Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Grant Relief Program now LIVE
Apply Now.
After much anticipation, The California Small Business and Nonprofit COVID-19 Relief Grant Program (to pay for COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave) is now taking applications. After significant advocacy from United Contractors, the State of California built and funded the program in the Budget Act of 2022 (AB-178) and authorized it through Assembly Bill 152 in September 2022.
The website for the program has been officially launched and is now taking applications.
Eligible contractors are encouraged to submit their grant applications immediately, as there is a significant chance the program will be oversubscribed.
The California COVID-19 supplemental Paid Sick Leave Relief Grant Program was created through advocacy efforts by UCON in 2022. It will provide up to $50,000 in financial relief for small businesses, as defined, including many of our contractors.
Who qualifies for this program?
To qualify for the SPSL Relief Grant, a business must meet all of the following criteria:
- Is a “C” or “S” corporation, cooperative, limited liability company, partnership or limited partnership;
- Began operating before June 1, 2021;
- Is currently active and operating;
- Has 26 to 49 employees and provides payroll data and an affidavit attesting to that fact;
- Has provided SPSL pursuant to the requirements of Labor Code §§ 248.6 and 248.7; and,
- Provides organizing documents.
How does the 26 to 49 employee count work for construction employers who have variable workforces throughout the year?
It is important to note that California construction employers were the only employers who were provided a variance when calculating the less than 50 employee threshold. While the grant program contains the less than 50 employee qualifier to access grant funds for all other employers in the state, we were able to secure industry specific language to allow construction employers to count only “core employees” towards the less than 50 employee threshold. That exemption reads as follows:
“For purposes of calculating the number of employees to determine if the employer meets the 26 to 49 employees requirement for access to the grant program, an employer covered by Industrial Welfare Commission Order No. 16-2001, shall calculate their number of employees as the number of full-time employees that have worked for the employer, without any break in employment, for the past 24 months.”
This language should significantly increase the number of contractors who will qualify for access to the grant program.
When can we apply for this grant relief and how?
The program is now active and accepting applications through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz.) Please visit www.caspsl.com to learn more about the program and to apply.
Contact: Emily Cohen, Executive Vice President, United Contractors