Supervisor Nathan Fletcher announced on Monday a push to help small, minority-owned businesses that have taken a hit during the coronavirus pandemic.
During a press conference via Zoom, Supervisor Fletcher announced the launch of a public information campaign to encourage business owners of color to apply for a grant that can help their establishments. The funds will come from the $3.4 million County Relief Program for Small Businesses and Restaurants.
"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy," Fletcher said during the press conference. "We depend on them for services, employment and we need to do everything we can to try to help them."
In a statement announcing the plan, the county said the campaign was made because small businesses have been “disproportionately underfunded or left out” from state and federal government COVID-19 relief.
In order to ensure that a wide variety of small businesses across the county are informed of the grant, Fletcher said it was a priority to have the information widely available in several languages. With the help of the Central Region Black Chamber of Commerce, Asian Business Association San Diego and the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, information on how to fill out an application for the grant will be spread to more communities.
County officials will consider maximum impact when distributing funds to small businesses that are given a grant. There is not a standard amount that should be expected at this time, Fletcher said.
Small business owners who are interested in applying for a grant can click here. To read more information on the campaign in a variety of languages, click here.
