Main Street Digital
Training & Grant Program

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

Expand your online presence and grow your business.

The Main Street Digital Training & Grant Program (Program) educates businesses on effective digital marketing strategies and how to enhance their social media and online presence. Program participants must attend four mandatory training sessions and a one-on-one consultation with an SBDC consultant. Any participant who successfully completes the Program will receive a $1,000 grant to invest in digital advertising campaigns for their business. Thirty-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 brick-and-mortar commercial business, physically located in Lake Forest;
The Business must have completed the City’s voluntary Business Registration Form;
Cannabis-related businesses, gambling facilities, adult entertainment businesses, massage parlors, and largely cash-based businesses are not eligible;
Residential or real estate projects including short-term rental operators are also not eligible;
As of April 29, 2025, the Business must have at least a minimum of two employees — which may also include the owner — and no more than twenty-five full-time equivalent employees (two part-time employees equal one full-time employee);
The Business must be in good standing with the City (current on bills, no liens or judgements, etc.);
The Business must be in compliance with any City permit or license requirements applicable to the Business;
The Business must submit the application and all required supporting documentation.

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 June 23, 2025 and July 6, 2025.
Meet all program eligibility requirements; SBDC will review the application for completeness and eligibility.
Applicants will be notified of their selection status via email, phone, and/or letter beginning July 16, 2025.
Selected applicants must submit all required documentation through portal by 5 p.m. on July 30, 2025.
Applicants attend the four training sessions. All training sessions will be held on Zoom from 10 a.m. to noon on the following dates:

- Session 1: August 6, 2025
- Session 2: August 13, 2025
- Session 3: August 20, 2025
- Session 4: August 27, 2025

Eligible Activities (Use of Funds)

The funds must be used to develop a paid digital/online advertising campaign for the purpose of increasing the Business’s social media presence. This advertising campaign will be developed during the program and in conjunction with an SBDC business consultant. Each applicant will need to sign and verify that the use of funds will be spent on a paid advertising campaign, such as expressed above. In addition, the applicant must attend the virtual Main Street Digital Training & Grant Program sessions in order to receive these funds. Any use of funding other than for paid advertising is strictly prohibited.

In addition, the applicant cannot use these funds for paid advertising costs that have been or will be reimbursed or recovered through other funding programs.