Microbusinesses Have Until Oct. 18 To Apply For A $2,500 COVID-19 Relief Grant

UNION CITY, CA — The California Office of the Small Business Advocate awarded funding to the Chabot - Las Positas Community College District for the Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to provide grants to microbusinesses in the counties of Alameda, Amador, Contra Costa and El Dorado, the college district announced in a news release.

According to the release, the program provides grants of $2,500 to microbusiness — or businesses that have fewer than 5 employees and that earn less than $50,000 per year — that were in operation in 2019, still in operation, and were impacted by COVID-19 public health restrictions put in place by the state of California.

The grants are for microbusinesses, which include for-profit and nonprofit businesses and meet the requirements of the grant which include operating or located within the Counties of Alameda, Amador, Contra Costa, or El Dorado counties, the website for the COVID-19 Relief Grant said.

"I do feel like these grants are beneficial for local businesses," Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Fiscal Agency spokesperson Lara Stephanian said. "It's a way to provide relief for those who were impacted by COVID-19."

According to the grant website, for-profit businesses must currently have no more than five full time employees or the full time equivalent, gross income of under $50,000 as reported for 2019, have been in operation before Dec. 1, 2019 and still in operation in 2022, demonstrated decline in revenue or service demand due to COVID-19 in 2020 or 2021 as compared to 2019, did not previously receive California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant funds and the microbusiness must have been the primary source of revenue for the business owner.

Self employed workers, including independent contractors, sole proprietors are also eligible, the website said.

Nonprofits must also be operating in the aforementioned counties and have been operating in 2019 with at least $1,000 in revenue and less than $50,000, and still be in operation with nonprofit 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or 501(c)(19) status and currently registered with the California Secretary of State, provide proof of revenue with a 990 filing and current registration and have not receive funding from the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant.

"Even though it's only $2,500 it is something that can help ... something that can take a little of the stress off," Stephanian said. "Any little bit helps."

Funding, which will be provided by check, is on a first-come first-served basis, but time stamps will be considered, the new release said.

Funding notifications will begin to be sent out in November and December of this year.

Priority for the grants will be given to microbusinesses located in low-to-moderate income areas, are historically underserved, or have not received other COVID-19 relief, the release said.

"I feel like microbusinesses are the heart of these communities and to have to reconfigure plans of operation it put a strain on businesses," Stephanian said. "We don't want anyone to miss out on this opportunity if they qualify. We just want to help keep these microbusinesses survive."

The application period for the grant closes Oct. 19 at 5 p.m., the news release said.

For more information, call 925-416-5143 or contact the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District by email.