Sacramento City Council recently approved over $2 million in grant funding to support 28 local organizations that will help start-up businesses and entrepreneurs in Sacramento.
The City received 153 applications for the two distinct grant programs to receive funding for events and programming that develop local entrepreneurs and businesses. Applications opened last June.
“This grant program is designed to increase the capacity of Sacramento’s innovation ecosystem and enhance the conditions for start-up businesses in Sacramento,” said Development Project Manager Aubree Taylor. “This funding is critical to provide underserved communities with access to this ecosystem.”
The selected 28 organizations represent a variety of industries including the creative economy, local nonprofits, associations and incubator organizations.
Hacker Lab, a local nonprofit that provides support for makers and entrepreneurs, will receive a grant for their “First Friday” events to provide education, networking and opportunities for local makers to showcase and sell their products or services.
FourthWave Foundation, a nonprofit group that supports women-led technology businesses, will receive a grant to run a cohort of their accelerator program providing mentorship, leadership development and more to local tech startups.
Shira Lane of Atrium 916 who runs Sacramento.Shop, an online program that helps over 120 local artists and makers sell their wares, was selected to receive a grant to further expand their services.
“The grant allows Atrium to help local creatives build ecofriendly micromanufacturing businesses,” Lane said. “I am proud of the program’s inclusive nature since about 72% of our creatives are women and 42% are from underserved communities.”
A full list of recipients and projects can be found in the City’s staff report.
Grant funding comes from the Innovation Growth Fund in the City’s General Fund. Awards were selected by a competitive application and scoring process led by staff and members of the Mayor’s Tech Council.