes or lower them; regulate some industries or ban others; and expand voting rights, tighten criminal sentencing and resurrect affirmative action.
- Determining the makeup of the Legislature, now controlled by a gigamajority of Democrats.
- Either affirming the sweeping gains Democrats made in California’s congressional delegation, or driving back 2018’s “blue wave.”
Confused about what’s at stake, which races to watch, how to vote during a pandemic or why you’re yet again voting on kidney dialysis? Consider this guide your one-stop-shop.
Click Here to review the Propositions that will affect California
Blueprint for a Safer Economy – Madera
California has a blueprint for reducing COVID-19 in the state with revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities.
Every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its test positivity and adjusted case rate. At a minimum, counties must remain in a tier for at least 3 weeks before moving forward. Data is reviewed weekly and tiers are updated on Tuesdays. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks. If a county’s metrics worsen for two consecutive weeks, it will be assigned a more restrictive tier. Public health officials are constantly monitoring data and can step in if necessary.
Again, these statewide orders are still in place. For more information please visit https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties/
For more information on how you can help stop the spread of Covid-19 and keep you and your family safe visit the Madera County Health Department website at www.maderacounty.com
COVID-19 POSTER
COVID-19 BUSINESS POSTER NOW AVAILABLE!
The Madera County Public Health Department has created a poster for businesses to post at their entrances that will help them to safely operate during COVID-19. This poster is also a tool for businesses and their customers to easily understand how to conduct business and follow the State and County orders.
Posters can be printed directly from the Madera County Public Health Department website: maderacounty.com.
If you are unable to print your poster, the Madera Chamber of Commerce has colored 11 x 17.5 posters available in both English and Spanish. Please call the chamber office (559) 673-3563 to schedule your poster pick up.
iBank
One of the IBank Small Business Finance Center’s loan guarantee programs is designed for Disaster Relief specifically and is currently available to small businesses needing assistance to overcome economic injury caused by COVID-19. We have Financial Development Corporation (FDC) partners throughout the state that assists businesses in securing a 95% guarantee on a bank loan. The FDCs are listed below and they work directly with participating lenders to underwrite the loan, which the SBFC guarantees (upon approval).
For more information go to ibank.ca.gov
SBA Disaster Assistance The U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration. To learn more about the SBA Disaster Assistance Program, Click Here!
To learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program, Click Here!
US Census Resource Page
The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail.
Click On This Video To Learn More About the U.S. Census 2020
Why The Count is Conducted
The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
t’s also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.
Counting Everyone
Participating in the census is required by law, even if you recently completed another survey from the Census Bureau. A complete and accurate count is critical for you and your community, because the results of the 2020 Census will affect community funding, congressional representation, and more.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE U.S. CENSUS SITE AT: https://2020census.gov
HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
The Madera Chamber of Commerce is open and working to provide our members with information that will assist our local businesses in dealing with the the current health concerns and the impacts you may be experiencing as a result of the crisis. We hope the following information, as provided to us, will be of support to you and we will continue to send information as it becomes available.
Message from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
As many of you are aware, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the “Paycheck Protection Program,” the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain their payroll during this emergency. Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward.
Please find the attached link, Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist. This is the first of a number of resources we are developing to help you and your members with the resources recently approved by Congress to respond to the ongoing pandemic.
Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus
Workplace safety and health regulations in California require employers to protect workers exposed to airborne infectious diseases such as the coronavirus. Cal/OSHA has posted guidance to help employers comply with these safety requirements and to provide workers information on how to protect themselves.
Cal/OSHA’s Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) standard (section 5199) requires protection for employees working at health care facilities, and other services and operations, including:
- Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, medical offices, outpatient medical facilities, home health care, long-term health care facilities, hospices, medical outreach services, medical transport and emergency medical services
- Certain laboratories, public health services and police services that are reasonably anticipated to expose employees to an aerosol transmissible disease.
- Correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and drug treatment programs
- Any other locations when Cal/OSHA informs employers in writing that they must comply with the ATD Standard
To protect workers and prevent exposure to the virus, employers must develop and maintain the required programs and plans for their facility or operation. Cal/OSHA recommends the interim guidance, educational materials and model programs and plans below be reviewed with an employer’s existing procedures to ensure that workers are protected.
For more Cal/OSHA information, please Click Here
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Plan, Prepare & Respond to Coronavirus Disease
This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.
CDC is working across the Department of Health and Human Services and across the U.S. government in the public health response to COVID-19. Much is unknown about how the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads. Current knowledge is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses.
Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 To read more about the updated interim guidance, Click Here!
Additional Help for Employers… Alternative to Employee Layoffs
| EDD Work Sharing Program Employers can apply for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Work Sharing Program if reduced production, services, or other conditions cause them to seek an alternative to layoffs. The Work Sharing Program helps employees whose hours and wages have been reduced: Receive UI benefits. Keep their current job. Avoid financial hardships. The Work Sharing Program helps employers: Minimize or eliminate the need for layoffs. Keep trained employees and quickly prepare when business conditions improve. Avoid the cost of recruiting, hiring, and training new employees. Requirements To participate, employers must meet all of the following requirements: Be a legally registered business in California. Have an active California State Employer Account Number.At least 10 percent of the employer’s regular workforce or a unit of the workforce, and a minimum of two employees, must be affected by a reduction in hours and wages.Hours and wages must be reduced by at least 10 percent and not exceed 60 percent.Health benefits must remain the same as before, or they must meet the same standards as other employees who are not participating in Work Sharing.Retirement benefits must meet the same terms and conditions as before, or they must meet the same as other employees not participating in Work Sharing.The collective bargaining agent of employees in a bargaining unit must agree to voluntarily participate and sign the application for Work Sharing.Identify the affected work units to be covered by the Work Sharing plan and identify each participating employee by their full name and Social Security number.Notify employees in advance of the intent to participate in the Work Sharing program.Identify how many layoffs will be avoided by participating in the Work Sharing program.Provide the EDD with any necessary reports or documents relating to the Work Sharing plan. Restrictions Leased, intermittent, seasonal, or temporary service employees cannot participate in the Work Sharing Program.Corporate officers or major stock holders with investment in the company cannot participate in the Work Sharing Program.The Work Sharing Program cannot be used as a transition to a layoff. Click Here to go to the EDD Work Sharing Site |
The SBDC Can Help Your Business Prepare and Recover
At the OCIE SBDC your business is top of mind for us. As concerns continue about coronavirus (COVID-19) we want to assure you that we’re here to help you navigate available resources, answer your business questions and be a trusted partner for your business. Despite the impact of COVID-19, rest assured the SBDC is here to help and we value the privilege to be of service. Check out the resources, please Click Here! or for information contact 1-800-616-7232 for help now.