September LIVE Webinar and Funding Programs for Small Business

The Entrepreneurial Spirit Fund

by Sia Scotch

Starting August 1, 2022, eligible small businesses can apply to The Entrepreneurial Spirit Fund by SIA Scotch. Eleven recipients 1 will each receive a $10,000 grant plus mentorship with Carin Luna-Ostaseski, the founder of SIA Scotch Whisky and a first-generation Cuban American who overcame a myriad of challenges during her entrepreneurship journey. Apply and share with us how a grant would grow your business and help you achieve the unexpected.

Eligible businesses must:

Be owned 51%+ by person(s) of color
Be a for-profit business producing less than $5M in annual revenue

The deadline is September 26, 2022.

Small Businesses Growth Fund

The Small Business Growth Fund provides the capital entrepreneurs need to make their next big move. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 grant, provided by Mastercard, to accelerate their growth and continue to help make 2022 the year of their small business.

Eligible businesses must:

Be a for-profit business
Have less than $1M in 2021 gross annual revenue
Have a commitment to their customers and community
Have a clear plan for use of funds

The deadline is October 14, 2022.

FedEx Entrepreneur Fund

The FedEx ® Entrepreneur Fund, in collaboration with Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), will provide $10,000 grants to 30 small businesses owned by military-connected entrepreneurs and people with disabilities in the United States.

To be eligible, small businesses must be:

Majority (51%+) owned and operated by entrepreneur(s) with disabilities OR
Majority (51%+) owned and operated by military-connected entrepreneur(s) — includes military family members, military spouses, active duty, or veterans

The deadline is October 7, 2022.

City of Claremont CDBG Job Creation and Business Incentive Grant Program

For prospective and existing business owners who need financial help, the City is offering the Job Creation & Business Incentive Program that provides a forgivable loan, in exchange of job creation for low-income persons.

Eligible Business

To qualify for this program, the business has to either be a new business, or an existing business wanting to expand their gross floor area by 50% of more. These business must fall under one of the following categories:

Retail
Quality food establishments
Entertainment businesses (must sell concessions/food items)

Use of Funds:

Grants can be used for business expenses such as:

Interior/exterior improvements
Purchase of business equipment, furniture, and/or fixtures
Working capital

Job Creation Requirement

1 new full-time equivalent job must be created per $25,000 of the loan awarded.

City of Covina

Business License & Fee Forgiveness Program

In August 2021, the City of Covina received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund a wide range of local programs for businesses and households. City of Covina’s Business License and Fee Forgiveness Grant Program aims to help businesses that faced setbacks and alleviate the pressures they continue to face as a result of COVID-19. The Business License and Fee Forgiveness application portal is open. $2,000 grants will be awarded to eligible Covina-based businesses while funding lasts.

City of Alhambra Small Business Assistance Grant Program

The City of Alhambra established a Small Business Assistance Grant (SBAG) Program to support local small businesses impacted by COVID-19 with grants to retain the continuity of business operations for services to the community and/or assist income-qualified microenterprises. Financial assistance in one-time $5,000 grants is available to eligible applicants. Grants are based on availability, program guidelines, and the submission of all required information and supporting documentation proving financial hardship or recovery relating to COVID-19.

City of La Habra Non-Profit Community Grant Program

The City of La Habra has created the Community Grant Program to provide assistance to local non-profits that have or are experiencing economic harm resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides grants ranging from $1,000-$25,000 per eligible non-profit, up to a maximum of 25% of the requesting non-profit’s annual combined budget from 2020 to 2022.

The application will be open from Monday, August 1, 2022 until Friday, September 30, 2022 at 6 PM.

Orange County

Microbusiness Grants

The Orange County Microbusiness Grant Program provides approximately $2,500.00 in one-time grant funding to approximately 1,470 Orange County microbusinesses. The intent of the funding is to provide relief to the hardest to reach qualified microbusinesses and entrepreneurs. The goal is to identify and engage eligible microbusinesses that face systemic barriers to access capital, including but not limited to, businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, individuals without documentation (undocumented), individuals with limited English proficiency, and business owners located in low-wealth and rural, communities throughout Orange County.

PIVOT Small Business Microloan

Affordable financing for eligible businesses in the Inland Empire and Eastern Los Angeles County. This PIVOT Microloan is not a COVID relief loan or grant. This program is only accepting Southern California businesses that are located in San Bernardino, Riverside, and East Los Angeles County.

Loan Terms:

Loans between $2,500 and $25,000
Competitive Rates
3 to 5 year repayment plans
620 + FICO score required

Riverside County Microbusiness Covid Relief Grant Program

Businesses Must Meet the Following Criteria:

-Be located within Riverside County

-Less than five employees

-In operation since 12/31/2019

-Business must be the source of primary income in 2019

-Less than $50,000 in Revenues in 2019

-Haven’t previously received a small business relief grant from the State of California

Deadline October 31, 2022, at 5:00 pm

San Bernardino County Microbusiness Grant

The San Bernardino County Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant is designed to assist businesses that have experienced economic barriers due to the effects of the global pandemic. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved $2,500 to be disbursed to qualified businesses. Applications open on 2/28/2022.

San Bernardino County is proud to provide this grant to our business community.

Job Creators Quest Grants

Founders First is committed to increasing the number of diverse founder-led businesses generating over $1 million dollars in revenues and creating premium wage jobs. A total of $100,000 will be awarded to 30 small businesses: $10,000 grant, $4,000 grant, $2,500 grants, $1,000 grants. In addition, each grant recipient will receive a tuition scholarship for one of Founders First CDC’s stellar business accelerator programs. Grant recipients will be selected based on their demonstrated ability to maintain and grow their workforce despite the pandemic, as well as their ongoing commitment to creating premium wage jobs in their communities. The application deadline is November 30, 2022.

The Amber Grant

About the Amber Grant

WomensNet founded the Amber Grant Foundation in 1998. The Foundation was set up with one goal in mind: to honor the memory of a very special young woman, Amber Wigdahl, who died at just 19 years old — before realizing her business dreams.

Today, WomensNet carries on that tradition, giving away at $10,000 every month in Amber Grant money. Each of those monthly winners is then eligible for our year-end grant of $25,000.

How Do I Apply For an Amber Grant?

Applying is simple. Just take a few minutes to tell us about yourself and your business dream. No long, complicated forms to fill out. We announce the $10,000 Amber Grant recipient the first week of every month, and the $25,000 annual winner every January.

Black Founder Startup Grant

SoGal Foundation has teamed up with WinkyLux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, Twilio, Walmart.org’s Center for Racial Equity, and other sponsors to make a small step towards progress by providing several $10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs.

To qualify, you should:

– self-identify as a Black woman or Black nonbinary entrepreneur (inclusive of multiracial Black women and multiracial Black nonbinary folks)

– have a legally registered business

– plan to seek investor financing in order to scale, now or in the future

– have a scalable, high-impact solution or idea with the ambition to be the next billion-dollar business.

Fearless Strivers Grant Contest

Black women-owned businesses are vital to our economy yet receive less than one percent of venture capital funding. Fearless Fund is deepening its commitment to this community with the launch of the contest.

With Mastercard prizing, they’ll be awarding eleven lucky small businesses across the country $10,000 grants, digital tools to help them get and sustain their business online, and one-on-one mentorship so they can continue to bolster their business. See Official Rules for full details, including entry qualification details.

California Restaurant Association Foundation Restaurants Care Fund

Description:

Restaurants Care offers emergency assistance to California food and beverage workers facing an unanticipated hardship within the past 90 days such as an accident, illness, injury, death of an immediate family member, or natural disaster. If you are in need of assistance, please complete the application form. All grant requests will be reviewed. Restaurants Care grants are awarded to eligible individuals based on available funds and are limited to one per individual. Grants cover the cost of living expenses for life-altering events and range from $250-$1500.

The Salon & Spa

Relief Fund

Description:

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR REBUILDING YOUR BUSINESS

The Salon & Spa Relief Fund will be offering grants of:

• $2,500 for salons with revenues under $1M

• $5,000 for salons with revenues $1M or greater

Aveda has partnered with The Salon & Spa Relief Fund to help care for and support small business salon communities.

For more information visit: https://salonandsparelieffund.org/apply-for-grant/

Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA)

Small Business loans up to $36,000 are available, with 2 guarantors.

Eligibility:

· Applicants must be permanent residents of Los Angeles or Ventura county.

· Applicants must have credit scores of 680 or better, demonstrate need, and have the ability to repay the loan.

· Two guarantors with good credit and steady income are required on each loan up to $36,000.

· Applicant must submit required documentation, by email, to JFLA prior to a virtual interview.

· Each applicant presents individual circumstances to be considered by Jewish Free Loan.

Please note that we do not offer Small Business loans to non-profit organizations.

PACE Disaster Relief Loans

The PACE Finance CDBG Program

Eligibility - Business must be located in an Unincorporated Area of Los Angeles County – District 1
Loan Amount - Up to $50,000
Interest Rate - 3.5% to 4.0%
Term - 2-5 years

PACE Disaster Relief Loan Program

Eligibility - Business physical presence in the disaster area
Loan Amount - $20,000 to $250,000
Interest Rate - 4.5% to 6%
Term - Up to 7 years

Small Business Microloan Program

EWDD designed the Microloan Program in order to provide financing to viable Microenterprises and Small businesses that private lenders are not able to accommodate. Whether your business is a Start-Up or an existing business that would like to expand, loan funds can be used for reasonable and eligible business operation costs, including, but not limited to, inventory, equipment, working capital, and leaseholder improvements.

TMC Community Capital -

Microloan Programs

Microloan Lite

Loan Range: $5,000 to $10,000
Term: 1 - 2 years
Interest Rate: 5%
Processing Fee: 2%

Microloan

Loan Range: $10,001 to $50,000
Term: 2 - 5 years
Interest Rate: 6 - 8%
Processing Fee: 3 - 4%

Webinars

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California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Webinars

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