CALIFORNIA DREAM FUND training program is sponsored by NorCal SBDC Network. Offers grants to new business owners who started on or after July 1, 2019, after completing a five-week training program.

Norcal SBDC Dream Fund Training Program - Norcal SBDC norCAL SBDC DREAM FUND training program The Dream Fund Training Program is closed. Grants of up to $10,000 are being made available to new business owners.

The NorCal SBDC Network is teaming up with the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GoBiz) to provide eligible small businesses the opportunity to apply for a grant award of $5,000 to $10,000 The Norcal SBDC Dream Fund Training Program is open to all businesses that started on or after July 1, 2019.

The Dream Fund Training Program consists of an intensive seven-week training for newer businesses and the opportunity to receive a grant of up to $10,000. The Dream Fund Training Program is closed. We are not anticipating it reopening at the current time.

The Dream Fund is a one-time $35 million grant program to seed entrepreneurship and small business creation for businesses started in the State of California on or after July 1, 2019. The grant is available to qualifying businesses that meet all eligibility criteria and complete the small business training program provided by the Norcal SBDC.

Following successful completion of the program, businesses will be eligible to apply for a microgrant of up to $10,000. You will then be enrolled in a seven-week training program. Eligible businesses will have at least one counseling session with a Norcal SBDC Advisor during that time.

Following satisfactory completion of training and counseling, eligible businesses will be referred to the grantmaking entity, Lendistry, to proceed with granting of up to $10,000. The Norcal SBDC will not be making grant award decisions but will provide the required training material and counseling support to businesses as they proceed through the application process.

Grant Eligibility Criteria For businesses seeking grant funding… Must be formally registered to do business in one of the northern 36 counties of California. Businesses can start the program without being registered but must be able to show proof of registration prior to being referred for a grant.

Eligible entrepreneurs will be asked to provide whatever documentation is required to legally do business in their area, including, but not necessarily: Articles of Incorporation Fictitious Business Name Statement ** Sole proprietors without a Fictitious Business Name can apply! ** Business registration must have occurred on or after July 1 st , 2019.

Entities must also demonstrate they are ‘in business’ by having completed at least one of the following: Has made the first sale, or Has hired at least one employee, or Has created a business banking relationship, or Has spent money on business expenses (this includes legal and accounting fees), or Obtained capital for the business. Must be a business with 5 employees or less and $1 million or less in annual receipts.

Must agree to all applicable terms and conditions. Must not be a current or former (within the last 18 months) staff or immediate family of a Northern California SBDC Network staff or consultant. Only one grant per household.

Only one grant per business entity. Must not have received a grant from the California Dream Fund previously, either from the Norcal SBDC or another participating program. Owner(s) must be domiciled in the State of California.

Grants are subject to fund availability, and while there is a discrete amount set aside for Northern California entrepreneurs, the funds are finite and may be allocated before everyone that enrolls completes the required steps. Enrollment does not guarantee access to funds. Additional screening steps may exist to verify identity (but not citizenship) to prevent fraud and abuse.

Individual grant funding amounts are predetermined and not subject to decision or revision by the Norcal SBDC Network or its partners. Additional terms and conditions apply. For businesses that don’t qualify for the grant… You’re still in luck — the Norcal SBDC offers a wide suite of expert-led, professional business trainings and one-on-one advising to help you start and grow your small business.

SBDC is a tax-payer-funded program, which means these services are made available to your business at no cost. Click below to find your local center to get you no-cost help and support! Who can enroll in the Dream Fund Training Program?

The Dream Fund Training Program is a specific training program and set of requirements to prequalify businesses to receive a Dream Fund Grant. Only businesses that are registered on or after July 1 st , 2019 will be eligible for funding following participation in the Dream Fund Training Program.

If that is not you, but you are still interested in learning with us, the Norcal SBDC has extensive training programs available to all small businesses, and we encourage interested parties to get in touch with their local center here . How much money are we talking about?

Eligible entities will be able to apply for up to $10,000, this amount is predetermined by the program rules and is based on business type, subject to validation, and non-negotiable.

Brick-and-Mortar – $10,000 Construction Trades – $10,000 Green Technology/Infrastructure – $10,000 Professional/Scientific/Technical – $10,000 Agriculture, Wildfire Mitigation/Forestry – $10,000 E-Commerce/Marketplace – $5,000 Service/Cottage Industry – $5,000 Small Lab/Makers Space – $5,000 Wait, not everyone gets money?

Funds are limited, and only available to businesses who complete all aspects of the training program (including training and meeting with an SBDC Advisor). The Norcal SBDC anticipates approximately 1,000 grants will be awarded through the Norcal SBDC Dream Fund Training Program. The program is first come, first served, and it is possible that not all who complete the training and counseling will be eligible for funding.

What if I do not know when my business was registered? You will need to demonstrate proof of business registration as part of the grant application. What are the next steps after signing up?

After completing the first webinar, you will receive further instructions about subsequent webinars, each training program is seven sessions in total. You will also receive instructions via email about setting up your initial interview, where you will have an approximately half hour phone call with a member of the SBDC staff to gather additional data and provide further instructions and guidance.

After you complete the fourth session, you will receive instructions via email about setting up a one-on-one counseling session, where you will have a one-hour phone call or videoconference with a member of the SBDC staff to provide you help in growing or building your business.

Following successful completion of the seventh session and your counseling session, you will receive instructions on how to enter documentation into the grant portal. The SBDC will also reach out to set up a short exit interview, to help with the portal, and provide guidance on next steps. This is anticipated to take about 15 minutes and will occur via phone or videoconference.

SBDC staff will remain available to support you in applying for the grant and will also connect you to your local center to explore the additional resources available to you going forward. What if I meet MOST of these criteria, but not all of them? Is there a deadline to apply?

There is no deadline to apply, but the program is first come, first served. The first training series starts on April 7 th and once that class is full, applicants will be diverted to the June training series. If funding hasn’t been exhausted, again going by first come, first served, there will be another training series offered in October for those still interested.

My schedule is pretty hectic, when are the sessions? How many sessions are there? What if I miss one of the sessions, will I have to start over?

Is eligibility for funding dependent on income status? Citizenship? Age?

Neither income status nor citizenship status are questions that will be asked to determine eligibility. Applicants must be over 18 years old. Do I get to choose which Dream Fund Training Series I can participate in?

The Norcal SBDC is offering a full Dream Fund Training Program in English and Spanish, and participants can choose which one they want to participate in. If selected for the April session, and unable to attend, please contact the program to reschedule for the summer session. Will all participants who complete training be referred to Lendistry?

The program is first come, first served, and all eligible participants who complete training and counseling before funds are fully expended will be recommended to Lendistry. How many grants will be awarded? The Norcal SBDC anticipates around 1,000 grants to be awarded to businesses in Northern California.

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Federal Funding Transparency Funding and Financial Disclosures The Northern California Small Business Development Centers (Norcal SBDC) is a business advisory service of the Cal Poly Humboldt’s Sponsored Programs Foundation and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U. S Small Business Administration. SBDC services are provided in a nondiscriminatory way to all legal residents and citizens in the United States.

The program is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering for services or training, clients certify that they are legally eligible to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal laws and Executive Order 14218 “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders (February 19, 2025).

” As a nonprofit organization funded in part through government grants and partnerships, we are committed to openly sharing the details of our financial structure. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of our funding sources and how these resources help us serve the small business community.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and grants from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or the California Office of the Small Business Advocate.

Federal Funding Disclosures Norcal SBDC — In accordance with Section 632 of Public Law 117-328 Small Business Development Center Program Federal Share: 50% – $4,888,054. 00 Non-Federal Share: 50% – $4,888,054.

00 Total Program Cost: $9,776,108 SSBCI Technical Assistance Program Federal Share: 100% – $760,800 Non-Federal Share: 0% – $0 Total Program Cost: $760,800 Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program Federal Share: 50% – $200,000 Non-Federal Share: 50% – $200,000 Total Program Cost: $400,000 Federal Share: 100% – $300,000 Non-Federal Share: 0% – $150,000 Total Program Cost: $450,000