About the Program
small business Grant Program Information
The Tehama County Small Business Stabilization Grant Program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Small businesses have faced widespread challenges due to the pandemic, including periods of shutdown, declines in revenue, and increased costs. Small businesses eligible for assistance are those that experienced negative economic impacts or disproportionate impacts of the pandemic and meet the definition of “small business.” For this grant program, small businesses are defined as those with twenty (20) employees or less and are independently owned and operating within Tehama County. Franchise-based businesses are not eligible for funding under this program.
The Tehama County Stabilization Grant Program will provide a maximum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in one-time grant awards to for-profit small businesses located within Tehama County. These grant funds will assist small businesses with costs associated with the impacts of business closures, adherence to local requirements for safe business re-openings, and the business’s financial impacts due to COVID-19. Grant recipients will be selected via a lottery process from a pool of applicants determined to be eligible small businesses after a four (4) week open application window.
Eligible Uses
Revised text: The grant program is intended to be used for unpaid liabilities and obligations that are a barrier to reopening and/or staying open, and that were incurred after March 3, 2021. Grant funds may be used to cover business operational expenses that put the business at risk of closure or layoffs. Examples include:
- Commercial rent/lease
- Commercial utilities
- Increased supply costs
- Back employee wages
- Fixed costs related to the creation of new jobs and retention of existing jobs
Eligible uses also include costs associated with implementing COVID-19 prevention or mitigation tactics, such as physical distancing, barriers, or enhanced cleaning.
