In an effort to support local businesses impacted by this week’s record storm, the City of San Diego has launched an emergency response grant to provide funds for up to 100 small businesses and nonprofits. The Business Emergency Response & Resilience Grant will make financial assistance available with up to $2,500 per business and up to $5,000 for businesses and nonprofits in the federally designated Promise Zone and Low-Moderate Income Census tract areas.

The application period opened Monday, Feb. 12, and businesses can apply online here. The City is encouraging business owners to track any expenses related to storm recovery.

We are doing everything we can to ease the burden on residents and small businesses that were in the path of this natural disaster,” said Mayor Todd Gloria, “Having our neighborhood businesses up and running is important for the community’s recovery from the devastation, and I encourage business owners to start preparing to apply so we can get these grants out to them as quickly as possible.”

Eligible expenses for the grant funds include supplies and labor for storm cleanup efforts; repairs and equipment replacement not covered by insurance; employee wages; and insurance deductibles. The current budget for this program is $370,000 through the City’s Small Business Enhancement Program.

In order to qualify for this grant, business owners will need to demonstrate they were impacted by the storm and have a current Business Tax Certificate on file with the City. Only businesses with 12 or fewer employees are eligible.

City staff is proactively reaching out to businesses and community groups to share information about the application period for the Business Emergency Response & Resilience Grant, going door to door to businesses possibly impacted by the storm and providing materials in multiple languages.

For additional information on storm response and recovery, visit sandiego.gov/recovery.