Grant Opportunities
Restaurant Care - Relief Fund for CA Food and Beverage Workers
California's Food and Beverage Workers can receive up to $2,500 in times of crisis through a grant offered by Restaurants Care. Eligible situations include unexpected illness, injury, death in the immediate family, natural disasters, or housing crises. The application process, available in English and Spanish, requires online submission. Apply online at Help - Restaurants Care
$5,000 Grants for Independent Restaurants
The California Restaurant Foundation invites independent restaurants and commercial caterers to apply for $5,000 grants to build resilience, make upgrades to technology and equipment, improve employee training/retention, and address unforeseen hardship. The Foundation anticipates awarding 278 grants statewide. Application starts June 15 to June 30, 2024. Apply online at Restaurant Care.
2024 AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund
The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund, facilitated by the Grubhub Community Fund, supports Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-owned restaurants nationwide amid ongoing economic challenges. The fund addresses supply chain disruptions, rising inventory costs, workforce development, and employee safety. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 are available to enhance infrastructure, e-commerce, employee benefits, and operations efficiency. Over $5 million has been distributed to 351 AAPI businesses in the past 3 years, empowering entrepreneurs and fostering vibrant community spaces. Applications close on June 22, 2024. Apply online at AAPISTRONG.
Business Support
SCORE: Webinars and Courses on Demand
SCORE is a national nonprofit organization that helps small businesses achieve their goals and is a resource partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA). SCORE has offices across the United States and provides small business owners with a variety of services, including mentorships, workshops, and other resources. SCORE regularly offers free online events on topics ranging from startup strategies to marketing and finance. Attendees can watch webinars live, or view recordings online on their own time. SCORE also offers on-demand interactive courses so you can walk through each module at your own pace.
Free Small Business Support
The Pasadena City College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides high-quality, no-cost business assistance to small businesses & entrepreneurs. Small businesses of all stages and industries are welcome. Learn more and register for free webinars and workshops.
Business Credit and Loan Resources for Veterans
Veterans play a vital role in our economy, with veteran-owned businesses making up 9.1% of companies today. While they tend to choose self-employment more often than civilian peers, securing funding to start or grow their business is still challenging. Thankfully, many resources are available for current or former military entrepreneurs.
https://www.kaplancollectionagency.com/business-advice/veterans-business-credit-resources/
Untapped Revenue Stream for Small Businesses
Government contracts may be an untapped revenue source for small businesses. A common misconception is that the government only awards contracts to large businesses and corporations, but small businesses have as good a shot as anyone else. It comes down to understanding how government contracts work – and where to find them.
The Los Angeles Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Center is a federal business assistance program to assist minority small business owners in scaling and actively competing for government, utility, and private sector contracts.
MBDA's free services include one-on-one consulting, contract sourcing, RFP & RSOQ review and analysis, bid proposal development, customized bid matching strategies, market access, training resources, and capital and networking opportunities.
https://www.mbda.gov/business-center/los-angeles-mbda-business-center
Free Refrigeration Upgrades for Grocery and Corner Stores
The Los Angeles County Healthy Stores Refrigeration Program (HSRP) helps small businesses in Los Angeles County replace existing, inefficient refrigerators with new, efficient models to fill with California-grown healthy food. You may be eligible if you own an independent grocery or corner store. Email HSRP@isd.lacounty.gov to connect with a program representative and determine whether your business qualifies.
https://isd.lacounty.gov/healthy-stores-refrigeration-program/
