At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the Council approved an additional $300,000 for small businesses in Santa Clara. They also allowed nonprofits to seek financial help. The total fund is now $800,000.

The Small Business Assistance Grant Program was set up to help the financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

“We need to save lives, but we also need to help save Santa Clara’s small businesses and nonprofits from the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Mayor Lisa Gillmor. “This additional $300,000 in grant funding will assist between 30-60 small businesses and nonprofits in our community.”

The grant program gives up to $5,000 or $10,000 for qualified small businesses and nonprofits located in the Mission City. They must have at least one but no more than 25-full-time employees. The grants must be used for either payroll expenses or lease payments.

By Wednesday, April 29, the City gave out 65 small business and nonprofit grants for a total of $460,000.  Here’s the list of grant recipients to date.

The City hopes additional funds might be available through private donations. At Tuesday’s Council meeting, a few Council members asked City staff why the “Not” the Santa Clara Chamber had yet to raise any funds to help local businesses. It’s disappointing since they came to the April 8th Council meeting and said they wanted to partner with the City. 

How to Apply

According to a City press release, “the City is continuing to process applications in the order they were received and will do so until all funds are awarded. So far, the City has received approximately 600 applications.”

Grant applications must be submitted via email to smallbusiness@santaclaraca.gov.

For more info, view the Small Business Assistance Grant Program webpage.