Chamber Connecting Microbusinesses with Grants

The Chamber has partnered with the Santa Barbara Foundation in assisting the County in the distribution of the Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program funding. Applications will open on March 7, 2022. Grants of up to $2,500, funded by the State of California, are available to eligible microbusinesses. To be eligible, microbusinesses must have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, earned $50,000 or less in 2019, have less than 5 full-time employees, have been open and operating since December 2019, and did not receive a grant from the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. In particular, this outreach seeks to identify microbusinesses that face systemic barriers to accessing capital, including but not limited to, businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, individuals without documentation, individuals with limited English proficiency, and business owners located in low-wealth and rural, communities. A total of $500,000 in grant funding is available in Santa Barbara County.

Grant funds may be used to cover the purchase of new equipment, investment in working capital, application for, or renewal of, a local permit, payment of COVID-19 business debt, or costs from COVID-19 related health and safety restrictions or business interruptions.

If you know a microbusiness operator that may be eligible, please contact the Chamber so we can assist them with the application process. Completed applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.