Deadline fast approaches for California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant

(KION) Small business owners will have to submit their applications by Wednesday if they want to be considered for the first round of COVID-19 relief grants in California.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the program last November, which will offer $500 million in aid to small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions.

The grants of up to $25,000 are need-based rather than first-come-first-served.

Small businesses and non-profits qualify if they’ve been operating since at
least June 1, 2019, have been impacted by COVID-19 and have a yearly gross
revenue of $2.5 million or less.

El Pajaro Community Development Corporation, has been helping local businesses navigate the application process through webinars.

“The application, per se, is relatively simple, it’s more like the challenge
with technology that a lot of the smaller businesses are having,” El Pajaro CDC Executive Director Carmen Herrera-Masir said.

Businesses that are approved for the program will start receiving
notifications on January 15.

Approved businesses can use the money to cover employee payroll, rent, PPE items or any other COVID-19 related expenses.

“Even if you qualify only for $5,000, you could use that for rent and keep
your space until you are open again.”

Non-profits are also eligible for these grants. 

The grant application closes on January 13, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

If you aren’t able to apply by Wednesday night, there will be a second application round. The dates for that have not yet been determined.

To apply for the grants and find out eligibility requirements visit https://careliefgrant.com/.

For more ways to support small businesses, check out 831LocalLinks here: https://831locallinks.com/.