FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Elisabeth Handler, Public Information Manager, Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA)
408-535-8168; elisabeth.handler@sanjoseca.gov
San José’s Small Business Grant Program Extended to June 30, 2022
Program to reduce back-due rent, prevent evictions
SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 31, 2022) – The City of San José Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs announced the extension of the application period to 5 p.m. on June 30, 2022 for its Small Business Grant Program. This program is designed to help small businesses with back-due rent, as well as support local property owners.
The grants are administered through the City’s local partner the Enterprise Foundation-Access/SBDC (https://www.accesssbdc.org/). Grants are intended for businesses with less than $3 million in annual revenues during one of the pandemic years - 2020 or 2021. Grant information, pre-screening forms and applications are available in multiple languages at AccessSBDC’s site: https://www.accesssbdc.org/sjrr22/.
“Since the start of the pandemic, closures have deeply hurt small businesses. As the City works to find ways to relieve the economic strain of the pandemic, I’m thankful we can leverage ARPA funds to help the backbone of our community find their footing again,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo.
The City of San José approved a $2.7 million budget funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act to be used for business grants of $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000, depending on the annual revenues of the business. It is estimated that about 300 grants will be awarded.
“We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to our business owners!” said Nanci Klein, Economic Development & Cultural Affairs Director. “We ensured that the grant materials are available in multiple languages, and we are providing in-person application support.”
Who can apply?
For-profit businesses, companies, or enterprises (used interchangeably) including sole-proprietors and single-person businesses may apply, as can those in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The grants will be issued directly to the landlord to whom the back-due rent is owed.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proof of outstanding rent debt from March 24, 2020 to August 19, 2021.
- Physical commercial address must be in San José.
- Annual gross receipts must be below $3 million in either 2020 or 2021.
- Business must have 10 or fewer full-time employees including the business owner (Businesses may include part-time employees in its full-time equivalent count, 2 half-time employees = 1 full-time employee).
- Businesses must be active and intend to continue in operation.
- Businesses must have been in business prior to March 24, 2020.
Application Process
To apply, business owners are asked to complete a prescreen document to ensure their eligibility. Eligible applicants will then fill out an application either online or at the Access SBC offices at 1887 Monterey Road, 2nd Floor, San José, Calif., 95112. The prescreen document and application form are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese, and multilingual support is available at the Monterey Road office. After June 30, 2022, all applications received will be subject to a lottery until all the funds have been accounted for.
About the City of San José
With more than one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California’s largest city and the 10th largest city in the nation. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world. In 2011, the City adopted Envision San José 2040, a long-term growth plan that sets forth a vision and a comprehensive road map to guide the City’s anticipated growth through the year 2040.
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