Small businesses in the city with fewer than 20 employees are eligible for a 14-day Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan application period that opens Wednesday.
The Biden Administration made the announcement Monday, hoping to, “reach minority-owned businesses and the very small businesses that may have previously missed out on accessing loans to help make it through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Business owners who need more information can visit the Small Business Administration here. Those in need of assistance applying for a PPP Loan are encouraged to call the City’s Financial Aid Hotline at 760-323-8273 or reach out via email at PSAdvisor@palmspringsca.gov.
BRIEFLY
EXPLOSION AND FIRE: An explosion followed by a fire with flames visible throughout the northern part of the city was reported late Monday evening. City fire officials have not said yet what occurred around 10 PM in the Desert Highland Gateway Estates neighborhood, but the blast could be heard as far away as Cathedral City and smoke was visible as far away as Racquet Club. “It sounded like a cannon,” reported one nearby resident.
BURGLARY BUST: Police responding to an alarm at a restaurant in the 200 block of S. Indian Canyon Monday morning were able to capture one suspect, but another remains at large. According to a news release, officers responding to the alarm at 4 AM saw two people running from the location and gave chase. One of the suspects, a 27-year-old female resident of Palm Springs, was caught a short distance away, placed under arrest, and transported to the Indio jail. She faces charges of burglary and resisting arrest. The other suspect was not located and is currently unidentified.
TUTORING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS: Free tutoring for all Palm Springs Unified School District middle school students begins Wednesday. Students can connect to a Zoom meeting on weekdays from 3-6 PM . Tutoring in English, math, science and history will be available.
CAT CLINIC: A cats only spay and neuter clinic is planned today at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 760-416-5718 (extension 606). The cost is $25.
VACCINES: A COVID vaccine clinic continues at the Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, from 8 AM-5 PM through Friday. You must be eligible and make an appointment first. Appointments can be reserved online at www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine. The Convention Center is just one of several places vaccines are available. Find community providers such as pharmacies here. As of Monday, 3,563 COVID cases and 109 deaths have been reported in the city. More than 418,000 vaccine doses have been administered to Riverside County residents, including 35,000 received outside the county.
HISTORY CARAVAN: The Palm Springs Black History Committee is hosting a “Caravan Thru African American History” Saturday, Feb. 27 at 10 AM. The caravan kicks off at United Methodist Church of Palm Springs, 1555 E. Alejo Road. To register, visit this site.
