How eating BBQ can help wildfire victims
A BBQ dinner fundraiser is helping raise money for wildfire relief efforts following last month's devastating LNU Lightning Complex wildfire.
(Photo courtesy Matthew Guay)
(Update: Shortly after this newsletter went out, the event organizers announced the charity dinner and concert have been canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. More information here.)
The Vacaville City Firefighters Charity Fund is hosting a fundraiser BBQ dinner and concert to raise money for wildfire relief efforts following last month’s devastating LNU Lightning Complex fire.
The event takes place Saturday, September 19 from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Solano Brewing Company, 5500 Weber Road in Vacaville.
BBQ will be provided by Slap-D’s Smokin’ BBQ, a catering company that has raised money for firefighter and law enforcement causes throughout Solano County over the last several years. Meals provided at this charity event will consist of your choice of pulled pork or BBQ chicken plus chili beans, potato salad and a dinner roll.
Not a carnivore? No problem — the fundraiser will also feature a concert by Nashville recording artist Buck Ford, beer, refreshments, raffles and a cornhole tournament.
Social distancing measures will be employed throughout the event and masks will be required at times when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Tickets are $40 for the food and concert or $125 to participate in the cornhole tournament with a team of two players. To purchase tickets, click or tap here.
Have other plans that night? Can’t make it to the event but still want to donate? All contributions, no matter how big or small, are welcome and can be made with major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express) or PayPal by clicking or tapping here.
Small Business Help
First the coronavirus pandemic, then the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire — 2020 has thrown no shortage of challenges for small businesses throughout Solano County.
For those small businesses who have struggled this year, help is on the way.
The Workforce Development Board of Solano County and the Northern California, Solano chapter of the Small Business Development Center have partnered together on a new initiative called the Rebuild Solan’s Small Business Grant Program.
The grant program taps into $2 million in federal and state funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Money from the fund will be distributed to small businesses throughout Solano County who apply for microgrants because of economic stress caused by the COVID-19 health pandemic.
Eligible businesses are those based in Solano County with 50 or fewer employees who are in good standing with both the State of California and the County of Solano and who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance due to the impacts of COVID-19. Grants will be awarded if businesses meet those criteria and can demonstrate a business need due to the pandemic, with priority given to businesses in the region with fewer than 20 employees. Technical assistance and specialized outreach to minority-owned businesses will be offered by the Workforce Development Board and the Small Business Development Center.
The grants are expected to assist around 400 small businesses in Solano County.
Both organizations are holding webinars this week and next in both English and Spanish to provide more information on eligibility and how to apply. The webinars will be recorded and offered online for those who are unable to attend. The first English-language webinar takes place Thursday, September 17 at 10 a.m. and the first Spanish webinar occurs on Thursday, September 18 at 10 a.m. A second English-language webinar will be held next Tuesday, September 22 at the same time. More information on the webinars can be found by clicking or tapping here.
The deadline for submitting a grant application is September 30, 2020. To apply for a small business assistance grant, click or tap here. In-person applications are also being accepted at the Workforce Development Board’s Fairfield office located at 500 Chadbourne Road between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during normal business days. For more information, e-mail Brianna Boyd at bboyd@solanowdb.org or call 707-863-3500.
Alert Solano
The Solano County Sheriff’s Department is requesting members of the community sign up for Alert Solano, a free service that offers real-time public safety alerts, including evacuation notices, severe weather, road closures/openings and other critical information. These alerts are delivered by phone call, text messages and/or email messages based on your preference. (Sign up here)
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