Small Business Level Up
Training & Grant Program

The City of Tustin has partnered with the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to develop the Small Business Level Up Training & Grant Program, which provides training and financial support to businesses in Tustin.

Grow your business with the Level Up Training & Grant Program.

The Level Up Program (Program) assists small businesses in expanding and driving their business to the next level. Program participants must attend four mandatory training sessions and a one-on-one consultation with an SBDC consultant. Business owners will evaluate and develop their metrics, benchmarks, teams, financials, triggers, and strategies to reach the next level of growth.

Any participant that successfully completes the Program will receive a $2,500 grant to invest in their business. Twenty-five grants are available.

Take advantage of this opportunity to elevate your business!

Eligibility

The business applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for grant funding:

The business must be a for-profit business and physically located in Tustin;
The business must be located in a commercial or industrial space;
Residential or real estate projects, including short-term rental operators are not eligible;
The business must have an active Tustin business license from at least the first quarter of 2024 (January – March 2024);
As of December 31, 2024, the business must have at least two (2) employees – including the owner – and no more than a total of twenty (20) full-time and part-time employees;
The business must be in good standing with the City, the Internal Revenue Service and State of CA Franchise Tax Board (current on bills, no liens or judgments, etc.);
The business has not received previous funding from the Level Up Training & Grant Program; or its owner(s) and partner(s) have not received previous Level Up program funding under another business in which they are an owner/partner.

*City employees and elected and appointed officials are not eligible to participate in this program.

Application Process and Timeline

Apply online via the form below between 9 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025 and 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
Meet all program eligibility requirements; SBDC will review the application for completeness and eligibility.
- In the event there are more than twenty-five (25) applicants, the City will implement a lottery system for all eligible small businesses. Selected businesses will be notified beginning August 8, 2025.
Once conditional eligibility is conﬁrmed, selected applicants must submit all required documentation through portal by August 15, 2025.
Applicants notiﬁed and program participation conﬁrmed.
Program dates: Wednesdays, August 20 – September 10, 2025 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Suggested Use of Funds

Funds should be used to cover expenses for the business. The primary expenses include such items as rent or mortgage expense, utilities, inventory, marketing, business planning, payroll and benefit costs, or other operational expenses for the business.

Each applicant will need to sign and verify that the use of funds will be spent on business expenses, such as those expressed above. Any use of funding other than that to support the business is strictly prohibited.