Federal Loans and Grants

• Save Small Business Fund: 
  • As of April 22, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has closed applications for the Save Small Business Fund. They received more than 15,000 applications and can no longer accept applications. If you submitted an application, you will be notified if it results in a grant  For more information and updates on this initiative please visit its website here.
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Save Small Business Fund is a grant initiative offering short-term relief for small employers. Eligible businesses must employ 3 to 20 people, be in an economically vulnerable community and have been harmed financially by coronavirus. Grant awards will be $5,000. Applications are now available here.
• Express Bridge Loan: SBA introduced a new loan for small businesses that currently have a business relationship with a SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses and assist with temporary loss of revenue, and can be used as term loans or to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
• Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act: On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, was signed into law. The act provides assistance to small businesses through emergency grants, forgivable loans and relief for existing loans. Below is a summary of the CARES Act’s small business provisions, which are being carried out by the SBA. 
  •  Paycheck Protection Program
    • Update: The Paycheck Protection Program closed on August 8. For more information on SBA programs, visit its website.
    • Update: The Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act was recently signed into law. The new deadline to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan is August 8, 2020. Businesses looking to apply can find a lender here.
    • Update: The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was recently signed into law to provide businesses with greater opportunities to meet the loan’s forgiveness requirements. The program’s major changes are highlighted below. 
      • Amount of loan needed for payroll reduced to 60%, down from 75% 
      • Time period to use funds extended from eight to 24 weeks 
      • June 30 deadline to rehire workers extended to Dec. 31, 2020
      • Rehire requirements eased Repayment term extended from two years to five years
    • Update: The Small Business Administration, along with the Department of the Treasury, recently released the Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application and the EZ Forgiveness Application for recipients to complete in order to receive loan forgiveness. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put together a guide for PPP Loan Forgiveness to assist borrowers in understanding the loan forgiveness process and how the forgiveness amount will be calculated. Paycheck Protection Program recipients must apply for loan forgiveness with the lender that processed their PPP loan. You can download forgiveness forms, instructions, and worksheets here. Watch an informational video here.
    • Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, veterans organizations, and tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.
    • Under this program:
      • Eligible recipients may qualify for a loan up to $10 million determined by eight weeks of prior average payroll plus an additional 25% of that amount.
      • Loan payments will be deferred for six months.
      • If you maintain your workforce, SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll and certain other expenses following loan origination.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Loan Advance
    • Update: The EIDL Advance program is now closed. The EIDL application is still available for businesses and nonprofits continuing to experience economic impacts due to the coronavirus. For more information, visit SBA’s website here.
    • SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue.
    • Small businesses are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000.
    • Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid.
    • Tip: Did your business recently apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)? If your business has submitted an EIDL application, review your submission and make sure you clicked the EIDL Advance box in section 4, question 8 to be eligible for the $10,000 advance on this loan. Applicants can update their applications without moving their place in line. 
  • SBA Debt Relief
    • The SBA Debt Relief program will provide a reprieve to small businesses as they overcome the challenges created by this health crisis.
    • Under this program:
      • SBA will pay the principal and interest of current 7(a) loans for a period of six months.
      • SBA will pay the principal and interest of new 7(a) loans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
• Disaster Loan Program: SBA is providing low-interest disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of coronavirus. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Apply online and check application status.  
• Capital Loans: SBA works with lenders to provide loans to small businesses. The agency doesn’t lend money directly to small business owners but sets guidelines for loans made by its partnering lenders, community development organizations that makes it easier for small businesses to get loans. Loans guaranteed by the SBA range from small to large and can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital. 

State Loans and Grants

• California Grants Portal: The California State Library recently introduced the California Grants Portal website with state-administered grant and loan opportunities offered on a competitive or first-come basis. Individuals, businesses and nonprofits can browse and tailor their grant and loan searches by applicant type, category and timeframe. The website hosts numerous grants and loans in various categories including health and human services, education and more. Explore potential funding opportunities at the California Grants Portal website.
  
• Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program: California’s Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) is issuing loan guarantees of up to 95 percent of the loan through its partner Financial Development Corporations. This program will help lenders and small businesses by providing loan guarantees of up to $1 million for small business borrowers in declared disaster areas.
  
• Jump Start Loan Program: California IBank is offering loans from $500 to $10,000 to low-wealth entrepreneurs in the declared disaster and emergency areas. 
• California Capital Access Program: Office of the California State Treasurer is offering a small business loan program with special disaster assistance.

Local Loans and Grants

• Anaheim Small-Business Microgrant Program

  Thank you for your interest in the Anaheim Small-Business Microgrant Program. The application window closed at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22. In partnership with the Orange County/Inland Empire Small Business Development Center, the City of Anaheim has established the Anaheim Small-Business Microgrant Program for qualified, for-profit small businesses in Anaheim. The program supports small businesses experiencing significant financial loss resulting from the coronavirus crisis and strengthens our local economy through promoting job creation and retention.

• Orange County Fourth District Small Business Grant Relief Program:

  • Update: The Orange County Fourth District Small Business Grant Relief Program is now closed. 

  • The Orange County Fourth District Small Business Grant Relief Program will help its small businesses and community organizations experiencing financial losses resulting from the pandemic. Eligible businesses within the Anaheim, La Habra and Fullerton boundaries of Orange County supervisorial Fourth District can apply for grants of up to $10,000. Applications are now open and close on August 22 at 5 p.m. Grants may be used for rent, payroll, utilities, insurance, accounts payable, personal protective equipment, inventory, office supplies and professional services. Small businesses with 25 or fewer employees are eligible. Grants will be allocated depending on proof of need, including loss of sales, layoffs or forced shutdown due to coronavirus. A random selection of grantees will be chosen based on each city’s population. To stimulate community economic impact, applicants are encouraged to spend the grants locally. Click here to verify if your business is within the Anaheim boundaries of Orange County's Fourth District. For more information, visit the program website. For questions regarding the grant application, please email ocd4faq@mainstreetlaunch.org.
    
    

• C-19 Recovery Loan: CDC Small Business Finance is offering recovery loans from $20,000 to $250,000 for for-profit California businesses whose operations, revenue and staffing have been disrupted due to coronavirus, need funding for working capital or inventory, or are fully or partially operational who are in compliance with state and local coronavirus regulatory requirements. These loans are offered at a variable interest rate and 10-year loan term. Find more information here.
• OCWDB COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Support Program: 
  • Update: This program has received the maximum number of applications and is now closed.
  •  Small businesses looking to mitigate layoffs can start applying for the county’s COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Support Program. The County of Orange, in partnership with the Orange County Workforce Development Board, or OCWDB for short, is launching a second round of grant funding. Eligible businesses can receive up to $10,000 in grant funds. Applications are now open and close on August 6 at 5 p.m. or when the maximum number of applications are received, whichever comes first. These grants are intended to help local small businesses mitigate layoffs and adhere to “social distancing” provisions established by state and federal public health entities. Interested businesses must submit an application on the Orange County One-Stop Center’s website to be considered for the grant. Eligible applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until all available grants have been committed. To be eligible for this grant, businesses must be located in Orange County, have a workforce of 500 or fewer employees, be up to date on Unemployment Insurance taxes and in good standing with the State of California. For more information on this program, visit its website.
• Orange County Third District COVID-19 Arts Relief Program
  • Update: The Orange County Third District COVID-19 Arts Relief Program is now closed.
  • The Orange County Third District COVID-19 Arts Relief Program will assist arts-related businesses and nonprofits within the Third District that have been affected by COVID-19. Grant awards will be up to a maximum of $50,000 per applicant and will be based on demonstrated need. These funds can be used for rent, payroll, utilities, insurance, accounts payable, personal protective equipment (PPE), and inventory. Apply now until Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. Confirm if your business is in Orange County Third District here. Visit the program website for all requirements and guidelines.
    
• C-19 Emergency Relief Working Capital Loan: CDC Small Business Finance is offering working capital emergency loans from $20,000 to $150,000 for California businesses. These loans can be used to cover payroll, rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance and more.
  
• C-19 Emergency Relief Microloan: CDC Small Business Finance is offering emergency relief microloans up to $50,000 available only to California businesses. There is no payment requirement for the first 90 days of this loan.

Private Sector Loans and Grants

• Main Street Matters Grant Program: Better Business Bureau recently launched Main Street Matters offering emergency grants in the form of $500 or $1,000 awards for businesses that have been financially impacted during the coronavirus crisis. Better Business Bureau is accepting applications from all small businesses. However, small businesses with 5-20 employees are being prioritized at this time. For more information, please visit its website here.
• LISC Rapid Relief and Resiliency Fund:
  • Update: Applications are now closed. Visit the program website for the latest information.
  • The Local Initiatives Support Corp with support from its partners are offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps. Grants from $5,000 to $20,000 are available. These funds can be used to pay rent and utilities, meet payroll, pay outstanding debt to vendors and for other immediate operational costs. For more information on this program, click here.
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program: 
  • Update: Facebook Small Business Grants Program applications are currently unavailable due to high demand. Please visit its website for updates here.
  • Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and Facebook ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses. Facebook is accepting applications for Southern California starting this Wednesday, April 22. The application period will be open for two weeks, so don’t delay
• Salesforce Care Small Business Grants: 
  • Update: Salesforce Care Small Business Grant applications are currently unavailable due to high demand. Please visit its website for updates here.
    
  • Salesforce is partnering with Ureeka to offer eligible small businesses the opportunity to receive a $10,000 grant to help them through the challenges of coronavirus. California applications are currently open and close on May 4 at 11:59 p.m. Businesses must employ 2 to 50 employees, be in business since March 2018, have an annual revenue between $250,000 and $2 million to be eligible for this grant. Visit its website here to apply.
• Mozilla Coronavirus Solutions Fund:
  • Update: Mozilla Coronavirus Solutions Fund applications are currently unavailable due to high demand. Please visit its website for updates here.
  • Mozilla has created the Coronavirus Solutions Fund to provide awards of up to $50,000 each to open source technology projects that are responding to the pandemic in some way.