Dear Small Business Owners & Nonprofit Directors,
The legislature and the Governor recently enacted a state-funded COVID-19 relief package to increase aid to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2020, the state began the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program that provides micro grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 and the related health and safety restrictions. The original $500 million competitive grant program was delivered in two rounds serving over 40,000 small businesses.
We recently added an additional $2.1 billion to the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, including a special program allotment of $50 million for non-profit cultural institutions.
The California Office of the Small Business Advocate through their selected intermediary, Lendistry, will administer the additional $2.1 billion. Four additional rounds will be conducted as follows:
Round 3 (waitlisted from rounds 1 and 2) - Friday, March 5 - Thursday, March 11
- Eligible applicants: This is a closed round and only available to eligible applicants who were waitlisted in rounds 1 and 2 - only existing applicants will be selected. If you were waitlisted, you do not need to reapply. New applications will not be accepted in this round.
- Eligible grant award: $5,000 to $25,000
- Details: This is a closed funding round; no new applications will be accepted
Round 4 (nonprofit cultural institutions only) - Tuesday, March 16 - Tuesday, March 23
- Eligible applicants: Only nonprofit cultural institutions with any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria.
- Eligible grant award: $5,000 - $25,000
- Details: Eligible nonprofit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1 and 2; grants will only be available to nonprofits that did not receive funding in Rounds 1, 2 or 3; grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019
Round 5 - Thursday, March 25 - Wednesday, March 31
- Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, or 3 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria..
- Eligible grant award: $5,000 - $25,000
- Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, & 3 do not need to reapply as they will be automatically moved into Round 5. New applicants will need to apply.
Round 6 - Date to be announced soon
- Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and/or nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria.
- Eligible grant award: $5,000 - $25,000
- Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, 3 & 5 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 6. New applicants will need to apply.
If you are small business owner who already applied for a loan, do not worry about reapplying. If you have not applied, additional information on eligibility, required documentation and the application can be found at the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant website.
If I can be of assistance to you, your business, or non-profit give my office a call at (909) 902-9606 or email me at Assemblymember.Rodriguez@assembly.ca.gov.