Rental Assistance Grant

Program Description

To support equity businesses impacted by the transition from incubation to commercial leases, the City of Oakland and Elevate Impact have launched a Rental Assistance Program to provide an additional source of funds to help impacted businesses to continue to grow and thrive.  Specifically, the Rental Assistance Grant Program provides up to $15,000 in grant funds to Verified Equity Applicants that demonstrate they have matching cash funds available for rent.   If an applicant has $5,000 in matching cash funds, they may apply for $5,000 in a rental assistance grant. Please note that:

  1. The minimum Rental Assistance grant amount is $5,000 and the maximum is $15,000.
  2. Applicants cannot use City loan or grant funds to meet the Rental Assistance Program match requirement.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE GRANT

This grant will be paid to eligible Verified Equity Applicants who provide:

  1. Matching funds in cash equal to the amount of rental assistance grant funds for which they are applying
  2. A written statement that the funds will be used to pay rent

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE GRANT

In addition, the Verified Equity Applicant must meet the Basic Grant requirements including:

  1. Completed the equity grant underwriting process described here at ElevateImpactOakland.com – “How to Apply for a Grant.”
  1. Enrollment in the business coaching program called the GRASS program; the application is found here:
    1. https://www.elevateimpactoakland.com/business-coaching-application/
  2. Have a current City of Oakland business tax certificate
  3. Have current lease or sublease, with the stated rent amount
  4. Have a current insurance policy that meets the City of Oakland requirements
  5. Completed an elective course or webinar offered by Oaksterdam University called “Gaining Resources to Achieve Sustainable Success (“GRASS”) Elective. The GRASS Elective course is provided free to Oakland Verified Equity Applicants. Fulfilling this education requirement involves three steps:
    1. Step 1:  Fill out the intake form found here (name and email) to get verified for free technical assistance services from Oaksterdam and access an elective on-demand.
    2. Step 2: Complete the Oaksterdam Needs Assessment Survey, to receive personalized recommendations regarding the GRASS electives, and to help plan for future programs.
    3. Step 3:  Register for a GRASS Webinar from Oaksterdam, explicitly designed for Oakland Equity Applicants and Entrepreneurs.
  1. If the Applicant has an equity loan outstanding, they must be current and have made three consecutive on-time loan payments.
  2. Sign City of Oakland Grant Agreement

This “Rental Assistance Grant” is available to Verified Equity Applicants in addition to the other City of Oakland Cannabis Equity Grant and Loan Programs that are available to Oakland Verified Equity Applicants.ation requirement involves three steps:

      1. Step 1:  Fill out the intake form found here (name and email) to get verified for free technical assistance services from Oaksterdam and access an elective on-demand.
      2. Step 2: Complete the Oaksterdam Needs Assessment Survey, to receive personalized recommendations regarding the GRASS electives, and to help plan for future programs.
      3. Step 3:  Register for a GRASS Webinar from Oaksterdam, explicitly designed for Oakland Equity Applicants and Entrepreneurs.
    1. If the Applicant has an equity loan outstanding, they must be current and have made three consecutive on-time loan payments.
    2. Sign City of Oakland Grant Agreement.
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