Hello NorCal Friends, Neighbors, Partners: Time for a Regional Advisor update!
First I want to introduce my new partner,
Jermaine Carter-Gibson. He's the first NorCal Outreach and Engagement specialist for CalOSBA. NorCal is lucky in that not only does he have extensive Outreach experience, obviously, but he comes to us from DGS. So I'm excited to draw from his knowledge about procurement opportunities and process. Not only is Jermaine new in the job…but this is a newly created position! So I know he's interested in your input on content, program support, and information you want to see from CalOSBA. You can find his email in the TO: of this email.
GRANT NEWS
The California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program (MBCRG) provides $2,500 grants to eligible microbusinesses in California. The target business earns $50,000 or less in annual revenue and has 5 or fewer employees, for example, popup retail and small food vendors are great candidates. Perfect for Farmer's Markets, especially in rural areas.
This program allocated a specific amount for each county, based on population. This is why the program is being administered through local partners: counties and non-profits are working together in various combinations on outreach, processing and funds deployment.
In Round 1, we named 26 county contacts; I've attached the list. For Round 2, we're in the process of approving a bunch more…but some are still getting their approvals as fiscal agents. For this reason, the list will grow gradually. Click the link below and open the California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program section to monitor for your county…or just ping me and I'll let you know the status. In the meantime, congratulations to the first Round 2 recipient: Marin County!
Funding Programs | California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)
The Dream Fund Program is an entrepreneurship training program and seed fund for startups launched since July 1, 2019. For those founders who complete the intensive training and formalize the entity creation of their business, the funding will provide up to $10,000 per business. The State investing in local business startups: it's really a ground-breaking program and we're excited to see what Californians are Dreaming Up.
We named 17 participating centers across the network of all Technical Assistance Expansion Program-funded Centers. Each of these has different dates and formats and language support. Find the master list here:
California Dream Fund Program | California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)
Did you know that new business starts increased 19.6% in California in 2020 and 37.3% in 2021? That's compared to a "normal" YOY increase of 0.3% in 2019. (U.S. Census data on new EIN numbers) So we know this program is going to be oversubscribed. We're working with the centers to manage expectations and to make sure that the overall outcomes are equitable, both demographically and geographically.
One other piece of CalOSBA grant news: Governor signed SB 113 in February and this provided -- along with some big tax credits! -- another $150 million in grant funds for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant (SBCRG) program. This is going to be a CLOSED round but the Governor is making good by the 150,000 businesses left on the waiting list after we'd spent the entire $4 billion allocation in the current budget year.
Governor Newsom Signs Paid Sick Leave Extension, Expanded Relief for Small Businesses, and Historic Package to Promote Innovation and Entrepreneurship in California | California Governor
We still get dozens of requests a day for grant opportunities. The Newsom administration is continuing to prioritize direct support for small businesses, cognizant of all the challenges facing them even now that we've entered a COVID-19 recovery phase. That said, when I'm asked to talk about capital access, I always emphasize to businesses that they need a plan for cashflow shortfalls beyond relief grants. Business owners might have hesitated to take on debt when so many grants were available. I get the logic…but I like to remind business-owners that the right time to start a relationship is BEFORE you need it. In other words: Get Banked! So I'm happy to have participated in several recent awesome SBDC Capital Summit events that match local entrepreneurs with lenders.
Keep us informed of events like this so we can help market these opportunities with you through the CalOSBA newsletter and social channels.
INCLUSIVE INNOVATION HUBS
Another big announcement from CalOSBA since my last email: we just THIS WEEK publicly named 10 iHub designees.
CalOSBA Announces Grant Recipients to Establish 10 Regional Innovation Hubs in California | California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
I'm personally excited to get the chance to work with the Santa Cruz SBDC, the Siskiyou County EDC, and ChicoStart on the development of three iHubs in Northern California.
Find the statewide map and contact information here:
iHub2 | California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)
Want to understand more about why these announcements are important? Read Director Gray's column on our new LinkedIn page:
(3) What will California Dream Up Next? Governor Supports Entrepreneurship and Innovation Economies Across State | LinkedIn
While you're at it, follow our LinkedIn page and catch up with Director Gray every month!
(3) California Office of the Small Business Advocate: Overview | LinkedIn
OTHER STATE PROGRAM NEWS
CalMoneySmart 2022-23 Grant - California Grants Portal
The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) offers grants of up to $200,000 each to develop and deliver free financial education and empowerment programs to help unbanked and underbanked communities.
Submission deadline is APRIL 22.
Announcement: OPR Announces American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Seminar for Local Governments - Office of Planning and Research
A three-hour FREE in-depth seminar to help local governments comply with recent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
Wednesday, April 13, 9am-Noon PST/Registration required
GFO-21-605 - Zero-Emission Transportation Manufacturing (ca.gov)
The CEC’s Clean Transportation Program announces the availability of up to $60 million in grant funds for projects that will increase in-state manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), ZEV components and batteries, and ZEV charging or refueling equipment.
Submission deadline is JUNE 13
California Climate Adaptation Strategy
Following the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s release of its latest report on efforts to combat the climate crisis, the Newsom Administration today launched the state’s Climate Adaptation Strategy outlining the all-hands-on-deck approach to building climate resilience across California. This report is updated every three years; now in an interactive online version.
I like to send the periodic personal update…but I try not to overdo. But if your inbox is just TOO FULL, ping me to remove you.
Respectfully,
Clair Whitmer
(she/her)
NorCal Regional Advisor
California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
| Sacramento, CA 95814
916-306-8796
[Office]
916-719-2756
[Mobile] 
