City of Temecula Digital Bootcamp Training and Grant Program

City of Temecula Digital Bootcamp Training and Grant Program

As part of the Temecula COVID-19 Community Reinvestment Program, the City of Temecula has partnered with the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to expand the SBDC’s online Digital Bootcamp training program into the Digital Bootcamp Training & Grant Program. Digital Bootcamp is a four-week program, which will provide training and funding to brick-and-mortar businesses located in Temecula. The program is designed to assist businesses in creating/improving their digital presence and learning to drive traffic through paid and non-paid advertising. In order to apply for this grant, you must first register for the program here. Eligible businesses that complete the training program may receive a $10,000 grant. Grant funding must be used to pay for expenses related to marketing digitalization of their business. 

Application Period

Applications must be submitted online and will be accepted from 9:00 am, Monday, December 19, 2022 to 5:00 pm, Saturday, January 21, 2023. The application period will close promptly at 5:00 pm on January 21, 2023. Applications received online after this due date and time will be considered late and will not be accepted.

Supporting documentation must be submitted through an online portal after completion of the full Digital Bootcamp Program. Businesses that meet all criteria, will be contacted to sign up for the required Digital Bootcamp Grant Program. The first of four mandatory classes will begin on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 from 10:00 am to noon.

Instructions

Please complete the entirety of the application and ensure all of your information is correct. If required fields are not complete you will receive an error notice which will not allow you to submit the application. For best results, we recommend using the following browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox. After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation.

The Digital Bootcamp Program is a program developed by the SBDC to assist small businesses in expanding their online presence by launching and growing their online e-commerce store. During the four (4) weeks, business owners will develop skills to drive traffic, grow on brand exposure, and reach larger audiences online while developing a strong understanding of the key elements needed to build and expand a robust e-commerce portal for their business.

Program Outline

Session 1 – YOUR WEBSITE (Jan 24: 10 AM – 12 PM)

What you need to build your e-commerce website, from securing your domain name to the content on your site.

During this session, we will cover the following:

  • Securing your domain name
  • E-commerce platforms
  • Hosting platforms
  • Website Content
  • Blogs
  • Merchant Accounts
  • Return & Privacy policies
  • On-site Marketing

 

Session 2 – DRIVING TRAFFIC (Jan 31: 10 AM – 12 PM)

How you can advertise your online business through different social media platforms, emails, and advertising.

During this session, we will cover the following:

  • Social Media Marketing
  • Ads
  • YouTube
  • Email Marketing

 

Session 3 – MARKETPLACES (Feb 07: 10 AM – 12 PM)

How to know which platforms work best to sell your products. Choosing your marketplaces with pricing considerations.

During this session, we will cover the following:

  • Marketplaces
  • Social Commerce
  • Pricing Considerations
  • Groupon
  • Online Directories

 

Session 4 – SCALABILITY – KPIS FOR YOUR ROI (Feb 14: 10 AM – 12 PM)

Tracking outcomes and ensuring Return on Investment(ROI). Packing and shipping solutions, Key Performance Indicators(KPIs) for future growth and sustainability.

During this session, we will cover the following:

  • Packaging & Shipping
  • Key Performance Indicators for goals and controls
  • Growth & Sustainability

Applicants are required to participate in Digital Bootcamp, a four-week training program, beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Participants must attend all four classes to qualify for funding.

  • A total of four (4) two-hour mandatory Zoom training sessions. In the event a business misses one of the mandatory training sessions, they can make it up by scheduling an additional 1:1 consultation meeting with their SBDC consultant. If a business misses two (2) or more mandatory training sessions, they will then be ineligible to receive the $10,000 grant.
  • One (1) mandatory 1:1 consultation meeting with a SBDC consultant in between cohort meetings/sessions

To be eligible to apply for the Digital Bootcamp Grant Program, a business must meet the following criteria that have been established by the City of Temecula.

General Terms and Conditions

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

  • Register and attend all sessions of the Digital Bootcamp Training
  • The business must be physically located in Temecula;
  • The business must have been in business since March 2020;
  • The business must be a for-profit business;
  • The business must be a brick-and-mortar;
  • The business must have a revenue of $5 million or less;
  • The business must have an active Temecula business license at the time of application;
  • The business must be in good standing with the City (current on bills, no liens or judgements, etc.), unless directly correlated to COVID-19 impacts;
  • The business must not be suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal funding;
  • The business must submit the application and all required supporting documentation

Ineligible Businesses:

  • Gambling/Cannabis/Adult Entertainment

In order for eligible businesses to be considered for a grant, they are required to submit the following documents for review and verification:

  • Completed Grant Application;
  • Current City of Temecula Business License;
  • W-9;
  • Lease Agreement;
  • 2021 Tax Returns;
  • Signed Use of Funds Letter

For additional information regarding the Digital Bootcamp Grant Program, please contact the following:

City of Temecula
Mary Cervantes

43200 Business Park Drive
Temecula, CA 92590
(951) 506-5187

For assistance regarding the training program or application, and to set up a one-on-one consultation (at no cost), please contact the SBDC at:

Orange County Inland Empire SBDC
Intake Team
Office Number: 800-616-7232
Schedule an appointment: ociesbdc.org/consultation

City of Temecula Main Street Digital Training and Grant Program

Mike Daniel is the network director of the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC Network, which assists aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners throughout Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Mike was formerly the director of the SBDC office at Long Beach City College. As business owner and entrepreneur himself, he started his career as the owner of a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory location in Manhattan Beach and went on to open a second location in Long Beach in 2001. In 2007, Mike sold the Manhattan Beach store for an above-market offer then invested in several additional locations as a minority shareholder. Mike further expanded his candy empire with venture located in Shoreline Village in Long Beach called Sugar Daddies Sweet Shoppe, based on fill-it yourself candy options.

Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.