About this archived opportunity

Microenterprise Recovery Grant Program The application period for this grant closed on December 8, 2025. The Microenterprise Recovery Grant program provides grants of up to $15,000 to eligible microenterprises in the City of Los Angeles that need financial assistance to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants are funded by Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV) funding allocated to the City to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to eligible businesses, prioritizing those that have not yet received assistance through any City, State or Federal program. Funds can be used for operating expenses, including but not limited to payroll, lease payments, insurance, and inventory. Applicants must submit complete applications before the deadline and provide documentation confirming that they meet the eligibility requirements, terms, and conditions. Applicants must explain how the grant funds will be used toward necessary COVID-19 recovery business expenses and make available documentation demonstrating that the grant funds were used toward those expenses. up to $15,000 in grant awards for eligible microenterprises that have W-2 employees and need assistance with payroll expenses up to $10,000 in grant awards for eligible microenterprises that do not have W-2 employees Funding Priority Grant recipients will be selected based on the availability of funds, program guidelines, submission of all required information, and supporting documentation. If requests exceed the available funding, precedence will be given during the grant allocation process to qualified applicants who meet the following criteria: The business has not received any other financial assistance from federal, state, or local sources The business is located in a CDBG census tract Businesses with W-2 employees Businesses located in commercial "brick and mortar" locations The family income for the business owner is below 80% AMI prior to COVID-19, based on the previous year's tax returns Grant Eligibility The grant application period for round 3 has closed. To be eligible for the Microenterprise Grant Program, a business had to demonstrate the need for financial support due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The information below will help determine if a business is eligible. Read all four tabs carefully to avoid having an application denied. Ineligible Businesses Eligible Businesses Funding Documentation Ineligible Businesses If you are not sure if your business is eligible or ineligible, please contact EWDD for assistance. Examples of ineligible business include, but are not limited to: Business/Owner that has previously received a grant award from this program Nonprofit organizations Businesses that were not in operation and were not located in the City of Los Angeles on or prior to March 1, 2020 Rideshare/Food delivery businesses (ex: Uber, UberEats, Lyft, Doordash, etc.) Landlords/Schedule E Passive Income Businesses or companies held in trust Businesses that do not have a physical location using P.O. Boxes as a business address Businesses engaged in illegal activities, such as selling drug paraphernalia or operating a motel that permits illegal prostitution Cannabis businesses or businesses that support cannabis businesses Corporate-owned franchises (a corporation is responsible for operations, profit and loss, business decisions and quality control; corporate hires and oversees all store staff) Publicly traded companies Private social clubs that limit the number of memberships for reasons other than capacity Payday loan stores, pawnshops and other firms involved in lending activities, such as banks, finance companies and any other firm whose stock in trade is money Insurance companies, such as life, auto, home, bail bonds and other similar entities Astrology, palm reading, tarot, etc. Liquor stores and smoke shops Night clubs Adult bookstores Businesses and Sole proprietors that provide massage services Businesses that present live performances of a prurient sexual nature and/or derive revenue through the sale of products or services of a prurient sexual nature Gambling businesses (i.e., track waging facilities, casinos, bingo parlors) Trailer-storage yards and junkyards Gun or ammunition stores Multi-sales distribution Firms involved in speculative activities (i.e., day trading, stock market exchange facilitators) Dealers of rare coins and stamps Lobbying firms or businesses that dedicate 50% or more of their time or resources to lobbying activities Churches or other religious organizations Government offices or agencies Real Estate Agent Eligible Businesses The business must fall under an eligible business type/Industry. Please refer to the “INELIGIBLE BUSINESSES” tab to determine if your business is eligible. The business must be a for-profit business located within Los Angeles city limits. Home-based businesses are eligible if the owner is a Los Angeles resident; however, priori