Chinese Language Training and Launch Storefront Grant

Program details

This program provides a grant of up to $15,000 to eligible businesses to launch a three‑month pop‑up or establish a longer-term storefront. Interested business owners will need to:

1. Complete the Chinese language small business training
2. Submit an application with a newly signed executed lease or a storefront agreement with the property owner with a commencement occupancy date of January 1, 2026, or later*.

Program goals:

1. Reduce language barriers to economic opportunity
2. Minimize risk in launching a new business
3. Create vibrant corridors by filling storefront vacancies
4. Prepare entrepreneurs with skills to plan and operate their small business

Applications will be received until Friday, May 29, 2026 at 5:00PM or until funds are exhausted. Before submitting, please check website to ensure funding is still available.

Submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Funding is at the City's sole discretion.

Step 1: Check if your business is eligible

Your business must:

1. Have $5M or less in gross business revenue on most recent tax return
2. Have 100 or fewer employees
3. Not have previously received similar grants including but not limited to Business Training Grant and Storefront Opportunity Grant offered by the Office of Economic and Workforce Department (OEWD)
4. Be located in San Francisco and must be a storefront that has been vacated (non-operative) for over 3 months
5. Have signed a commercial lease or storefront agreement with the property owner with a commencement occupancy date of January 1, 2026, or later*.
6. Operate within the retail or service industries. Office spaces and childcare services that are not open to the public do not meet the eligibility requirements.
7. Not share a storefront with another business
8. Not have any open notices of violation with any City Department
9. Be in good standing with the California Secretary of State
   1. If you are suspended from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), you are not eligible

*For anyone who completed the Chinese language small business training program in May 2025, lease commencement occupancy date may be earlier than January 1, 2026.

Step 2: Program requirements

Your business must have completed:

1. Orientation
   Completed the Self-Help for the Elderly Orientation and received a certificate of completion.
2. Business Plan
   Developed a business plan and submitted it to Self-Help for the Elderly for review.
3. SBDC Consultation
   Met with the San Francisco Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to discuss your Small Business Action Plan
4. Location
   Secured one of the following in San Francisco:
   1. A month-to-month lease (3 month pop-up)
   2. A minimum 6-month lease (6 month pop-up)
   3. A Storefront agreement with the property owner

Step 3: Check which award you qualify for

• $7,500 – Pop-up Storefront Business with a minimum of 3-month operation
  • Participant may receive up to $7,500 after successfully opening a pop-up storefront in San Francisco with a month-to-month lease and meet the minimum operational requirement, the fund will be distributed after evaluation and submission of the lease.
• $15,000 – Pop-up Storefront Business with a minimum of 6-month operation
  • Participant may receive up to $15,000 after successfully opening a new storefront in San Francisco with a minimum of 6-month lease and meet the minimum operational requirement, the fund will be distributed after evaluation and submission of the lease.

Lease holder must not be the building owner. Business must be open at least 3 days and 24 hours per week to meet the minimum operational requirements.

Step 4: Gather information about your business

To complete the application, you must:

• Complete:
  • Chinese language small business training
    • Including orientation, business plan and action plan
  • San Francisco Small Business Development (SBDC) Consultation
• Upload:
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Business Plan
  • Action Plan
  • Signed commercial lease or storefront agreement with the property owner with a commencement occupancy date of January 1, 2026, or later
• Have your Business Account Number (BAN). If you don't know it, you can look it up. If you don’t have a BAN yet, you can register your business to receive one

Step 4: Apply

This grant is by invitation only. Businesses that complete the Chinese language small business training will receive a link to apply.

Contact information

For further details and additional information, please reach out to Self Help for the Elderly’s Small Business & Economic Development Team at 415-699-1350 or

smallbiz@selfhelpelderly.org

How applications will be chosen

We will issue awards for qualifying applicants until the application deadline, or earlier if funds are exhausted. While applications are accepted on a rolling basis, applications will still be evaluated for completeness before being approved. Applications with missing materials, unmet criteria, or incomplete documents will be disqualified. Business feasibility will be considered when awarding grants.

Submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Funding is at the City's sole discretion.