Dear Sean,

We invite you to view our upcoming LIVE webinar and learn about different grants or funding programs for your small business.

Upcoming LIVE Webinar:

Buy a Business with BizBuySell

Learn how to look for a business to purchase, the process of due diligence, and what free resources are available to support you! Presented by our guest speakers: Ed Pendarvis, BizBuySell Coach, and Malcolm Geffen, an SBDC Consultant.

Small Biz Blog Client Spotlight: Laughing 2 Success

Mel Austin is an actor, comedian, and owner of Squeaky Clean Comedy, inc, also known as Laughing 2 Success. Mel is a self-described clean comedian and motivational speaker for church events, corporate training, and anti-bullying seminars for school-age children. “We are taking the benefits of laughter and making it available to everyone by being clean,” Mel explained.

Mel is a United States Marine Corps Veteran who, as a high school student, liked to motivate students in pep rallies and eventually motivate soldiers in the Marine Corps. Mel continued to increase his skills through Toastmasters and speaking engagements. A friend eventually got Mel into acting and he branched out into comedy. “So it is here, now 29 years later. It all comes full circle, and I'm literally combining all of them: motivation, comedy, and inspiration. All in one and bringing that in many different venues,” Mel said.

Grants and Funding Programs

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant Program

Description:

Our program helps small businesses thrive by offering free and quick online business courses on marketing, finance, efficiency and more, as well as networking and expert coaching.

Grant application is now open. Register for Digital Ready, complete any combination of two courses, coaching events, and community events, and apply by May 12, 2023.

Economic Opportunity Grants

Get back to business! 

LA County's Economic Opportunity Grant program will award more than $54 million in grants to small & micro businesses, and non-profits impacted by the pandemic. 

Phase 1: 

January 25, 2023 - May 5, 2023 

Grants of $2,500 for microbusinesses with under $50,000 in revenue in the 2019 taxable year, including LA City. Must have five or fewer employees, have started prior to December 1, 2019, and have not received a California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant.

Phase 2: 

February 23, 2023 - May 20, 2023

Grants of $15,000 for microbusinesses under $100,000 in revenue in either 2019, 2020, or 2021 taxable years, excluding LA City (except street vendors, who can be mobile).

Small Businesses

Grants of $20,000 for small businesses between $100,000 and under $2 million in revenue in either 2019, 2020, or 2021 taxable year excluding LA City (except street vendors, who can be mobile). Application closing May 20, 2023.

Nonprofits

Grants of $20,000 for small nonprofits under $1 million in revenue in either 2019, 2020, or 2021 taxable years, serving residents countywide. Application closing May 20, 2023.

Grants of $25,000 for nonprofits with revenue between $1 million and under $5 million in either 2019, 2020, or 2021 taxable years, serving residents countywide. Application closing May 20, 2023.

Restaurants Care Resilience Fund

Description:

New Grant Funding for Restaurants in April 2023.

$5,000 grants are available for independent restaurants from April 15 – May 7. Only brick-and-mortar restaurants that are open to the public, serve both food and beverage, and have regular operating hours are eligible for this grant. Companies that only do catering are not eligible. for grants made possible by SoCalGas, PG&E, and SDG&E.

PACE Small Business Grant

Description:

The PACE Small Business Grant Program is a $5,000 or $10,000 grant fund for small businesses located within the Unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County – District 1.

This Program helps small businesses by providing grants that can be used to cover business expenses including payroll, rent, working capital, and inventory.

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 its gross floor area by 50% of more. These businesses must fall under one of the following categories:

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

Job Creation Requirement

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

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.

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. 

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

Metro Business Interruption Fund

Metro’s BIF is administered as a pilot program in partnership with PCR. PCR uses the BIF to provide financial assistance to small “mom and pop” businesses impacted by transit rail construction along the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, the Little Tokyo Regional Connector with its 2nd/Broadway segment, and Section 1, Section 2 and Section 3 of the Purple Line Extension. 

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

Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA)

PACE Disaster Relief Loans

Businesses must prove financial hardship and should be located in Los Angeles County or nearby counties

• Loan Amount - $5,000 to $250,000
• Interest Rate - 6.5% to 7.25%
• Term - Up to 7 years

Small Business Rental Assistance Program

Round Three for this grant program will open on May 3, 2023. The Small Business Rental Assistance Grant Program will provide grants of $2,500 up to $15,000 to eligible businesses that need financial assistance to aid in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses must be located within the City of Los Angeles and use the grants to cover any outstanding rent payments incurred on or after March 1, 2020, through April 30, 2023.

TMC Community Capital -

Microloan Programs

Microloan Lite

• Loan Range: $5,000 to $15,000
• Term: 1 - 3 years
• Interest Rate: 6-7%
• Processing Fee: 5%

Microloan

• Loan Range: $15,001 to $50,000
• Term: 2 - 5 years
• Interest Rate: 6 - 9%
• Processing Fee: 5%