Loans and Grants

Small Business Grants 

  • Restaurants Care Resilience Fund
    Restaurants Care, in partnership with SoCalGas, PG&E, SDG&E are offering $3,000 grants to independent restaurants. The grants are aimed to support equipment upgrades, employee retention, and deferred maintenance, allowing small restaurants to recover after nearly two years of incurring debt, losses, and shouldering rising costs. All California-based restaurant owners with less than three units and less than $3 million in revenue are eligible to apply and priority will be given to restaurants owned by women and people of color. For more information, please click here. The Restaurant Care Resilience Fund application is now open and will close on April 30, 2022. Please click here to apply.

    If you have any questions, please directly contact Restaurant Care at (800) 765-4842 or [email protected].


  • NASE Growth Grant
    The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is a nonprofit organization that provides resources to self-employed individuals and micro-businesses. NASE works with micro-businesses across the United States and provides a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs and their small businesses successfully complete in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The NASE Growth Grant awards up to $4,000 each month. Members of National Association of the Self-Employed (NASE) can apply for small business grants:
  • Qualifications
    - Annual members may apply immediately
    - Monthly members may apply 90 days after joining
    - Demonstrate a business need the grant can fill
    - Provide detailed explanation of how you will use the grant proceeds
    - Show how the grant will improve your business growth and success
    - Offer supporting documentation such as a resume and business plan
  • Deadline: applications reviewed on a quarterly basis
    - Applications received in January, February, and March will be reviewed in April
    - Applications received in April, May, and June will be reviewed in July
    - Applications received in July, August, and September will be reviewed in October
    - Applications received in October, November, and December will be reviewed in January

For full details and to apply, please visit: https://www.nase.org/become-a-member/grants-and-scholarship or contact 1-800-649-6273.

  • Amber Grant
    WomensNet is an entrepreneurial community of women who create unique content and special reports to help women business owners achieve their dreams. In 1998, WomensNet founded the Amber Grant Foundation in honor of Amber Wigdahl, who died before fulfilling her dreams. Each month an Amber Grant of $10,000 is awarded and one of their 12 monthly recipients receives an additional $25,000.

  • $10,000 funding to a female entrepreneur
    - Business owner(s) must be female identifying
  • Applicant must share about their business/business idea and plans for the grant if awarded
  • Recipients announced the first week of every month
  • $15 application fee

    For full details and to apply, visit: https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/get-an-amber-grant/

Loans

  • Economic Resource Corporation (ERC) Business Loan
    ERC is a California nonprofit corporation who promotes economic development and job creation through a multi-disciplined program of small business support and targeted real estate investment. Through its partnership with the Economic Development Administration and Pacific Coast Regional, ERC provides loans to qualified businesses seeking working capital to cover short-term expenses, including inventory, payments on short-term debt, and day to day expenses.

  • Qualifications
    -Proceeds can be used by small businesses in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
  • Collateral Needed
    - Available business and personal assets (machinery, equipment, accounts receivable, inventory, and real property)
  • Loan Amounts
    Minimum: $50,000 - Maximum: $500,000
  • Loan Fees
    - $1,500 loan underwriting fee
    - $500.00 non-refundable loan packaging fee
    - $250.00 processing fee
    - 1.5% loan origination fee
    - Processing fees associated with the loan inquiry
  • Loan Terms
    - Rate: Fixed or floating with the Prime Interest Rate
    - Repayment:
      - Working Capital: up to 5 years
    - Fixed Assets: up to 7 years
        - Real Estate: up to 20 years

For full details and to apply, visit: https://www.economicresources.org/business-development/small-business-financing/ or contact ERC at (310) 537-4610 or (844)945-0672 (toll-free).

Disaster Assistance Loans

SBA Logo

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing disaster assistance loans to small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

To apply, please click here: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/

Relief Grant

Thanks to a $2.5 million investment from Verizon and a $1 million grant from Sam’s Club, LISC will provide emergency assistance to small businesses in need. LISC will focus these efforts on historically under served communities—especially those enterprises owned or led by women, minorities and veterans, which often lack access to affordable capital.

LISC will be offering grants of up to $10,000 each to small business owners to help meet their most immediate needs. Eligible expenses include:

  • Paying rent and utilities
  • Meeting payroll
  • Paying outstanding debt to vendors
  • Upgrading technology infrastructure
  • Other immediate operational costs

Please read the Grant Overview and FAQ for more information.

You may register here to be notified of grant rounds opening.
 

The U.S. Small Business Administration 

SBA Express Bridge Loans

If a small business has an urgent need for cash while waiting for decision and disbursement on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan. SBA Express Bridge Loans enable small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. This pilot program allows SBA Express Lenders authority to deliver expedited SBA-guaranteed financing on an emergency basis for disaster-related purposes to eligible small businesses, while the small businesses apply for and await long-term financing. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be term loans or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

Link: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/Express-Bridge-Loan-Pilot-Program-Guide-FINAL-3.25.20.pdf

SBA Debt Relief Program

SBA Debt Relief Program is providing financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBA will pay 6 months of principal, interest, and any associated fees that borrowers owe for all current 7(a), 504, and Microloans in regular servicing status as well as new 7(a), 504, and Microloans disbursed prior to September 27, 2020. This relief is not available for Paycheck Protection Program loans or Economic Injury Disaster loans. Borrowers do not need to apply for this assistance. It will be automatically provided as follows:

  • For loans not on deferment, SBA will begin making payments with the next payment due on the loan and will make six monthly payments.
  • For loans currently on deferment, SBA will begin making payments with the next payment due after the deferment period has ended, and will make six monthly payments.
  • For loans made after March 27, 2020 and fully disbursed prior to September 27, 2020, SBA will begin making payments with the first payment due on the loan and will make six monthly payments.
  • SBA has notified 7(a), 504 and Microloan Lenders that it will pay these borrower loan payments. Lenders have been instructed to refrain from collecting loan payments from borrowers. If a borrower's payment was collected after March 27, 2020, lenders were instructed to inform the borrower that they have the option of having the loan payment returned by the lender or applying the loan payment to further reduce the loan balance after SBA's payment.
  • Borrowers should contact their lender if they have any questions regarding this payment relief.

For more information on the SBA Debt Relief Program, please visit: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-debt-relief 


Additional Finance and Loan Resources from the State of California

  • California IBank has low-interest and state-guaranteedIBank Logo business loans and microloans for small business borrowers who have been impacted by regional disasters and who need term loans or lines of credit for working capital. Additionally, I-Bank has a Small Business Finance Center (SBFC) which helps businesses create and retain jobs and encourages investment in low- to moderate-income communities.
  • The California Capital Access Program (CalCAP) for CPCFA LogoSmall Business encourages banks and other financial institutions to make loans to small businesses that have difficulty obtaining financing. If you own a small business and need a loan for start-up, expansion or working capital, you may eligible for this program. CalCAP is a loan loss reserve program which may provide up to 100% coverage on losses as a result of certain loan defaults. Loans are available up to $5 million.
  • JFLA logoJFLA Free Loan is here to help you or someone you know with a no fee and interest-free loan of up to $10,000 to cover: Small business losses; Lost wages because you can’t go in to work; Child care costs when schools are closed; Funds lost due to cancelled travel plans and more. To apply visit: https://www.jfla.org/.

Other Non-Profit Lenders in LA County (this list is only a sampling) 

  • Rise Financial Pathways
    811 W. 7th Street
    Los Angeles, CA 90017
    323.233.1900
    https://risela.org/
  • Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation
    3255 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1501
    Los Angeles, CA 90010
    213.739-2999
    https://www.pcrcorp.org/