On July 14, 2020, the Chula Vista City Council approved a $1.5 million small business grant program to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by the required closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant program, Chula Vista CARES, is funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act.
Ninety-five percent of businesses in Chula Vista are small businesses and have been significantly impacted by the mandatory closures required during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chula Vista CARES grant program was developed to provide economic relief to small businesses that have experienced unprecedented financial challenges caused by business interruption during the pandemic.
For-profit businesses located in a commercial or industrial space in Chula Vista with ten or fewer employees and who were required to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic are invited to apply for the grant program. Applications will be accepted online beginning Monday, July 20, 2020 at 7 a.m. – Friday, July 24, 2020 at 7 p.m. Maximum grant awards will be equivalent to two months’ rent for the business, not to exceed $6,000. To ensure a fair and equitable distribution of grant funds, eligible businesses will be selected via lottery.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Chula Vista’s economy and are a critical part of our community’s economic recovery from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This program is one way of many we are working to show our business community how much we care about their recovery and longevity in Chula Vista,” said Mayor Mary Casillas Salas.
Complete eligibility requirements and additional details are available on the City’s Small Business Grant Program web page.