Foster City COVID-19 Response

The City Council approved a Relief Program on April 6 to support small retail and commercial businesses, restaurants, and senior programs that have been severely impacted by the pandemic and emergency orders to shelter-in-place. Major elements of the plan include:
Small Business Resiliency Grant Program: The City’s most extensive and far-reaching relief effort to date, the Small Business Resiliency Grant Program provided 50 grants of $10,000 each to support business operations and help avert layoffs during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The grants will help our neighborhood eateries, handymen, computer specialists, hair salons, dentists, and childcare providers.
Senior Care Services: The City allocated $5,000 towards the Foster City Village to help provide protective supply purchases, grocery bag deliveries, food distributions, and gasoline cards for volunteer drivers. These actions will help with additional expenses incurred by the Village as they continue operations while protecting our seniors during the pandemic.
Free $10 Restaurant Vouchers: To support local restaurants and their customers, the City offered free $10 vouchers through its popular Support Local Stamp Me app, allowing customers to get take-out during the shelter in place order. 

Our small business community is part of what makes our great city unique

On July 31, the City Council approved a resolution to further support our local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution temporarily suspends code enforcement actions against businesses such as salons/barbers, personal care services, gyms/fitness centers, and offices that are not currently permitted to provide outdoor operations, while State and County Health Orders restrict indoor operations. Business owners/operators will need to receive authorization from their property owner to set up their outdoor business operations on private property and ensure that they comply with the temporary outdoor guidelines set by the City. Each business owner/operator must submit an acknowledgment form attached to their respective guidelines to planning@fostercity.org, before setting up their outdoor business operations. Guidelines for the different business types can be found here.

District Distance Learning: On May 11, the City Council approved the allocation of $10,000 to the SMFC Education Foundation to supplement the costs of hot spots and internet access to carry out distance learning programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Food Program: The SMFCSD continues to provide free school lunches to the community. The Foster City Elementary School is one of five school sites in the district that that provide grab and go style breakfast and lunch meals to all kids and teens 18 and under. The City Council approved allocating $10,000 to the SMFCSD to help offset the costs of expanding its free meal program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City understands this is a difficult time for our entire community and is committed to supporting our residents by: 
Waiving credit card fees for utility payments through June 30
Restricting the shutoff of water due to unpaid bills as a result of COVID-19 impacts

To continue to provide access to virtual classes, resources, and entertainment, the Parks and Recreation Department launched a Virtual Recreation and Resource Center. The site will be updated regularly and provides the community suggestions and resources to keep Foster City engaged, active, and entertained.
In addition to the Virtual Center, join the Parks and Recreation Department every day on Facebook and Instagram for fun and interactive activities you can do from home.

Curious about ways you can give back and help others during this difficult time? Check out the ways below.
Sign up to volunteer
Make a financial contribution to SMC Strong, a fund to provide emergency relief to individuals, families, nonprofits serving our most vulnerable residents, small business owners, and self-employed residents.
Healthcare provider with an active license, a public health professional, or a member of a medical disaster response team in California who would like to volunteer for the current COVID-19 response?  Register here