COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for small and medium-sized business owners and managers. While we're still learning what the true economic fallout of this pandemic will be, one thing is clear: companies that want to survive, and even thrive, need to double-down on efforts to manage cash flow. That means finding ways to deal with big-ticket expenses such as rent, contracted services and wholesale orders.
 
Should you try to negotiate a rent reduction? One of the obvious strategies in light of the pandemic-related restrictions on businesses is to try to negotiate a rent reduction. This provides immediate financial relief, giving you time to reconfigure your business in a way that meets the current economic realities.
 
When deciding whether to seek a rent reduction or rent deferral from your commercial landlord, consider the following:
 
Who owns your building?
 
Is it a private investor, a property developer or a commercial investment firm? Understanding the short and long-term goals of your landlord will help you know whether they're likely to accept a reduced rent or rent deferral arrangement.
 
What has your relationship been like with your landlord?
 
If you're a good tenant with a positive tenant-landlord relationship, chances are good your landlord will want to work with you. On the other hand, if the relationship has been rocky, don't be surprised if your landlord uses COVID as an opportunity to terminate your tenancy.
 
What are your long-term business plans?
 
Even if you're unable to pay your full rent right now, you may be able to negotiate reduced or deferred lease payments with your landlord in exchange for extending your lease. From the perspective of the landlord this may be a better option than loosing you as a tenant, which means they'll have to try to recruit another tenant — that's not something most landlords want to do during a recession.

During the recession of the 1980s, commercial property vacancies nationwide skyrocketed from 4.9% to a staggering 18.9%, so there's good reason for your landlord to want to retain their existing tenants.
 
Can you enter into an income-sharing agreement?
 
Rather than thinking of your landlord-tenant relationship as an us-vs-them situation, consider proposing an income-sharing agreement. This arrangement involves paying a percentage of gross revenues rather than a set rental rate, and it's commonly used in the agricultural industry where the landowner crop shares with the tenant farmer. Not only can this type of agreement help you stay in business, but it can also align the goals of all parties involved.
 
What about vendors?Rent or lease payments aren't the only big-ticket expense that many businesses can't afford during COVID-19 — a number of companies are unable to meet their contractual obligations to their vendors. Whether or not you should try to renegotiate vendor contracts depends on a number of factors, including if your contract contains a Force Majeure clause.
 
A Force Majeure is an extraordinary event or set of unforeseen circumstances that prevent one or more parties to a contract from fulfilling their contractual obligations. If the right conditions exist, the contract will be temporary suspended for the duration of the event that triggered the Force Majeure clause, and in some cases, one or more parties may be entitled to compensation.
 
Even if your contracts don't contain a Force Majeure clause, you should be proactive by starting a conversation with your vendors about how COVID-19 has impacted your business. Given the global nature of this crisis, everyone has been impacted, so chances are good your vendors will be open to working out a plan that is viable for everyone involved.

As more Ventura businesses reopen or prepare to reopen, we've put together a list of where you can purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep yourself, your team and your customers safe. 

Products were in stock when this list was originally published; please call or order online to verify items are still available. 

Locally Sourced PPE: Oxnard Chamber of Commerce Members

Amoretti
(805) 983-2903
www.amoretti.com
*Converted several of its manufacturing lines to produce hand sanitizer

Fastsigns of Oxnard
2339 N. Oxnard Boulevard (Oxnard)
(805) 278-7800
www.fastsigns.com/2034-oxnard-ca
*protective shields

Keene's Hardware
301 W Pleasant Valley Road (Oxnard)
(805) 486-3016
*Facemasks and gloves 

Office Depot
4731 Telephone Road (Ventura)
(805) 658-1582
www.officedepot.com
*Facemasks, hand sanitizer, protective shields

PrintPromoPlus by Safeguard
1000 Paseo Camarillo (Camarillo)
(805) 486-9769 or (800) 786-4222
https://printpromoplus.com/personal-protection-equipment
*masks, hand sanitizers and other personal protection items

Staples
411 W. Esplanade Drive (Oxnard)
(805) 988-1781 
www.staples.com
*Hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, shields

Ventura Spirits
3891 N. Ventura Avenue (Ventura)
(805) 232-4313
www.venturaspirits.com
*Began producing hand sanitizer at the distillery; View pricing and details for bulk orders

Walmart
2001 Rose Avenue (Oxnard)
2701 Saviers Road (Oxnard)
www.walmart.com
*Facemasks, hand sanitizer, gloves

From fast, flexible funding to collecting mobile payments, online ordering and e-invoicing, Heartland Payment Systems is keeping businesses updated with supportive resources to stay in business and connect with customers wherever they are. LEARN MORE>>

​JaniTek employee are tirelessly working at the frontlines of this pandemic. These behind-the-scenes heroes are responding to suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 exposure and are diligently following all CDC cleaning and disinfecting guidelines. JaniTek has increased service to all essential businesses that remain open and are dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of our community. Learn more at www.janitek.net or call them for a consultation at (805) 823-8296.

SERVPRO of Oxnard is being called on by numerous business and community leaders to perform the necessary bioremediation service to clean, disinfect and sanitize their properties. LEARN MORE>>

Businesses that are considered essential are busy and are hiring, such as those in food and agriculture, logistics, grocery stores, medical supplies and manufacturers/suppliers for defense. If you're looking for a job or if your company is hiring, please get in touch with one of these agencies.

​Please note that email or telephone communication is best as most offices are closed to walk-in visitors.

Community Action of Ventura County is providing food through its drive-thru food pantry program every Thursday from 12:30-3:30 pm (or until food runs out) at its facility located at 621 Richmond Avenue in Oxnard. Before COVID-19, it averaged between 100-120 households served; two weeks ago, 292 households picked up food.  LEARN MORE>>

Party Pleasers Event Rentals has tables and chairs available at discounted rates for maintaining social distancing requirements in the workplace. Contact them at www.partypleasers.com or call them at (805) 377-7368.

We are humbled and proud to share some of the wonderful ways Chamber members are helping during the COVID-19 health emergency. If you're a member, contact us at info@oxnardchamber.org so we can add your story! 

4th Way Fulfillment
4th Way Fulfillment was contracted by the CDC Foundation to assemble 80,000 kits for first responders containing hand sanitizer and hand soap that were donated by SC Johnson. The first shipment was delivered in early April to 47 fire stations in Seattle, Washington. 

​Aera Energy

• Aera has given Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) $50,000 in immediate funding to be distributed through the Ventura County Rapid Response Fund for COVID-19 recovery efforts. On top of the donation, Aera is challenging our community to contribute matching funds, in any amount, in an effort to increase support for nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of individuals and families with food and housing support, childcare, wage replacement, mental health care, and more. during this pandemic. Read the VCCF press release>> 
• Aera has been long-time partners with Westpark Community Center on Ventura’s Westside and provided more than 500 reusable shopping bags that are being used to expedite food distributions and promote safe delivery by enhancing social distancing. 
• They also delivered a supply of industrial trash bags to VCMC for the Health Care Foundation of Ventura County’s “Gown Brigade,” which is fabricating much-needed isolation gowns from the bags to help protect healthcare workers on the frontline.
• Through the Western States Petroleum Association, Aera and other members provided 22 Visa $50 gift cards to help local hospital staff with expenses and to show appreciation for their ongoing efforts.

Amoretti
Amoretti converted several of its manufacturing lines to create its very own Amoretti Hand Sanitizer. The team has been working with local government emergency services to distribute its initial hand sanitizer batches in bulk to first responders, hospitals (and other medical staff), and managed care facilities such as nursing homes and specialized care. If you are a first responder, work in healthcare, work for a business that is still open, work for a nonprofit, or are other critical personnel that is in need of hand sanitizer, please email them directly at info@amoretti.com with your needs. Read the story>>

California State University Channel islands
CSUCI faculty, staff and students from several different academic programs have mobilized and fired up 3-D printers to print protective face shields. So far, 51 printers are humming away in University members’ garages, kitchens, bedrooms and dens across the region in an effort to help medical personnel protect themselves as they treat patients diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. Read the release>>

Charter College
Due to COVID-19, over 200,000 appointments nationwide for blood donations with the Red Cross have been canceled.  Charter College partnered with several organizations to run blood drives at its Oxnard location.

Express Employment Professionals & Food Share of Ventura County
Express Employment Professionals has teamed up with Food Share during this critical time – with a customized landing page to generate and track donations. The need today is monetary so that Food Share can purchase additional food to meet increased demand. Food Share Executives estimate they will need $2.5 Million in donations just to get through June 2020 (including the recent Ventura County Tax Dollar Aid). Express Pros has coordinated with Food Share for many years. They’ve hosted food drives generating thousands of pounds of non-perishable food items. In addition, they have held team building exercises on-site at Food Share to sort food for those in need. Donations to Food Share can be made by visiting www.foodshare.com/express OR by Texting EXPRESS to 41444.

Food Share of Ventura County
Food Share of Ventura County opened pop-up pantry distributions throughout the county. Distributions are limited to low-income families residing in the city of that distribution. An ID or proof of residence is required upon arrival. All distribution sites are drive-thru only for the safety of you and our staff. Food is limited to one box per household on a first come, first served basis. ​LEARN MORE>>

No Limits for deaf children and Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble has helped support No Limits for deaf children by donating toilet paper and paper towels so that they can provide care packages to its deaf/hard of hearing families.

Oxnard Downtown Lions Club & Food Share of Ventura County
Oxnard Downtown Lions Club are making a difference for Oxnard families affected by COVID-19 by raising money to benefit FOOD Share of Ventura County, which needs $2,200 a day to feed Oxnard. The Oxnard Downtown Lions Club has donated seed money of $2,200 to Feed Oxnard for a Day and asks for the community to join their cause to help FEED OXNARD FOR 30 DAYS. A $50 donation feeds 150 families but ANY contribution will help make an impact! Make sure your community and neighbors know they're not alone by sharing or donating to this much-needed GoFundMe campaign.

They also teamed up with Tomas Cafe to deliver lunch to the doctors, nurses and staff in the emergency room at St. John's Regional Medical Center. View the Facebook post>> 

Port of Hueneme

• As the Port continues moving cargo to stock the shelves at grocery stores throughout California and 15 western states, waterfront workers went above and beyond the call by hosting a blood drive for the American Red Cross. More than 40 people donated blood to go to patients, including those fighting COVID-19.
• The Port is working to keep local restaurants afloat and essentials workers fed during the COVID-19 crisis. The efforts began with the Port’s “lunch for longshoremen” program a few weeks ago, a program that provides meal vouchers to various local restaurants which are frequented by longshoremen and waterfront workers. To date, the “lunch for longshoremen” program has provided over 180 meals and is still in operation.
• The Port’s efforts have grown to include a partnership with Feeding the Frontline, a local group of volunteers aimed to feed those working in the farms and packing facilities throughout Ventura County, while following the social distance rules established by the County of Ventura. The group of volunteers have organized food trucks to provide hot meals during the farmworkers lunch or break, and are also providing boxes and baskets of products, fruits and vegetables to take home for their families. The farm visits include Oxnard, Camarillo, and Santa Paula regions.
• The Port is also partnering with World Central Kitchen and BG’s Café to provide 200 lunches for healthcare professionals at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard.

SEED Beauty/Colour Pop
While the company has ceased manufacturing operations, it has: 

• Donated 6,000 surgical masks, 1,000 face shields and 1,000 N95 masks to Health Care Foundation For Ventura County, as well as 1,00 gloves, an addition 25 cases of gloves, 380 safety glasses, 1,000 cover suits, 250 surgical smocks, and 1,000 disposable lab coats. These critically needed masks will be used for the protection of front-line personnel in the fight against COVID-19. 
• Donated $10,000 to Food Share of Ventura County in an effort to ensure that children, families and seniors have access to healthy and nutritious food during these uncertain times.

SoCalGas 
Southern California Gas Co. is donating $100,000 to American Red Cross of Central California to assist Central Coast, Santa Barbara, Ventura County and San Luis Obispo county residents in need during the coronavirus pandemic. The gift is part of SoCalGas’ $1 million donation to nonprofit organizations throughout its 12-county service area to support the region’s workforce, feed the hungry, and provide bill assistance to customers most affected by the coronavirus crisis. 

SoCalGas also launched “SoCalGas CAREs” for customers whose income may have recently changed due to COVID-19 or other reasons. The campaign aims to let customers know of their eligibility to qualify for SoCalGas’ assistance program, California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE), saving them 20 percent on their monthly natural gas bills.  Customers who have become recently unemployed or who are currently facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic or for other reasons are encouraged to visit socalgas.com/care, complete the quick online application and find out instantly if they qualify. 

United Way of Ventura County
United Way of Ventura County launched the COVID-19 Rapid Response Homeless Care Kits campaign, which aims to provide essential hygiene supplies for our unsheltered veterans and individuals. These vital kits will be distributed by our county’s Healthcare for the Homeless Backpack Medicine team. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness during this public health crisis cannot wait for help – they need it now.  It costs $7.50 to provide a care kit for an unsheltered individual in need.​ Learn more>>

Ventura Spirits
Ventura Spirits began producing hand sanitizer at the distillery. They are consulting with organizations like Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services and Upper Ojai Relief to make sure that the sanitizer they produce stays in our local community and gets into the hands of those who are currently most in need, like hospital workers and first responders. 

Yuma Way
Yuma Way CA's leadership team feels blessed to be home, healthy, and safe and they wanted to do something - anything -  to show appreciation and support to the frontline workers who are making the utmost sacrifices and to let neighbors know they are not alone. To that end, its ownership team hand-delivered lunch in collaboration with Freddy’s neighborhood pizza shop to the emergency room doctors and nurses at St. John’s Regional Medical Center. The company also made a donation to Food Share of Ventura County to feed over 300 Oxnard families.  Since 1978, Food Share has been feeding the hungry in Ventura County, and is a member of the Feeding America Network, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. 

PLEASE NOTE: In compliance with the statewide order, our office is currently closed to the public. For a Certificate of Origin or other service, please call (805-983-6118) or email (info@oxnardchamber.org) with at least 24 hours' notice.

To our valued Chamber members and supporters:
 
By the time you read this, there will likely be multiple updates and developments in the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic we are confronted with.
 
We have canceled all in-person Chamber meetings and events until further notice, but we are conducting business as usual virtually whenever possible
 
Please know we are by your side to help our business community address the exceptional challenges we face today.
 
There are multiple resources on our website to help our business community through these unprecedented times. We are fortunate to partner with other organizations in Ventura County that are focused on saving and rebuilding our local economy, as so many businesses struggle to survive. Hopefully, you will find some answers and recommendations here.
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Please don't hesitate to call on us for anything. We are here to help!