PRESS RELEASE
CITY OF BENICIA
City Hall
250 East L Street
Benicia, California 94510

Contact: 
Lorie Tinfow, City Manager
ltinfow@ci.benicia.ca.us

City Issues Order Supporting Benicia Businesses and Sponsors Free Webinar on the Impacts of COVID-19 on the Local Economy 

Benicia, CA (April 24, 2020) — The City of Benicia is pleased to announce two new actions designed to assist businesses negatively affected by COVID-19. 

City Manager Lorie Tinfow, in her authority as Director of Emergency Services, issued an order yesterday finding that the novel coronavirus has caused business interruptions stemming from direct physical loss and/or damage to properties within Benicia. 

“We hope this action expands the definition of physical damage covered by insurance to include COVID-19,” said City Manager Lorie Tinfow, “and assists businesses to successfully claim financial damages resulting from required closures and business interruption.” 

The order also notes that the City of Benicia has an important governmental interest in maintaining a thriving business community and protecting the health, safety and economic welfare of its citizens and businesses. 

To further support Benicia businesses, the City of Benicia is hosting a free 30-minute webinar on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. entitled, “Understanding the Economic Disruption to City of Benicia as a Result of COVID-19” with speaker Dr. Robert Eyler. Dr. Eyler is Professor of Economics at Sonoma State University and has been engaged by the City to help in understanding the impacts of this extraordinary event on the local economy and the implications for local recovery. 

Members of Benicia’s business community are especially encouraged to participate. All participants may register at https://sonomastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iOAs-X0NRJ29ifDA2_AFtQ . 

The webinar will be followed by a Q&A session where all participants will have an opportunity to ask questions about the presentation. 

For business assistance, please contact City of Benicia Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani at mgiuliani@ci.benicia.ca.us or call 707.746.4289. 

For up-to-date information about the City of Benicia’s response to COVID-19, please go to https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/coronavirus. 

More about Dr. Eyler: Robert Eyler, Ph.D. is a much sought-after keynote speaker who brings economics "down to earth." He connects the impact of global events to our neighborhoods. Most recently Dr. Eyler has presented on the economic impact of and recovery from devastating business interruptions, such as COVID-19 and the destructive wildfires in northern California. Dr. Eyler was 

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