Online applications for grants of up to $15,000 for small businesses located in San José will be accepted through Tuesday, September 22, noon PT by the Enterprise Foundation / Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on behalf of the City of San José. Grants from this brand-new, federally-funded program can be used for unpaid or pending rent from March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020.

Applicants from the recently closed San José CDBG Microenterprise Grant Program as well as recipients of funding from Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program can participate in this program. However, awardees must agree not to use Rent Relief grants to pay for rent that has been or will be paid for using PPP, EIDL, or San José CDBG Microenterprise Grant money.

To make this small business assistance available, the City of San José has allocated $3.8 million of CARES Act Federally Funded Coronavirus Relief Funds.

Information on the Rent Relief program is on the SBDC website. Please note that this is an online application process managed by the SBDC.

 Eligibility Requirements

The following criteria will apply:

• For-profit businesses including sole-proprietors and single-person businesses may apply.
• Business must have 10 or fewer full-time employees (FTE).
• The business must have experienced a 20% gross reduction in revenue or a 20% reduction in staffing due to COVID-19.
• Business must be active and working to continue.
• The business owner must live in Santa Clara County.
• The physical business address must be in San José.
• Businesses must have been in business prior to January 31, 2020.- he business owner’s household must own at least 51% of the business.
• The maximum family income for the business owner must be at or below 80% of area median income by family size (please refer to the San Jose income limits chart.

Ineligible Industries

Home-based businesses are ineligible. Businesses that are franchises, chains, or restricted to patrons above the age of 18 will not be eligible for a grant. Nonprofit organizations and childcare businesses are not eligible. A separate CARES Act, federally funded program to address childcare is currently being developed by the City.