Small Business Grant Programs in California 2026

The City of Santa Monica offers matching grants to improve storefronts for small, brick-and-mortar businesses along Pico Blvd, funded by HUD CDBG, with a focus on LMI areas and historically capital-constrained owners. ​

Matching reimbursement grants for Carson business tenants and property owners to improve storefront aesthetics and attract visitors along major commercial corridors. First come, first served. Complimentary architectural services and application assistance are available. Funding is only guaranteed once a formal agreement is executed with the City.

The Gottlieb Emergency Grant is designed to offer interim financial support to painters, printmakers, and sculptors facing unforeseen, catastrophic incidents such as illnesses, accidents, fires, floods, or natural disasters. It focuses on assisting professional visual artists who have been working in a mature phase of their craft for at least a decade.

The Hemet CARES Business Support Grant Program is established by the City of Hemet in response to economic hardships faced by small businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic . It utilizes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funding. The program aims to assist local Hemet businesses by providing working capital grants to retain jobs, keep businesses open, and maintain lease payments.

The Wish Local Empowerment Program is a $2M fund created by the e-commerce company Wish to support Black-owned small businesses in the United States financially. It aims to promote equality and diversity by providing grants to assist these businesses in rebuilding and thriving.

Women Apply Today For a $1000 Small Business Grant!
Each month, we give one $1000 grant to a woman, age 18 or over, in the US to invest in their Business or Idea. It can be used as a start-up grant, marketing grant, operational grant, or whatever you need to help you to the next level with your idea or business.

The Second Service Foundation’s Military Entrepreneur Challenge™ (MEC) is an annual pitch competition series designed to support and empower military-affiliated entrepreneurs. This program offers a unique opportunity for veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, and Gold Star family members to compete for capital grants and valuable resources to grow their businesses. The MEC consists of regional events throughout the year, culminating in a National Finale. Eligible participants must own at least 51% of a legally registered U.S. business, be 21 years or older, and demonstrate financial need. The competition focuses on early-stage and social-impact businesses that positively affect the military and veteran community.Participants engage in a comprehensive process that includes:

EmpowHer grants support women who need early-stage business capital, a network of business advisors, or both. Grantees will have access to financial, marketing, leadership, and sector professionals who can advise on business focus, next steps, and longer-range planning.

The City of San Bernardino, in its continuing efforts to support the development of small businesses, has created the Façade Improvement Grant Program. This is a property enhancement program designed to improve the appearance of existing businesses within the city’s commercial corridors.

To assist entrepreneurs in launching a business and support businesses that are continuing to struggle with the negative economic impacts of the pandemic, the Riverside County Office of Economic Development and the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development (OCIE SBDC) are partnering to provide technical and financial assistance to county constituents and businesses.