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Message from Hon. Anthony J. Portantino, Senator, District 25
Last week the Governor and Legislature took bold action to bring much needed financial relief to families and businesses suffering from unprecedented economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was proud to be a principal co-author of the Golden State Stimulus package, which will help Californians recover from the devastating effects of this pandemic. A key provision of the small business relief effort for which I pressed was to keep those small businesses that have applied for financial relief in the system so this infusion of money can be allocated to them quickly.
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 State built on the program it began in December by allocating an additional $2.1 billion, including a special program allotment of $50M for non-profit cultural institutions. This new allocation represents a four-fold increase from the original allocation. The initial $500 million competitive grant program was delivered in two rounds serving over 40,000 small businesses.
The California Office of the Small Business Advocate, through their selected intermediary, Lendistry, will administer the new $2.1 billion allocation. The four additional rounds will be conducted as follows:
Round 3 (waitlisted from rounds 1 and 2): Friday, March 5th through Thursday, March 11th, 2021
- 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 16th through Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021
- Eligible applicants: Only nonprofit cultural institutions with any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
- 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 25th through Wednesday, March 31st
- Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, or 3 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
- 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 at CAReliefGrant.com.
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 found at CAReliefGrant.com.
- 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 at CAReliefGrant.com.
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 CAReliefGrant.com.
My office will work to keep you informed of any new developments on the programs that can help your small business, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (818) 952-3432.
