Small Businesses

California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

Eligibility: Current waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.

Important Dates: Round 9 open through September 30. Round 8 open for nonprofit cultural institutions through September 30.

Description: The amount of grant funding ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. Businesses are eligible based on their annual revenue as documented in their most recent tax return.

Alcoholic Beverage Control Renewal Fee Waiver

Eligibility: Specified on-sale licensees may be eligible for fee waivers of licenses with expiration dates between March 1, 2021, and February 28, 2023.

Important Dates: Eligible licensees may request a fee waiver prior to the expiration date of the license as provided on the renewal notice.

Description: Governor Newsom has signed a relief package that authorizes Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to waive license renewal fees for eligible licensees. 

California Rebuilding Fund

Eligibility: Businesses who employed 50 or less full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) and had gross revenues of less than $2.5 million or below in 2019

Important Dates: Application available now

Description: The California Rebuilding Fund helps impacted small businesses rebuild from the economic crisis and keep local economies strong. This program is built to be a resource in the market for the next year as businesses pivot and recover.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program

Eligibility: Small business (less than 500 employees), sole proprietorships, independent contractors, self-employed persons, private nonprofit organizations, 501(c)(19) veterans organizations

Important Dates: Application Available Now

Description: The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is a loan up to $2 million with an advance of up to $10,000 designed to provide immediate relief to small businesses. This loan will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. The loan advance does not have to be repaid. Funds will be made available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) following a successful application process. 

Employee Retention Credit

Eligibility: Employers and tax-exempt organizations experiencing either suspension in operations or significant decline in gross receipts as defined 

Important Dates: Ends January 1, 2022. 

Description: The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted December 27, 2020, made a number of changes to the employee retention tax credits previously made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), including modifying and extending the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), for six months through June 30, 2021. Several of the changes apply only to 2021, while others apply to both 2020 and 2021. As a result of the new legislation, eligible employers can now claim a refundable tax credit against the employer share of Social Security tax equal to 70% of the qualified wages they pay to employees after December 31, 2020, through June 30, 2021.