A new grant program is coming to California small businesses this week.
The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program has announced that it will take applications from California small businesses impacted by COVID-19 for grants of between $5,000 and $25,000. The application period begins at 8 a.m. on December 30, 2020 (THIS WEDNESDAY), and continues until 11:59 p.m. on January 8, 2021.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?
Eligible businesses are those with between $1,000 and $2.5 million in annual gross revenues based on their most recently filed tax return (2019 for most), and include sole proprietorships and nonprofits.
HOW MUCH IS THE GRANT?
The grant amount that will be awarded is:
- $5,000 for businesses with annual revenue of $1,000 to $100,000;
- $15,000 for businesses with annual revenue greater than $100,000 up to $1 million; and
- $25,000 for businesses with annual revenue greater than $1 million up to $2.5 million.
Grants will be awarded based on the following prioritization:
- Geographic distributions based on COVID-19 health and safety restrictions;
- Industry sectors most impacted by the pandemic; and
- Underserved small business groups (e.g., veterans, low-income or rural communities, and women or minority owned businesses).
Grant awards will be announced beginning the week of January 13, 2021.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Thomas Doll will do what we can to help you, but we are unable to apply for this grant on your behalf. As such, you will need to initiate the application.
Gather Business Documents
Most Recently Filed Tax Return
- This is your most recent tax return (likely 2019) that should be available in your Thomas Doll BOX folder
Copy of official filing with the California Secretary of State, or local municipality
- For corporations, your articles of incorporation can easily be found on the Califonria Secretary of State website https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/
- For other legal entities (sole proprietors and partnerships), you will need to use a Certificate of Organization, Fictitious Name Registration, or Government-Issued Business License.
Government Issued Photo ID such as a Driver’s License or Passport.
Apply Online
Applications are not live yet, but we expect them to be available at this link https://careliefgrant.com/
Please let us know if you have questions.
THE FINE PRINT ON ELIGIBILITY
A small business or small nonprofit must satisfy the following criteria to be eligible to receive a grant award:
Must meet the definition of an “eligible small business”. An “eligible small business” means (i) a “small business” (sole proprietor, independent contractor, 1099 work, and or registered “for-profit” business entity (e.g., C-corporation, S-corporation, limited liability company, partnership) that has yearly gross revenue of $2.5 million or less (but at least $1,000 in yearly gross revenue) based on most recently filed tax return) or (ii) a “small nonprofit” (registered 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) nonprofit entity having yearly gross revenue of $2.5 million or less (but at least $1,000 in yearly gross revenue) based on most recently filed Form 990)
Active businesses or nonprofits operating since at least June 1, 2019
Businesses must currently be operating or have a clear plan to re-open once the State of California permits re-opening of the business
Business must be impacted by COVID-19 and the health and safety restrictions such as business interruptions or business closures incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
Business must be able to provide organizing documents including 2018 or 2019 tax returns or Form 990s, copy of official filing with the California Secretary of State, if applicable, or local municipality for the business such as one of the following: Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Organization, Fictitious Name of Registration or Government-Issued Business License
Business must be able to provide an acceptable form of government-issued photo ID
Applicants with multiple business entities, franchises, locations, etc. are not eligible for multiple grants and are only allowed to apply once using their eligible small business with the highest revenue
