Small Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) supports economic growth and innovation and ensures that ALL California small businesses and innovative startups have the information and direct support they need to better navigate resources, programs and regulations. CalOSBA serves as the voice of small business, representing their views and interests across the state and advocating for equitable access to capital, markets, and networks so that all California small businesses successfully start, manage, grow and become more resilient.

How We Can Help

The Office of the Small Business Advocate (SB Advocate) supports California’s small businesses and entrepreneurs with the information, tools and resources they need to plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses successfully.

California Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Program

The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program provides competitive micro grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 and the related health and safety restrictions.   On 2/23, Governor Newsom signed legislation to provide an additional $2.075 billion for competitive grants for eligible small businesses –  a four-fold increase to the original $500 million grant program. This new allocation includes a special program allotment of $50M for non-profit cultural institutions. Visit CAreliefgrant.com for more eligibility, criteria, and updates.

• The initial $500 million competitive grant program was delivered in two rounds serving over 40,000 small businesses. With this new $2.075 billion allocation, four additional rounds will be conducted by CalOSBA’s selected intermediary, Lendistry as follows.
• Round 3 (waitlisted from rounds 1 and 2): Friday, March 5th through Thursday, March 11th, 2021
  • Eligible applicants: This is a closed round and only available to eligible applicants who were waitlisted in rounds 1 and 2 – only existing applicants will be selected. If you were waitlisted, you do not need to reapply. New applications will not be accepted in this round.
  • Eligible grant award: $5,000 to $25,000
  • Details: This is a closed funding round; no new applications will be accepted
• Round 4 (nonprofit cultural institutions only): Tuesday, March 16th through Friday, March 26th, 2021
  • Eligible applicants: Only nonprofit cultural institutions with any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at  CAreliefgrant.com
  • Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
  • Details: Eligible nonprofit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1 and 2; grants will only be available to nonprofits that did not receive funding in Rounds 1, 2 or 3; grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019
• Round 5: Thursday, March 25th through Wednesday, March 31st
  • Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, or 3 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at  CAreliefgrant.com
  • Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
  • Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, & 3 do not need to reapply as they will be automatically moved into Round 5. New applicants will need to apply at CAreliefgrant.com
• Round 6: Wednesday, April 28th at 9:00 AM through Tuesday, May 4th at 5:00 PM
  • Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and/or nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAreliefgrant.com
  • Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
  • Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, 3 & 5 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 6. New applicants will need to apply at CAreliefgrant.com

Additional information can be found at CAReliefGrant.com

Programs and Initiatives

We support and manage several statewide programs to help California small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive, and to strengthen the ecosystems that support them. Learn more about our programs and initiatives.

Get Digital CA! is an e-commerce initiative to promote accelerators and intensive trainings to build the skills necessary to compete in an online marketplace.
#ShopSafeShopLocal is offering free or discounted resources to get digital, find e-commerce tools, learn more about industry guidance, locate small business centers near you for free business consulting, and access PPE!

Help Us Advance Entrepreneurship

GO-Biz and the SB Advocate launched the inaugural Entrepreneurship Task Force to serve as a working group to share ideas and solutions to propel California’s next generation of innovative entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses, and to ensure all California startups and established firms have access to the resources to grow or scale.

We welcome you to share your experiences and get involved!