In summary

The California small business grant program provides support through a network of financial institutions and community organizations.

By Isabel Guzman, La Crescenta

Isabel Guzman is the director of the Office of the Small Business Advocate, which is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

Re “California’s latest small-business grant program is right thinking, but flawed in its execution”; Commentary, Dec. 22, 2020

Small businesses form the economic heart of every community. Ensuring all small businesses have access to the support, resources and capital they need is fundamental to California’s COVID-19 response.

The $500 million California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program provides that support through a network of Community Development Financial Institutions and Community Based Organizations ensuring reach to those highly impacted small businesses in disadvantaged communities, underserved small business groups, and in communities and industries disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 health and safety restrictions. 

Grants will be awarded in rounds to help ensure access. Assistance and outreach will be available in multiple languages and formats through California’s network of small business support centers. 

We know that Community Development Financial Institutions serve as critical intermediaries, delivering help to our smallest and underserved business owners and are pleased that Lendistry, a CDFI, is serving as the intermediary of this program. 

Inclusive, equitable relief is fundamental to the small business support developed by the Newsom administration. The governor has said it before, small businesses embody the best of the California Dream, and we can’t and won’t let this pandemic take that away. Applications will be open soon – visit the new website CAReliefGrant.com and prepare your documents.

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