Ways you can help!

Supporting these grants helps local small businesses thrive, create jobs, and improve neighborhoods while strengthening San Diego’s economy. They promote equity by supporting underserved communities and prevent long-term economic decline by investing early in local growth!

Grants

Business Incentive Program (BIP)

  • Up to $100,000 to support local business growth

  • Helps cover costs tied to expansion, hiring/training, fees, or improvements to create jobs and investment

San Diego Foundation — Entrepreneur & Small Business Grants

  • Up to $90,000 per grant to support entrepreneurship and small businesses

  • Funds programs and organizations that help small businesses start, scale, access capital, and get training

Fee Payment Incentive Program

  • Up to $10,000 reimbursed

  • Pays back certain city permit/development fees to help businesses expand or improve without high upfront costs

CalOSBA (California Office of the Small Business Advocate)

  • Supports California's 4.3 million small businesses and entrepreneurs

  • Provides information on state-administered financial assistance for small businesses and nonprofits, although as of early 2026

INSDIE San Diego

  • The Capacity Building Grant provides funding of $10,000-$30,000 for projects such as business technical assistance, website creation, special event programming, and more.

  • Funding has supported a variety of organizations, including those supporting BIPOC women business owners, refugee- and immigrant-owned businesses, and LGBTQ+ business development events, among others.