Community Reinvestment Partnership Opportunity

The City of Escalon is seeking Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) partnerships with financial institutions to support its small-business development initiatives. The City has established two targeted programs: the Start-Up Pitch Grant Program and the Traded-Sector Expansion Grant Program. The Start-Up Pitch Grant Program provides financial assistance to early-stage entrepreneurs, micro-enterprises, low-income founders, and veteran-owned start-ups. The Traded-Sector Expansion Grant Program supports small businesses seeking to expand into markets beyond the local area. The City is seeking sponsoring financial institutions to match the allocated funds for these programs. • The Start-Up Pitch Grant Program has a funding pool of $20,000, with individual awards of up to $5,000 per applicant. • The Traded-Sector Expansion Grant Program has a funding pool of $20,000, with individual awards of up to $5,000 per business. • The City is seeking CRA-eligible partnerships to expand the reach and impact of these programs. • The City will provide curated reporting packets, documentation of LMI participation, and annual program impact reports suitable for CRA files. • Sponsoring institutions may also provide technical assistance or advisory input to strengthen reporting quality.