Orange County Microbusiness Grant Program Extended to Support Underserved Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

The County of Orange is re-launching the California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program(link is external) with a new application period, beginning Monday, May 9 at 10 a.m. This grant program is open to City of Los Alamitos businesses that qualify. The County will provide payments of $2,500 to microbusinesses and entrepreneurs facing barriers to accessing capital, including businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, individuals without documentation, individuals with limited English proficiency, and business owners located in low wealth communities.

When does the grant program start?

The online grant applications period will re-open Monday, May 9, 2022. Late applications will not be accepted. Grants will be awarded based on meeting the grant qualifications, demonstrating the ability to use the funds based on eligible use, priority grantee status and meeting the eligible business requirements. Grantee will receive one payment in the amount of $2,500.00 to use towards eligible expenses and the payment must be spent before September 30, 2022. Funding provided under this program must be used solely for the purposes stipulated on this website and subsequently in the agreement between Orange County and qualified microbusiness recipient. 

Who can apply for a grant?

The Orange County Microbusiness Grant Program provides approximately $2,500.00 in one-time grant funding to approximately 1,470 Orange County microbusiness.  The intent of the funding is to provide relief to the hardest to reach qualified microbusinesses and entrepreneurs. The goal is to identify and engage eligible microbusinesses that face systemic barriers to access capital, including but not limited to, businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, individuals without documentation (undocumented), individuals with limited English proficiency, and business owners located in low-wealth and rural, communities throughout Orange County.

To be eligible, microbusinesses must meet the following requirements:

• The microbusiness began its operation prior to December 31, 2019.
• The microbusiness is currently active and operating or has a clear plan to reopen when the state permits the reopening of the business.
• The microbusiness was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The microbusiness had less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in gross revenues in the 2019 taxable year.
• The microbusiness currently has fewer than five full-time equivalent employees and had fewer than five full-time equivalent employees in the 2019 and 2020 taxable years.
• The microbusiness is not a business excluded from participation in the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, as specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 12100.82.

If awarded, what are eligible uses of funds?

Microbusinesses can use the funding for the purchase of new equipment; investment in working capital; application for, or renewal of, a local permit; payment of business debt built up during the COVID-19 pandemic; or costs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and related health and safety restrictions, or business interruptions or closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How can my business apply?

Business owners can apply at oconestop.com/grant-relief-programs(link is external) beginning Monday, May 6. Awards will be granted until funds are exhausted. For questions about the program or for assistance submitting an application, call the Orange County Business and Economic Recovery Call Center at 714-480-6500. 

How do I know if my business is ineligible?

• Businesses without a physical location in California.
• Nonprofit businesses not registered as either a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(19).
• Government entities (other than Native American tribes) or elected official offices.
• Businesses primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities (regardless of whether such entities qualify as a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(19)).
• Passive businesses, investment companies and investors who file a Schedule E on their personal tax returns.
• Churches and other religious institutions (regardless of whether such entities qualify as a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(19)), other than a school, child care, or other educational business affiliated where (i) greater than 50% of the gross annual revenue is derived from the school, child care facility or educational business and (ii) the grant will be used only for eligible costs and expenses directly related to the school, child care, or other educational business, and no portion of the grant will be used for any normal profit or overhead of the church or other religious institution.
• Financial businesses primarily engaged in the business of lending, such as banks, finance companies and factoring companies.
• Businesses engaged in any activity that is illegal under federal, state or local law.
• Businesses of a prurient sexual nature, including businesses which present live performances of a prurient sexual nature and businesses which derive directly or indirectly more than de minimis gross revenue through the sale of products or services, or the presentation of any depictions or displays, of a prurient sexual nature.
• Businesses engaged in any socially undesirable activity or activity that may be considered predatory in nature such as rent-to-own businesses and check cashing businesses.
• Businesses that restrict patronage for any reason other than capacity.
• Speculative businesses.
• “Affiliated” companies (as such term is defined in 13 C.F.R. § 121.103).
• Multiple business entities, franchises, locations, etc. are not eligible for multiple grants and are only allowed to apply once using their eligible small business with the highest revenue.
• Businesses of which any owner of greater than 10% of the equity interest in it (i) has within the prior three-years been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against such owner, or has had commenced any form of parole or probation (including probation before judgment), for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (federal, state or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of federal or state anti-trust or procurement statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property, or (ii) is presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a government entity, (federal, state or local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in subparagraph (i) above.