Small business grants for Calabasas businesses


SOARING HIGH—One-time emergency grants are available for small businesses in Calabasas hurt by the pandemic’s drop in sales. Acorn file photo

SOARING HIGH—One-time emergency grants are available for small businesses in Calabasas hurt by the pandemic’s drop in sales. Acorn file photo

The City of Calabasas has begun an Open Small Business Grants Program that will provide a one-time emergency grant, up to $10,000, to eligible Calabasas based small businesses to assist with COVID-19 reopening costs.

The currently approved amount is about $500,000, or 50 grants, if each small business receives the maximum amount.

The goal of the program is to remove barriers to accessing capital for the city’s small businesses that were required to close, or partially close, as a result of the pandemic.

Providing the funds to the city’s small businesses will allow stores to reopen as soon as possible, while also stimulating the local economy.

The Calabasas Open Small Business Grant Program requires a business grantee to:

Operate out of a physical (brick and mortar) retail or restaurant storefront, open to the public, within the city limits of Calabasas;

Be established as a for-profit, small business with at least one, but no more than 100 employees;

Have been closed, or partially closed, under the County of Los Angeles Public Health Department safer-at-home order;

Submit an accurate and complete Calabasas Open Small Busi- ness Grant Program application;

Submit a current IRS Form W-9;

Be in good standing with the city; and

Have been in operation in Calabasas for at least one year as of March 1, 2020.

Sales tax and transit occupancy tax generating small businesses will be given priority.

Publicly traded companies and corporate-owned retail chains or franchises are not eligible.

Applicants with multiple businesses at one address are not eligible for more than one grant. Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and completeness, and awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date and time the application is received by the city.

Grant funds may be used to cover costs of business reopening, including: equipment, supplies, signage and remodeling as required by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health safety reopening protocols.

Program grant funds may also be used for advertising and promotional activities related to business reopening. Such expenses made recently by businesses are also eligible for reimbursement.

For information and to begin the application process, visit cityofcalabasas.com/services.