City of Richmond Announces Launch of ARPA Business Support Grant Applications to Support Small Businesses
Richmond, CA – The City of Richmond is pleased to announce the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds to assist local small businesses in recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a national effort to support small businesses most affected by the pandemic, the City of Richmond has partnered with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center to distribute $350,000 in grant funds. This initiative aims to revitalize Richmond’s small businesses while also providing free technical support, business training, workshops, and consultations. These resources are designed to build capacity and support the recovery and growth of Richmond's small businesses impacted by COVID
Grant applications for the City of Richmond’s ARPA Business Support Grant Program are open November 20, 2024 – January 20, 2025. Richmond small businesses negatively impacted by COVID can apply for grants of $5,000 to $10,000 to build capacity and support increased business stability and growth with the City of Richmond’s ARPA Business Support Grant Program administered by the Renaissance Center.
Grant awards:
- $5,000 for solopreneurs
- Up to $7,500 for a business with 2-5 employees and/or a physical location
- Up to $10,000 for a business with more than 5 employees
Grant funds can be used to increase the business’ stability, build capacity and support the growth and overall success of the business. This program uses ARPA funds to support small businesses most impacted by COVID, with priority given to those who did not receive PPP or other federal assistance, business locations and business owners residing in census tracks in the bottom two quartiles of the Ca Healthy Places Index: map here.
“Richmond’s small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and this grant program represents a big step toward their recovery and growth,” said Mayor Martinez. He added, “This funding is an opportunity for Richmond businesses to rebuild and come back stronger. While we know more is needed, this program reflects our ongoing commitment to helping local entrepreneurs navigate challenges and seize opportunities for growth.”
“We are thankful for this ARPA funding to enable us to enhance support of Richmond’s small businesses through direct grants, in addition to increased free business support trainings and workshops, available online and in-person provided for free in partnership with the City of Richmond,” said Renaissance Center East Bay Program Director.
Grant recipients will be required to participate in at least 4 hours of small business consultations or workshops with Renaissance Center in order to receive their grant funds. All applicants and/or interested small businesses are encouraged to enroll in Renaissance Center’s robust business training and program offerings, at no cost.
Grant Program Eligibility:
- Negatively impacted by COVID
- Primary business location in Richmond including brick and mortar, home-based and delivery businesses
- Gross Revenue under $1 million per year
- Not eligible: gas stations, franchises & smoke shops, churches, nonprofit organizations
Grant Program Information Sessions:
- Thursday, November 21st | 9:00AM - 10:00AM | Presented via Zoom or attend in person at: RichmondWORKS Career Center, 330 25th Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond (This Info session will be recorded and made available on the City website)
- Monday, November 26th | 11:00 AM-2:00 PM | Application Office Hours at CoBiz, 1503 Macdonald Ave, Richmond
- Wednesday, December 4th | 12:00PM - 1:30PM | In-person Presentation and Q&A at CoBiz, 1503 Macdonald Ave, Richmond
- Additional application workshops and office hours TBA for December/January
Applications and funding will be prioritized based on the Business Support Grant Scoring Matrix as well as Program goals.
For more information on City of Richmond’s ARPA Business Support Program, including upcoming workshop dates, program details and online application, please visit the website. For questions, Contact Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center at: 510-221-2000 or [email protected].
About the American Rescue Plan Act
This grant program and technical assistance for small businesses is $650,000 of the $1.25 million ARPA grant funds the City of Richmond received provide critical resources to bolster city-wide recovery, enhance essential services, and support small businesses and non-profit organizations. The City has prioritized funds for areas where COVID-19's impact was most severe, and the funds are to be directed towards projects that foster resilience, improve community health and safety, and spur economic growth, as approved by City Council in December 2023. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is a federal stimulus package designed to aid public health and economic recovery efforts across the U.S. through investments in critical services, job creation, and equitable economic opportunities for all.