By VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE
The City of San Diego is celebrating May as Small Business Month in California, home to more than 4.1 million small businesses. In San Diego, 93% of businesses have 12 or fewer employees and these small businesses employ more than 100,000 people.
The City of San Diego is offering investment opportunities including the Storefront Improvement Program and the Small Business and Restaurant Assistance Program, among a variety of other business and assistance programs.
Storefront Improvement Program
- Businesses can receive up to $8,000 to create and implement a plan for improving their street-facing appearance.
- Businesses in the San Diego Promise Zone may receive an additional 30% above their approved reimbursement amount.
The Capacity Building Grant Program
- Supports the growth of nonprofit organizations that directly support small businesses in under-resourced communities, such as the Promise Zone.
- The federally designated zone covers a 6.4 square mile area that spans East Village and Barrio Logan east to Encanto and is home to the City’s most culturally rich and ethnically diverse neighborhoods.
- Examples include:
- Access Inc. and Bayside Community Center to provide technical assistance and supplies for small businesses that vend in Linda Vista and City Heights farmers markets.
- Convoy District Partnership to support placemaking efforts and website upgrades.
The Emergency Response Grant Program
- Provides up to $2,500 per applicant, with a 100% bonus (for a total of $5,000) for applicants located in the Promise Zone, Opportunity Zones, or Low-Moderate Income Census Tracts.
So far, 79 businesses and 9 nonprofits have been awarded funds.
