News from: CalChamber

New applicants for California’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will be able to apply in the funding round opening on September 9 and continuing through September 30.

The program provides grants of $5,000 to $25,000 to small businesses hurt by the pandemic. Businesses are eligible based on annual revenue as documented in their most recent tax return.

New funding rounds were made possible by an additional $1.5 billion in funding authorized in a relief package signed by the Governor. Total funding for the program to date comes to $4 billion.

Until September 8, the program is processing waitlisted applicants from some previous rounds. Waitlisted applicants do not need to reapply.

Nonprofit cultural institutions of any revenue size may apply between August 27 and September 8. Eligible nonprofit cultural institutions that already applied in certain rounds must reapply. Grants will be available only to nonprofit cultural institutions that did not receive funding in any previous rounds.

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), is administering the program through a competitive bid award to its intermediary, Lendistry, and a statewide network of community-based lenders and partners.

Many state-supported small business centers, which prioritize expanding technical assistance to underserved business groups, also are available to help small businesses with the application process in multiple languages and formats.

More information on grant requirements and eligibility, along with links to application tips and webinars, is available at CAReliefGrant.com. The page also includes links to find loan partners by county or language.