As a continuation of the Tustin CARES program launched last year, $3,000,000 from ARPA funds will be utilized to fund the Tustin CARES 2021 program for COVID response, relief and reinvestment into our community beginning with two new grant programs: the Tustin Small Business Recovery Grant Program and the Non-Profit Recovery Grant Program.
In a continuing partnership with the Orange County/Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (OCIE-SBDC), the City is allocating up to $2,000,000 for the Tustin Small Business Recovery Grant Program, which will provide direct grants to an expected 200 small businesses needing financial assistance in overcoming the temporary loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Small businesses which meet grant requirements may be eligible to receive a working capital grant of up to $10,000. The grant may be used to cover the day-to-day business operating expenses such as rent/lease payments, mortgage payments, payroll and benefit costs, utility expenses, inventory, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of operations. All eligible businesses are invited to apply.
The application period opened August 23, 2021 and closes on September 3, 2021 at 5:00pm. For more information, visit Tustin Small Business Recovery Grant Program or call (714) 573- 3117.
The city has also partnered again with the Tustin Community Foundation to develop a Non-Profit Recovery Grant Program to provide funding to eligible Non-Profits that experienced a loss of revenue due to COVID-19. The City has allocated up to $1,000,000 of ARPA funds for this program.
Non-Profits may be eligible to receive up to $15,000. The grant may be used for working capital to cover the day-to-day operating expenses of the organization. The non-profit may also utilize the grant for direct service provision to the community or participants it serves consistent with the non-profit’s mission, with priority given to activities that prepare, prevent, and/or respond to COVID-19.
The Non-Profit Recovery Grant Program application period opens on September 13, 2021. For more information, please contact the Tustin Community Foundation at (714) 393-8506 or visit Non-Profit Grant Program.
“The City of Tustin is eager to deploy much needed funds to our small businesses and our many non-profit community resource organizations, as they have been greatly affected throughout the pandemic,” stated Mayor Letitia Clark. “We are pleased that we can continue to build on our previous grant efforts and offer this immediate assistance and we are committed to looking for opportunities to expand the Tustin CARES program further with eligible ARPA funds to positively impact our community as we work together to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”