Entrepreneur & Small Business Grant

The City of Hemet Economic Development Department is pleased to announce the Hemet Entrepreneur & Small Business Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This program utilizes federal CDBG funding allocated to the City of Hemet by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support the creation and growth of new small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures within the City of Hemet. The Program is a direct initiative to create a vibrant local economy, enhance community services, and create long-term job opportunities for low-to-moderate-income (LMI) individuals, in compliance with federal CDBG objectives.

The Program is divided into three distinct tracks, each tailored to specific industries. Applicants may only apply to one track.

Entrepreneur & Small Business Grant Application Period 1/9/26 8:00am – 2/5/26 5:30pm

A. Kitchen Start-up Grant: New Culinary Entrepreneurs/Restaurateurs

• Focus: Food service businesses including restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and specialized catering facilities.
• Eligible Uses of Funds (Examples):
  • Leasehold improvements specific to commercial kitchen operations (e.g., ventilation, grease trap installation).
  • Purchase of commercial kitchen equipment (e.g., ovens, ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers).
  • Initial inventory (up to a cap defined by the City, e.g., 10% of the total grant amount).
  • Required permitting and licensing fees (e.g., Health Department permits).

B. Tech Start-up Grant: Technology, Manufacturing, and High-Growth

• Focus: Early-stage technology, manufacturing, aerospace, semiconductor, or other high-growth businesses with a novel concept or product requiring specialized technical expertise.
• Eligible Uses of Funds (Examples):
  • Purchase of specialized machinery, testing equipment, or high-end technical hardware.
  • Leasehold improvements specific to manufacturing/R&D (e.g., specialized electrical work, cleanroom setup).
  • Development of proprietary software or intellectual property (IP) costs (e.g., patent filing fees, not including basic web design).
  • Initial working capital (up to a cap) for specialized component acquisition.

C. New Professional Services Firms

• Focus: Businesses whose primary activity is providing expertise-based services to businesses or individuals, such as business consulting, legal/paralegal services, specialized technical IT support, or other highly skilled professional services. 

For more information and for the grant application, please see below: