Coronavirus: San Leandro Announces Grants For Local Businesses

SAN LEANDRO, CA — San Leandro city leaders have announced a new small business grant program designed to help local businesses that are struggling amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter and the City Council announced the program April 16. Through the Small Business Continuity Grant Program, applicants can receive a one-time grant of up to $5,000 to help keep their businesses afloat.

Mayor Cutter says small businesses are the backbone of San Leandro's community:

"It's important to remember that thriving local businesses are very important to the vitality of our community. Not only do they provide jobs for so many of our residents, they also help fund important local services through the collection of sales tax and other fees, and right now many of our small businesses are being severely impacted by the coronavirus and related public health orders. With this new program, the City is investing directly in our small businesses to help keep them afloat as we navigate this situation together as a community."

Eligible businesses must:

• Be able to demonstrate that their business lost at least half of their revenue due to the coronavirus
• Have at least one employee who is not the owner, but less than 25 employees
• Be in good standing with the City of San Leandro

City leaders say businesses who have experienced the greatest losses will be given priority treatment. Applications to receive a small business grant must be submitted by Monday, April 27 at 5 p.m. Organizers say the time it takes to actually distribute the grants will depend on how many applicants they receive.

To find out more or to apply for the grant, visit the city's website here.

Anyone with questions about the process can email the city at covid19grants@sanleandro.org.