California COVID 19 Grant Program Starts Today

• Most small businesses in California can apply for grants of up to $25,000 via California’s Small Business COVID-19 Grant Program.

• The first round of grants opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 8, with approvals announced starting Jan. 13.

• Grant amounts will range from $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the applicant's annual gross revenue.

• Affected industries, geographical factors, and underserved small business groups will determine priority and the dollar amount of the grant.

Grant amounts:

Eligible Businesses Annual Revenue Grant Amount Available Per Business

$1,000 to $100,000 $5,000

Greater than $100,000 up to $1,000,000 $15,000

Greater than $1,000,000 up to $2,500,000 $25,000

Eligibility:

Gross revenue of $2.5 million or less based on the most recently filed tax return

Must have been impacted with a business interruption or closure due to COVID-19 and the health and safety restrictions

Must currently be operating or have a clear plan to re-open when permitted

Grant Determination:

Eligible businesses will then be scored based on COVID-19 impact factors incorporated into the Program’s priority criteria so that distribution can take into account priority key factors, including the following: 1. Geographic distribution based on COVID-19 health and safety restrictions following California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy and county status and the new Regional Stay At Home Order; 2. Industry sectors most impacted by the pandemic; and 3. Underserved small business groups served by the State supported network of small business centers (i.e., businesses majority owned and run on a daily basis by women, minorities/persons of color, veterans and businesses located in low-to-moderate income and rural communities).

For more information about the California grants, visit https://careliefgrant.com.