Related Information

Financial Assistance

Stockton COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program

The Stockton COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program provides temporary financial relief for eligible entrepreneurs and small businesses that have been financially impacted as a result of COVID-19. Qualified businesses may use the funds for inventory, working capital (e.g. rent, payroll, utilities), and/or equipment.

COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant Program Overview

COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant News Release

Due to limited funding, this program is currently closed.

Stocked Full of Produce Grant Program

The City’s Stocked Full of Produce Grant Program addresses food insecurity through grant funding to help with infrastructure upgrades to retail stores, to promote sale and storage of healthier food options. Grants can be used for improvements, such as installing new refrigeration or shelving. Grant funds are available up to $10,000.

Eligible properties must be retail outlets such as corner stores or convenience stores, located within the City of Stockton limits, and within one of the targeted areas according to the Stocked Full of Produce program map.

Apply for a Stocked Full of Produce Grant

Storefront Beautification Micro Grant Program

The Storefront Beautification Micro Grant Program offers reimbursable grants of up to $2,000 for businesses located along targeted commercial corridors within city limits. The program assists small business owners to improve their storefronts with the replacement and/or improvements of windows, lighting, paint, awnings, signage, and planters and trellises.

A completed application must be reviewed and approved by the Economic Development Department prior to beginning any work.

Storefront Beautification Micro Grant - Brochure

Storefront Beautification Micro Grant - Brochure Spanish

Storefront Beautification Micro Grant - Guidelines

Apply for a Storefront Beautification Micro Grant

Small Business Micro Loan

The City of Stockton's Small Business Micro Loan Program assists local businesses with financing needs.

Loans up to $35,000 to entities located within Stockton city limits.
Interest rates 2-4% depending on credit standing, with a maximum loan term of five years.
Deferred Interest and payments for the first six (6) months.
Funds for operating capital, including permit and license fees, rent, utilities, furniture, fixtures and equipment, rehabilitation, and manufacturing equipment.
Non-refundable $50 application fee temporarily waived, effective June 10, 2020, through December 31, 2020.

Businesses receiving loan proceeds must create or retain at least one full-time equivalent job.

Apply for a Small Business Micro Loan

Commercial Façade Improvement Forgivable Loan Program

In 2007, City Council approved revisions to the City's Commercial Loan Program to expand the program boundary beyond the downtown core and increase funding for commercial property owners.

The City offers a Façade Improvement Forgivable Loan to enhance the exterior of commercial, nonresidential properties (including nonprofit groups) located within Downtown, South Stockton, North Stockton, and Midtown.

Application fee: $525

Façade Improvement Forgivable Loan - Brochure

Façade Improvement Forgivable Loan - Guidelines

Design Review: Brochure, Guidelines, and Application

Apply for a Facade Improvement Forgivable Loan

Commercial Emergency Grant Program

The City will grant up to $7,500 to commercial property owners to fix code violations that endanger the health or safety of employees or the general public.

Responsible party – property owner or business owner – must demonstrate alternate sources of funds, such as savings or loans, are not available to fix the problem.

Apply for a Commercial Emergency Grant

Hire Stockton – Workforce Training Grant

Hire Stockton is a workforce grant program designed to encourage existing businesses to hire and train employees from local designated, economically distressed census tracts.

Grant funds between $5,000 and $10,000 are reimbursed to employers based on these criteria:

Hire, train, and retain new employees for a minimum of 52 consecutive weeks (one year).
New employees must reside in a designated census tract.
Pay hourly wages of $20 & up.
Employee permanent, full-time, employees with paid benefit packages.
Train for new technology, industrial skills, or manufacturing processes.

Hire Stockton Grant - Brochure
Hire Stockton Grant - Guidelines
Hire Stockton Grant - Application
Hire Stockton Grant - Census Tract Map

Fee Deferral Programs

Non-Residential Fee Deferral Program

To stimulate economic development within the City of Stockton, City Council adopted a fee deferral program for commercial and industrial buildings.

Rather than paying development fees when a building permit is issued, the developer of a qualified non-residential project may elect to defer a portion of those fees.

Non-residential Fee Deferral - Program

Non-residential Fee Deferral - Application

Short-term Non-residential Public Facilities Fee and Mitigation Fee Deferral Program

This program provides short-term relief from upfront development costs, specifically impact fees, until construction has been completed and the building is ready to occupy. Rather than paying development impact fees when a building permit is issued, a developer with a qualified non-residential project may elect to defer payment of such fees, with the exception of certain “pass-through” fees.

New non-residential construction projects may defer eligible fees until:

the first certificate of occupancy, whether temporary or final, or
two years from the first building permit issuance, whichever is less.

A request for short-term deferral of eligible fees for new non-residential construction projects must be submitted in writing to the Economic Development Department. If the project is deemed eligible, a fee deferral agreement must be executed between the applicant and City prior to the issue of the building permit. This program becomes effective March 25, 2017, and remains in effect for a period of five years, unless extended by the Stockton City Council.

To learn more about any program or for an application by mail, please contact the Economic Development Department.

External Links

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This City of Stockton web page last reviewed on --- 12/8/2020

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