November and December 2021
UC San Francisco is partnering with other companies and non-profits to provide small business loans in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and the greater Bay area. Some of the loans will be interest free (0% APR). Pacific Community Ventures (PCV) will have their Oakland Restorative Loan Fund, there is the REDF Impact Investing Fund (RIIF), as well as other partner groups. Read about the program here. http://ucsfinvestco.org/
October and November 2021
Founders First CDC is offering grants to up to 30 different small businesses in the Los Angeles area. There is also enrollment into the accelerator program, which offers advice, support, mentorship and other assistance. A major focus is on immigrant, Latino, women, LGTBQ, veteran and businesses owned by people of color. There will also be a scholarship to the Founders CDC job creation grant. A major focus is on giving grants to help businesses hire employees. Apply here. https://foundersfirstcdc.org/socal/
Small businesses in Los Angeles can apply for free $5,000 grants from the Comeback Checks Program. The financial aid is being distributed using a lottery type process that has some “weight” to it, with benefits for disadvantaged businesses such as LGTBQ, women, veteran, and minority. The goal is to help businesses that were impacted by COVID, and they need to be in LA city limits. Apply here. https://www.lacovidfund.org/
September and October 2021
Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DLBA) is giving financial help to several local woman and/or minority owned businesses. The program is known as Woman-Owned Business Accelerator (WOBA). Grants are partially funded by the Farmers & Merchants Bank. The free grants will help new businesses launch or expand as well as hiring people for their companies. Funds are also offered in partnership with the Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California State University Long Beach. Apply here. https://downtownlongbeach.org/invest/grants/
Businesses in the City of Elk Grove can apply for free grants. The city is issuing millions of dollars to businesses impacted by COVID, and the funds are for service sector companies such as gyms, bars, restaurants and similar companies. A focus is on disadvantaged immigrant, women and minority companies. The city is using federal government funds to issue the grants. Read more on the services. https://elkgrovecity.org/
April and May 2021
Lendistry is based in Los Angeles. They help businesses in low income communities, most of which are minority owned, access funding. It can be everything from a PPP government loan (or similar program) to SBA loan programs. While anyone can contact the company for advice or funding opportunities, they do focus on businesses with poor or no credit and in economically disadvantaged regions. Learn about the non-profit lender here. https://lendistry.com/
Small businesses in San Francisco (County or City) can apply for SF Relief Grants. It is a multi-million dollar program for businesses hit by COVID, including stores, retailers, hotels, restaurants and others. There may be grants of 5K or loans of 20K, and it is run in coordinate with the Storefront Grants in the city. Apply here. https://sf.gov/sf-relief-grants
$5,000 to $25,000 is being offered statewide from California Relief Grants. The Office of the Small Business Advocate is running this service. Financial aid is even offered for microbusinesses that have as low as $1000 in yearly revenue. While the funding is limited, and priority is set by the state, one priority is for Disadvantaged communities as tracked by socioeconomic indicators, including immigrant, LGBTQ, veteran, and other minority groups. Read more https://careliefgrant.com/
March and April 2021
Small businesses in Bakersfield can apply for forgivable loans. Almost 2 million dollars will be made available, with priority given to black, Latino, female, immigrant and other disadvantaged businesses. The ReStart Loan-to-Grant Program is accepting applications for funds. This loan program is in addition to any state or federal government aid that the company can receive. Learn more. https://www.accesspluscapital.com/covid-relief/
February 2021 and March 2021
Black owned businesses in San Francisco (and those that serve the Black community) can apply for loans from the African American Chamber of Commerce as well as African American Small Business Revolving Loan Fund. Much of the funds will go to restaurants, customer service facing organizations, hospitality companies, beauty salons, and other small, Black owned businesses in the city and county. The loans can pay for a wide variety of expenses. Learn more. https://www.sfaacc.org/
California Rebuilding Fund is for small, disadvantaged businesses that have been hit by COVID. The state financial assistance programs focuses on supporting companies in lower income cities, towns, and counties across California. It is a low cost loan program with flexible and favorable repayment terms, and the interest rate may be as low as 4%. Businesses need to have less than 50 employees, and another focus is on minority, Asian, Black, and other disadvantaged companies. Read more. https://www.connect2capital.com/p/californiarebuildingfund/
Very small businesses in Pasadena (including start ups) can apply for free grants from the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF). They are using government funds from Community Development. Up to $7,500 may be given to each qualified business. The grants can help minority and women owned companies in the Pasadena area as well, and for more details, call (626) 796-2097 x7.
The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will provide up to $475 million dollars to small businesses impacted by COVID, with minority, women and veteran owned businesses getting priority. The free government grant program is for businesses that were operating and that have struggled due to the COVID pandemic. It is part of the CARES program. Apply at AmPac Business Capital; American Indian Chamber of Commerce; Asian Business Association of Los Angeles; California Association of Nonprofits; California Manufacturing Technology Consulting; the CA Small Business Development Center; California Women’s Business Center Network; Economic Resources Corporation or the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce. Or learn more here. https://www.californiasbdc.org/covid-19-relief-grant
January 2021
Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corp and Wells Fargo are working together on the Color Business Elevation Fund. It is for Black, Latino, immigrant and minority owned businesses in Southern California. They are forgivable loans (aka grants) for unexcepted bills or costs of small businesses. There is also free coaching, advice, and other support for disadvantaged small businesses or start ups. Get more information here. https://pcr.lendwithspark.com/widget/leadframe/?version=16
An additional $500 million is being made available to non-profits and small businesses from the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. Applicants can get free grants of $5000 to $25,000, and the funds need to pay for COVID related expenses such as PPE, rent, safety equipment and more. A priority is for disadvantaged businesses in the state, including veteran, women, Latino, Black, and others. Apply here. https://careliefgrant.com/
There are California grants from 2020 as well. They can serve as a referral or give business owners more information. Locate 2020 MWBE California Grants and Loans.
By Jon McNamara