SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS
Restaurants Care Resilience Fund
Provides grants of $5,000 to independent restaurants and commercial caterers to be used for technology upgrades, equipment upgrades, employee training/retention, and unforeseen hardship. Applications being accepted
June 15-30, 2024. https://restaurantscare.org/resilience/
Restaurants Care Referral Program
Provides grants up to $2,500 for food and beverage workers in California who are going through an unexpected illness, injury, death in the immediate family, natural disaster, or housing disaster.
Entertainment Business Interruption Fund
Provides grants up to $25,000 to small and micro businesses that serve the Entertainment Industry in Los Angeles County and were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Hollywood Double Strikes.
Applications accepted until June 7, 2024. https://bif.smallbizla.org
California Small Business and Nonprofit COVID-19 Supplemental Sick Leave Relief Grant Program
Awards grants ranging from $5,000-50,000 to eligible businesses and nonprofits that have incurred costs for COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave pursuant to Sections 248.6 and 248.7 of the Labor Code. Funds are limited and will be awarded based on eligibility and availability of funds. Round 1 is closed. Round 2 coming soon!
CA Ag Drought and Flood Relief Grant Program*
Provides grants to qualified small agricultural businesses that have been affected by severe drought or flood conditions.
Drought Group 3 is now open. https://cadroughtfloodrelief.com
* The California Small Agricultural Business Drought & Flood Relief Grant Program is administered by the
California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA).
SMALL BUSINESS LOANS
Business Credit Initiative 2.0 {SSBCI 2.0)
The U.S. Treasury recently awarded the State of California $1.181 billion in State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 {SSBCI 2.0) funding for loan guarantees, collateral support, and loan loss reserves for participating lenders.
California Capital Access Programs (CalCAP) Provide support to participating financial institutions when they make loans to small businesses. Ca ICAP for Small Business and CalCAP Collateral Support serve an array of business sectors while others serve a specific use.
IBank’s Small Business Finance Center Supports communities throughout California by providing loan guarantees, Jump Start loans, disaster relief financing and more.
California Small Business Loan Match
An online tool that helps connect small business owners with trusted lenders at no match.
Lendistry
A minority and women-led small business lender. To support small businesses, they offer small business loans, commercial real estate loans, and a path to the government and private programs that they administer. Small business owners who are new to the lending world come to Lendistry when they’re ready to grow their businesses.
Small Business Administration
Offers loans to start or expand businesses.
SMALL BUSINESS INCENTIVES
GoGreen Financing Programs
Help California residents, businesses, and nonprofits save energy and money by making attractive financing more widely available for home and business energy efficiency improvements. https://gogreenfinancing.com
o GoGreen Home examples: HVAC upgrades, duct insulation and sealing, efficient light fixtures, and efficient windows.
o GoGreen Business examples: air filtrations and sensors, commercial refrigerators and freezers, and smart thermostats.
Sales and Use Tax Exclusion Program
Provides a full sale and use tax exclusion for advanced manufacturers and manufacturers of alternative source, recycled feedstock, and advanced transportation products, components, or systems.
Tax Exempt Bond Financing Program
Facilitates the issuance of tax-exempt bonds for businesses with qualifying projects in the federal tax code categories of solid waste (organic and inorganic), water furnishing, and wastewater.
California Competes Tax Credit
An income tax credit available to businesses who want to come, stay, or grow in California.
Income Tax Credits & Sales & Use Tax Exemptions
California offers a number of income tax credits and sales and use tax exemptions that may help reduce the amount of tax your business owes.
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/business/credits/
https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and–fees/sales-and-use-tax-exemptions.htm
OTHER SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
California Investment & Innovation Program (Cal IIP)
Provides grants to enhance the capacity for community development financial institutions to provide technical assistance and capital access to economically disadvantaged communities throughout California. Up to $15,000 in grants will be awarded per calendar year.
California Office of Small Business Administration (CalOSBA)
Offers small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs a variety of tools and resources to help them start, manage, and grow.
iHub 2
Program focuses on DEi science and tech base firms in designated areas of the state. The program offers diverse entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and grow their innovative ideas by bridging the connection to local networks and communities and increasing access to critical advising and training services.
CalOSBA Outsmart Disaster
Campaign provides California businesses with the resources they need to adequately prepare for and recover from all types of disasters and business interruptions.
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
Offers permit and regulatory assistance.
https://business.ca.gov/advantages/permit-and-regulatory-assistance
Small Business Majority
Provides information on Federal, State and Local Resources.
https://smallbusinessmajority.org/
Venturize.org
An on line resource hub that provides on-demand information for small business owners on a host of topics, including access to capital, COVID-19 relief, retirement, and healthcare and other workforce benefits.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
Offer FREEf ace-to-face business consulting and at-cost training on a variety of topics. The California SBDC network is devoted to helping all industries and all levels of businesses with accessing capital, human resources, marketing/social media, e-commerce, accounting, pivoting strategies or any other business need.
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC)
Provide one-on-one technical assistance, information, and training to small businesses to help them compete more effectively on federal, state, and local government contracts at no cost.
California Workforce Development Board Provides information and guidance regarding job training, placement, and business services.
https://cwdb.ca.gov/local_boards/local_workforce_investment_associations
Department of General Services, Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services (OSDS)
Supports California small, diverse, and disabled veteran businesses pursue contract opportunities with the state through outreach, certification and education. OSDS administers and oversees the Small Business (SB), Small Business for the Purpose of Public Works (SB-PW), Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) and Nonprofit Veteran Service Agency (NVSA) certification programs.
Affordable Connectivity Program
Provides eligible households with up to a $30/month discount on internet service and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.
SAVINGS AND FINANCIAL WELLNESS
CalKids
Every newborn born after July 1, 2022, receives up to $100 in a child savings account in his/her name; and every 1st-12th grader that qualifies for “free and reduced lunch” program will receive $500-$1,500 in his/her own name to be used for higher education or a certified apprenticeship program.
CalSavers
California’s retirement savings program designed to en ure all Californians have access to a workplace retirement savings account. Gov. Newsom recently signed S81126 (Cortese) to expand the retirement plan mandate to employers who employ one or more employees by Dec. 31, 2025.
ScholarShare529
Encourages college savings to keep students out of high student loan debt.
CalABLE
People with disabilities diagnosed before 26 can now save up to $18,000 in his/her own name without jeopardizing other health and safety benefits.
HOPE Program (coming soon)
The HOPE Program will provide a trust account to an eligible child who lost their parent(s) or guardian to COVID-19 during the public health emergency, as well as children who have been in the foster system for over 18 months.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
California Mortgage Relief Program
Uses federal Homeowner Assistance Funds to help homeowners get caught up on past-due housing payments and property taxes. The program is free, and the funds do not need to be repaid.
CalVet Home Loan
Products have below market interest rates with low or no down payment requirements. In addition, CalVet Home Loans has expanded eligibility. Now, nearly any veteran wanting to buy a home in California is eligible.
United Policyholders (UP)
A non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to be a trustworthy and useful information resource and a respected voice for consumers of all types of insurance in all 50 states. They don’t take money from insurance companies, guiding you on buying insurance and navigating claims. Fight for your rights.
DISASATER RELIEF
Tax Relief
o Federal and State Income Tax Extension for San Diego County: Individuals and businesses with their principal residence or place of business in San Diego County will have until June 17, 2024, to file certain Federal and California individual and business tax returns and make tax payments due between January 21, 2024 through June 17, 2024.
o Extension to File Sales Tax Returns: Emergency tax or fee relief is available from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) for taxpayers who have been directly affected by disasters declared as state of emergencies, both within California and nationally. The CDTFA provides an extension of up to three months to file and pay taxes or fees.
https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/state-of-emergency-tax-relief.htm#counties
o Disaster Loss Deduction: Individuals and businesses in a declared disaster area who suffered uninsured disaster-related losses may claim the losses on their state and federal income tax returns.
o Free Copies of Tax Returns: The IRS, FTB, and CDTFA will provide free copies of previously filed tax returns to disaster victims to replace those lost or damaged
Disaster Legal Services (DLS)
Provides free legal help to low-income disaster survivors. DLS may help with insurance claims, home repair contracts, issues with landlords, and recovery of legal documents lost in the disaster.
https://www.disasterassistance.gov/get-assistance/forms-of-assistance/4464
Small Business Administration
Offers low-interest disaster loans to help small businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.
INCOME TAXES
Tax Credits
Available to low-income workers:
o California Earned Income Tax Credit (up to $3,529 cash back)
o Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (up to $7,430 cash back)
o Expanded California Young Child Tax Credit (up to $1,117 cash back)
o NEW California Foster Youth Tax Credit (up to $1,117 cash back)
***You must file your income taxes to receive these credits***
CalEITC4ME Calculator
Use the CalEITC4Me Calculator to estimate your tax credits.
Free Tax Preparation Assistance
Free in person or online basic tax return preparation services arc available for low- and moderate-income taxpayers. fhNe are also options to file on line on your own for free. For more information and to find a tax preparation location near you.
NON-PROFITS
California Community Reinvestment Grants Program
Awards grants to Local Health Departments and qualified Community-based Nonprofit Organizations to support job placement, mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, system navigation services, legal services to address barriers to reentry, and linkages to medical care for communities disproportionately affected by past federal and state drug policies, also known as the War on Drugs. Application period for 2023 now closed. Sign-up for updates for future grant solicitations at
https://business.ca.gov/california-communityreinvestment-grants-program-sign-up
https://business.ca.gov/california-community-reinvestment-grants-program