How to Apply for the Small Business Matching Grant Program

Continue the Process:

  1. Determine Your Eligibility

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    To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

    • Must be an existing Santa Monica brick-and-mortar shop along Pico Boulevard
    • Must have a valid business license with the City of Santa Monica. 
    • The annual revenue for the small business will be under $2,000,000. 
    • Priority will be given to minority-owned, female-owned, LGBTQ+-owned businesses.
    • Consideration will be given to applicants who choose Santa Monica merchants and trades to support the local economy.  
    • Qualifying grantees will be chosen through an online, randomized application system. 
    • Applicants will need to serve the most vulnerable in our communities, specifically LMI serving areas established by HUD per the 2020 LMI Census tract.

  2. Schedule a security assessment (if applicable)

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    The grant can help fund external security enhancement. These should be based on the recommendations of Santa Monica Police Department’s (SMPD) Crime Prevention Team.  Please schedule your complimentary safety assessment via halima.barreto@santamonica.gov with Halima.  

  3. RSVP for the Information Meeting on January 15, 2025

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    The CFI Matching Grant Program will launch on January 15, 2025.  City and PD staff will be making a presentation at the Pico Branch Library. There will be a Q&A session to answer questions about the program and any security related questions.  Sign up here to be notified about the information meeting and future updates about the grant opportunity.  

  4. Complete the application

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    Click here to download the application. 

  5. Email completed/signed application along with below listed documents to econdev@santamonica.gov. Act fast as grant will be in place only until funds are exhausted.

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    Application should include the following. Title of email should be "Small Business Grant". Submit to econdev@santamonica.gov.

    • Signed application 
    • Photos of existing conditions 
    • Visual of proposed project i.e. sketch, rendering, plan sheet
    • Quote 1 
    • Quote 2 
    • Business License 
    • Security Assessment Report, if applicable

  6. Review and notice process after submittal.

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    All received applications will be reviewed by Economic Development Division to confirm eligibility. Applicants will be contacted to confirm receipt. The review process may take up to 4 weeks. Please note that grant-funded work cannot commence until the grant is awarded. Work that was previously commenced or completed will not be eligible for funding under this grant.

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