The OCIE SBDC Network is partnering with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) to provide eligible small businesses the opportunity to apply for a grant award.
Donor Name: Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center
State: California
County: Orange County (CA), Riverside County (CA), and San Bernardino County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): Ongoing
Grant Size: up to $10,000
Details:
The California Dream Fund Grant Program (CDFG or Dream Fund) was created in 2021 by Senate Bill No. 151 to provide microgrants up to $10,000 to seed entrepreneurship and small business creation in underserved small business groups that are facing capital and opportunity gaps. These microgrants shall be made available to startup clients participating in intensive startup training and consulting with the centers that are designated by the Small Business Technical Assistance Expansion Program.
The California Dream Fund is a one-time $35 million grant program providing grants up to $10,000 to seed entrepreneurship and small business creation for businesses started in California on or after July 1, 2019. The grant is available to qualifying businesses that meet all eligibility criteria and complete a small business training program provided by the OCIE SBDC.
Funding Information
Eligible entities will be able to apply for up to $10,000. The specific grant amount is predetermined by the program rules and is based on business type, subject to validation, and non-negotiable.
- Grant amounts – $10,000
- Brick and Mortar Business with a signed lease
- Technology Company
- Childcare Business
- Manufacturing Business
- Grant Amounts – $5,000
- E-Commerce Business
- Home-Based Business
- Makers Space
- Food/Catering Business (non-leased space)
- Marketplace/Swapmeet
- Mobile Beauty Business
- Any sub-lease of space (Office, Beauty Salon, Swapmeet, etc.)
Eligibility Criteria
Your business is eligible for the opportunity to apply for the California Dream Fund if:
- Business must be located in Orange, Riverside or San Bernardino County
- Business must have started on or after July 1, 2019
- Complete all trainings of an approved OCIE SBDC training program
- Has begun one-on-one consulting with OCIE SBDC
- Receive appropriate licenses and permits to start the business in the state of California
- Complete California Dream Fund Approved business plan
- Must have a “qualifying event” that starts the business
- Must be formally registered to do business in Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino County
- Businesses can start the program without being registered but must be able to show proof of registration prior to being referred for a grant.
- Business registration must have occurred on or after July 1st, 2019.
- Entities must also demonstrate they are “in business” by having completed one of the following:
- Has made their first sale
- Has hired at least one employee, or
- Has created a business banking relationship, or
- Has spend money on business expenses (this includes legal and accounting fees)
- Must attend a “How to Complete the California Dream Grant” webinar
- Must agree to complete periodic surveys sharing business performance data.
- Must not have been employed by the Norcal SBDC Network or one of its centers in the past 18 months or be immediate family of an employee.
- Must not have received a Dream Fund Grant being offered by another entity.
For more information, visit Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center.
