California Business and Commerce Grants

This funding opportunity provides $50,000 to support diverse-led businesses in Southern California, helping them create new premium wage jobs while offering business development resources.

Applicants are invited to apply for the Resilience Fund. Donor Name: Restaurants Care State: California County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Restaurants Care Resilience Fund is a program of the nonprofit California Restaurant Foundation. In 2024, they will be awarding grants of $5,000 to 278 independent restaurants. This fund is powered by generous gifts from PG&E, SoCalGas, and SDG&E.  Funding Information It anticipates awarding $5,000 grants to 278 small businesses Uses for Grant (select one category): Kitchen equipment: Eligible equipment must be energy efficient and qualify for rebates (Hey! That’s extra money to help pay for your equipment!). Items include steamer, rack oven, conveyor broiler, combination oven, conveyor oven, fryer, underfired broiler, convection oven, griddle, and dishwasher. You can use your $5,000 check to purchase from whichever vendor you would like. To learn more about rebates available. Technology upgrades: tell us how you’ll put this grant to work! Eligible uses include POS system, website, accounting software, HR software, inventory management, and loyalty programs.  Employee training: Been meaning to elevate your employee training and systems? Use this grant to design a training program/handbook, purchase ServSafe trainings, or join the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers. Retention bonuses: Reward your best and brightest employees. You will need to state how many employees will receive grants and which positions they have (front of house, back of house, managers). The number of employees and positions do NOT impact your likelihood of getting a grant, we simply want to know how the funds will be used.  Unforeseen hardship: Within the last 12 months, has your restaurant experienced robbery/theft, vandalism, fire/flood, or natural disaster? This grant can help. Eligibility Requirements Must be an independently owned, for-profit restaurant or commercial caterer (franchises, home businesses, food trucks, and meal prep companies are not eligible) Owned by a CA resident 1-5 units Must earn no more than $3 million in annual gross revenue (combined for all units) Commercial customer of either PG&E, SoCalGas, or SDG&E Must be currently open and active for business. For more information, visit Restaurants Care.

The City of Pittsburg Façade Improvement Grant Program aims to spur that investment opportunity by offering up to $10,000 for facade improvements to qualified businesses all across the community. Donor Name: City of Pitsburg State: California City: Pitsburg Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement Deadline: 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The City of Pittsburg recognizes the importance of investing in its local businesses to help them thrive. These businesses are the heart and soul of the Pittsburg community and are incubators of opportunity and creativity. Businesses with storefronts greatly benefit from investment on those parts of the building that are most visible to the public and face publicly accessible areas such as streets and sidewalks. Investments in these façades provide a number of benefits that include more inviting storefronts, improvements to neighborhood characteristics, reinvestment into older buildings, and more potential foot traffic. The City of Pitsburg is providing small businesses with the opportunity to apply for grants up to $10,000 for façade improvements. The City will be awarding grants each worth up to $10,000 to reimburse expenditures per applicant, from a budget of $30,000. Any additional work above the $10,000 threshold is the responsibility of the applicant. The purpose of these funds is specifically for the enhancement and beautification of public-facing building façades that will improve the image and characteristics of the building, the business, and the City and will create an inviting experience that will mutually benefit the business, its customers, and the Pitsburg community. These funds can be used for the following: Signage Awnings Exterior paint (including an -graffiti exterior paint and coatings) Architectural treatments Stucco, cladding, and/or siding repair Windows Front Entrance Doors Exterior lighting which provides or highlights architectural features Planter boxes Bicycle Racks Other enhancements determined by the City in its sole discretion to enhance the aesthetic value of the building. Eligibility Criteria  The City is seeking to help those businesses with storefronts that would provide the maximum return on investment for the City, while realizing the greatest amount of long-lasting benefits to the business. Businesses must meet the following qualifications. Business must be operating within Pittsburg city limits. Business must have an active City of Pittsburg Business License. Business, and the property where business is located, must have no outstanding, active Code Enforcement cases or building violation cases. Business must be a brick-and-mortar operation with a public-facing storefront. Home-based businesses are ineligible. Shopping Centers with 5 or less tenants are eligible. A property-owner-led application is highly encouraged to create a uniform project, but individual tenants can apply also. Business applying for or located within the structure and/or center to be improved through grant funds may not sell tobacco, alcohol, and/or cannabis products or adult materials. For more information, visit City of Pittsburg.

This funding opportunity supports projects that promote recreation, tourism, and environmental education while preserving the Delta's cultural heritage, with a focus on benefiting disadvantaged communities.

The City of Oakley is excited to announce the second cohort of the Small Business Grant Program. Donor Name: City of Oakley State: California City: Oakley Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/26/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This program is designed to support Oakley’s small businesses posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and financial market fluctuations. Eligible small businesses can receive a grant of either $2,500 or $5,000, based on the financial impact during the pandemic.  The grant amounts are determined by the total annual revenue in 2020 OR 2021 Businesses with an annual revenue of less than $100,000 are eligible for a $2,500 grant. Businesses with a total revenue of $100,000 or more can receive a $5,000 grant, acknowledging that larger businesses have greater operational needs and a more significant impact on the local economy. Use of Funds The grant can be used for essential business expenses such as implementing safety protocols, covering rent and utilities, retaining employees, and for marketing and promotional activities. Eligibility Criteria Must be located within Oakley City Limits. A valid City of Oakley Business License is required. Private corporations, LLCs, and similar entities are welcome. Publicly traded companies are not eligible. Must have fewer than 25 employees. Proof of financial hardship due to the pandemic. Business must have an “active” status with the California Secretary of State. For more information, visit City of Oakley.

Grantees will be required to accomplish the following within the Grant Activity Period: Convene a standing committee of community members and stakeholders tosupport development of new SLP structure and strategic framework. Model equity practices and principles in the development of new SLP mission,vision, programming, and services. Identify and retain a dedicated staff member to lead new SLP and provide mentorship to that individual. Identify and maintain an accessible public office space for the new SLP. Create and implement a realistic operating budget for new SLP, with appropriate portion of grant funds going directly to support new SLP. Supply anticipated outcomes for a one-year grant and outline any next steps anticipated to occur beyond the grant activity period to fulfill the goals of the grant program. 

The Creative Economy Fund (fka Creative Industries Incentive Fund) awards project grants to arts, cultural, and creative-based commercial businesses that are located in the City of San José and involved in the production or distribution of the arts, including manufacturers, service providers, presenters, and designers, among others. Donor Name: Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Funding supports projects and activities aimed at building successful arts, cultural, and creative-based small businesses in San José.  The Creative Economy Fund is an initiative of the City of San José Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA). The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a nonprofit intermediary focused on the economic security of individuals in the arts, is partnering with OEDCA to administer the Creative Economy Fund.  The goals of the Creative Economy Fund are to: Enhance San José’s creative economy. Bolster the growth and financial resilience of small arts, cultural, and creative-based businesses in San José. Provide financial support to artists and creative entrepreneurs (across all disciplines in both the non-commercial and commercial arenas). Funding Information For the 2024 grantmaking round, a total of $40,000 is available. Grants of up to $8,000 will be awarded through a competitive grant application process. Competitive applicants will contribute to the city’s cultural vibrancy, demonstrate readiness for project implementation, grow and achieve greater financial resilience, and demonstrate economic impact (e.g., attracting visitors, generating sales tax, creating jobs) in the City of San José. Competitive applicants will also reflect the City’s diverse cultural communities and creative-based commercial landscape. Period of Support     September 2024 – September 2025. Eligibility Criteria  To be eligible for Creative Economy Fund consideration, businesses must meet the following criteria:  Be a commercial enterprise, including small businesses (defined by the City of San José as businesses with 35 employees or less) and sole proprietorships (Note: businesses do not have to be brick and mortar; they can be online storefronts or nomadic enterprises); Be based in San José; Primarily provides a cultural, creative, or arts-related service or product;  Be in good standing with the City of San José, evidenced through possession of an active San José business tax certificate (aka business license, business permit)* and fulfillment of OEDCA or any other City department’s funding requirements, if applicable; and Cannot have a conflict of interest (family or financial relationships) with the boards, staff, and directors of CCI or OEDCA. The following are ineligible for funding consideration: Nonprofits; Individuals, organizations, or projects that will use a fiscal sponsor to receive grant funds if funding is approved; Businesses that are not arts, cultural, or creative-based;  Projects that are already funded through another Office of Cultural Affairs grant program;  Projects that have already taken place (funding can only be applied to expenses accrued during the grant period); and Incomplete Creative Economy Fund applications. For more information, visit CCI.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) provides the Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program to help clean up and prevent illegal dumping on farm or ranch property. Donor Name: California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) State: California County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Farm or ranch property need not have active sales or production, but shall be appropriately zoned, or otherwise authorized for agricultural activities. Farm or ranch property includes appurtenant easements or right-of-ways such as, but not limited to, public roads and utilities. Funding Information $1,000,000 available for each fiscal year. Up to $200,000 is the maximum available per applicant per fiscal year (FY). $50,000 is the maximum available per cleanup site. Eligibility Criteria  Cities Counties Resource Conservation Districts Federally Recognized Tribes. For more information, visit CalRecycle.

The City of Twentynine Palms is thrilled to announce the launch of its 2024-2025 Community Event Grant program. Donor Name: City of Twentynine Palms State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Aimed at showcasing the city’s vibrant culture and fostering community engagement, these grants offer support for events that celebrate Twentynine Palms’ character, diversity, and history. Funding Information Range of Event Grant Awards: The minimum amount allocated is $1,000, and the maximum amount allocated is $10,000. Partial Funding: The Event Ad Hoc Committee and the City Council reserve the right to not grant the full amount requested from the applicant. Distribution of Funds: Recipients will be provided with 75% of the funding upfront and the remaining 25% upon completion of the event. For instance, a grant awarded in the amount of $10,000 will be provided with $7,500 upfront and $2,500 upon completion. Eligibility Criteria  Non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals are encouraged to apply. Prior experience in event organization is required to ensure the successful execution of proposed activities. Residency in Twentynine Palms is not mandatory. Goals: Events should showcase Twentynine Palms’ character, diversity, or history. Events should not be intended to celebrate or recognize a small group, such as reunions. It is encouraged that events be free to attend and open to the public. Event Location: Events must occur within the City of Twentynine Palms limits. Applicants must provide a preliminary Venue Agreement as part of their application. Target Audience: Events should primarily benefit the citizens of Twentynine Palms, enhancing their quality of life. ADA Accessibility: Events must be held at ADA-accessible venues, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity. For more information, visit City of Twentynine Palms.

The United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program was originally created by the Federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and expanded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). New funding wBIL as allocated to the program in 2021 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) with the broad goals to reduce carbon emissions and energy use, improve energy efficiency, and increase community investment and local workforce development. IIJA funding made available in 2021 under the EECBG (2021 EECBG) allocated funds directly to state and certain local jurisdictions that met program criteria, with approximately $4.5 million allocated to the State. Of the funds allocated to the State, $4,070,070 are available for the LGBDC.

Zoo Labs empowers Black, Indigenous, and people of color to own and amplify their music business through entrepreneurial training, resource exchange, focused mentorship, and community building. Donor Name: zoo labs State: California County: Alameda County (CA), Contra Costa County (CA), Marin County (CA), Napa County (CA), San Francisco County (CA), San Mateo County (CA), Santa Clara County (CA), Solano County (CA), Sonoma County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/10/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: In 2024, Zoo Labs: FUND will make available $225,000 in unrestricted grants to Bay Area BIPOC and BIPOC-led artist teams with a music business. To address both the marked lack of capital for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) artists, as well as the lack of practical and affordable business education that cultural innovators need in order to begin and scale their creative businesses, Zoo Labs evolved its West Oakland-based, in-person programming to reach a broader audience in the Bay Area and beyond. Zoo Labs: FUND returns in 2024 for a fourth grantmaking round that will be administered in partnership with Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a trusted nonprofit intermediary focused on the financial well-being of artists, arts workers, culture bearers, and creative entrepreneurs. Award Tier Criteria CCI will distribute unrestricted grants in the amounts (i.e., tiers) of $5,000; $15,000; $25,000; and $50,000. Award tiers, their associated criteria, and the approximate number of awards available include: $5,000 (approximately four awards available) Seed Funding- Teams that request $5,000 are newly formed; have worked on the business for two consecutive (i.e., back-to-back) years or less; and are earning little to no revenue from the business. $15,000 (approximately five awards available) Startup Funding- Teams that request $15,000 are starting to have traction; have worked together on the business for two to five consecutive (i.e., back-to-back) years; and are earning little to no revenue from the business. $25,000 (approximately three awards available) Self-sustaining Funding: Teams that request $25,000 have traction; are on the cusp of realizing self-sustaining, revenue-generating activities; have worked together on the business for five consecutive (i.e., back-to-back) years or more; and are earning some revenue from the business. $50,000 (one award available) Next Level Funding- Teams that request $50,000 are established; are ready to expand or further innovate; have worked together on the business for five consecutive (i.e., back-to-back) years or more; and are earning a steady stream of revenue from the business. Period of Support  September 2024 – September 2025. Eligibility Criteria To be considered for funding, applicants: Must be BIPOC or BIPOC-led teams of two or more people, with at least one artist member1. Additionally, they encourage teams who are of historically marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+ and gender variant people, people with disabilities, and immigrants to apply; Must be launching or have an already established music business; Must reside full-time in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, or Sonoma County. This criterion applies to ALL team members. Can be any age, however, if a member of the team is 18 years old or younger, CCI staff must be contacted to discuss the team’s eligibility; Can be a previous grantee3, however, first-time award recipients may be prioritized; and Cannot have a conflict of interest (family or financial relationship) with the board, staff, or directors of Center for Cultural Innovation, Zoo Labs, or Intersection for the Arts. For more information, visit Zoo Labs.

This grant provides funding to local governments without a cannabis retail licensing program to help them create and implement such programs, ensuring safe access to regulated cannabis for consumers.

This funding opportunity is designed to assist California Tribes in creating affordable housing solutions, including new construction and rehabilitation of existing properties, to support Native American communities, particularly those facing homelessness or at risk of it.

The non-Entitlement competitive grant program component prioritizes assistance to persons experiencing or At risk of homelessness and investments that increase the supply of housing to households with incomes of 60 percent or less of area median income. A. Eligible Applicants. An Applicant must be a Non-Entitlement Local Government. A Non-Entitlement Local Government means a Local Government in an area which is not a metropolitan city or part of an urban county, a Local Government that, as of September 1, 2017, was an incorporated city with a population of less than 50,000 or a county with an unincorporated area population of less than 200,000 persons, which had not entered into a three-year Urban County Cooperation Agreement, or a Local Government that was not otherwise entitled to receive CDBG funds directly from HUD. See Appendix A for a list of eligible Applicants for Non-Entitlement Local Government for fiscal year 2019-20. For applications that include the development of a Rental Housing project, the Sponsor must be a co-Applicant with the Non-Entitlement Local Government, pursuant to Guidelines Section 400. Sponsor includes the general partner(s); if there are two general partners, both must submit all the required co-Applicant documents. B. Eligible Activities. Pursuant to Guidelines Section 401, eligible activities under this PLHA competitive NOFA are limited to the following and must take place within the jurisdiction of the Applicant Local Government: 1. Development of new multifamily rental housing that is Affordable to households at or below 60 percent of AMI or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily rental housing that will be Affordable to households at or below 60 percent of AMI, but which is not currently restricted as Affordable housing. In order to be eligible as “substantial rehabilitation”, a project must complete a minimum of $40,000 per unit in hard construction costs; or 2. Assistance to persons who are experiencing or At risk of homelessness, including, but not limited to, through rapid rehousing, or rental assistance, supportive services and case management services that allow people to obtain and retain housing, operating and capital costs for navigation centers, or new construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of permanent or transitional rental housing C. Funding Limits The maximum application amount, including administrative costs, for the development of new multifamily rental housing or substantial rehabilitation of a multifamily rental housing project, or development of a navigation center is $3 million. The minimum application amount shall be $500,000.  

The program prioritizes Projects that benefit vulnerable and LMI populations as well as those located inside the Most Impacted and Distressed area (MID) or documented to impact the MID. Per the grant requirements program funds must benefit the MID and 50 percent of the program funds are required to benefit LMI persons. Additionally, for CDBG-MIT funds to be used as the non-federal cost share local match, the Project must be a HUD eligible activity and must meet a HUD national objective, per CDBG-MIT rules and regulations. Similarly, the Project must fully comply with all applicable federal rules and regulations, to include Davis Bacon and related acts, Section 3, Section 504, procurement, environmental review, and all other CDBG-MIT, cross-cutting, state and local applicable statutes, rules, and regulations.  

The program prioritizes Projects that benefit vulnerable and LMI populations as well as those located inside the Most Impacted and Distressed area (MID) or documented to impact the MID. Per the grant requirements program funds must benefit the MID and 50 percent of the program funds are required to benefit LMI persons. Additionally, for CDBG-MIT funds to be used as the non-federal cost share local match, the Project must be a HUD eligible activity and must meet a HUD national objective, per CDBG-MIT rules and regulations. Similarly, the Project must fully comply with all applicable federal rules and regulations, to include Davis Bacon and related acts, Section 3, Section 504, procurement, environmental review, and all other CDBG-MIT, cross-cutting, state and local applicable statutes, rules, and regulations. The Eligible Applicants for 2018 MIT-RIP funds are Jurisdictions within the MID. This includes eligible Jurisdictions that have seen 1 percent or more of total structures destroyed by fire and have more that 0.4 percent of total land designated as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard risk that will receive a proportional allocation of program funds. Eligible Applicants with allocations include Butte County, Lake County, Los Angeles County, Malibu, Paradise, Redding, and Shasta County.  

The program prioritizes Projects that benefit vulnerable and LMI populations as well as those located inside the Most Impacted and Distressed area (MID) or documented to impact the MID. Per the grant requirements program funds must benefit the MID and 50 percent of the program funds are required to benefit LMI persons. Additionally, for CDBG-MIT funds to be used as the non-federal cost share local match, the Project must be a HUD eligible activity and must meet a HUD national objective, per CDBG-MIT rules and regulations. Similarly, the Project must fully comply with all applicable federal rules and regulations, to include Davis Bacon and related acts, Section 3, Section 504, procurement, environmental review, and all other CDBG-MIT, cross-cutting, state and local applicable statutes, rules, and regulations. Jurisdictions within the MID that do not meet the allocation requirements are still eligible to submit Projects towards a 20 percent set aside. Applicants will then be required to submit Project applications which will be reviewed against eligibility thresholds to ensure they meet program requirements. The following Jurisdictions will be eligible to apply towards the 20 percent set aside:o City of Agoura Hillso City of Andersono City of Calabasaso City of Chicoo City of Gridleyo City of Lakeporto City of Los Angeleso City of Orovilleo City of Shasta Lakeo City of Westlake Villageo Tribal Entities located within the MID  

This program provides financial assistance and support to new small businesses in Santa Ana, helping them thrive during their first three years of operation.

The Level Up LB: Extreme Small Business Makeover and Grant Program aims to propel small businesses towards success and sustainability. This initiative offers entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to connect with essential support resources and participate in a 12-week series of comprehensive workshops aimed at crafting new business and marketing plans. Upon completion of the program, participants become eligible to apply for $10k grants, empowering them to expand their business capacity and enhance resilience. 25 businesses will be selected to participate in this program and receive grant awards upon completion. 10 additional businesses will be selected to participate in the workshop series only, and may be eligible for grant awards if funds become available. Program selection and awards will be determined by a selection committee based on the following criteria: • Representation of businesses across all parts of the city with priority for businesses located in low-to-moderate income areas • Representation of businesses across multiple sectors • Business readiness and potential impact of program participation This application will close on May 21st at 5pm. No late applications will be accepted. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions in late June. For assistance with this application, please contact BizCare at 562-570-4249 or [email protected].

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) through the Solano County Farm Bureau is pleased to announce funding availability for Healthy Soils Program Block Grant Pilot Program. Donor Name: Solano County Farm Bureau State: California County: Alameda County (CA), Contra Costa County (CA), Sacramento County (CA), Solano County (CA), Yolo County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The objectives of the HSP are to increase statewide implementation of conservation management practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) by providing financial incentives to California growers and ranchers to implement agricultural management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric GHG emissions and improve soil health. The Healthy Soils Program (HSP) provides financial incentives in the form of grants to farmers and ranchers to implement conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), and improve soil health. A few eligible practices include: Mulching – Compost Cover Crops Reduced Tillage Riparian, Herbaceous & Woody Plantings Windbreaks Filter Strips Whole Orchard Recycling Funding Information The California Climate Investments (CCI) appropriated $50 million. The maximum award is $100,000 The grant term is three years.  Eligibility Criteria California farmers, ranchers, agricultural business entities, and California Native Americans, are eligible to apply. Nonprofit organizations as agriculture operations are eligible to apply. Grant Recipients must be at least 18 years old. Cannabis cultivation operations are not eligible to apply. Hemp cultivation operations are eligible to apply. Project Eligibility Requirements Projects must be located on agricultural operations in California. For the purposes of this program, an agricultural operation is defined as row crops, vineyard, field and tree crops, commercial nurseries, nursery stock production, and greenhouse operations producing food crops, or flowers as. Projects located on grazing lands (including grasslands, rangelands, and pastures. Grant funds cannot be used for projects that use potted plants and plant growth media other than soil. Grant funds cannot be used for research and product development activities. All entities receiving grant funds must have a physical California business address. Awards are limited to one per agricultural operation using a unique tax identification number per round of funding, including applications submitted to Block Grant Recipients. Applications from Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, Solano and Yolo County producers can apply with priority to those qualifying as socially disadvantaged.  For more information, visit CDFA.