California Business and Commerce Grants

This program provides one-time grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses in El Monte to help them maintain operations, retain staff, and serve local low- and moderate-income communities.

This funding opportunity supports a variety of projects aimed at promoting sustainable forest management and innovation in wood products, targeting academic institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses in California.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofits, schools, and local agencies in California's Central Valley to enhance health, education, and social equity initiatives in communities like Kern, Kings, and Fresno Counties.

This program provides financial support to small businesses in the Inner Sunset neighborhood for storefront improvements, technical assistance, and activating vacant commercial spaces to enhance the local economy and community vibrancy.

This funding opportunity provides up to $30 million for projects that develop publicly accessible hydrogen refueling and charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles in disadvantaged and low-income communities along key highway corridors in California.

The Kern Community Foundation's Women’s and Girls’ Fund is offering grants between $10,000 to $100,000 for one year to 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Kern County, California, that aim to enhance educational attainment and STEM interest for women and girls, with a focus on improving test scores, literacy, graduation rates, and vocational training opportunities.

This program provides financial assistance to small, local restaurants in West Hollywood facing economic challenges due to rising costs and reduced sales, helping them sustain operations during a difficult period.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Malibu that have experienced economic hardship due to recent natural disasters, helping them cover essential operational costs for recovery.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County that were significantly affected by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, helping them recover and rebuild.

This program provides funding to four designated initiatives to support dairy businesses in developing, marketing, and distributing innovative dairy products while enhancing regional resilience and farmer income.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to affordable multifamily housing projects in California that are ready to start construction but need additional capital to close financing gaps.

The MORE program was established to replace the state's underutilized Mobilehome Park Rehabilitation and Resident Ownership Program (MPPROP). Under the new MORE Program, the types of eligible applicants were expanded to include local public entities, qualified nonprofit housing sponsors and in some cases private MobilehomePark owners. The changes to this section of the HSC also allow for Mobilehome Parks that do not have a permit to operate or whose permit has been suspended to utilize MORE program funds. Key policy goals of the MORE program captured in the guidelines include:-Rehabilitation of Mobilehome Parks that have the most severe health and safety concerns;-Providing funding for the rehabilitation and/or replacement of individualMobilehomes;-The creation of Affordability Restrictions for assisted Mobilehome Parks.

This funding initiative provides $5,000 to support independent animation worker cooperatives in California that focus on creating inclusive stories and promoting equity in the creative industry.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments, Tribal entities, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses to improve glass recycling by purchasing collection bins and facilitating the processing of empty glass beverage containers.

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The City of Sacramento Office of Innovation and Economic Development is offering Incubator and Accelerator Grants to fund organizations that support start-up businesses and entrepreneurs in the Sacramento region. The program's mission aligns with stimulating economic development and fostering innovation by nurturing early-stage businesses. The grant size ranges from $10,000 to $100,000, with a total allocation of approximately $500,000, and a grant duration of one year. The deadline for applications is September 9, 2024. The target beneficiaries are early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs within the Sacramento region, particularly those with high growth potential and innovative solutions. The primary impact goal is for participants of the funded incubator and accelerator programs to successfully start or grow their businesses, thereby spurring innovation and stimulating economic development locally. Non-profits and companies are invited to apply for funding to run these programs. The grant prioritizes programs that offer a comprehensive suite of services, including mentorship and coaching from experienced professionals, educational workshops on business planning and financial management, product development support, and legal and administrative assistance. Furthermore, programs should focus on marketing and branding support, strategic partnerships, and facilitating access to funding through pitch training and investor introductions. Access to shared office space is also a valuable component. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the number of new businesses started and existing businesses grown within the Sacramento region. The program aims to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, leading to job creation and economic prosperity. The City's strategic priority is to invest in initiatives that directly contribute to innovation and economic growth, with the theory of change being that by supporting early-stage businesses through comprehensive programs, they will be better equipped to succeed and contribute to the local economy. Eligible activities for grant expenditures are broad, covering program development and delivery, staff salaries, stipends for volunteers and participants, training supplies, office space, marketing, and even food for participants (up to 5% of the grant total). Scholarships for program participants, software subscription fees, and professional services are also permissible. Applicants must operate from a fixed place of business within Sacramento city limits, or provide grant-supported programming within the city, and be in compliance with current and past City grants.

The Zoo Labs: FUND, administered in partnership with the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), is a funding and investment initiative designed to support Bay Area entrepreneurs who are launching or growing businesses centered around music. With a strong emphasis on culturally-rooted artist teams, the program offers unrestricted funding to music ventures that align with values of cultural preservation, innovation, economic empowerment, and community enrichment. In 2025, the FUND will distribute a total of $230,000 in grants, prioritizing artist teams that face barriers to accessing capital and are committed to contributing to the Bay Area's creative ecosystem. Zoo Labs: FUND provides grants in four tiers: $5,000, $15,000, $25,000, and $50,000, with award size contingent upon the team’s business development stage. Eligibility requires applicant teams of at least two individuals, including one culturally-rooted artist, who all reside full-time in specified Bay Area counties. Teams may include various roles such as content creators, producers, engineers, and advisors, and must be operating a music-centered business, whether as a nonprofit, sole proprietorship, or for-profit organization. Prior grantees may reapply if they meet reporting and mentorship obligations from previous awards. Applicants must complete an online submission through CCI’s Submittable platform between May 19 and July 7, 2025. Required materials include a team pitch video, business matrix, one work sample, and a budget with notes. Applications are assessed based on the strength of the team, artistry and craft, entrepreneurship, and internal and external community impact. An independent panel reflecting diverse backgrounds will review the materials and recommend grantees. The notification of awards is scheduled for September 8, 2025. In addition to receiving financial support, awardees gain access to mentorship opportunities through Zoo Labs: LEARN. These include on-demand courses, virtual networking sessions, and for higher-tier recipients, a strategy session with Zoo Labs Co-Founder Vinitha Watson. All grantees must attend a virtual orientation on October 15, 2025, and participate in at least one one-on-one business mentorship session. Recipients of $25,000 or $50,000 grants are also invited to serve as voluntary mentors to future applicants. The grant supports activities from September 2025 through September 2026. For assistance, applicants can contact CCI via email at grants@cciarts.org or phone at 415.288.0530. Additional technical support is available through Submittable. Information sessions and office hours are scheduled throughout June and early July to assist prospective applicants in preparing strong submissions. All applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines, FAQs, and application preview before seeking support. The Zoo Labs: FUND is made possible with support from Vinitha and David Watson and individual donors. Contributions are welcomed to expand the program’s reach. The FUND continues to invest in artistic legacies that reflect the diversity, resilience, and creativity of Bay Area communities.

The non-Entitlement competitive grant program component prioritizes assistance to persons experiencing or At risk of homelessness and investments that increase the supply of housing to households with incomes of 60 percent or less of area median income. A. Eligible Applicants. An Applicant must be a Non-Entitlement Local Government. A Non-Entitlement Local Government means a Local Government in an area which is not a metropolitan city or part of an urban county, a Local Government that, as of September 1, 2017, was an incorporated city with a population of less than 50,000 or a county with an unincorporated area population of less than 200,000 persons, which had not entered into a three-year Urban County Cooperation Agreement, or a Local Government that was not otherwise entitled to receive CDBG funds directly from HUD. See Appendix A for a list of eligible Applicants for Non-Entitlement Local Government for fiscal year 2019-20. For applications that include the development of a Rental Housing project, the Sponsor must be a co-Applicant with the Non-Entitlement Local Government, pursuant to Guidelines Section 400. Sponsor includes the general partner(s); if there are two general partners, both must submit all the required co-Applicant documents. B. Eligible Activities. Pursuant to Guidelines Section 401, eligible activities under this PLHA competitive NOFA are limited to the following and must take place within the jurisdiction of the Applicant Local Government: 1. Development of new multifamily rental housing that is Affordable to households at or below 60 percent of AMI or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily rental housing that will be Affordable to households at or below 60 percent of AMI, but which is not currently restricted as Affordable housing. In order to be eligible as “substantial rehabilitation”, a project must complete a minimum of $40,000 per unit in hard construction costs; or 2. Assistance to persons who are experiencing or At risk of homelessness, including, but not limited to, through rapid rehousing, or rental assistance, supportive services and case management services that allow people to obtain and retain housing, operating and capital costs for navigation centers, or new construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of permanent or transitional rental housing C. Funding Limits The maximum application amount, including administrative costs, for the development of new multifamily rental housing or substantial rehabilitation of a multifamily rental housing project, or development of a navigation center is $3 million. The minimum application amount shall be $500,000.  

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Pasadena that have been severely affected by the 2025 Eaton wildfire and windstorm, helping them recover and stabilize their operations.

The City of Tustin, through its Tustin Cares program, is offering the Main Street Digital Training and Grant Program (Main Street Digital Program) in collaboration with the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network (OCIE SBDC). This initiative aims to provide training and funding to local retail businesses, home-based businesses, and nonprofits, collectively referred to as "Businesses," that are looking to enhance their social media presence and/or increase revenue. This program aligns with a broader mission of supporting local economic growth and resilience, particularly for entities impacted by external factors such as COVID-19, as indicated by the allowance for businesses not in good standing due to pandemic-related issues. The target beneficiaries of the Main Street Digital Program are retail businesses, home-based businesses, and nonprofits physically located in Tustin. These entities must also possess an active Tustin business license since the first quarter of 2023 and have a minimum of two employees, including owners, and no more than twenty-five full-time equivalent employees as of December 31, 2023. Certain businesses are explicitly excluded, such as cannabis-related businesses, gambling facilities, adult entertainment businesses, massage parlors, largely cash-based businesses, and residential or real estate projects including short-term rental operators. The program's impact goals center on empowering these eligible businesses to improve their digital marketing capabilities and ultimately boost their financial performance. The program's priorities and focus areas are clearly on digital transformation and revenue generation through enhanced social media presence. By offering training, the program aims to equip businesses with the necessary skills to navigate the digital landscape effectively. The grant component provides crucial financial support, enabling businesses to implement these new strategies. This focus reflects a strategic priority to modernize local businesses and help them adapt to contemporary market demands, thereby strengthening the local economy from within. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in the social media presence of participating businesses and a measurable improvement in their revenue. While specific metrics for "measurable results" are not detailed beyond "increase their social media presence and/or revenue," the implicit theory of change is that by providing targeted training and financial assistance for digital marketing, businesses will become more competitive, attract a wider customer base, and achieve sustainable growth. The program's success will likely be evaluated based on the number of businesses trained, the grants disbursed, and the reported improvements in their digital engagement and financial health.