back to work plan

Back-to-Work Small Business Hiring and Retention Program

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As part of Governor Doug Ducey’s Arizona Back to Work Plan, the State of Arizona launched the Back to Work Small Business Hiring and Retention Program to help small, locally owned, or operated businesses hire and retain employees. The grant program funds up to $10,000 in expenditures for employee hiring and retention efforts. There is a cap of $1,000 per employee and 25 percent of the awarded amount may be utilized for other business expenses. Special consideration will be made to businesses that are located in wildfire and flood-impacted areas.

 

back to work plan

 

Program Details

Eligible Applicants:

  • Small businesses with currently 5 – 25 employees
  • Owned and operated in the state of Arizona: including franchises with corporate headquarters in other states, but with locally-owned franchised establishments.
  • Incorporated before January 1, 2020.
  • Must be renting or leasing a physical location; may not be working from home or remotely as an independent contractor.
  • Must be open to the general public and in good standing with the Arizona Department of Revenue and Arizona Corporation Commission.

Special considerations for small businesses impacted by wildfire or natural disaster flooding

  • Employee cap is increased from 25 to 50.
  • Up to 100% of the awarded funding can be utilized for non-personnel expenditures i.e., operating expenses.

Use of Funds:

  • At least 75% of the awarded funds must go to current or new employees in the form of incentives. There is a cap of $1,000 incentive for each employee.
  • Up to 25% of the awarded funds can go to other business expenditures such as mortgage/rent, utilities, etc.
  • The $10,000 of expenditures may be used at multiple locations. Applicants should submit one application — regardless of the number of locations at which the funds will be applied.
  • Employees that receive an incentive that is funded by this program may not include the business owner.

Webinar

Join a special session with Arizona’s SBDC to learn more about the program, eligibility, and how to apply for the funding.

  • Time: 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Date: Friday, August 27, 2021
  • Location: Zoom

REGISTER HERE

Get Prestamos CDFI to help your business apply for the Back-to-Work Small Business Program

If you may need assistance applying for this grant, we can help. Please request Application Assistance by completing the form here:
Application Assistance

Leveraging Free Resources for Small Businesses

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Are you a small business in need of financial and technical help? If you are, did you know that there is a multitude of resources available through your City, County, State, and even some Federal programs? The availability of these resources has actually increased substantially throughout the pandemic, further shedding a light on the impact and importance that small businesses and essential services have on our communities.

Below is a list of some of these resources:

Prestamos CDFI

Prestamos CDFI has a variety of no-cost business support services available, including:

  • Program to Invest in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME):
    • Business Advising/Coaching for businesses with under 10 employees in Arizona and Nevada
  • Prestamos Women’s Business Center:
    • Startup and Business support focused on women in Central/Northern Arizona
  • Microlending:
    • Ongoing advising and coaching for Microloan Clients

Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA has a variety of no, or low, cost programs for small businesses including:

  • Women’s Business Centers: Startup and Business Support focused on women entrepreneurs
  • SCORE: Counselors that provide Business Advising and Workshops
  • Small Business Development Centers: Support with business plans and applications for capital
  • Veterans Business Centers: Startup and Business Support focused on women”

​​Additional Grants and Resources for Businesses:

  • FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab
  • Nav’s Small Business Grant
    • https://www.nav.com/business-grant-contest/
    • Must be a Nav member (memberships are free). Receive up to $10,000 to take your business to the next level. Entries must be submitted between June 30th and August 6th for your chance to receive a grant.
  • iFund Women
  • Business Certifications
    • Are you a minority, women, or veteran-owned business? If so, you can apply to become officially certified as minority-owned which can open up new opportunities for federal, state, local, and corporate contracts.
    • https://nmsdc.org/
  • Look in your community
    • Did you know that your local libraries and co-working spaces also offer a variety of resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs? Check your local library branch or a co-working space near you for more information.
    • https://www.joinhuub.com/

Take advantage of these resources to help elevate your business to the next level. Make sure to check out our website and social media pages to stay up to date on the latest tools, webinars, and other services we offer through Prestamos.

Chicanos Por La Causa Women’s Business Center

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Chicanos Por La Causa Selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration to Operate a Women’s Business Center

PHOENIX — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced grant awards that would support the launch of 20 new Women’s Business Centers across the United States, with Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) being one of the recipients of the grant. This expansion marked the single largest of WBC’s across the country in its 30-year tenure.

 

Prestamos CDFI, a division of CPLC, will oversee the CPLC Women’s Business Center (CPLC WBC) expected to serve every year over 1,000 aspiring and established female entrepreneurs in the metro Phoenix area, rural and other underserved communities. Offering one-on-one counseling, training, workshops, and technical assistance. CPLC WBC will work to empower women entrepreneurs and arm them with the resources they need to overcome the obstacles presented by the pandemic and business world, including access to capital.

“Small businesses are the economic engine of our economy and their social impact on our communities is profound. The CPLC WBC recognizes that women entrepreneurs face unique barriers to starting and operating small businesses and accessing capital. It is vital that we create a space where minority, female, and entrepreneurs in underserved communities can access not only quality financial and business education, but also be provided with the opportunity to access capital to help these businesses thrive,” said Teresa Miranda, Vice President of Prestamos CDFI.

“Expanding the WBC program is part of this Administration’s longstanding commitment to the success of female entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses. Adding these new Women’s Business Centers to the already existing network of centers across America will boost timely resources to our nation’s female economic drivers, providing them with local training and counseling,” said Jovita Carranza, SBA Administrator.

By educating and empowering underserved female entrepreneurs, the work through CPLC WBC will provide pathways for small businesses to not only flourish but also contribute to the economic, cultural, and social vitality of our communities.

“Bringing a Women’s Business Center back to Maricopa County, home to over 4.5 million people, is going to be instrumental in helping our small business community recover from the pandemic. CPLC’s WBC will provide training and education that will empower women who lost jobs or had to pivot to remain home to care for children, with additional opportunities to become entrepreneurs and create businesses. Our team of expert business advisors will work on assisting clients with help on topics such as financial management, marketing, human resources, and much more. We look forward to continuing to provide valuable and trusted resources to our community,” said Amber Cordoba, Prestamos CDFI Director of Business Education and Consulting Services.

For more information about the CPLC WBC or to receive updates visit our Women’s Business Center page.

CPLC Prestamos is an award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) that has provided small business loans and high-quality technical support services to business owners in underserved communities since 1980. Prestamos now offers loan products and investment opportunities in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.