SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Continuing his efforts to support small businesses in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Todd Gloria announced Tuesday that his grant program in partnership with The San Diego Foundation has provided $6 million to small businesses in the City of San Diego.
More than 1,000 small businesses were awarded grants of $5,000. This financial assistance is part of Mayor Gloria’s “Back to Work SD” budget in which $10 million was allocated for small business and non-profit grants.
The San Diego Foundation provided an additional $2 million to support local nonprofit organizations and increased the total program funding to $12 million.
Priority was given to businesses in economically underserved communities, in areas where unemployment numbers are high, as well as businesses that did not get any other government funding throughout the pandemic.
'The Write Juice' owner, Joshlyn Turner, told News 8:
"Any little thing helps when you're a small business. whether it's keeping the lights on, whether it's keeping gas and propane running on your truck, whether it's just to pay for employees or buy supplies because products have increased tremendously. So, any little amount helps to keep going especially for the end of the year."
The deadline to apply for grants was back in September.
Recipients of the remaining $6 million will be announced by the end of the year.
Local partners including the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, Asian Business Association of San Diego, San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center helped connect these funds to local businesses.
WATCH RELATED: One year later | San Diego Foundation helps thousands of San Diegans in need during COVID (Mar 19, 2021)