Your Chamber is open for business
First, and most importantly, our thoughts and deepest concern go out to all those who have been affected by the fires in Sonoma, Napa, and neighboring counties. There are hundreds of people who have been impacted and we care about each one.
Your Chamber is open for business
All chamber staff who are able are working on behalf of our members and the community. Our focus is helping businesses and their employees in responding to this crisis. We are beginning to reach out to each member and others in the community to determine your needs and connect you with available resources.
We have developed a resource page on our website where we will look to highlight the response of our business community and provide assistance information: www.santarosametrochamber.com/fire. Some of those resources are listed in the section below.
Next steps
Shortly, the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber will convene our members to coordinate a response to this crisis. As the re-building begins we will bring together those with needs and empower them with resources so that we can act together in re-growing our economy.
A resilient organization for a resilient community
The Chamber was formed in response to the 1906 earthquake. Re-building is in our DNA and we will be active partners in the reconstruction of our city and our economy as we have in the past.
Resources
Local Assistance Center - The LAC is a one-stop-shop with critical services for those who have been impacted by the fires. The LAC is open from 9:00am to 7:00pm at the Press Democrat building in downtown Santa Rosa at 427 Mendocino Avenue.
Unemployment Assistance - For all those missing work due to the North Bay fires, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance or Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
Job Link Business Services - Business owners and managers can contact the Job Link Business Services Team at 707-565-8079 to coordinate unemployment and job seeking services for your employees, to assist them in regaining their footing as quickly as possible. If your business was not affected but you have openings, they are making direct connections with displaced workers seeking work in the area: https://sonomawib.org/post-a-job/.
Insurance - Info on filing insurance claims from the California Department of Insurance
Property Taxes - Info on disaster relief provisions for property tax assessments from the Sonoma County Assessor's Office
Tax Credits - Info on deducting disaster losses from the Franchise Tax Board
Tax Exemptions for Equipment - Manufacturing and research & development equipment exemptions from the Board of Equalization
IRS Tax Relief and Extensions - more information at BPM's website
Financing - Disaster assistance loans from the Small Business Administration. Low-interest and state-guaranteed business loans from the California IBank. Small-business and state-guaranteed loans from CalCap. Small business microloans from Working Solutions.
Relocation or rebuilding - incentives from GoBiz Business Investment Services.
FEMA assistance - information, support and services from the FEMA disaster assistance website
Where to offer help
Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief - Redwood Credit Union (RCU), in partnership with RCU Community Fund, The Press Democrat, and Senator Mike McGuire, is now accepting financial donations to aid relief efforts and assist victims of the 2017 North Bay fires. 100% of your tax-deductible donations will go directly to support those affected by the fires. https://www.redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief
