(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the Small Business Administration (SBA) released updated Paycheck Protection Act (PPP) information including a new 14 day application window geared towards sole proprietors and businesses under 20 employees. This 14 day window opens today.
 
Rep. LaMalfa said, “The PPP program has successfully helped keep thousands of California small businesses open, workers paid, and families afloat during the pandemic, and it is a textbook example of what can be achieved through a bipartisan approach to COVID aid. Fortunately for small businesses still needing relief, PPP loans are still available and are even forgivable under most circumstances. I encourage eligible small businesses needing assistance to take advantage of this program.”
 
Businesses interested in applying for PPP loans or learning more about eligibility can find more information from the SBA here or contact LaMalfa’s office. New formulas for calculating loan amounts for sole proprietors will be based off of gross revenue and will help with higher loan amounts being available. In California, 202,264 individual PPP loans for $18,192,309,838 have been approved through February 21, 2021.
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
 

Expert explains how to protect yourself from tax scams

According to the data, over 91% of the 165 million tax returns in the U.S. were filed electronically last year. Due to the current coronavirus outbreak, it is expected that an even greater percentage of tax documents will be submitted online this year.

Unfortunately, with the lockdown forcing people to work remotely, cybercriminals have become more active than ever this tax season. People doing business online, especially accounting firms, are now prime targets for hackers looking to exploit any vulnerability.

Oliver Noble, a cybersecurity specialist at NordLocker, says that whether you do taxes on your own or employ an accountant, protecting your personal documents should be a priority. “Many people have lost hundreds or even thousands of dollars and had their personal data stolen through tax scams. It is vitally important to take security into consideration when going about this annual taxpayer duty,” he explains.

Oliver Noble offers three basic tips on how to avoid tax filing risks online.

1. Don’t fall for a phishing scam

Phishing is an attempt to steal confidential data from internet users through impersonation. This criminal technique is most often used in emails and text messages. According to the FTC, the imposter scam is the number one type of fraud in the US, costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars. To avoid having your money or identity stolen through phishing, remember this:

• Never click on links you receive in emails, text messages, or social media posts claiming to be from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The IRS does not ask for personal or financial information from taxpayers through these channels.
• Never send your personal information to any “official” or “representative” by email or a text message.
• When in doubt, before doing anything, contact your bank to check the legitimacy of the required actions. Don’t forget that banks, like the IRS, never ask for your personal information by phone or email.

2. Use a VPN when connecting to your online accounts

As a rule of thumb, never file taxes, submit any personal information online, or log in to your bank accounts over public Wi-Fi. If there’s no other choice, you should use a reliable VPN service to protect your connection. VPNs (virtual private networks) replace your IP address with a virtual one that fraudsters cannot trace back to you and your data.

But the risks aren’t limited to just public networks. Even your home Wi-Fi may be breached by skilled hackers, so you should always use a VPN to keep your information private. At the moment, employees all over the world are using secure VPN connections to safely access their company accounts during the lockdown.

3. Protect your tax forms and bills

If you're sending your files to someone, make sure to encrypt them first. Tax documents can give away a lot of personally identifiable information, which is why they should never be stored unprotected on your computer or in the cloud. Start to employ user-friendly file encryption tools, such as NordLocker, to effectively protect all your valuable information from prying eyes.

The IRS requires taxpayers to store all documents used for tax credits or deductions for three years. Luckily, they accept digital copies, so you don't have to worry about blurry receipts or digging through piles of paper — simply keep your tax return documents, including photocopies of receipts, in a private encrypted folder either on your computer or in the cloud.

“Cyberattacks may be on the rise, but they don't have to necessarily happen to you. As a taxpayer, you can easily protect your sensitive data with the tools designed for that purpose. Adopting these practices for your online tax returns will also help you watch out for other online threats,” says Oliver Noble.

ABOUT NORDLOCKER

NordLocker is the world’s first end-to-end file encryption tool with a private cloud. It was created by the cybersecurity experts behind NordVPN – one of the most advanced VPN service providers in the world. NordLocker is available for Windows and macOS, it supports all file types, offers a fast and intuitive interface, and guarantees secure sync between devices. With NordLocker, files are protected from hacking, surveillance, and data collection. For more information: nordlocker.com.

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The Sierra Small Business Development Center (Sierra SBDC) is located in Truckee, CA.  As a small business Advisor for the Sierra SBDC, I service Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc Counties.  The SBDCs provide FREE one-on-one counseling, business plan development, and FREE workshops and webinars every month.  For FREE counseling, please go to www.sierrasbdc.com; open the Home Page, click on the ‘Apply Now’ on the upper right, and then complete the information boxes about your business for a client profile.  All information is kept confidential.  You will then be routed to me and we can start working together for your business.
 
For the FREE workshops and seminars, go to www.sierrasbdc.com; click on Calendar at the top, then scroll down to the session of your choice.  You must register to get entry.  Following is the schedule for March 2021:
 
March 1:  Your Customer Experience in the New Dine-In Reality.
            How to merge COVID-19 gov’t guidelines with best hospitality practices.
March 4:  Social Media Tips & Tricks for Food Businesses.
            Everyday Social Media: How to keep the posts coming and the customers engaged.
March 9:  Owning and Investing in Real Estate for Small Business Entrepreneurs.
            Information to secure your long-term future by owning property, company plants, and equipment.
March 10:  Webinar:  Digital Marketing Hour:  Instagram Stories.
            How can my company develop meaningful marketing strategies with limited resources?
March 10 & 17:  Disaster Relief Loan Updates and Caseforce.
            Answers how small businesses can prepare and apply for an SBA Economic Injury Loan and PPP Forgiveness.  Also:  Provide information on any new loan options.
March 10, 17, 24, 31:  Restaurant Financial Bootcamp – Four Part Series.
            Intensive four-part bootcamp series on restaurant financials.
March 24:  Webinar – Digital Marketing Hour:  Digital Marketing Tactics as You Continue to Pivot and Recover.
            Embracing digital technology as an effective way to communicate with customers, promote your business and services, and sell products online.
 
Feel free to contact me for information on our FREE services at clint.koble@gmail.com or (775) 843-4081.  The Sierra SBDC also has experts in International Trade, the Food Industry, Marketing, Financing and more.
 
Clint Koble, Advisor

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Comment Period Runs Until May 3Susanville, CA Feb. 22— Each year, the Lassen National Forest has an opportunity to submit grant applications to the California State Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) for consideration for funding in support of the Forest’s on-going Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) program. As part of the state’s 2021 grant cycle, the forest is submitting a proposal for a law enforcement project which includes OHV area patrols and enforcement.
 
As part of the application process, stakeholders are encouraged to make comments on submitted applications. The comments will be used to shape the final grant application package which are due to the OHMVR Division by June 7.
Preliminary applications for the 2021 projects will be made available for review and comment on the OHMVR Division's website beginning March 2.
 
Additionally, interested parties can find more information about the Lassen’s OHV program on our website.  
In addition to the OHMVR Division’s website, public comments regarding the proposed project may be submitted in writing to Adam Hill, Patrol Captain, at 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, or electronically to adam.hill@usda.gov by May 3. 
 

Sierra County Probation Delivered Daily Meals to Vulnerable Members of the CommunitySierra County Probation took it upon themselves to go above and beyond to help their community during the heart of the stressful COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Probation Officer Chuck Henson and Deputy Probation Officer Sofia Gonzalez spearheaded the delivery of hot meals to senior citizens in the community due to restricted access that many local senior centers were experiencing.  In addition, they hand delivered daily hot meals to many of the disabled members in their community.
On average, they delivered about 30-35 hot meals daily for six weeks, some of those days the temperature being as low as 20-25 degrees.
The department also participated in weekly food bank and commodities deliveries in conjunction with local volunteers and outside groups in the community for many weeks.
Sierra County Probation truly embodied the mission of probation during the wake of the pandemic by continuing to find ways to support their vulnerable populations despite overwhelming circumstances.
“Probation is always prepared to meet the needs of our community and those of the adults and youth we serve. The safety and the well-being of clients, staff, and our communities is our top priority,” said Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) President Chief Steve Sentman. “Sierra County Probation saw a significant need during a difficult time and found a safe and innovative way to answer that call and serve members of their community – well done!”
Probation Departments all over the state of California are delivering evidence-based programs and supervision as well as rehabilitative services, which result in lower recidivism and a pathway to success for clients and healthier communities.
 
Spotlight PDF - Sierra County Probation Delivers Hot Meals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, February 22, 2021 -- Report for America today announced that it will release its 2020 Local Newsroom Sustainability Report during the Knight Media Forum, hosted virtually by the Knight Foundation, March 2-4.
The upcoming report includes the striking news that Report for America newsroom partners raised 61% more funding per reporter in 2020 than in 2019, jumping from a $14,593 average to $23,500 per reporter.
Overall, the report will demonstrate the valuable role philanthropy can play in addressing the crisis in local journalism—at a time when shrinking advertising revenue and the COVID-19 pandemic have shuttered many newsrooms.
"Local communities want local news and are willing to work at making it happen," said Todd Franko, Report for America's director of local sustainability and development. "That's what 2020 told us—and that it happened in an unprecedented year in American history needs to be part of the recognition.”
Among the report’s highlights:

• Report for America helped local newsrooms raise $4.6 million in 2020 (well past its projected $2.5 million goal)—essentially injecting nearly $10 million into journalism with Report for America’s national match.
• Fundraising by for-profit newsrooms grew from $12,972 per newsroom in 2019 to $26,811 per newsroom in 2020, while fundraising for nonprofits rose from $28,433 per newsroom in 2019 to $41,254 in 2020.
• The growth is fueled largely by individual giving: donors giving under $5,000 contributed 6,774 gifts, averaging $68, to our partner newsrooms, compared to 984 gifts averaging $54 in 2019

"How this success happened is what ignites our path forward,” Franko said. “In our partner communities, there is a base audience of donors who want local news. They are making local philanthropy a vital third revenue stream to sustain local media.”
Beyond releasing the report during the Knight Media Forum, Report for America will participate in two panel events, both taking place Wednesday, March 3, at 1 p.m. ET: 

• New Solutions to Rebuild Local Journalism: Strategies for communities to support local journalism, featuring Steven Waldman, Report for America’s president and co-founder.
• Local Funder-Grantee success story: Report for America: A case study on the national service organization placing journalists in local newsrooms across the country, featuring Report for America corps members Zoë Jackson, Minnesota Star Tribune; newsroom partner, Greg Farmer, The Kansas City Star; and funder, Marian Kaanon, Stanislaus Community Foundation.

The Knight Media Forum is the premier gathering of leaders in philanthropy, journalism and technology working to strengthen local news, communities and democracy. The 2021 forum is online and open to all. Register here.
To learn more about Report for America’s efforts to place journalists into local newsrooms across the nation while empowering newsrooms to develop sustainable funding, visit www.reportforamerica.org.
About Report for America
Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities. Launched in 2017 and donor-financed, Report for America is creating a new, sustainable system that provides Americans with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable, and rebuild trust in the media. Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award-winning nonprofit media organization with an established track record of training and supporting teams of emerging journalists around the world and in the US. Report for America is a MacArthur Foundation 100&Change finalist, a global competition for a single $100 million grant.
 
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SACRAMENTO – Thanks to bipartisan efforts, struggling small businesses and non-profits received a much-needed boost today. Senate Republicans are pleased that Senate Democrats joined them in passing an early action budget measure that will provide more than $2 billion in immediate economic relief to job creators and non-profits that have been affected by the state’s confusing closing and re-opening guidelines. Members of the California Senate Republican Caucus are principal co-authors of Senate Bill 87.

SB 87 stemmed from the measure “Keep California Working Act” (SB 74) introduced by Republican Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) in December. Legislative Democrats agreed to include some of the proposals from SB 74 in today’s budget bill.

“Every legislator could tell a personal story about a business that has shuttered its doors permanently because of the state’s confusing guidelines. California has already lost more than 19,000 businesses or non-profits because of the state’s confusing guidelines and many more are in precarious situations. This won’t undo the damage caused by the shutdowns, but it will provide a definite boost in the arm for our job creators and non-profits,” said Wilk. “Thanks to Senator Borgeas for his leadership and tireless efforts to unite the business community and the legislature to ‘Keep California Working.’ A win for bipartisanship is a win for our small business community because good ideas shouldn’t have party lines.”
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