Empowering California’s Small Businesses: Apply for the Small Business Awards
The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is proud to recognize outstanding small businesses that demonstrate innovation, leadership, and community impact. Through the Small Business Awards, four businesses will be awarded $5,000 grants in recognition of their resilience and contributions to California’s economy.
About the Awards
This initiative is made possible through the support of Visit California, California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), the California Retailers Association, the California Restaurant Association, Western Growers, and the Sacramento Host Committee, all of whom are committed to championing small businesses.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, businesses must meet the definition of a “Small Business” under California Government Code Section 14837:
- Independently owned and operated
- Based in California with a principal office in the state
- 100 or fewer employees
- Average annual gross revenue of $15 million or less over the past three years
- Available to attend the California Business Outlook Dinner in Sacramento
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: April 11, 2025 (11:59 PM)
- Winners Announced: Week of May 5, 2025
- Award Presentation: June 4, 2025, at the California Business Outlook Dinner in Sacramento
Judging Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Leadership (20 points): Job creation, business growth, and financial success
- Employee Relations (10 points): Workforce well-being, training, and HR innovation
- Community Impact (10 points): Sustainability efforts and community engagement
- Innovation (10 points): Unique business solutions and creative design
Award Categories
Four businesses will be selected, including:
- One small business affected by the Eaton Fire (Los Angeles area)
- One small business affected by the Palisades Fire (Los Angeles area)
- Two small businesses representing the Greater California Area
How to Apply
- Complete the online application – [Here]
- Submit supporting documents as a single PDF file
- If under 10MB, email to smallbizgrants@calchamber.com
- If over 10MB, upload to the designated Small Business Grant Folder
- If using Dropbox or Google Drive, ensure file access is set to “Anyone with the link can access”
Apply Now
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain recognition, receive funding, and showcase your business’s impact.
For additional details, please review the Terms & Conditions
As of January 1, 2024, many companies doing business in the United States must report information about their beneficial owners—the individuals who ultimately own or control the company—to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Additional information is available at fincen.gov/boi.