La Quinta establishes a $1.5 million relief program for small business loans

La Quinta is offering emergency loans to the city's small businesses in need of emergency relief due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Visit KESQ.com/Coronavirus for local updates

The city announced that small business owners can start applying for the COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Economic Relief Program today. The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, April 30 at 5 p.m.

Qualified businesses with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees would be eligible to receive 0% interest loans ranging between $5,000 to $20,000.

The program also offers up to $500,000 exclusively to La Quinta restaurants that are currently open for pickup and/or delivery orders.

Loan applications are administered through the City’s Finance Department. The applications will be reviewed and approved by an Ad Hoc committee of two Councilmembers, two Finance Advisory Commissioners and two city staff members (Financial Services Analyst and Assistant to City Manager).

La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans says the city hopes to distribute check by early May.

Visit www.laquintaca.gov/COVID19BUSINESSLOAN to apply.

The city asks residents everywhere to continue to help stop the spread of coronavirus by adhering to Riverside County's health orders, wearing face coverings, staying home, and practicing social distance.

"We will come out of this stronger if we all work together. The safety and well-being of our community remain our top priority as we face an issue of enormous scale and impact. We understand this time is challenging, and our hearts go out to all who have been affected by the outbreak of COVID-19," Mayor Evans said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronavirus symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

If you are feeling symptoms, health experts say to call ahead and notify your healthcare provider.

If you want to be seen at Eisenhower Health, call their 24-hour coronavirus hotline first at 760-837-8988 or 760-TEST988. Avoid the spread of this illness.

You can call the Centers for Disease Control with any questions at 2-1-1 and 800–CDC –INFO (800 – 232 – 4636).

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