COVID-19 Business Resources

NEWS: San Leandro Business Facilities Grants


The City of San Leandro anticipates launching a new grant program in the coming weeks to support local businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Through the program, grants of up to $25,000 are available to businesses in commercial spaces in San Leandro. The grants can be used for lasting physical improvements for beautification, accessibility, or security.

These grants will not have to be repaid.

The grants can also be combined with the City's Business Incentive program for businesses that would benefit from up to $45,000 in public funding.

The program is being finalized and additional information will be put on the website at www.sanleandro.org/econdev.

The City will work to connect with businesses from under-resourced communities. We're happy that our last grant program awarded more than 80% of grants to businesses communities of color. Nearly half went to applicants who spoke Spanish or another language at home.

Businesses who want to be told when applications are available can call (510) 577-3397 to talk with San Leandro Economic Development staff.

 

Alameda County ARPA 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 be awarded via lottery.

Who is Eligible?

This program is offered to for-profit businesses in Alameda County that employ between 1 and 25 employees:

  • Independently owned home-based businesses
  • Brick-and-mortar businesses
  • Franchises
  • Sole Proprietors
  • Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Corporations

The business must still be in operation and expected to remain open  to be eligible. 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.) 

Business may only apply for and receive one grant, regardless whether 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. Business 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 a 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 opened 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 [email protected] with any questions.

Small Business Tax Credit Programs: Employee Retention Credit

The American Rescue Plan extends the availability of the Employee Retention Credit for small businesses through December 2021 and allows businesses to offset their current payroll tax liabilities by up to $7,000 per employee per quarter. This credit of up to $28,000 per employee for 2021 is available to small businesses who have seen their revenues decline, or even been temporarily shuttered, due to COVID.

The ERC is now available for all four quarters of 2021 as well as March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The ERC is a tax credit against certain payroll taxes, including an employer's share of social security taxes for wages paid.

Visit the IRS.gov website to learn more about how to apply for this credit.