Economic Development

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) this week announced key details on application requirements, eligibility and a program guide for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RFF). The restaurant industry has been among the hardest-hit sectors during the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To help bring jobs back and revive the industry, the American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Joe Biden, established the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund at the SBA. The SBA will administer the funds to the hardest-hit small restaurants.

Part of an ongoing effort to support local businesses impacted by the pandemic, the City of Mission Viejo is now accepting applications for its Community Development Block Grant Business Relief Program.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available for eligible businesses.

To be eligible to apply for the City’s Business Relief Grant Program, the Mission Viejo-based business must meet criteria established by the City and meet all applicable Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) requirements.

Round 2 of the State’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is open, the California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) announced Wednesday. 

The County’s Small Business Grant Relief Program will support small businesses and organizations within the 5th Supervisorial District (including Mission Viejo) impacted by COVID-19 by providing $10,000 (flat rate, single payment) awards. The application period opens at 9 am on February 1.

Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Awardees will be reimbursed for expenses incurred from March 2020 to present (as long as other relief funds were not received for the same expense).

In an extraordinary move to help local businesses hit hard by the ongoing pandemic, the Mission Viejo City Council this week approved a $1,000,000 COVID-19 Business Relief Grant Program for qualified struggling small businesses and nonprofits located in our City.

Grants up to $25,000 are available to businesses with 25 or fewer employees (full-time equivalent). Applications will be accepted until available funds are exhausted. 

New businesses continue to open during this challenging time of COVID-19. Here is a summary of latest business news.  

The Curry Kitchen opened for business on Sunday, December 6 in the former Pizza Hut spot at 25098 Marguerite Pkwy, Suite C near Ralphs.  The eatery, which specializes in Indian fare, is offering takeout and delivery.

The State will provide temporary tax relief for eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on November 30. The temporary tax relief entails an automatic three-month income tax extension for taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax, extends the availability of existing interest and penalty-free payment agreements to companies with up to $5 million in taxable sales and provides expanded interest free payment options for larger businesses particularly affected by significant restrictions on operations based on COVID-19 transmissions.

FEMA

Explore the opportunity to do business with FEMA to support the response to COVID-19 with your company’s non-medical goods and/or services.  Submit your inquiry to the Department of Homeland Security’s Procurement Action Innovative Response (PAIR) team at DHSIndustryLiaison@hq.dhs.gov.