Federal & State Grants, Loans & Aid

CA Small Business & Nonprofit COVID-19 Relief Grant Program
Application opens: Wednesday, December 30, 2020.  The deadline has been EXTENDED to January 13, 2021
Click HERE for Details & Eligibility
Paycheck Protection Program - Round 2
The $900 billion Coronavirus Relief Bill—passed on December 27th, 2020—made additional funding available to small businesses by extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), expanding borrower eligibility, and creating an option for a "second draw". With the changes, borrowers can now qualify for up to $10 million ($2 million for repeat borrowers). 
PPP forgivable loans are available to first-time borrowers from the following groups:
  • Businesses with 500 or fewer employees that are eligible for other SBA 7(a) loans;
  • Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and eligible self-employed individuals;
  • Non-profits, including churches;
  • Accommodation and food services operations with fewer than 300 employees per physical location.
In order to receive a PPP second draw loan, eligible entities must:
  • Employ no more than 300 employees (as opposed to 500 employees in the first round of PPP);
  • Have used or will use the full amount of their first PPP loan; and
  • Demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts in the first, second, or third quarter of 2020 relative to the same quarter in 2019.
Consult your bank to find out about their application process, check with Berkeley OED if you need help finding a lender, or check out online lenders that have begun accepting applications like Divvy/Lendio. You can also see the 82-page interim final rules (IFRs) for first-time borrowers or the 42-page IFR guidelines for businesses that previously received a PPP loan issued this week by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury.

The governor recently announced the following: 
“New Small Business Relief: Governor Newsom announced a package of assistance for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including sales tax relief (click here), $500 million in grants, and an additional $12.5 million added to the California Rebuilding Fund. If you are a small business or nonprofit interested in the $500 million grant program, the California's Office of the Small Business Advocate is working quickly to establish the program; for updates please sign up here.”
California Rebuilding Fund
The California Rebuilding Fund is a new program built to support California’s smallest businesses as they adapt, reopen, and recover from the effects of COVID-19. This program has been built in partnership with public, private, and nonprofit leaders across the state to ensure that California’s smallest businesses are able to access the resources and capital they need to get through these challenging economic times. The program has three main ways it is supporting small businesses: a loan fund that will make flexible, affordable loans to small businesses with 50 employees or fewer, a free resource guide (in English and Spanish) that includes county by county guidance on reopening, other financial resources available, and the latest on commercial eviction moratorium, and free virtual office hours staffed by expert lawyers.   Click HERE to learn more.
UC Berkeley Law is working to match small business owners with law students who will help navigate the CARES Act.  Find out more HERE

New Business Community Law Clinic: Clinic offers guidance to businesses learning to navigate Covid-19
Webinar first and third Fridays of the month, 1-2 p.m.
COVID19 Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) for Businesses
This newly established program by the Department of Energy (DOE) allows national laboratories such as Berkeley Lab to offer short-term, limited assistance to U.S.-based entities dealing with particularly challenging technical hurdles in fighting COVID-19. The funds will support limited-duration and -scope (up to 40 hours) of technical services, analysis, testing, and consulting; they are not intended to be R&D intensive. Berkeley Lab is accepting and considering proposals on a rolling basis, however, funding is finite, so the sooner proposals are submitted, the better.  
To learn more, interested parties can visit the COVID-19 Innovation Portal to explore experts, user facilities, and technologies.
Entities who want to work with Berkeley Lab should submit their proposals here.
Questions about CTAP can be sent to ipo@lbl.gov.
Berkeley City Council allocated up to $3 million in emergency relief grants for small businesses, nonprofit arts organizations, and worker rent support. Community members supplemented this fund by donating online through berkeleyrelieffund.org. Currently, all funds have been distributed and the program is no longer accepting applications.
MANAGING YOUR PPP LOAN

Private Grants & Financial Resources

Comprehensive guide that can help small businesses and startups find the best business loans for their situation
The Small Business School Challenge: Free Support to Small Businesses: Learn More HERE
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Phone (510) 549- 7000 | info@berkeleychamber.com

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Certificates of Origin by appointment, email us at info@berkeleychamber.com