Helping local small businesses and nonprofits recover from the record-breaking Jan. 22 storm, the City of San Diego has awarded more than $365,000 through the Business Emergency Response & Resilience Grant. A total of 106 small businesses and nonprofits were approved to receive the funds, which aim to help them recover and rebuild.

"This grant program is part of our City’s ongoing efforts to step up and help residents and businesses recover from the unprecedented January storm,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “I’m proud that the City could support small businesses and nonprofits. These organizations are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods and local economy, and it's crucial that we support them in times of need.”

The grant program was announced in late January, immediately following the storm that caused flooding in several communities in southeastern and southern parts of San Diego. Small businesses and nonprofits submitted applications for funding up to $2,500, and up to $5,000 for those in the federally designated Promise Zone and Low-Moderate Income Census tract areas.

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. In order to qualify for this grant, business owners needed 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 were eligible.

“Each grant represents a business or nonprofit working through a challenging moment, as well the diligence of City staff to support them,” said Christina Bibler, the City’s Director of Economic Development. “The countless conversations our team has had with those impacted over the past several months have reaffirmed that these grants are targeted investments not just in these businesses and nonprofits, but in their communities when it’s needed in most.”

In addition to the support for businesses, the City is collaborating with regional partners to support residents who were impacted by the storms and have yet to return to their homes.

The City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department has been working with residents through San Diego County’s temporary lodging program to help identify their plans for exiting the program, which may include transitioning to shelters or other temporary accommodations. For those who need additional assistance, the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC), in partnership with the City and County, is standing up a program to help find housing and other financial resources. SDHC is reaching out directly to impacted individuals.