The City of Sacramento Office of Innovation and Economic Development is now accepting applications for grants to support organizations that help start-up businesses and entrepreneurs in Sacramento.
Individuals, businesses, non-profits and community organizations located in the city of Sacramento can apply for two distinct grant programs to receive funding for events and programming that develop local entrepreneurs and businesses.
“Sacramento’s future depends on our ability to grow the next generation of companies in growth industries like life sciences, clean mobility or Ag tech,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “A modest investment from the City can help our entrepreneurs reach the next level.”
“Sacramento is full of entrepreneurs and small businesses with great ideas looking for opportunities to make them a reality,” said Assistant City Manager Michael Jasso. “The grants will support programs and events to help these change-makers innovate and thrive.”
Two grant opportunities are available:
Innovation Event Grants – up to $15,000
Innovation Event Grants can be used to fund a one-time or a series of events focused on fostering knowledge and ideas that inspire entrepreneurship and the growth of innovative businesses and programs. Example events could include:
- Regularly scheduled meetups to connect entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts;
- Startup weekends gathering entrepreneurs to kickstart new companies; and
- Business pitch competitions where startups present their companies and business models for funding and promotion.
The events must be held prior to Dec. 31, 2023, and occur within the city limits of the city of Sacramento.
Ecosystem Building Grants – between $20,000 and $250,000
Ecosystem Building Grants are designed to catalyze innovation in the startup community and build pipelines for entrepreneurs into key industry verticals. Example projects could include:
- Incubator and accelerator programs that provide mentorship, networking, and education to raise capital, grow their business, and create new jobs;
- Programs that accelerate the commercialization of emerging technologies; and
- Educational programs training our next entrepreneurs in technology and business principles to build Sacramento-based startups.
Proposed projects must be completed within a 12-month period.
Grant funding comes from the Innovation Growth Fund in the General Fund. Awards will be selected by a competitive application and scoring process by the Mayor’s Tech Council.
Complete guidelines for both programs can be found on the City’s website. Interested parties are encouraged to sign up for emails on program updates as they unfold.
Those interested can apply now through 5 p.m. on Monday, July 17, on the City’s website at cityofsacramento.org/innovationgrants.