Find a list of business loan as well as free grant programs in California that may be near you below. There are a number of lenders, non-profits, and government programs that try to fund disadvantaged businesses. Black owned businesses, companies owned by women, Latino, and other small minority owned businesses can apply for the funds they need from these lenders or programs. Get help from minority business loans in California or other sources of funding.
There are a number of options available for business owners or anyone who is seeking to start a company, and find year round regional as well as monthly programs all listed below. There may be low interest rate or even interest free loans or grants for Black owned companies, LGBTQ companies, Latino, immigrants, Asians, women businesses as well as other minority groups, including veterans in California. While the main cities of Los Angles, San Diego, and San Francisco will have the most minority and/or women owned business loans and free grants available, there are assistance programs all across the state. However note that In general, the funds are available from lenders by city or county and not statewide.
The amount of money as well as the application process will vary based on the lender and the program available. Free grants or loans can be issued to small or medium businesses and some lenders (or government programs) may even help minority or women entrepreneur (MWBE)s as well as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). If you are looking for money to start a business, or grow an existing one, assistance is available. Find more details below on the latest programs, with come focused on grants for Black women in California.
Small minority or women business loans and free grants in California
Below is a list of grants and loans for small women or minority owned businesses in California. It is updated daily with the newest announcements at the top of the list. A number of California banks, government programs, and community agencies continually issue funds to Black, Latino, women, LGBTQ and other minority owned or run businesses.
Year round free financial and business coaching assistance programs
Find details below by general category, including geography in California and/or whether a grant or loan programs gives “priority” to a certain type of business. The bottom line is that there is financial help out there, both year round and by month, for small, MWBE and veteran owned businesses.
Statewide California MWBE assistance programs
Kiva microloans are offered across California. Borrowers, even those with limited or no credit history, or limited or no revenue, can get 0% interest rate loans. Up to $15,000 can be borrowed to start or grow a business. A major focus is on minority, Latino, LGBTQ, veteran, and women owned businesses – all of which historically lack access to capital. The financial aid is a peer to peer type lending program. Find details below by city or region.
Oakland area: https://www.kivaushub.org/oakland. Or try Mandela Partners, which provides access to Capital from Kiva loans, an Entrepreneurs program, free one on one advising and other business services. Read more. https://www.mandelapartners.org/.
Northern California is also covered by San Jose and Santa Clara County region: A major focus from Kiva loans is on tech companies. https://www.kivaushub.org/san-jose.
The central part of the state is Fresno and Central Valley is supported by the Black Chamber of Commerce: https://fmbcc.com/resource/kiva-fresno/.
Los Angeles and Southern California, in particular Latino owned businesses: https://www.new-wbc.org/programs/ or the City of Long Beach Economic Development Department helps entrepreneurs and small businesses. https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/business-development/kiva-long-beach/
Black Small Business Association operates across the state. They give assistance, advocate for BIPC businesses, and have a host of resources. They offer information on loan forgiveness programs, help with setting up a business (legally), offer free workshops as well as training and so much more. Get details on the non-profit here. https://www.bsba-ca.org/
Northern and/or Central California MWBE assistance programs
Berkeley and Bay area businesses can turn to the non-profit at Microfinance at Berkeley. The non-profit offers everything from business workshops to access to microloans from Kiva (at 0% interest rates). They also offer consulting, workshops in the region, and other free services. All sorts of businesses, including MWBE, can get help. Learn more here. https://callink.berkeley.edu/organization/microfinanceatberkeley
California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce Foundation operates in the Central Valley and Sacramento region. They help owners and startups access capital, assist with marketing and revenue opportunities, bonding, and offer a Small Business Triage Center among other services. The goal is to help Asian Americans start or grow a business. Get more information https://www.calasiancc.org/
Centro Community covers the bay area and northern parts of California. Low income households, minorities and “underserved” can try the organization for free training, information on grants, financial aid and more. Apply for 0% (interest free loans) from the Kiva Trustee. as well, or try the Basic or Advanced Entrepreneurship Programs. There is also an advisor program. Find details here. https://www.centrocommunity.org/
Women entrepreneurs and female owned small business in the El Pájaro and Watsonville region can turn to the Women Business Center run by the El Pájaro Community Development Corporation. The non-profit helps women, including those of color, start a business or operate an existing one. Whether free coaching, information on loans or counseling, grant programs, or other help, there are resources. Read more. https://www.elpajarocdc.org/
Fresno small businesses, in particular Latino, Veteran, Women, and Black owned small businesses can get interest free loans from the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. The assistance is offered in partnership with Kiva. In general, between $1,000 and $15,000 can be borrowed. Kiva is a non-profit that focuses on helping small businesses start and grow. Kiva is a crowdfunding source for business owners, and all the loans have zero percent interest rates. Apply here. https://fmbcc.com/
Fresno and Valley area Asian owned businesses can turn to the Asian Business Institute and Resource Center for help. They offer a number of free resources, including help with marketing, technical assistance, referrals to fund raising programs ranging from equity to grants, and general “exposure”. The non-profit supports Asian owned businesses in the region. Learn more here. http://fresnoabirc-1347082944.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com/
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley is a non-profit that helps Latino-Hispanic business owners as well as entrepreneurs with a number of services. The Chamber is a Kiva Trustee, meaning 0% (interest free) loans may be issued. There is ongoing business training, free mentoring, technical or legal help for business owners, marketing guidance and other assistance arranged, based in need. Learn more here. https://hccsv.com/index.html
Kern County and Bakersfield small, disadvantaged businesses (women and minority owned) can get help from the Kern County Women’s Business Center. Staff, including professionals and volunteers, give free advice. They help advise business owners, help them apply for funding (low interest or forgivable loans as well as grants), offer mentoring, getting government work from contracting, and so much more. The Center was opened in partnership with Mission Community Services Corporation (MCSC). Find details. https://www.mcscorp.org/kern
Kern, San Luis Obispo, city of Bakersfield, and Monterey County small businesses can get help from the Mission Community Services Corporation. They offer assistance to minority as well as immigrant owned businesses as well as entrepreneurs. They offer free workshops on starting or growing a company, free coaching and consultation, and information on financial help from grants or loans among other support. There are multiple offices. Read more. https://www.mcscorp.org/
Oakland Black Business Fund (OBBF) provides (1) grant funds, (2) equity investments and (3) technical assistance to Black owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups across the entire Bay area, including Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, and nearby cities. There are free grants, low cost loans, and other funds that can assist non-profit and for-profit businesses. Read more here. https://oaklandblackbusinessfund.org
Oakland California Uptima Business Bootcamp and Entrepreneur Cooperative is an accelerator program. They offer man services to start ups and existing business owners. One is interest free microloans for funding. They also offer free advising, bootcamps, networking events, free workshops and more. A major focus is on women as well as business owners (or entrepreneurs) of color. Here is a list of their assistance programs. https://uptimacoop.com/oakland
Sacramento area businesses can get help from California Capital. They focus on economic development, and one main component of it is business development for MWBE companies and entrepreneurs as well as immigrants, veterans, and the LGTBQ community. Programs include low cost (or interest free loans), the Women Business Development Center, help developing strategies, Microlending as well as State of California loan guarantees. Other assistance is offered too. Learn about the non-profit here. https://cacapital.org/
San Diego Black owned businesses or entrepreneurs can get assistance from the Black Chamber of Commerce. Many programs are run, including the Urban Business Resource Center. There are educational resources, information on accessing capital, details on marketing and increasing revenue, applications to free government grants as they are released and so much more. A Collaborative Hub is on site. More details here. https://sdblackchamber.org/
Valley Sierra Small Business Development Center offers a number of assistance programs. Get information on microloans, business plan creation, accounting, e-commerce and more. All services are in Spanish as well. The non-profit provide help in the counties of Fresno, Kern, Inyo, Kings, Maripo, Merced, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, , Madera, and Tulare. Learn more. https://valleysierrasbdc.com/
Southern California loans, grants, and other small business programs
California Southern Small Business Development Corporation partners with non-profits such as the The San Diego Foundation as well as local charities in an effort to help small women, immigrant, and minority owned businesses. A major focus is on helping them get low cost or interest free loans or grants, and the Corporation will help guarantee the funds and provide other support. The Development Corporation may even take on some financial risk in order to help MWBE and/or BIPOC businesses. Read about the programs here. https://casouth.com/
City Heights of San Diego Community Development Corporation helps minority and women owned business. An assistance program is offered around Economic and Leadership Development. They offer many programs to diverse businesses, including Immigrant owned companies. Continue with more information. https://www.cityheightscdc.org/
Los Angeles County minority, veteran, or female owned businesses that need access to capital, as well as free counseling/coaching services can turn to Ascend Los Angeles for assistance. The non-profit offers a number of resources for small business owners or anyone looking to start a company or who wants to be self-employed. Clients of the non-profit (and there is no cost) can apply for loans, make pitches to other companies or investors in the area, get free consultations and much more. Read more here. https://www.ascendla.org/
Another option in southern California, including San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles, includes NEW Economics For Women. The non-profit operates a number of assistance programs, including microloans (from Kiva), design, marketing, education, financial literacy and more. The Women’s Business Center helps females’ owners, including Spanish speakers, immigrants and others. More details are here. https://neweconomicsforwomen.org/
USC (University Southern California) Bridges to Business Success Program is for small companies, including MWBE as well as BIPOC. There are successful entrepreneurs from Los Angeles area that give free consultations and help with applications to grants, loans, and other fundraising opportunities. A major focus is on “micro” businesses” as well as veteran, women, and minority companies. Read more. https://www.uscbridgesprogram.com/
Ventura and Santa Barbara County businesses owned by Hispanic, Latinx, Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) can apply for the Women’s Economic Ventures Forgivable Business Loan and Coaching Program. The funds will covert to a grant if the applicant meets all criteria around couching, mentoring, and other criteria. A major focus is on assisting disadvantaged businesses, including immigrants, and all services are in Spanish too. They offer free business training, low cost or interest free loans, technical advice such as workshops on Quickbooks, forgivable loans with coaching and more. They help women of all colors, races, ages and ethnicities start or grow their business. Learn about the non-profit here. https://www.wevonline.org/
April 2022 and May 2022
Riverside County is providing microgrants to businesses hit by COVID. The financial assistance is for existing microbusinesses with less than 5 employees. The applicant needs to have under 50,000 in revenue and be in operation since 2019 (prior to the pandemic). Special emphasis is for women, minority, veteran and businesses owned by people of color, including immigrants. Free grants applications are also in Spanish. Apply here. https://rivcoed.org/microbusiness-covid19-relief-grant-program
Los Angeles Small Business Rental Assistance program is providing free grants ($2,500 to 15K) to companies that have a “brick and mortar” store front in the city. There is technical help from BusinessSource Centers, financial aid to pay rent on the storefront or utility bills, counseling and more. Priority is for disadvantaged businesses, such as immigrants, LGTBQ, minorities and women. The funding is part of the American Rescue Plan, and apply here. https://ewddlacity.com/index.php/recovery/rentassist
Lendistry has a number of programs for disadvantaged businesses, and most recently they are offering free COVID recover grants per the California Dream Fund. Applicants need to go through workshops and classes, such as the Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP). The free grants provided will be up to $10,000, with a major focus on businesses owned by women as well as people of color. There is also financial assistance for entrepreneurs. Learn more on all the grants here. https://lendistry.com/grants-and-programs/
Restaurant owners can apply for free $3,000 grants as part of the Restaurants Care financial assistance program. It is for locations with under $3 million in annual revenue, and the restaurant must also use as their utility provider SoCalGas, PG&E, or SDG&E. As those utility companies are funding the program. Priority is given to restaurants owned by people of color and/or women as well as veterans, however any small restaurant can apply. Apply here. https://restaurantscare.org/resilience/
Umpqua Bank in California is partnering with KIVA to match, and amplify, interest free loans. The funds can help ax existing small business or start up gain the capital they need. Matching free grants are for women of any color (Black, White, Latina, immigrant, etc.) in California as well as other minorities. The financial aid is often combined with advice and support from Kiva Trustees in California. Learn more here. https://www.kiva.org/cc/umpquabank
The California Dream Fund is available statewide. Free government grants are offered to Black or Latino owned businesses, veterans, minority males, immigrants and other small, disadvantaged businesses that struggle to raise capital. There are dozens of application sites throughout the state, and all grant recipients will be provided other support from the California Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP). Learn more or apply here. https://calosba.ca.gov/funding-grants-incentives/california-dream-fund-program/
Stockton and Kern County Black owned businesses, including women-owned, can apply for microgrants from the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. The funds could go to hundreds of businesses, with a free grant of up to $10,000 provided to qualified companies. The financial aid program is run in partnership with the California Office of Small Business Advocate’s Dream Fund. There are also other free business services offered by the Chamber, including training programs, workshops, and more. https://fmbcc.com/resource/dream-fund/
March and April 2022
Santa Clara County Micro Business Grants are offered in partnership with the Enterprise Foundation. Women, veteran owned, and minorities get priority. Up to $2500 will be provided to qualified businesses, and the free government grant program will help MWBE and veterans that were impacted by COVID. The money can be used for inventory, working capital, rent, permitting and other costs. Learn more here. https://www.accesssbdc.org/mbcrg/
The Microenterprise Recovery Grant Program in Los Angeles is providing up to $15,000 grants to small businesses, with under 5 employees. A major focus is on helping women-owned microenterprises that operate in LA County as well. The grant money is aimed at businesses that have not received government financial assistance in the past and that are also recovering from COVID. The grants are also for businesses with a physical structure – not online only. Apply here. https://ewddlacity.com/index.php/recovery/microenterprise
The Sacramento County Microbusiness Grant Program is providing up to $2500 to each qualified businesses (as funding allows). Applicants need to be impacted by COVID, micro-businesses (under 50K in revenue) as well as be for-profit companies. The County of Sacramento and the California Office of the Small Business Advocate are coordinating this service county and statewide. All of the funds, which are loans, will be interest free. This in effect makes them the same as a grant. Read more. https://sac4micro.org/
February and March 2022
Nevada County $2500 microgrants are being issued to help businesses recover from COVID, including minority and women businesses. A major focus is on providing financial assistance to businesses that lack access to capital, especially Veteran, women, Minority, LGBTQ, those with bad credit, and others. Applicants need to have under 5 employees and less than $50K in annual revenue – so the focus is on microbusinesses. Learn more. https://mynevadacounty.com/3481/Microbusiness-Grants
Santa Clara County small businesses can get free government grants of up to $2500. The Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is helping small businesses, including MWBE, Asian, and Veteran companies that have had their sales and/or income impacted by COVID. The grant applications are offered in partnership with American Indian Chamber of Commerce, California Black Chamber of Commerce, CA Women’s Business Center Network and other non-profits. Apply here. https://careliefgrant.com/partner/santa-clara/
January and February 2022
Orange County small minority, veteran, women owned businesses can get a free $2500 grant as part of a COVID-relief program. The federal government, Orange County California, non-profits, and several cities are working together on the program. The free grants are for very small businesses (under 5 employees and 50K in revenue) among other criteria. Continue reading. https://www.oconestop.com/orange-county-microbusiness-grants
The California Dream Fund program is providing free $10,000 microgrants to entrepreneurs across the state. The money will be targeted towards small (micro) businesses that generally lack access to capital, such as minorities, immigrant, BIPOC, veteran, and other disadvantaged businesses. While various businesses can apply, a focus/priority is on technology companies, service businesses, child care, cottage food, retail, green technology, and high tech manufacturing. Applications are being handled by the The California Office of the Small Business Advocate. Apply here. as small business centers. https://calosba.ca.gov/local-direct-assistance/small-business-centers/
Small businesses in Kern County can apply for free government grants of up to $2500. Applicants need to have less than 5 full time employees and have been impacted by COVID, as the money is part of a COVID relief program. Some funds will be reserved/allocated for immigrant, women, minority, and farmer type businesses in the county. Applications will be processed by the Community Action Partnership of Kern as well as the MCSC Kern Women’s Business Center. There are also business development programs at those local non-profits. Learn more. https://www.capk.org/
December 2021 and January 2022
San Leandro businesses (in Alameda County) is providing free grants to small businesses so that MWBE businesses can pay their rent or other key operating expenses. The funds are targeted at certain expenses. The financial aid program is known as Small Business Recovery Grants, and the business needs to be a “brick and mortar” business (so a physical location. Apply here. https://www.sanleandro.org/767/COVID-19-Business-Resources
Newark business that have been impacted by the COVID pandemic can apply for free government grants. Up to 75 businesses will be assisted. Some funds will be allocated to veterans, BIPOC, LGTBQ and other disadvantaged companies in Newark CA. The assistance program is known as Newark Small Business Grant – ECGP, and there are 3 tiers to who may be assisted. Funds can help with rent, payroll costs, inventory, insurance taxes and more. Read more and apply here. https://www.newark.org/businesses/arpa-cares-small-business-grants
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/
November and December 2020
San Francisco Latino Small Business Fund provides zero percent interest rate loans to Latino owned businesses in the city and county. This means the interest rate will be 0% APR. The principal will need to be repair over time. As many as 100 small Latino owned businesses will be provided financial assistance, and this is part of the larger San Francisco Hardship Emergency Loan Program. Apply here https://medasf.org/fondolatinosf/
Monterey County small businesses can get microloans that can provide a few thousand dollars up to $25,000. The California Coastal Rural Development Corporation is running this service in the Salinas as well as County. Latino and Hispanic businesses are given priority. The federal government is also offering funds as part of the CARES program. Learn more. https://www.calcoastal.org/
November 2020
Small businesses in San Francisco can apply for interest free loans from a program known as HELP. Each qualified business, including minority, veteran, LBGTQ, or female can be given up to $50,000. The loan, which as zero percent interest, will need to be repaid within six years. No collateral or no personal guarantee is needed from the borrower either. The city is using state and federal funds as part of the San Francisco Hardship and Emergency Loan Program, or HELP. Apply here. https://oewd.org/sf-help-highlights
September 2020 and October 2020
Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DLBA) as well as the Woman-Owned Business Accelerator (WOBA) and local banks are working to help female owned businesses in Long Beach. Grants, mentoring, advice, budgeting tips, sales help, and more of this “technical assistance”. There will only be a few winners, and each will be giving several thousands dollars (as a free grant) in total. They also need to sign up for a 4 part workshop session to cover social media, financial management, and other tools. Apply here. https://downtownlongbeach.org/invest/grants/woman-owned-%20business-accelerator-grant/
$15,000 grants are being offered from the Santa Cruz County Cares Recovery Program. A focus is on businesses hard hit by COVID, including restaurants, hair dressers, retail and others. Latinos, Black business owners, Asians, women and anyone can apply – there are no restrictions based on age or gender. The free government grants can pay for rent, utilities, inventory, working capital, salaries and other bills. More data here. https://www.sccvitality.org/Business/CARESGrant.aspx
Antioch small businesses can apply for grants of up to $5,000. The funds are coming from government assistance as part of the CARES Act. Up to 60 businesses can get financial help from the free grants, with a majority of the funds to minority and female owned companies in Anticoch. To apply, or learn more, the email address is admin@antiochbusinessgrant.com.
Latina owned small businesses in Los Angeles County can get free grants from a program created by El Pollo Loco, Inc. Up to $500,000 will be provided, with a focus on helping Latino owned food and restaurant small businesses. Learn more. https://www.gofundme.com/f/eplgrants
Santa Barbara Better Together Fund Small Business Grant Program and the city of Santa Maria are offering grants of up to $7500 for small businesses. They are funding businesses and non-profits such as the Women’s Economic Ventures to help small minority as well as female owned businesses in the county. There are applications to the free grants in Spanish as well, and Latino businesses can also apply here. SBFoundation.org/covid-19-business-community-resources/sbbt-small-business-grant-program-guidelines-santa-maria/
Los Angeles County small businesses can apply for grants between $5,000 to $75,000. As many as 6,000 startups, small businesses, and companies will be given financial assistance, with as much as half of the funds going to immigrants, Latino, Black, disabled and female owned companies in Los Angeles. The LA Regional Fund will also give grants to businesses in low income communities. The business, whether a micro company, non-profit, or other organization needs to have been operating for at least one year. More information. https://www.lacovidfund.org/grants
Black owned businesses (male and female) in San Diego County can get help. The Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce is providing grants to small, black owned businesses. A number of child care providers and restaurants have receive assistance. Not only will free grants, funds, and maybe even loans by given to San Diego County businesses (including sole-proprietorship) but the San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce has help minorities get other support. Free advice, consultants, tips on growing their company and more. Find details. https://sdblackchamber.org/
August 2020
LISC San Diego will be providing grants of up to $20,000 to businesses that lack other access to capital. There is will be financial help to businesses of color, Latinos/Hispanics/immigrants and other disadvantaged companies and entrepreneurs. Lowes Home Improvement and LISC San Diego are partnering to get the free grants to small businesses in need. Apply and more information here. https://www.lisc.org/san-diego/
San Joaquin and Sacramento County African American owned businesses can get help from the Juneteenth Capital Initiative. The program uses donations to help minorities, in particular black business owners. African American Chamber of Commerce as well as the Stockton California National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are partnering together to provide free grants. Dial (209) 227-5413 or find details and information. https://www.stocktonstrong.org/?_ga=2.110977925.1880734337.1597961786-2130885511.1597961786
City of San Francisco has several financial assistance programs for small to mid sizes businesses, sole proprietors as well as start up companies. There is the African American Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, which gives up to $50,000. Some of the loan be be “forgiven” as well. There are mini-grants and the Self-Help fund as well. All of these assistance programs can pay various bills, such as rent, inventory, utilities, and more. Whether Black, Asian or Chinese, or some other ethnicity, help is offered. More information. https://oewd.org/businesses-impacted-covid-19
Black-owned restaurants in both Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire can get financial help in the form of grants from the SoCal Gas Restaurant Recovery Program. Grantees can use the funds for payroll, rent, equipment (including safety or hygiene) and other bills. More details are here. https://www.socalgas.com/coronavirus
AmPac Business Capital is offering up to $50,000 loans. The lender a faith based lender. Loans of up to $50,000 will be issued under-served communities, including women and minority owned businesses, to help cover costs associated with inventory, equipment, personnel and related expenses. Of its $4.6 million in direct loans as of 2019, 41% went to women; 24% to African American-owned businesses and 13% to Latino business owners. Seventy-three percent of the loans went to low- and moderate-income borrowers. https://ampac.com/
The Finli Free Grant will support Black-owned businesses in education and enrichment that have long been an integral part of our community. These small businesses teach our children, energize our seniors, illuminate our world through education, art, dance, language and enable all of us to be better. https://blm.finli.com/
July 2020
California Endowment Pledges $225 Million for Black-Led Activism (Grants) – https://www.philanthropy.com/article/California-Endowment-Pledges/249236
San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher encourages minority business owners to apply for $3.4 million in grants – https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/minority-business-owners-grants-san-diego/509-5bf77759-168b-4ae3-a9d6-9eaa0e748e79
By Jon McNamara
