Are You Looking for Information About the California Relief Grant?

$2 Billion Went to Additional COVID-19 California Relief Grants for Small Businesses

On Feb.23, 2021 Governor Newsom signed into law a comprehensive package providing urgent additional relief for the state’s small businesses. The package provided an added $2 billion – a four-fold increase over the $500 million distributed in 2020 – for grants up to $25,000 for small businesses impacted by the pandemic, and allocated $50 million of this total for nonprofit cultural institutions.

Lendistry is the state-contracted administrator of the program, which is funded by the State of California through the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. And, as a partner in the process, the San Diego & Imperial Valley SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Network is here to help and support small business owners throughout the process.

Lendistry is available at 888-612-4370 or careliefgrant@lendistry.com.

How Small Business Owners Apply for the California Relief Grant

The California SBDC network is your committed business partner, and we’re standing by to help you with questions about this grant process. We help small business owners prepare for the application rounds, ensuring all the needed documentation to be successful in the process.

To assist, we offer:

  1. On-demand training available quickly in multiple languages with step-by-step instructions on completing the application
  2. Live webinars to share updates on the application process and any new information from Lendistry as well as to answer your questions
  3. Live office hours to speak directly with an advisor and get assistance with your application immediately (no waiting by your phone for a call back!)
  4. One-on-one appointments with advisors to support needs which cannot be addressed during office hours
  5. Online updates which are timely and relevant

The steps applicants follow are below.

HOW TO APPLY

  1. Eligibility:
    1. Current waitlisted small businesses and nonprofits not selected in previous rounds, and new applicants who meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
    2. Applicants not selected to receive a grant in previous rounds do not need to reapply as they will be automatically moved into the next round.
    3. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com.
  2. Watch on-demand training for step-by-step guidance on how to apply:
  3. Review the application guide provided by Lendistry
  4. Review Frequently Asked Questions
  5. Download Google Chrome (this is the only browser that will run the Lendistry portal without problems)
  6. Clear your browser cache (learn how to clear your cache)
  7. Allow popups in Google Chrome – there’s a required popup in the application so this is mandatory or you’ll not be able to apply (learn how to turn off your popup blocker)
  8. Use incognito mode in your Google Chrome browser (learn how to use incognito mode)
  9. Close all browsers and tabs except the Lendistry portal

As part of your application for the California Relief Grant you’ll need to submit some documentation. Please gather this list of documents and save them as PDF files to the desktop of your computer for easy access:

  1. Business Financial Information: acceptable documents are your most recent tax returns (2019 or 2018)
    You will have to upload all pages of your tax return.
  2. Application Certification
    Download and complete the document. You will need to uploaded it when you submit your application.
  3. Government Issued Photo ID
    Such as your driver’s license or passport.
  4. Proof of In Business; official filing with the California Secretary of State or local municipality such as:
    • Articles of Incorporation
    • Certificate of Organization
    • Fictitious Name of Registration
    • Government-Issued Business License

Quick Tips:

  • Save your files to your desktop for easy access
  • Save documents as PDF files if at all possible (alternatively the system will take JPEG files but it’s more complicated)

Reminders:

  1. Current waitlisted small businesses and nonprofits not selected in previous rounds and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
  2. Applicants not selected to receive a grant in previous rounds do not need to reapply as they will be automatically moved into the next round.
  3. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com.

Lendistry is available at 888-612-4370 or careliefgrant@lendistry.com.

Apply Online

Tips & Tricks:

  1. Only apply once! Duplicate applications will trigger an automatic compliance review and delay your application in the process
  2. Owners of multiple businesses, franchises, locations, etc. will be considered for only one grant and are required to apply for the business with the highest revenue
  3. Download Google Chrome (this is the only browser that will run the Lendistry portal without problems)
  4. Clear your browser cache (learn how to clear your cache)
  5. Allow popups in Google Chrome – there’s a required popup in the application so this is mandatory or you’ll not be able to apply (learn how to turn off your popup blocker)
  6. Use incognito mode in your Google Chrome browser (learn how to use incognito mode)
  7. Close all browsers and tabs except the Lendistry portal
  8. Technical difficulties with the portal? Contact Lendistry: 888-612-4370 or careliefgrant@lendistry.com

Have Questions? We Can Help!

We developed on-demand webinars in multiple languages to walk our clients though the California Relief Grant application process step by step. These webinars show the application and what to complete in each section. The webinars also give tips and tricks to successfully complete the application.

To support you in the application process, we’re also hosting live office hours or in partnership with other SBDC networks. If you have further questions, select a time to get your questions answered promptly by an SBDC business advisor. If you need more assistance than what’s shown below, fill out this brief form.

Presently, Northern California SBDC is offering weekly webinars (four times a week) for the new rounds – 7, 8, and 9 – and will explain the COVID-19 business relief program, eligibility, what the funding can be used for, the application, and who to contact for more help. The webinars will be presented in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese. See the schedule below and registration links!

Tuesday webinars from 2-3 p.m. in Vietnamese
8/24, 8/31, 9/07, 9/14, 9/21 & 9/28

Wednesday webinars from 6-8 p.m. in Spanish
8/25, 9/01, 9/08, 9/15, 9/22 & 9/29

Thursday webinars from 2-3 p.m. in Mandarin
8/26, 9/02, 9/09, 9/16, 9/23 & 9/30

Friday webinars from 11 a.m.-noon (English)
8/27, 9/03, 9/10, 9/17 & 9/24

Join us for questions and answers when convenient for you!

AM Hours (8:00 AM – 9:00 AM)

Wednesday, September 8

Wednesday, September 15

Wednesday, September 22

Wednesday, September 29

PM Hours (4:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

Monday, September 13

Monday, September 20

Monday, September 27

California Relief Grant – FOR NONPROFITS: How to Apply
The California Relief Grant is also for nonprofit organizations. Please join The San Diego Foundation and the
San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network to learn what nonprofits need to do to apply.
Note this webinar is specifically for nonprofit organizations.

ACCESS THE RECORDED NONPROFIT WEBINAR

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