Please see the information below on the $35 million California Dream Fund Program. More details coming soon.

California Dream Fund

The $35 million California Dream Fund Program that will provide micro grants up to $10,000 to seed entrepreneurship and small business creation in California. Areas of focus will be child care, service and cottage food, green technology, retail and manufacturing. Full details coming soon with the grant anticipating to open next month.

California Dream Fund requirements

Participating entrepreneur must complete a defined business training, one on one consulting, and a workable business plan.
Participating entrepreneur “must have established a legal entity after July 1, 2019.
Participating entrepreneurs must meet the definition of a new business start.

Definition of a “new business start”

Has acquired “ALL” necessary permits to operate legally AND at least one of the following:

Has made a first sale
Has hired at least 1 employee
Has created a business banking relationship
Has incurred a business expense, may include accounting and legal expenses

California Dream Fund Training Components

Complete 8 modules of 11 allowable Small Business topics
Sessions are 60-90 minutes
Attendees can participate in person or via an online training or on demand portal
Training can be demographic, industry or language specific

California Dream Fund Training Classes/topics

Entrepreneurial Mindset / feasibility
Business Planning
Business communication, writing and pitch
Licensing, permitting
Market analysis and planning
Financials and projections
Accessing capital and financial literacy
Competitive analysis
Financial management and accounting
Digital marketing, advertising and public relations
Establishing online marketplaces and payment systems

You can find out more through this video by our local Small Business Development Center in Bakersfield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvWuf5Vl8_Y (Details at the 25 min mark)

For more information please contact the Governors Office of Economic Development at 1-877-345-4633 or https://business.ca.gov/