sf.citi is committed to providing ongoing updates about the latest community news and resources from the San Francisco tech industry and beyond.
- 668,122 confirmed cases in California
- 12,153 confirmed deaths in California
- 79,208 confirmed cases in the Bay Area
*As of 9:00am PT on 8/24
COVID-19 Updates from the SF Tech Community
UPDATES FROM THE TECH COMMUNITY
We are sharing the latest COVID-19 resources from the San Francisco tech industry, as well other community-minded initiatives pioneered by sf.citi members.
- Facebook launched a Small Business Grants Program for Black-Owned Businesses as part of its $100 million commitment to invest in the Black community. Eligible businesses must be majority Black-owned, have 50 or less employees, and have experienced hardships as a result of COVID-19. They can apply here.
- Salesforce, which employs some 10,000 workers in the San Francisco Bay Area, extended its work from home policy until 2021. Salesforce employees will have the option to work remotely until “at least July 31, 2021.” Aware of the difficulties parents face while juggling work and distance learning, the company also expanded its family leave care and made parents eligible for an additional six weeks of paid time off.
- CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, donated $10 million of his Start Small initiative to Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research, which was launched six weeks ago by scholar Ibram X. Kendi.
UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
- On August 21, Mayor Breed announced that the African American Small Business Revolving Loan Fund has grown to $3.2 million. The additional $1.7 million in newly announced funding will provide capital and financial assistance to Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19.
- On August 20, Mayor Breed announced over $4 million in funding to provide rental subsidies for people living with HIV/AIDS and for transgender residents of San Francisco. Her two-year proposed budget includes annual allocations of $1 million for the Our Trans Home SF program and $1 million for the HIV/AIDS Rent Subsidy Program.
- On August 18, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors rejected transit advocate Jane Natoli’s nomination to serve on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) board. Mayor Breed nominated Jane Natoli and responded to the Board of Supervisors’ rejection here. The Board of Supervisors approved Mayor London Breed’s other SFMTA board nominee, Sharon Lai. The SFMTA board now has five of its total seven members.
To stay up to date with all City of San Francisco updates, follow the Mayor’s updates here.
UPDATES FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
- Governor Newsom secured federal assistance to support the state of California’s response to fires burning across the state. The Governor secured Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help suppress the River Fire and the Carmel Fire in Monterey County, the LNU Lightning Complex Fire in Napa County, the Jones Fire in Nevada County, the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, and the SCU Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties.
- On August 18, Governor Newsom declared a statewide emergency due to wildfires and extreme weather conditions striking all over California. The declaration ensures the state can access vital resources to combat ongoing fire and weather threats.
- On August 17, Governor Newsomsigned an executive order to free up additional energy capacity to mitigate California’s heat wave. He also signed an emergency proclamation that temporarily allows some energy users and utilities to use backup energy sources to relieve pressure on the grid during peak times. Additionally, Governor Newsom sent a letter to several California energy agencies demanding an investigation into the service disruptions that occurred last weekend and the agencies’ failure to predict and mitigate them.
To stay up to date with all State of California updates, follow the California Department of Health’s updates here.
SUPPORT OUR SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY
Every week, sf.citi will feature a different San Francisco nonprofit and share ways you can support its mission and work.
- Community Living Campaign has been supporting San Francisco seniors for the past 15 years. On a mission to make San Francisco a place that nurtures community, joy, learning, and health for seniors and people with disabilities, Community Living Campaign offers a monthly calendar of virtual activities. They also deliver food to those in need and provide computer training to get more San Franciscans online. Help Community Living Campaign eliminate isolation for San Francisco seniors and people with disabilities by participating in their Good Neighbor Summer. And if you’re looking to get connected, call Community Living Campaign at 415-821-1003.
Would you like to be featured in a future sf.citi community update? Tell us about your work in San Francisco by emailing jacqueline@sfciti.org.
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