Fifteen Counties, CalChamber, CalNonprofits, California Restaurant Association, CA Farm Bureau, Editorial Boards and More Join Coalition
SACRAMENTO – The Keep California Working Act (SB74 Borgeas-Caballero) has recently attracted an even stronger coalition of support. More than 80 chambers of commerce, cities, counties and associations located throughout California are lending their support to the bill, which would invest $2.6 billion of California’s unanticipated revenue in one-time grants for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19.
Senate Bill 74, with 36 Democrat and 27 Republican sponsors, is a true bipartisan and bicameral small business relief package jointly authored by Senators Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) and Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), and principally co-authored by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach). Sixty-three out of 120 California legislators, or more than half the Legislature, have signed on to the Keep California Working Act.
Read related story: Over Half the California Legislature Supports Keep California Working Act.
And while Governor Gavin Newsom’s additional request of $575 million to the grant relief program is a step in the right direction, more capital investment is needed to keep California’s job creators afloat. SB 74 also contains an urgency clause to go into effect immediately upon approval.
“California’s small businesses and nonprofits cannot wait any longer for relief,” said Senator Borgeas. “The fast-growing, bipartisan coalition for the Keep California Working Act demonstrates the immediacy of this need throughout the entire state. If small businesses are suffering because they are following COVID-19 protocols, then it is imperative that California provide relief to those that are struggling.”
“I am happy to see such a strong, bipartisan coalition of support continuing to grow,” said Senator Caballero. “I think this speaks to the statewide urgency of helping our small businesses and nonprofits weather the COVID-19 storm. We’ve asked them to make sacrifices for the greater good, and now it’s time for us to provide the relief that they deserve.”
Statewide Coalition Grows
The Keep California Working Act has garnered significant support from statewide associations and advocacy groups. Noteworthy supporters include the California Chamber of Commerce, California Association of Nonprofits, the California Building Industry Association, the California Restaurant Association, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
Fifteen California counties have also joined the list: Fresno County, Humboldt County, Kern County, Lake County, Madera County, Mono County, Monterey County, Sacramento County, San Benito County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Cruz County, Shasta County, Stanislaus County, Tuolumne County, and Yuba County.
Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) Recommends More
While SB 74 proposes $2.6 billion in economic relief, a report published by the Legislature’s nonpartisan policy advisor entitled The 2021-22 Budget: California’s Fiscal Outlook recommends that “…the Legislature use the other half of the windfall – about $13 billion – on one-time purposes, focusing on activities that mitigate the adverse economic and health consequences of the public health emergency.”
Editorial Boards on SB 74
The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board: “…a large bipartisan group of legislators is pushing for $2.6 billion, with a higher maximum grant to match the scale of the need.”
The Modesto Bee Editorial Board: “Legislation aiming to provide a lot more COVID-19 relief money for small California businesses and nonprofits is impressive for drawing support from Republicans and Democrats alike. And, Stanislaus County people can brag because Senate Bill 74’s champions are our own Senate representatives.”
The Fresno Bee Editorial Board: “The concept is sound and the need is great. Now it is up to Borgeas, Caballero and their colleagues to make it become actual dollars for small businesses.”
Complete List of Statewide Support
Many other organizations, including local chambers of commerce and business advocacy groups, have endorsed the Keep California Working Act. View the coalition letter here.
- Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
- Big Bear Chamber of Commerce
- Building Owners and Managers Association of California
- California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits)
- California Builders Alliance
- California Building Industry Association (CBIA)
- California Business Properties Association
- California Farm Bureau
- California Manufacturers and Technology Association (CMTA)
- California Restaurant Association (CalRestaurants)
- Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber)
- Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce
- City of Clovis
- Corona Chamber of Commerce
- Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce
- County of Fresno
- County of Humboldt
- County of Kern
- County of Lake
- County of Madera
- County of Mono
- County of Monterey
- County of Sacramento
- County of San Benito
- County of San Luis Obispo
- County of Santa Cruz
- County of Shasta
- County of Stanislaus
- County of Tuolumne
- County of Yuba
- El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce
- El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce
- Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce
- Folsom Chamber of Commerce
- Fontana Chamber of Commerce
- Fremont Chamber of Commerce
- Fresno Chamber of Commerce
- Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Ontario Business Council
- Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
- Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Hemet/San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce
- Highland Area Chamber of Commerce
- Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
- Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Impact Southwest Riverside County
- Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- Irvine Spectrum
- Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
- Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce
- NAIOP of California, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
- Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce
- North Orange County Chamber
- North San Diego Business Chamber
- Oceanside Chamber of Commerce
- Orange County Business Council (OCBC)
- Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
- Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce
- Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce
- Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce
- Redlands Chamber of Commerce
- Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Riverside County Workforce Development Board
- Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce
- Salinas United Business Association (SUBA)
- Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
- San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
- San Rafael Chamber of Commerce
- Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Santa Rosa Metro Chamber
- South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
- South Orange County Economic Coalition
- Southwest California Legislative Council
- Temecula Chamber of Commerce
- Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce
- Town of Mammoth Lakes
- Tulare Chamber of Commerce
- Upland Chamber of Commerce
- United Chamber Advocacy Network
- Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association
- Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce
