The COVID-19 pandemic has left vast devastation in its path with the number of cases and deaths spiking in Southern California triggering a stay–at–home order that has recently been extended indefinitely.
In its course, the pandemic has also left many small businesses wondering how they will stay open with hope renewed as a new $900 billion stimulus package was passed by Congress before the end of 2020.
Statistics show the hard-hit many small businesses took last year with the effects of the pandemic.
Data from Opportunity Insights, an economic tracker based out of Harvard University, states that as of December 9, 2020, the number of small businesses open in the United States decreased by 29% compared to the beginning of the year, pre-pandemic, in January 2020.
In California, the number of small businesses open decreased by 33.2% compared to January 2020.
Total small business revenue decreased by 30.1% as of December 9, 2020, in California, according to the tracker in comparison to January 2020.
Hoping to help locally, Centro CHA’s Resiliency Program is providing $500 grants to small business owners in partnership with Union Bank. This is money that does not need to be paid back. Currently, Centro CHA is able to offer this grant to 20 small businesses.
Centro CHA is a non-profit who strives to assist underrepresented, low-income Hispanic children, youth and families in Long Beach.
Additionally, workshops in financial literacy, social media and marketing are also being offered.
Before receiving the grant, applicants need to complete two workshops, according to Josefina Cruz-Molina, a case manager at Centro CHA. One is a one-to-one session with Centro CHA and the other is through Cal State Long Beach’s Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship program, where a person applying can choose from a series of topics for free.
Molina added that the City of Long Beach has provided funding to support this program.
“Each workshop is on a stand-alone topic that is designed to address a different element of business decision making that collectively would lead to a long term sustainable business,” Molina said of the program through CSULB.
According to Molina, there are about six workshops that a business can get for free after doing the two that are required for the grant.
“It’s just a resource for them to learn a little about what the City is offering to them, there’s loans, grants and also how they can look at the bigger picture with their business and see what they can improve, what their strengths and weaknesses are,” she said.
Aside from the two workshops, applicants must also have a valid business license, have less than 10 employees, and business owners must meet certain income requirements (low to moderate income).
In order to qualify, annual income limits are as follows depending on the household size of the individual applying:
•For 1 person, if they earn up to $58,450 they may qualify.
•For 2 people, it’s $66,800
•For 3 people, it’s $75,160
•For 4 people, it’s $83,500
•For 5 people, it’s $90,200
•For 6 people it’s $96, 900
•For 7 people it’s $103,550
If there are more people in the household, Molina is available to answer questions on the annual income limit.
“My director Jessica Quintana, she definitely supports small businesses,” Molina said. “Our organization is pretty small, but we’re known for, you know, any kind of events we like to have small businesses come and support us by basically just showing up and showing the community what they’re providing. She’s been really good at applying for grants that are going to be easy to get for businesses.”
For more information on the Resiliency Program and grant and how to get the process started, you can visit Centro CHA’s website at www.centrocha.org, email them at info@centrocha.org or call them at (562) 726-4371.
