There's some very important information coming out of Oakland.

The application periods for three City of Oakland CARES Act-funded grant programs launched in September have been extended.

The Oakland CARES Act Small Business Grant Program will accept applications until 5 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2020. This program will provide $10,000 grants to qualifying Oakland small businesses that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and have gross revenues under $2 million. Online applications and eligibility requirements in four languages are available at:mainstreetlaunch.org/oakland-cares-act-grant/

The application deadline for the Oakland CARES Nonprofit Grant Fund has been extended to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. This program will award grants of up to $25,000 to qualifying community-serving nonprofits with annual budgets of less than $1 million that address the impact of COVID-19 and the needs of low-income residents and businesses in the following areas: Health & Human Services; Economic & Workforce Development; Legal Support; Food Security; Homeless and Renter Support Services; and Education. Online applications and eligibility requirements are available at: communityvisionca.org/oaklandcares/

Finally, the Oakland CARES Fund for Artists and Arts Nonprofits, which will disburse $1.425 million to support individual artists and arts nonprofit organizations that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been extended to 1 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2020.The program will award grants of up to $20,000 to arts nonprofits with annual budgets of less than $2.5 million, while supporting individual artists with grants of up to $3,000 each. With the extension, due to under-subscription in the program, there has also been an adjustment to the eligibility requirements for arts nonprofits to make the program’s Paycheck Protection Program threshold of $20,000 a selection preference rather than an exclusionary criterion. The online applications in four languages are available at:cciarts.org/Oakland_CARES_Fund.html

These are the latest CARES Act-funded grant programs launched by the City of Oakland. A grant program for low-income renter and homeowner relief was announced in September. Learn more about the City’s $36.9 million in CARES Act Funding at:oaklandca.gov/CaresAct

Martha Quinn

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