South Lake Tahoe City Council expands business reimbursement program

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During their meeting Tuesday, the City Council approved the Winter Operations COVID Compliance Business Protection Grant Reimbursement Program which will reimburse local businesses for PPE and the equipment they need to operate safely during the winter months.

There were funds left over from the first business reimbursement program which gave up to $2,500 back to those who had to purchase items needed to operate safely.

“We know small businesses are what keep our City running and we are committed to doing everything we can to help them through the pandemic,” said South Lake Tahoe City Manager Joe Irvin, “Council is being creative and finding new ways to help. This program is a clear sign of that.”

The program would provide reimbursements of 50-percent of winter operations expenses up to $5,000. This includes things like outdoor heaters, tents, tables, etc. Right now, the program is funded with $75,000 but Council did say if the program is in high demand, they would be willing to discuss providing the program with more money.

The funding came from money leftover from the previous reimbursement program and restaurant voucher program which provided $25 certificates to people in town to stimulate business.

“We know our businesses are operating with limited occupancy, and we know Tahoe’s winters can be cold,” said Irvin.

El Dorado County is currently in the orange/moderate tier of reopening. To move to the yellow/minimal tier, the average daily rate of new cases needs to be less than 1 and positivity rate of less than two percent for the previous two weeks.

With 142 cases over the last 14 days, and a current positivity rate of 2.3 percent, that change of tiers is unknown at this time. The seven-day positivity rate 14 days ago was .9 percent. During that time the Lake Tahoe region of El Dorado County has had 21 new cases.

“City Council has been committed from the start of the COVID-19 crisis to helping people through the restaurant voucher program, the PPE reimbursement program, even through our ambassador program which gives out PPE to people who don’t have it,” said Irvin, “This will continue that practice and will be one factor in helping make sure this winter is a good one for businesses no matter the circumstances.”

If you are a business who would like to get a reimbursement, email receipts to recovery@cityofslt.us.