The City of San José’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) Small Business Start-Up Grant program is now closed. Deadline to apply was Friday, March 6, 2026.

Purpose

This new funding opportunity will support early-stage small businesses owners in all industries, including home-based businesses. Grant funds will support an eligible business's start-up expenses, such as licensing, equipment purchase, staff training, loan down payments, or other activities that help support the launch, of a new business. 

Up to 20 grants totaling $150,000 will be awarded:

• 10 grants of $10,000
• 10 grants of $5,000

Please allow up to 8 weeks for our team to review your application. Due to the high volume of applications received, you will only be contacted if your application moves forward to the next phase. 

We encourage you to review the free resources at the following link available to businesses in the City of San José, including technical assistance, loan programs, and other business resources. 

We invite you to follow us on social media for updates on more resources.

Update: May 5, 2026 

On Tuesday, April 28th we hosted the lottery to decide on a short list for interviews. The draw was held live via Zoom at 2:30pm at City Hall with over 120 participants tuning in. Hosted by the Office of Economic Development the drawing of tickets was completed by our Committee Chair and Co-Chair, Daniel Fernandez and Christina Bui and other members of SBAC attending including Mimi Hernandez. A special thank you to Daniel and Christina. 

We are currently in process of notifying the first 30 names drawn for next steps. Prior to coming in for the interview, we must have received proof of residency in San Jose and a current active business tax license.  

The 30 drawn finalists are as follows:  

• 113 Ventures 
• Evergreen 
• Jamin Coffee 
• Gray Sports Ventures LLC 
• Barnes Speed & Performance 
• Ruco's BBQ 
• Maxico La Tragaderia 
• 1Piixo Production LLC 
• Dilsa Pineda 
• Luna Divina 
• TOAN NGUYEN, MOBILE NOTARY PUBLIC & LSA 
• Sonder Consulting Cal LLC 
• Keez Car Rentals 
• VJA Fitness 
• La Culichi 
• Brain Hacks Occupational Therapy 
• Magasa Business & Solutions 
• Crewners 
• Memory Makers 
• Reyes Premier Cleaning 
• Lazos Fuertes LLC 
• Appliance Tech Now & Services Inc 
• RockService LLC 
• BKnetworks Inc 
• Boba Nation 
• Caldo Parado 
• Bulosan Coffee LLC
• The Green Nook 
• Oasis of Life 
• Cesar Complete Home Care 

Questions

For questions or support, contact the Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs at economic.development@sanjoseca.gov.

Visit the Small Business Resources page to learn more about business advice trainings, events, and other resources for small businesses provided by the City and its partners. Sign up for monthly news and updates from OEDCA, and/or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

Thank you for your application and being one of the 60,000 small businesses that drive San Jose’s vibrant economy.  

Your success is the City’s success. 

City Manager’s Office of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs