The City and SBDC are offering Tustin small businesses another opportunity to participate in the Program (Phase III Level Up Program). The Phase III Level Up Program will provide growth opportunities through training and funding to small businesses needing financial assistance in overcoming the loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All eligible businesses are invited to apply.
Donor Name: City of Tustin
State: California
City: Tustin
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/05/2023
Size of the Grant: $400,000
Details:
The Phase III Level Up Program, is a program developed by SBDC to assist small businesses in expanding and driving their business to the next level. During the four (4) weeks, business owners will work on putting together their path towards progress as they evaluate and develop on their metrics, benchmarks, teams, financials, triggers and strategies to reach the next level of growth. Trainees will learn how to de-risk expansion and get involved in proactive growth and development.
As part of the Tustin Cares program, the City of Tustin has partnered with Orange County/Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to expand SBDC’s online Level Up training program into the Small Business Level Up Training & Grant Program (Level Up Program).
Biggest obstacles in growing your business include:
- Intelligent Planning
- Cash
- People
- Customers
Categories of growth include:
- New Revenue Streams
- Entering New Market Segments/Expanding Customer Base
- Expanding Team
- Acquiring New Technology/Equipment
- Adding Strategic Partners
- New/Additional Location
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Funding Information
In May 2021 the U.S. Department of Treasury allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to the City of Tustin for COVID-19 response, relief and reinvestment. The City intends to allocate up to four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) for the Tustin Cares Phase III Small Business Level Up Training & Grant Program. These funds are to be used to mitigate financial hardship caused by declines in revenues due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The City’s Economic Development Department will be responsible for oversight of the Phase III Level Up Program and disbursement of funds will take place through the City’s Finance Department. The City’s Program Partner, the SBDC, will be responsible for program administration, application processing, training, one-on-one consulting, and for review and approval of financial and business documentation for disbursement approval. City staff is obligated to fulfill the terms and conditions of the funds as established by the City Council, these program guidelines, and Federal, State, and local rules and regulations.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the Phase III Level Up Program, a business must meet certain criteria that has been established by the City of Tustin and the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Treasury for utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The business must also demonstrate the need for financial support resulting from the loss of revenue due to the impact of COVID-19.
The business applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for grant funding:
- The business must be a for-profit business and physically located in Tustin;
- The business must be located in a commercial or industrial space;
- Residential or real estate projects including short-term rental operators are not eligible;
- The business must have an active Tustin business license since the first quarter of 2019 (January – March 2019);
- As of December 31, 2022, the business must have at least five (5) employees – including the owner – and no more than a total of one hundred (100) full-time and part-time employees;
- The business must be in good standing with the City (current on bills, no liens or judgements, etc.), unless directly correlated to COVID-19 impacts;
- The business must not be suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal funding;
- The business has not received previous funding from the Level Up Training & Grant Program; or its owner(s) and partner(s) have not received previous Level Up program funding under another business in which they are an owner/partner.
- The business must submit the application and all required supporting documentation;
- The business applicant must certify that it experienced financial hardship related to COVID19. Financial hardship is defined as more than a $10,000 loss of revenue due to COVID-19. For example, total revenue for the business during the 2020 calendar year or 2021 calendar year (including any COVID-19 grant assistance received in that calendar year) was down more than $10,000 in comparison to total revenue for the business during the 2019 calendar year; and
- The amount requested ($10,000) cannot exceed the amount of lost revenue, which must include a reconciling of any previous grants the business received.
*City employees and elected and appointed officials are not eligible to participate in this program.
Eligible Activities
Funds should be used to cover expenses for the business. The primary expenses include such items as rent or mortgage expense, utilities, inventory, marketing, business planning, payroll and benefit costs, PPE, or other operational expenses for the business (“Eligible Expenses”). Applicants will fill out a section of the application form that will breakdown how the funds will be spent within their business (“Spending Plan”). Each applicant will need to sign and verify that the use of funds will be spent on business expenses, such as those expressed above. Any use of funding other than that to support the business is strictly prohibited.
Eligible Expenses are considered necessary expenditures that provide economic support in connection with the COVID-19 public health emergency and they were incurred during the period that begins on January 1, 2023 and ends on December 31, 2023. In the event a business does not expend the funds in the manner consistent with the Spending Plan as outlined in the application or does not expend the entire grant amount, the business will be required to submit a report to the City no later than January 31, 2024, identifying how the funds were spent. If there is a remaining balance, the business will be required to return the funds to the City by January 31, 2024.
The following is a nonexclusive list of expenditures that shall not constitute Eligible Expenses payable from the grant amount:
- Damages covered by insurance.
- Expenses that have been or will be reimbursed or recovered through other funding programs, such as the reimbursement by the federal government pursuant to the
- CARES Act or contributions by States to State unemployment funds.
- Reimbursement to donors for donated items or services.
- Workforce bonuses other than hazard pay or overtime.
- Severance pay.
- Legal expenses or settlements.
- Debt service or loan repayment.
For more information, visit City of Tustin.
