West Business Development Center is excited to announce that more than $120,000 has been awarded in Business and Resiliency Grants to micro-businesses in Mendocino County. The selection committee, comprising of local business experts, received 86 applications and, following a thorough review process, awarded grants to 26 micro-businesses across a range of industries.
The selection committee established several criteria for grant eligibility: for-profit micro-business with fewer than five employees, having long-term viability as a business model during and post-pandemic, and/or the business’s ability to support a viable new business model, creative service, or product. The committee also gave extra attention to geographic regions with limited access to services or to applicants from underserved communities.
Grants have been awarded to the following micro-businesses serving Mendocino County:
All About Kids Child Care
Canova Records Music School
Chubby’s Shared Use Commercial Kitchen
Coast Highway Art Collective
Corner Gallery Ukiah
Dora’s Gourmet Cafe
Flynn Creek Circus
Frame Mill Artworks
Gallery Bookshop
Joshua Grindle Inn
Lauren’s Restaurant
Littlecup Ceramics and Letterpress
Mendocino Bounty
Noyo Harbor Tours
Oasis
Oz Farm
Red Stella
Salon 707
Scoops
Shamrock Artisan Goat Cheese
Shani’s Sweet Creations
Sugar Coated Catering
The Q BBQ
The Sign Shop
Tony’s Custom Sheet Metal & HVAC
Vino Philo, Bee Hunter Wine
Areas of industry covered by the grants include food and restaurants, the arts, retail, health, beauty and fitness, agriculture, wine, travel and lodging, construction, sports and recreation, and in-home care. Grantees come from a diverse geographical range from the coast to the inland valleys.
This grant program was made possible by The Community Foundation of Mendocino County through an anonymous lead gift that was matched locally by many contributors. Significant funding came from the J-Olivanti Fund, the Mayfield Family Economic Development Fund, the DeLucia Family Fund, the Jantzen-Romelli Donor-Advised Fund, and the South Ukiah Rotary Foundation as well as gifts from Pacific Gas & Electric, Ted and Wilma Westman Fund, Jim and Babbie Mayfield Fund, the Kevin and Bree Klotter Charitable Trust, the George and Ruth Bradford Foundation, the Tarbell Family Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Ukiah.
To support The Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Efforts, or to learn more, visit www.communityfound.org. If you would like to learn more about their COVID-19 Relief Funds and how to become a partner or co-sponsor please contact Megan Barber Allende, (707) 468-9882 ext. 102, megan@communityfound.org.
West Center is proud to partner with The Community Foundation on this program to support small businesses throughout Mendocino County. Please contact West Center at 707-964-7571 to speak with a business advisor.