The program provides grants up to $15,000 on a first come first serve basis, to support independently owned small businesses in Upland as they expand and grow. It aims to facilitate business growth through increasing building square footage, expanding indoor/outdoor seating capacity, enhancing business service capacity, or improving marketing, promotions, and signage.

Application period opens: January 2, 2025 through January 23, 2025 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be in business for at least one year
• Have annual gross sales of $500,000 or less
• Employ 20 or fewer employees
• Participant must own the business
• Have an active Upland business license
• Be located in the City of Upland

To apply, please contact Norma Flores, Development Services Specialist, at (909) 931-4267 or via email at NFlores@uplandca.gov

Good news! Restaurants can now apply for the 2024 funding cycle! Grants are $5,000 to independent restaurants and designated to build resilience in the following categories: technology upgrades, equipment, employee retention, or unforeseen hardship. The California Restaurant Foundation, a 501 (c)3 non-profit, anticipates awarding 278 grants statewide. Apply here June 15 to June 30, 2024! 

Application Now Open! Learn more at www.restaurantscare.org/resilience

Please see the attached flyer for detailed information. 

Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to California businesses and residents affected by the Bridge Fire that began September 8, 2024. SBA representatives are available at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program and the application process. 

LOS ANGELES & SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES

Disaster Loan Outreach Center, Mt. Baldy Village Church

6757 Bear Canyon Rd., Mt. Baldy, CA  91759

Opens 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28

Mondays - Fridays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Closed on Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day

Closes 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19

LOS ANGELES & SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES

Disaster Loan Outreach Center, Wrightwood Library – Community Room

6011 Pine St., Wrightwood, CA  92397

Opens 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28

Mondays - Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Thursdays - Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Closed on Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day

Closes 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19

Please see the link here to SBA's Business Preparedness Guide that may benefit your business in avoiding damages in a future disaster. 

New Business Guide - In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom approved a transformative budget, including the largest economic and business recovery package in California state history. The historic budget includes an array of funding opportunities, relief programs, and business incentives to accelerate an innovative and resilient economic recovery.  This guide is intended to help businesses and for-profit entities identify relevant new and existing state funding resources for recovery and success. The guide includes:

• An index of available and forecasted business incentives 
• A Finding Funding Toolkit for identifying State funding resources 
• A listing of all GO-Biz agency email subscriptions

The State of California has announced a new campaign Calling All Californians: #ShopSafeShopLocal to encourage Californians to support all local small businesses in their communities, like the City of Upland, and help all of our diverse neighborhoods thrive.

We are proud to partner with the State of California in its campaign! The State has partnered with industry leaders and small business experts to provide California's small businesses with the tools and resources to help them adapt to the new marketplace and create in-person and online safe shopping experience for us all. Please visit the website link at https://business.ca.gov/shopsafeshoplocal

Some of these resources include:

• Resources, discounts and offers from the State's partners to help businesses operate safely, such as a digital media toolkit https//business.ca.gov/shopsafeshoplocal/calosba-media-toolkit
• Latest State industry guidance and County variances
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through SafelyMakingCA.org, California's new PPE marketplace

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY NEWS RELEASES AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER ORDERS. Important news, resources and health officer orders in our battle against COVID-19. Click here to read the San Bernardino County Health Officer Orders and News Releases 

Guidance for Public Gatherings. Information for businesses in regard to recommendations for business operations responsive to the guidelines from the California Department of Public Health can be found here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Guidance.aspx, specifically guidance as it relates to gatherings and social distancing. 

Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 Funding Options. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering funding options to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Click here for SBA Disaster Assistance to CA Small Businesses Economically Impacted by COVID-19  

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has compiled helpful information for employers, employees and all Californians as it relates to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Please click here to access the State’s GO-Biz site: https://business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019/

California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) has prepared a page on their website with great information on Federal, State and local resources to assist businesses hit hard by the Coronavirus COVID-19. Please click on the link here: https://caled.org/economic-development-resources-for-the-novel-coronavirus-and-covid-19/

San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency has created a page that highlights the current business relief programs available to businesses, including everything from SBA loan programs to utility programs. Please click on the link here: https://www.selectsbcounty.com/major-initiatives/covid-19

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - For COVID-19 business resources, and how SBDC can help your business, please click here: https://inlandempiresbdc.org/resource/covid-19/ If you have any questions, please call the SBDC at (951) 781-2345.