San Bernardino News Daily Local news for San Bernardino, about San Bernardino.
Applications are now being accepted for the new Job Creators Quest Grant from Founders First CDC (Founders First). Ten businesses will be selected to receive a portion of the $30,000 grant.
According to the non-profit organization, the grant is focused on supporting diverse, underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Inland Empire. The grant is made possible from a recent $1 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and $9 million Series A round of fund raising by the agency. Union Bank and Pacific Western Bank provided some of the funds needed.
It’s no secret that underrepresented business owners have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we know that diverse small businesses in the Inland Empire need additional help and resources to support them on their pathway to recovery,” said Latavia Pineda, Southern California Outreach Manager for Small Business Majority. “That’s why we’re thrilled Founders First CDC is launching the Job Creators Quest Grant to invest in diverse-led small businesses that are creating quality jobs, and we look forward to educating local small business owners about this new opportunity.”
In order to qualify for the grant a business must:
- Be located in the Southern California (Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Orange County, Riverside County, Inyo County, San Diego County and Imperial County)
- Have no more than 20 employees
- Have the ability to add 1-2+ net new premium wage jobs in the next 12 months
- Founder must be Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, LGBTQIA+, Military Veteran, Woman, or located in a Low to Moderate Income area
- Have annual revenues between $100K and $3 million
Interested businesses can apply for the grant at foundersfirstcdc.org/job-creators-inland-empire-oc/
