The State Compensation Insurance Fund, in supporting employers’ efforts to keep workplaces safe, have established two separate funding programs to assist employers in protecting their business and employees from COVID-19.

• The Essential Business Support Fund is a $50 million reimbursement fund helping policyholders in essential businesses operating through stay-at-home orders during COVID-19. The fund is designed to help reimburse policyholders for workplace safety expenses. Some of these COVID-19 expenses may cover cost such as goggles, masks, gloves; cleaning supplies and services, worksite modification such as plexiglas, tape for indicating six-feet of social distancing space.
  • If you are an essential business operator in Merced County and interested in learning more about the Essential Business Support Fund requirements and guidelines, these resources, and other helpful examples can be found at https://content.statefundca.com/news/EssentialBusinessFundFAQs.asp You can also call their customer service center at (888) 782-8339 or by email at covidfundquestions@scif.com.

• The Returning California to Work COVID-19 Safety Protocol Fund is a $50 million reimbursement fund to help policyholders in non-essential business sectors that are resuming operations after COVID-19 Shelter in Place restrictions. The funds are intended to help these policyholders defray the additional costs of protecting their workers from COVID-19. The fund reimburses policyholders for workplace safety expenses related to preventing the spread of COVID-19, and covers such costs as goggles, masks, and gloves; cleaning supplies and services; and worksite modifications.
  • If you are an non-essential business operator in Merced County and interested in learning more about the Returning California to Work COVID-19 Safety Protocol Fund requirements and guidelines, these resources, and other helpful examples can be found at https://content.statefundca.com//news/covid19supportfunds.asp. You can also call their customer service center at (888) 782-8339 or by email at covidsafetyfund@scif.com.

Individual grants from either program can total up to $10,000 or more, or two times the policyholders ‘annual premium, whichever is less.