The City of Lathrop is currently seeking business owners who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for a second round of relief funding.
After expending the money allocated by the Lathrop City Council for the first round of grants, the city began accepting applications on July 1 for small businesses in the community that have been hurt by the COVID-19 shutdowns mandated by the State of California or faced other financial difficulties related to the pandemic.
The city’s Small Business Assistance Grant Program provides up to $5,000 for small businesses with no less than three and no more than 20 employees that can be used to pay rent, payroll, utilities, and inventory or equipment related to the business. Funded through Measure D — a fee that was set-up in the River Islands development to support economic development in the city — the grant will be a one-time allotment provided on a first-come, first-served basis until the balance of the $500,000 in the account is depleted.
In order to help facilitate the survival of small businesses in the community, the City of Lathrop has aligned itself with the State of California’s “Shop Local” campaign to encourage people to turn to the businesses owned by community members in order to help those who are struggling through these difficult times.
The City of Lathrop also launched a successful restaurant game to encourage residents who were dining out before in-house dining was shuttered for the second time to stay in the community and support the locally owned businesses and franchises that were battered by the forced closures. Using a stamp card, those who visited participating businesses were able to submit the cards for a drawing for gift certificates to those restaurants — something that the city was considering doing again after the response from the business community and local residents.
Those interested in being considered for the grant can fill out an application online at the city’s website at www.ci.lathrop.ca.us/economic-development/page/covid-19-grants.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.