Share
Teri Sanchez will use her Save Our Small Businesses funds to pay the debt on her catering company.
Sunny Sehgal will use his funds to help keep his family’s restaurant open for take-out and delivery.
They own two of the 116 small businesses named as recipients from the city of Fresno’s $750,000 loan-to-grant program. The 0% loans will be converted to grants if the business remains open after one year.
According to city data, more than $8.6 million was requested by small businesses. The loans will support 485 jobs.
Thousands Applied, More Money Coming
At a news conference at Sehgal’s closed India’s Oven restaurant in the Tower District, councilmembers Miguel Arias and Esmeralda Soria announced the winners of the lottery among the 1,068 small businesses that qualified for the program.
“(The Tower District) depends on a lot of dine-in services from our great restaurants,” Arias said. “As a result of this investment that we’ve made in giving the public taxpayer money back to the taxpayers, we ended up having quite a bit of Tower businesses benefiting.”
In total, 2,634 businesses applied, with 851 applications rejected because they were incomplete. Another 58 were duplicates.
The list of recipients represents a cross-section of businesses: restaurants and catering, legal services, barbershops, and salons.
Soria, who co-sponsored the legislation with District 2 councilmember Mike Karbassi, said it is meant to help those businesses unable to receive federal stimulus money.
“A lot of Fresno local small mom and pop businesses were left out. That’s why this type of program is so critical for our community,” Soria said.
The Fresno City Council on Thursday voted to add $1.5 million to the fund, with further details to be worked out at a future meeting. It is likely that those who applied for the initial round won’t have to apply again.
The council is exploring whether it can utilize $92 million in federal stimulus funds for the program.

Caterer Lost All Clients
Sanchez’s Eat It Up Catering counted on hotels and country clubs as her clients.
With the cancelation of weddings and parties, Sanchez hasn’t had a job since March 13. She estimated a loss of $50,000 in revenue.
“My business has been hit really hard. I mean, we feed groups of people,” Sanchez said. “I have nothing until maybe the end of July. So, for a company like mine, you can see how devastating it is.”
Her business received $5,000 from the city. She said she was too small for the federal Payment Protection Program and is signed up for unemployment.
Sanchez is optimistic things will improve. She recently signed a contract to provide food to a charter school.
“That’s a saving grace,” Sanchez said.
Family Restaurant Furloughs Workers
Sehgal’s family still operates the India’s Oven at 3035 W. Ashlan Ave. While he hasn’t let go of any of his 18 employees, they are being furloughed.
“It’s been about an 85% decrease in revenue. It’s been tough, but we’re fortunate that we have help. Our customers have been really supportive,” Sehgal said.
The $10,000 his restaurant received will help pay for expenses to keep the oven on.

Program Details
The city council passed the act on March 25 as a way to help small businesses stay alive during the coronavirus pandemic.
After establishing qualifications nearly two weeks later, the city set an April 12 deadline to apply.
Qualifying businesses were then selected lottery, split among the seven council districts.
The program awarded businesses with between six and 25 employees with a $10,000 loan-to-grant; businesses with five or fewer employees will receive $5,000.
Other criteria included a city of Fresno business license, no current unpaid judgments or tax liens, and at a minimum 25% business loss because of COVID-19.
There are no restrictions on how businesses us the money.
Arias said during the next round of funding, recipients could be limited to certain business sectors.
City staff and a council subcommittee will study the issue and report back to the full council by May 6 to approve more program funding.
He also believes other changes will come to help more businesses qualify.
“We also learned that some businesses had liens, which we didn’t make them eligible for this first round. We’re probably going to remove that because we know some of these businesses got liens as a result of being closed and not being able to pay (bills),” Arias said.
Loan-to-Grant Recipients
Below is a partial list of Save Our Small Businesses award winners, as provided by the offices of the councilmembers.
(GV Wire/Alexis DeSha)
Israel and Iran Bombard Each Other, Trump Says He Can ‘Easily’ End Conflict
18 hours ago
Trump Vetoed an Israeli Plan to Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, US Officials Say
18 hours ago
Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow
20 hours ago
Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer
21 hours ago
Big Fresno Fair Unveils Second Wave of 2025 Concert Acts
22 hours ago
Military Parade Barrels Through Nation’s Capital With Tanks, Troops and 21-Gun Salute
1 day ago
Authorities Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting of 2 Minnesota State Lawmakers
1 day ago
Caitlin Clark Returns and Leads Fever to Upset Win Over Unbeaten Liberty
1 day ago
Fresno Man Arrested in Fatal DUI Crash on Trimmer Springs Road
16 hours ago
Categories

Fresno Man Arrested in Fatal DUI Crash on Trimmer Springs Road

Israeli Military Kills 41 People in Gaza, Medics Say

Manhunt for Gunman Who Shot Two Minnesota Lawmakers Enters Second Day

Israel and Iran Bombard Each Other, Trump Says He Can ‘Easily’ End Conflict

Trump Vetoed an Israeli Plan to Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, US Officials Say

Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow

Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer
