Golden State Today

The Keep California Working Act (SB 74), which currently states that it will award grants to business owners ranging from $5,000 to $60,000, has received strong bipartisan support, with 36 Democrats and 27 Republicans co-sponsoring the bill.

Senate Bill 74, which at present is in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, is being widely supported by more than 80 chambers of commerce, cities, counties, and various organizations throughout the state including Fresno County, Kern County, Madera County, Stanislaus County, the City of Clovis, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and the Tulare Chamber of Commerce.

The bill was introduced by State Sens. Andreas Borgeas (R–Fresno) and Anna Caballero (D–Salinas) to the legislature last December. If passed, The Sun reported that “it will provide $2.6 billion of California’s unanticipated revenue in one-time grants for small businesses and nonprofits that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“California’s small businesses and nonprofits cannot wait any longer for relief,” Borgeas said in a statement. “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.”