City of Richmond’s ARPA Small Business Support Grant Program

The City of Richmond’s ARPA Small Business Support Program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, provides grants to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Administered by the Renaissance Center, the program aims to stabilize businesses, support capacity building, and promote growth. Grants range from $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the size and structure of the business. Applications open from November 20, 2024, to January 20, 2025, and are accessible through an online Google form. Grant amounts are allocated based on business size: $5,000 for solopreneurs, up to $7,500 for businesses with 2-5 employees or a physical location, and up to $10,000 for businesses with more than five employees. To be eligible, businesses must demonstrate negative impacts from COVID-19, have their primary address in Richmond (including brick-and-mortar, home-based, or delivery models), generate less than $1 million in annual gross revenue, and have been established on or before March 13, 2020. Ineligible businesses include gas stations, franchises, smoke shops, churches, and nonprofits. Applicants are encouraged to attend informational sessions to learn more about the program and receive support. Sessions include hybrid and in-person formats, such as Thursday, November 21, 2024, at RichmondWORKS Career Center, and office hours at CoBiz on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, with additional sessions planned through December and January. Grant recipients must complete a minimum of four hours of free business consultations or workshops provided by the Renaissance Center to receive funding. These workshops, offered in partnership with the City of Richmond, aim to strengthen business operations and ensure the effective use of funds. Program priorities focus on businesses that did not receive previous federal assistance, those located in areas ranking low on the California Healthy Places Index, and businesses significantly impacted by COVID-19. Applications will be evaluated according to scoring criteria detailed on the program website. A total of $350,000 in funding will be distributed in two phases: Phase 1 runs through January 2025, and Phase 2 is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2025. For questions, applicants can contact the Renaissance Center at 510-221-6411 or email richmondarpa@rencenter.org. This program provides a critical opportunity for Richmond’s small businesses to recover and thrive post-pandemic.