Alameda County Offers More Small Business Recovery Grants!

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has appropriated $11 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide grants for a small business grant program in response to and recovery from the public health emergency and negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is administered by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA).

Eligible applicants can receive a one-time grant of $10,000 for brick-and-mortar businesses, and $5,000 for home-based businesses. Funds are limited, so there is no guarantee that every applicant will receive funds. If eligible applications exceed available funding, the grants will awarded via lottery.

Who is eligible?

This program is offered to for-profit businesses in Alameda County that employ between 1 and 25 employees. These can be independently owned home-based businesses, brick-and-mortar businesses, and franchises. They can be sole proprietors, partnerships, and Limited Liability Corporations.

In order to be eligible, the business must still be in operation and expected to remain open. The business must also possess a current business license for the location in accordance with all applicable operation requirements.

The business must have suffered income loss equal to or in excess of the grant amount, due to decreased revenue and/or increased costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The business must have not previously received COVID-19-related ARPA funding from Alameda County (e.g. Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ District Cash Aid grants, Alameda County Social Services Agency licensed childcare grants, etc.)

Businesses may only apply for and receive one grant, regardless if the business owns and/or operates from multiple Alameda County locations.

Who is excluded?

The following categories of businesses are excluded from consideration for this program:

• Corporate-owned chain businesses
• Cannabis businesses
• Finance, insurance, and investment companies
• Food trucks, vendor carts, and other mobile pop-ups
• Landlords of residential or commercial properties
• Real estate companies & holdings, including residential or commercial real estate brokers
• Non-profit entities

Use of grant funds

Funds from the Alameda County ARPA Small Business Recovery grants may be used for the following:

• Rent/lease/mortgage and utility payments for business facilities
• Payroll
• Operating expenses, such as supplies, materials, insurance, etc.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sanitation, or health & safety equipment
• Digital technology equipment and/or platforms
• Interior & exterior physical adaptations (e.g. partitions, signage, outdoor seating, etc.)

Expenses should meet or exceed awarded grant amount. Businesses will need to retain receipts and other proof of expenditures in the event the grant payment is subject to audit.

How to apply

Applicants must upload a signed IRS Form W-9 with valid Tax Identification Number (Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number are acceptable) with the application. Applicants are also encouraged to upload a City, County, and/or State of California business permit or license. And of course, applicants must submit a complete and signed online application. Paper applications will not be accepted.

The program is open to all eligible small businesses in Alameda County, but about half of the available funding is being ear-marked for disproportionately impacted communities located in Alameda County community resilience priority ZIP Codes and Qualified Census Tracts.

Key Dates

The application period opens on Monday, October 10, 2022 and closes on Monday, October 31, 2022. Applications will be reviewed in November, 2022. Applicants will be notified via email in November, 2022, whether awarded a grant or not. Funds will be disbursed via check by December 30, 2022.

Visit acbusiness.org for program guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions, and the online application. Materials will be available in multiple languages. Please email info@eastbayeda.org with any questions.