Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security

The City of Oakland received $36.9 million in CARES Act Funding allocated from the State of California. Funds were used to provide financial and technical assistance to Oaklanders and address the City's ongoing public health and safety impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overview

CARES Act funds provided direct financial assistance to Oakland renters, homeowners, small businesses, artists, nonprofits, and home-based entrepreneurs through intermediaries with expertise in grant giving. Additional funds were used to provide technical assistance and support programs, enhanced food security, advanced health initiatives, supported displaced workers and addressed the City's ongoing public health and public safety impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funded Programs

Small Business Grant Program
Distributed more than $4M in direct financial support to Oakland-based small businesses.

Tiny Homes for Unhoused Young Adults
Provides a safe haven & job training to "upwardly mobile", unhoused young adults.

Saba Grocers Initiative
Distributed gift cards worth $250 to residents in neighborhoods with high COVID rates.

SOS Meals on Wheels
Provided over 289,000 meals to 1,700 seniors.

OAK Wifi
Provides free internet to Oaklanders to help close the digital divide.

Assistance for Artists and Arts Nonprofits
Supported the pivot from in-person performances to online engagements.

Personal Protective Equipment for Small Businesses
Delivered 800 starter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Kits for small businesses.

Home-Based Business Grant Program
Grants of $2,000 to $4,000 to home-based, for-profit businesses.

Fund for Artists and Arts Nonprofits
Grants to support individual artists and arts nonprofit organizations.

Neighborhood Beautification and Homelessness
Grant to Beautification Council to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in encampments.

Keep Oakland Housed
Provided $4,315,000 in funding directly to renters and homeowners.

Black Cultural Zone
Grant support for AKOMA Market to provide food distribution and education.

Assistance for Small Businesses
Provided legal. marketing and technical assistance for Oakland small businesses.

Street Vendor Support and Grants
Provided aid to street vendors to secure permits, equipment and supplies.

Lake Merritt Vendor Pilot
Provided City-sanctioned space for vendors to sell and market their hand-made products.

Business Outreach and Support
Provided linguistically and culturally appropriate business outreach and support.

Workforce Support Programs
Provided employment support services to Oaklanders impacted by COVID-19.

Oakland Frontline Healers
Grant to Oakland Frontline Healer's to provide food and shelter services to Oaklanders.

Nonprofit Grant Program
Provided grants to Oakland-based community-serving nonprofit organizations.

Food Scarcity, Childcare, COVID Education
Provided funding to community service programs.

Cultural Institution Operating Grants
Provided grants to organizations operating City owned property.

Facility Resilience
Provides safe access to services & enhanced COVID prevention protocols at City facilities.

News & Updates

NEWS LIST

About the CARES Act

The City of Oakland received $36.9 million in CARES Act Funding allocated from the State of California. All funds were required to be spent by December 30, 2020. City staff worked quickly to stand up new programs to help Oakland renters, homeowners, small businesses, nonprofits, artists, displaced workers and others.

To quickly provide support to Oakland's most vulnerable communities, the City used trusted intermediary community organizations to administer grant programs and provide technical support for Displacement Prevention, Enhanced Access & Resiliency Improvements, Food Security & Health, and Workforce Support, where possible.

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