Greater Irvine Chamber to Administer City-Funded Grants Supporting Business Organizations

The Greater Irvine Chamber, in partnership with the City of Irvine, has launched the Irvine Business Support Nonprofit Grants Program, a new initiative designed to strengthen Irvine’s business community by funding trusted business-support organizations.

Through this program, chambers of commerce, business associations, and eligible nonprofit business-serving organizations may apply for grants of up to $10,000 to deliver no-cost programs and services that directly benefit Irvine businesses.

Funded by the City of Irvine and administered by the Greater Irvine Chamber, the program advances the City’s economic development goals by investing in organizations that provide training, technical assistance, workforce development, innovation programming, and other business-support services.

“Irvine is a Fortune 500 small business community where global enterprises and entrepreneurs grow side by side,” said Greater Irvine Chamber President & CEO Dave Coffaro. “This program reflects our shared commitment with the City to build on the business-supportive environment in Irvine. By empowering trusted community partners—chambers and business associations—to deliver direct, targeted support, we are strengthening the ecosystem that drives innovation, workforce development, and long-term economic vitality.”

Program Focus Areas

Grant funding is available for programs that advance one or more of the following priorities:

Business Growth & Innovation
Workforce Development
Inclusive Economic Opportunity
Tourism & Destination Promotion
Business Attraction & Retention

All funded activities must focus on businesses operating in Irvine and be provided at no cost to participating businesses or residents.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include tax-exempt 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations, chambers of commerce, business associations, and similar entrepreneurship-support organizations formed prior to January 1, 2026.

Priority consideration will be given to organizations that:

Are based in Irvine and advance the City’s economic vitality
Demonstrate measurable impact supporting businesses and workforce development
Serve small or historically underrepresented business communities
Address unmet business needs without duplicating existing public programs

Oversight and Accountability

To ensure transparency and fairness, the Greater Irvine Chamber has convened a Grant Oversight Committee composed of Greater Irvine Chamber board members and community experts. The Committee will evaluate applications using a City Manager-approved rubric and recommend awards for City approval prior to disbursement.

Grantees will be required to submit quarterly and final reports detailing the use of funds, program outcomes, and measurable community impact. The Greater Irvine Chamber will compile cumulative results for reporting to the City of Irvine.

Application Timeline