JUST KEEP SAYING LATER. SO THE LONGER THE SHUTDOWN LASTS, THE MORE PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED. WITH WASHINGTON GRIDLOCK, PEOPLE ARE NOW HELPING EACH OTHER IN WAYS THEY CAN. FOOD BANKS ARE WORKING TO FEED FAMILIES WHO STAND TO LOSE FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE STARTING THIS WEEKEND, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE HELPING FEDERAL WORKERS WHO ARE GOING WITHOUT A PAYCHECK. KCRA 3’S VAN NESS CORTEZ IS STANDING BY LIVE. HE’S IN YUBA CITY TODAY. AND LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES AND WHAT THEY’RE TELLING YOU. YEAH. SO WE’RE HERE AT GROCERY OUTLET IN YUBA CITY BECAUSE THEY ARE AMONG THE LOCAL BUSINESSES HELPING FEDERAL WORKERS AMID THIS SHUTDOWN. A LOT OF FEDERAL WORKERS WORKING THEIR FIRST FULL PAY PERIOD WITHOUT ANY PAY, LEAVING MANY SCRAMBLING FOR BASIC NECESSITIES. WHILE PAYCHECKS SIT ON PAUSE FOR THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL WORKERS, LOCAL BUSINESSES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE STEPPING IN. I DON’T THINK ANYBODY EVER EXPECTS SOMETHING TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY’RE IN NEED. JEREMY DELAY AND HIS WIFE ARE OWNERS OF YUBA CITY’S GROCERY OUTLET, AND SAYS THE SHUTDOWN GOES BEYOND CAPITOL HILL. I MEAN, I WOULD SAY 2 OR 3 A DAY IS WHAT WE’RE SEEING SO FAR. THEY’RE OFFERING A DISCOUNT TO FEDERAL WORKERS. SACRAMENTO REGION, HOME TO MORE THAN 14,000. IF THEY JUST TELL THEM, HEY, WE’RE IMPACTED BY THE SHUTDOWN, HERE’S OUR BADGE THAT SHOWS THAT WE’RE ACTIVE. YOU KNOW, WE WORK FOR A CERTAIN DIVISION AND IT’S A SIMPLE CODE AT THE REGISTER THAT JUST TAKES THE DISCOUNT RIGHT OFF. AND THAT SPIRIT SPREADING A FEW MILES AWAY. KEVIN CARTER, OWNER OF NEW EARTH MARKET, IS ALSO STEPPING IN. WAS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU WANTED TO EXTEND IT OUT TO FEDERAL WORKERS, TO HELP BACK AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY 100%? I MEAN, THERE’S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, RIGHT, WITH WITH THE SHUTDOWN AND WITH THAT. BUT THEN WE HAVE THE LOOMING SNAP PROGRAM WITH THOSE BENEFITS GOING TO BE REDUCED FOR PEOPLE ON NOVEMBER 1ST. SO THERE’S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS WITH FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. SO WE’RE TRYING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN AS BEST WE CAN TO HELP FOLKS. CARTER HAS FAMILY IN THE AIR FORCE SAYS THIS FEDERAL SHUTDOWN HITS CLOSE TO HOME. IT’S REALLY NOT A BUSINESS DECISION AT THAT POINT. IT’S A COMMUNITY DECISION WITH NO END IN SIGHT FOR THIS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. BOTH OWNERS SACRIFICING GAINS, SHOWING, GIVING BACK GOES BEYOND MONETARY VALUE. WE’RE MAKING THAT DECISION TO HELP OTHERS BECAUSE IT’S WHAT WE WANT TO DO HERE. WE CAN AFFECT CHANGE HERE LOCALLY, IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE CAN DO THAT ON OUR OWN. WE DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE. WE CAN DO THAT. AND THAT’S WHAT WE DO. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND LONGEST U.S. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN HISTORY. AND THESE OWNERS SAYING THAT THIS DISCOUNT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR AS LONG AS IT CONTINUES. LIVE IN YU
Northern California businesses offer discounts to federal workers during shutdown
Local businesses in Northern California are providing discounts to federal workers affected by the ongoing government shutdown
Updated: 9:53 PM PDT Oct 29, 2025
As the government shutdown drags on, some Northern California businesses are stepping in to support federal workers facing financial strain.In Yuba City, Grocery Outlet owner Jeremy Delay said his store is offering a 10% discount to federal employees. “We’re just hoping to help anybody who needs help, period,” Delay said, noting that two or three federal workers stop by each day to take advantage of the offer.The Sacramento region is home to a little more than 14,000 federal workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. At New Earth Market, owner Kevin Cotter is extending a similar discount.“There’s a lot of moving parts going on right now with the shutdown,” Cotter said. “Then we have the looming SNAP program, with benefits set to be reduced for people on Nov. 1. So we’re trying to do whatever we can to help folks.”Cotter, whose brother served in the Air Force, said the issue feels personal. “I think about him, but it’s not just him,” he said. “I think about all the folks who’ve been part of the military in this community over the years.”The shutdown — now the second longest in U.S. history — has left many workers struggling to cover basic needs.“We’re making that decision to help others because it’s what we want to do here,” Delay said. Cotter added, “This isn’t really a business decision. It’s a community decision. What’s best for the folks who live in this community — that’s what’s important.”With no end to the shutdown in sight, both business owners said they plan to continue offering discounts for as long as it lasts.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
, Calif. —
As the government shutdown drags on, some Northern California businesses are stepping in to support federal workers facing financial strain.
In Yuba City, Grocery Outlet owner Jeremy Delay said his store is offering a 10% discount to federal employees. “We’re just hoping to help anybody who needs help, period,” Delay said, noting that two or three federal workers stop by each day to take advantage of the offer.
The Sacramento region is home to a little more than 14,000 federal workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. At New Earth Market, owner Kevin Cotter is extending a similar discount.
“There’s a lot of moving parts going on right now with the shutdown,” Cotter said. “Then we have the looming SNAP program, with benefits set to be reduced for people on Nov. 1. So we’re trying to do whatever we can to help folks.”
Cotter, whose brother served in the Air Force, said the issue feels personal. “I think about him, but it’s not just him,” he said. “I think about all the folks who’ve been part of the military in this community over the years.”
The shutdown — now the second longest in U.S. history — has left many workers struggling to cover basic needs.
“We’re making that decision to help others because it’s what we want to do here,” Delay said.
Cotter added, “This isn’t really a business decision. It’s a community decision. What’s best for the folks who live in this community — that’s what’s important.”
With no end to the shutdown in sight, both business owners said they plan to continue offering discounts for as long as it lasts.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel