Mayor Todd Gloria announced a grant program on Nov.23 with The San Diego Foundation providing $6 million to over 1,000 small business owners throughout San Diego county who have felt the brunt of the pandemic county-wide.
This month,1,055 small businesses were awarded grants of $5,000. Funding was prioritized to businesses that had not received COVID-19 relief funding and industries heavily impacted by the economic effects of the pandemic. Approximately 60 percent of San Diegans were employed by small businesses prior to the pandemic.
“We thoughtfully crafted this program to help economically disadvantaged businesses build back their livelihoods,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “These grants are a lifeline for many of our small businesses that have been struggling due to the residual impacts of the pandemic and the City, in collaboration with our community partners, is proud to step up during this difficult time to help support them.”
Allocation of $10 million in financial assistance through San Diego Mayor Gloria’s “Back to Work SD'' supplements small businesses and non-profits from historically underserved communities that suffered the most during the pandemic.
“I appreciate the City of San Diego for recognizing the financial needs of local small businesses during the pandemic. No matter the amount, the support really helps entrepreneurs stay afloat,” said Joshlyn Turner, Owner of The Write Juice.
The San Diego Foundation provided an additional $2 million to support local nonprofit organizations and increased the total program funding to $12 million.Significant assistance and outreach to critical populations in multiple languages was provided by the International Rescue Committee.
“The City of San Diego and The San Diego Foundation have demonstrated their commitment to equity and inclusion through their intentional outreach and partnership with the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce by providing grants to underserved businesses,” said Donna DeBerry, President and CEO of the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce. “Through our partnership, these grants have positively impacted and enriched the lives of so many of our underserved business owners that can now recover and rebuild their American dream.”
A total of $6 million in grants has been awarded to San Diego businesses so far. Completion of a grant agreement and supplemental information is required before grants are received.
Local partners who assisted in connecting COVID-19 relief funding to local businesses include the Central and San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, Asian Business Association of San Diego, San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center.
