Thrive Program

The OCIE SBDC Network has partnered with the County of Riverside Office of Economic Development to provide eligible small businesses the opportunity to apply for a grant award as a part of the county’s Small Business Program.

Explore the Riverside County Small Business Thrive Program.

In an effort to assist entrepreneurs in launching a business and support businesses that are continuing to struggle with the negative economic impacts of the pandemic, the Riverside County Office of Economic Development and the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network (OCIE SBDC) have partnered to provide technical and financial assistance to county constituents and businesses.

The Riverside County Small Business Thrive Program (Thrive Program) is an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Economic Recovery program providing grants of $1,500, $2,500 and $5,000 to assist county entrepreneurs launch a small business and business owners expand their existing operations. The grant is available to qualifying individuals and businesses that meet all eligibility criteria and complete a small business training program have one-on-one consulting provided by OCIE SBDC and attend a Financial Literacy webinar provided by AmPac Business Capital.

Important Note

The OCIE SBDC will provide the required training programs and consulting support to businesses as they proceed through the application process only. The OCIE SBDC Network will not make grant award decisions.

Training Programs

The OCIE SBDC is here to prepare you for successfully launching your business. Our suite of programs include topics on business planning, finance, marketing, sales, human resources, licenses and permits, and more.

We will take you from an idea to an actual sale at one of our proof of concept platforms such as our e-commerce platform californiashopsmall.com, selling in a local marketplace, or taking your packaged goods to retail. All programs are led by our SBDC consultants and experts and are offered at no cost to you.

Ready to start? Find the right training program to make your new or existing business Thrive.

Learn about our upcoming programs and get in touch with our intake team.

Grant Eligibility

Business must be located in the County of Riverside
Business registration must have occurred on or after July 1, 2022, for startup businesses.
Must complete a County of Riverside-approved OCIE SBDC training program.
Must attend one-on-one consulting with an OCIE SBDC consultant.
For startups: Must receive appropriate licenses and permits to start the business in the County of Riverside.
Complete RivCo Small Business Thrive Program Approved business plan.
For startups: Must have a “qualifying event” that starts the business:
- Must be formally registered to do business in Riverside County.
- Businesses can start the program without being registered but must be able to show proof of registration prior to being referred to AmPac for financial literacy training and grant.
- Business registration must have occurred on or after July 1, 2022.
- Entities must also demonstrate they are “in business” by having completed one of the following “Qualifying” events:
  - Has made their first sale, or
  - Has hired at least one employee, or
  - Has created a business banking relationship, or
  - Has spent money on business expenses (this includes legal and accounting fees).
For existing businesses: Must be a business with five full-time equivalent employees or less and $1 million or less in annual receipts.
For existing businesses: Must be in compliance with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations and licensing requirements.
Must attend a Financial Literacy webinar through AmPac (After completing the training program and has begun one-on-one consulting).
Receive and complete Grant application (will receive link from OCIE SBDC, when all above items completed).
Must agree to complete required surveys.
Must not be a current or former (within the last 18 months) staff or immediate family of an OCIE SBDC Network staff or consultant.
Must not have received a grant from the California Dream Fund or another similar program – only one grant per entity and person is allowed.
Businesses must certify under penalty of perjury that they will use funds according to eligible uses.

ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS

Startup costs
Purchase equipment
Investment in working capital
Operating expenses
Rent, lease, or payment for building
Utilities
Supplies, materials, and services
Application for, or renewal of, a local permit or licensing
Payment of business debt
Hone their skills to better use their financial data to drive their business, identify and adjust areas to improve cash flow, profitability and future planning.
Research and identify primary and emerging customer segments and build a plan around attracting them.
Identify competition and strategic partners for opportunities to collaborate and maximize market share. Learn effective ways to expand their team of employees and resource partners.
Understand the various Woman-Owned Business Certifications as they relate to winning business in different arenas. Identify opportunities for adding equity or debt capital to scale more deliberately.
Showcase their business in a digital presentation with cohort members.

ELIGIBLE BUSINESS TYPES

Existing for-profit businesses or entrepreneurs starting a new for-orofit business
Business located in Riverside County

INELIGIBLE BUSINESS TYPES

Businesses that are not located in the County of Riverside
Businesses that have received the California Dream Fund Grant Program
Businesses that do not attend training, technical assistance and financial literacy programs
Non-Profit or public entities
Residential or real estate projects including short-term rental operators
A passive business, investment company or investor who files a Schedule E on its tax returns
A speculative business, meaning a business for the sole purpose of purchasing and holding an item until the market price increases or other business principally engaged in risky activity for the chance of an unusually large profit
A business engaged in any activity that is illegal under federal, state or local law;
Casinos/gambling establishments
Adult-entertainment related businesses

Important Note

Grants are subject to fund availability, and while there is a discrete amount set aside for Riverside County entrepreneurs, the funds are finite and may be allocated before everyone who enrolls completes the required steps. Enrollment does not guarantee access to funds.
Additional screening steps may exist to verify identity (but not citizenship) to prevent fraud and abuse.
Individual grant funding amounts are predetermined and not subject to decision or revision by the OCIE SBDC Network or its partners.
Additional terms and conditions apply.

Application Steps

The OCIE SBDC will develop and manage the online portal for application submission. The online portal will support submission electronically in English, but a sample application will be developed in Spanish for viewing purposes only. A complete application will include the following:

Completion of Specialized Business Training Program and Basics of Business
One-on-one consulting verification
A completed participant application
- Demographic data and requirement questions along with certification by business under penalty of perjury that they will use funds according to eligible uses.
Appropriate state or local business license
Proof of residency in Riverside County
- Water bill, electric bill, etc.
Personal Identification
State-issued ID or other standard form of identification
Grant agreement
Complete and signed grant agreement
W-9 for county’s fiscal agent processing

During the application process, all applicants will have the ability to access a SBDC consultant to assist them with their application. Once a Thrive Program participant completes training and has received one-on-one consultation, they will be referred to county’s fiscal agent for final requirements and grant award.

All application responses will be securely stored by the OCIE SBDC in an electronic repository for all program documents, and available for Office of Economic Development staff to view at any time. Documentation is intended to meet grant program requirements and validate applicant’s responses to mitigate risk and fraud, and verify adverse impacts caused directly by the pandemic. The OCIE SBDC will also verify business location and supervisorial district via Esri Web Map produced by County Office of Economic Development’s Center for Demographics.