Nevada City, Calif. October 26, 2020 – The County of Nevada Office of Emergency Services (OES) is offering local small business owners, with 25 employees or less, masks and hand sanitizer at no cost. This personal protective equipment (PPE) has been made available to California small businesses through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) in collaboration with the Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA).

“We know folks are busy, which is why we aim to make PPE pick up easy and convenient. Small businesses may request PPE online, then stop by anytime during business hours to pick up their hand sanitizer and masks. We will continue providing PPE as long as supplies last,” says Robin Davies, Chief Executive Officer of the Grass Valley Chambers.

PPE will be available for pick up in Western Nevada County at three locations: the Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Nevada County Contractors’ Association, and ZAP Manufacturing. In Truckee, small businesses may pick up PPE from the Truckee Chamber of Commerce.

“We continue to see new COVID cases around the country and winter is just around the corner. With the cooler weather, we will need to be even more diligent to keep our community safe. It is important that employees have the equipment they need to protect themselves and others, which is why we are glad to be partnering with several generous organizations to help get PPE into the hands of those interfacing with the public daily,” says Paul Cummings, Nevada County OES Program Manager.

Ruth Geresy, the Truckee Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Operations and Membership Services Manager states, “Providing PPE to small businesses at no-cost provides a much-needed relief for many businesses that have had to shoulder extra expenses during financially challenging times.”

“Many of our members took advantage of the first round of PPE distributed last July, and we are looking forward to supporting the business community again this fall,” says Bre Deschaine, Manager with the Nevada County Contractors’ Association.

To request PPE, business owners are asked to complete one application online per company in advance of picking up PPE. Businesses may request PPE online at: www.MyNevadaCounty.com/PPE. After completing the online request form, small businesses may print their confirmation email, or display their confirmation email when picking up their PPE. Small businesses may send a family member, volunteer, or employee as a proxy to pick up the protective equipment. Hand sanitizer and surgical masks will be available while supplies last.

In addition to providing no-cost PPE, the County of Nevada in coordination with the Environmental Health Department recognized the severe impact that has befallen local restaurants, bars and breweries, body art & tattoo, swimming pool and spa, and organized campground facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inability to operate and remaining in compliance with the State of California Public Health Orders for public health and safety during COVID-19 which continue today, prompted the Environmental Health Department to work with the County Executive Office to create a one-time permit fee waiver. The request was approved by the County Board of Supervisors on October 13, 2020.

Through an application process, owners and operators of Nevada County restaurants, bars and breweries, body art and tattoo facilities, swimming pools and spas, as well as organized campground facilities may apply for a waiver of permit fees for the upcoming Fiscal Year, November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021.

The waiver application process opened October 23, 2020 and will close on November 30, 2020. Businesses are encouraged to apply early and complete all areas on the waiver application form. For questions, please call 5300-265-1222 x 3, or visit www.mynevadacounty.com/EHPermitWaiver.

Grass Valley PPE Pickup Locations: Please note hours of operation vary.

Grass Valley Chambers of Commerce
128 E Main St, Grass Valley, CA 95945
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Monday-Friday

Nevada County Contractors’ Association 149 Crown Point Court, Suite A, Grass Valley, CA 95945
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday

ZAP Manufacturing
12086 Charles Dr, Grass Valley, CA 95945
8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Saturdays

Truckee PPE Pickup Location:

Truckee Chamber of Commerce
10065 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA 96161
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday