“Santa Barbara Better Together” Fund provides grants for small businesses in unincorporated Santa Barbara County

The Santa Barbara Foundation and County of Santa Barbara announced the availability of grant funding for small businesses located within the unincorporated portions of Santa Barbara County through the “Santa Barbara Better Together” (SBBT) Fund. 

 

The County of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Foundation partnership will support grants from the SBBT Fund of up to $7,500 per grant to qualifying small businesses located within the unincorporated portions of Santa Barbara County as they reopen and adapt to operating under proper public health guidelines due to COVID-19. Grant awards are available to eligible businesses until funds have been depleted.

“Many small businesses that shape the character of our community are struggling during this time,” said Gregg Hart, Second District Supervisor and Chair of the Board. “The County of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Foundation want to help these businesses with a local, small business grant program to provide some financial relief during the pandemic. Let’s all do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 so that we can safely re-open additional businesses at the earliest opportunity.”

The SBBT Fund was set up at the Santa Barbara Foundation as a committee-advised fund in March of 2020 with an initial $500,000 donation from Deckers Brands to help local businesses survive these uncertain times that in turn help sustain our community. The SBBT Fund committee is comprised of representatives from Deckers Brands and the Santa Barbara Foundation, with local experts. Distribution of the funds is voted on by the committee members.

The application is open through 5 p.m. Monday, August 31. Please review the grant program guidelines and application linked HERE for further details.