Help from government available to local business owners

CARMEL, Calif. (KION) Marcy Straesser is making the most of the state mandated stay-at-home order. Instead of leading a class of fitness clients in-house, she guides them through workouts online.

"I'm trying to figure out what I could do to create my business, save my business, get the message out and get people to move," said Straesser.

Straesser said she has lost nearly half her clients since having to close her doors. She is worried about the money she and her neighbors at The Crossroads Carmel will continue to lose in the weeks to come. "That would be a lot of money lost. Hopefully we don't have to go into July," said Straesser.

With Governor Gavin Newsom's order open ended, Straesser is trying to stay practical. She applied for an SBA loan and is hoping more relief will come after President Trump signed Congress' $2 trillion economic stimulus bill.

"They would help pay for additional benefits that could be more money than that maximum of $450 each week. It might mean an additional length of benefits over a longer period of time," said Loree Levy with the California Employment Development Department (EDD).

The benefits will provide up to $600 a week and give full pay to laid off workers for four months. Those who are self employed are eligible too. The option has been provided in previous disasters like California's wildfires.

"The one good thing we see coming out of the federal government is referred to as disaster unemployment assistance. If you don't qualify for normal unemployment insurance, which most self employed probably don't, you could be eligible under a separate unemployment insurance program that the federal government will provide for in pay," said Levy.

The EDD said those who filed a claim should wait three weeks for a response due to an increase in volume.