Small businesses financially impacted by COVID-19 encouraged to apply for final round of Santa Barbara County relief grant program

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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – The Santa Barbara Foundation and Santa Barbara County encourage self-employed residents who run small businesses and struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for a $2,500 grant. Officials say this is the final round of grants.

There are about 60 scholarships to be awarded. “Each grant is $2,500, does not need to be repaid, and is intended to help those who ran small businesses in 2019 and suffered at least a 10% impact to their income in 2020 due to pandemic mitigation measures,” said one spokesperson for the Santa Barbara Foundation.

This program has been extended in January.

The types of businesses this program could help include:

Artists, hairdressers, mobile car wash owners, DJs, personal trainers or consultants, home repair service providers, landscapers, child care providers, house cleaners, pet care professionals, graphic designers, photographers, writers independent and more.

The Santa Barbara Foundation said that to be eligible, residents were self-employed, earned less than $50,000 in 2019, and earned at least 10% less from their business in 2020. They must provide 2019 and 2020 tax returns and valid identification. . Workshops will be available Thursday in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria to help residents. For more information or help with an application, Click here.