VTA has established a Business Microgrant Program to reimburse businesses for loss of revenue that may be attributed to construction activities of the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector project.
- Small Business Microgrant Applications for Tier 1A/1B, and Tier 2 - English
- Small Business Microgrant Applications for Tier 1A/1B, and Tier 2 - Spanish
- Small Business Microgrant Applications for Tier 1A/1B, and Tier 2 - Vietnamese
Businesses located within 100 feet of the project with less than 35 employees, and have a driveway located on Capitol Avenue, or Capitol Expressway directly in the light rail construction alignment are eligible for grant amounts ranging from $5,000-$50,000.
Businesses outside the 100 feet of construction, but within 1,200 feet, are eligible for a one-time grant of $3,500.
All grant amounts are contingent on the application request and the documentation provided.
Additional qualifications are provided below. Applications and Instructions to apply for one of these microgrants are linked at the end of this page. Translated material will be available by COB 3/9/2025.
Call Community Outreach and Public Engagement at (408) 321-7575, or email community.outreach@vta.org for more information.
Eligibility Requirements
Tier 1A: $5000 Microgrant
- The Business must formally apply to program by applying as soon as possible but no later than March 31, 2027.(Applications will be available week of 3/9)
- Must have a business located within 100’ of heavy construction.
- Heavy Construction Definition: Roadway widening, pile driving, and the installation or removal of falsework.
- Traffic or noise are not considered heavy construction.
- Driveway or sidewalk closures of under two weeks duration are not considered heavy construction.
- Lane closures, traffic, or pedestrian detours affecting direct access to business under a two-week period do not qualify as heavy construction
- Heavy Construction Definition: Roadway widening, pile driving, and the installation or removal of falsework.
- Business must have under 35 employees to be eligible.
- Annual revenues cannot exceed $2.5 million
- Businesses must have been in operation for at least 12 months prior to the September 2024 start of heavy construction.
- Businesses must have an active business license on file with the City of San Jose. This is required to provide verification of operation before and during construction.
Tier 1B: $3500 Microgrant
- Businesses must formally apply to program by applying as soon as possible but no later than March 31, 2027. (Applications will be available week of 3/9)
- Same conditions as Tier 1A, except: The business may be located outside 100’, but within 1,200’ feet of heavy construction as defined in Tier 1A.
Tier 2: Up to $50,000
- Businesses must formally apply to program by applying no later than March 31, 2027. (Applications will be available week of 3/9)
- Same conditions as Tier 1A and
- Provide ONE of the following to verify business losses:
- Income Tax Returns for one year prior to construction and any year losses are claimed
- Sales tax filings for one year prior to construction and any year losses are claimed
- Provide ONE of the following to verify business losses:
- Continuous operation during construction activities which occurred between September 2024 to September 2026
- Federal and State Withholding Exemption Certificates--W-9 and 590
Note: Application Form, Declaration of Eligibility Form, and Withholding Exemption Certificates are available via hard copy upon request by calling (408) 321-7575
Process for Submitting the Microgrant Application:
- Applicants must submit the following documents by as soon as possible but no later than March 31, 2027.
- Fully completed Microgrant Assistance Application Form (available week of 3/9)
- Copy of current or applicable City of San Jose Business License
- For Tier 2: Proof of EBRC Business Microgrant eligibility (as defined above)—and provide any one of the following:
- Two years of Income Tax Returns to verify losses
- Sales tax filings
- Proof of continuous operation during construction activities which occurred between September 2024, to September 2026
- Federal and State Withholding Exemption Certificates--W-9 and 590
Note: Application Form, Declaration of Eligibility Form, and Withholding Exemption Certificates are available via hard copy upon request by calling (408) 321-7575.
- Once the completed application and supporting documentation have been received by mail, email, or delivered to VTA they are then forwarded to VTA’s Risk Management Team for validation of financial impact and provided to a third-party administrator for review. This review will evaluate the impact of the circumstances presented by the applicant, including additional review if appropriate. VTA may request additional supporting documentation as necessary.
- Based on the evaluation, VTA may approve a financial assistance microgrant between $3,500 and $50,000 (for the most extreme construction related impacts). For applicants that enter both the Tier 1A and Tier 2 process, the Tier 1A payment of $5,000 will be deducted from the approved Tier 2 financial assistance payment.
- For those requesting Tier 2 assistance, once evaluation is completed, those applicants who did not also participate in the Tier IA process will be notified by mail of the recommended financial assistance payment and will be required to sign a Tier 2 Waiver releasing all past claims. The Tier 2 Waiver must be signed within 30 days of the date of the notification letter and returned to:
- In Person: VTA Community Outreach Field Office, located at 1091 S. Capitol Avenue, San Jose, open Tuesday 1-4, or by appointment.
- Or mail to: VTA Government Affairs, Attn: Manolo Gonzalez-Estay, 3331 North First Street B-2, San Jose, 95134
- VTA then submits information for processing.
- Tier 1A and 1B payments will be mailed to recipient within 10 business days of approved Tier 1A/1B Microgrant Assistance Application package.
- Tier 2 payments will be mailed to recipient upon completion of third-party administrator review, which is currently anticipated to take longer than Tier 1A and 1B payments.
VTA has established a Business Microgrant Program to reimburse businesses for loss of revenue that may be attributed to construction activities of the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector project.
- Small Business Microgrant Applications for Tier 1A/1B, and Tier 2 - English
- Small Business Microgrant Applications for Tier 1A/1B, and Tier 2 - Spanish
- Small Business Microgrant Applications for Tier 1A/1B, and Tier 2 - Vietnamese
Businesses located within 100 feet of the project with less than 35 employees, and have a driveway located on Capitol Avenue, or Capitol Expressway directly in the light rail construction alignment are eligible for grant amounts ranging from $5,000-$50,000.
Businesses outside the 100 feet of construction, but within 1,200 feet, are eligible for a one-time grant of $3,500.
All grant amounts are contingent on the application request and the documentation provided.
Additional qualifications are provided below. Applications and Instructions to apply for one of these microgrants are linked at the end of this page. Translated material will be available by COB 3/9/2025.
Call Community Outreach and Public Engagement at (408) 321-7575, or email community.outreach@vta.org for more information.
Eligibility Requirements
Tier 1A: $5000 Microgrant
- The Business must formally apply to program by applying as soon as possible but no later than March 31, 2027.(Applications will be available week of 3/9)
- Must have a business located within 100’ of heavy construction.
- Heavy Construction Definition: Roadway widening, pile driving, and the installation or removal of falsework.
- Traffic or noise are not considered heavy construction.
- Driveway or sidewalk closures of under two weeks duration are not considered heavy construction.
- Lane closures, traffic, or pedestrian detours affecting direct access to business under a two-week period do not qualify as heavy construction
- Heavy Construction Definition: Roadway widening, pile driving, and the installation or removal of falsework.
- Business must have under 35 employees to be eligible.
- Annual revenues cannot exceed $2.5 million
- Businesses must have been in operation for at least 12 months prior to the September 2024 start of heavy construction.
- Businesses must have an active business license on file with the City of San Jose. This is required to provide verification of operation before and during construction.
Tier 1B: $3500 Microgrant
- Businesses must formally apply to program by applying as soon as possible but no later than March 31, 2027. (Applications will be available week of 3/9)
- Same conditions as Tier 1A, except: The business may be located outside 100’, but within 1,200’ feet of heavy construction as defined in Tier 1A.
Tier 2: Up to $50,000
- Businesses must formally apply to program by applying no later than March 31, 2027. (Applications will be available week of 3/9)
- Same conditions as Tier 1A and
- Provide ONE of the following to verify business losses:
- Income Tax Returns for one year prior to construction and any year losses are claimed
- Sales tax filings for one year prior to construction and any year losses are claimed
- Provide ONE of the following to verify business losses:
- Continuous operation during construction activities which occurred between September 2024 to September 2026
- Federal and State Withholding Exemption Certificates--W-9 and 590
Note: Application Form, Declaration of Eligibility Form, and Withholding Exemption Certificates are available via hard copy upon request by calling (408) 321-7575
Process for Submitting the Microgrant Application:
- Applicants must submit the following documents by as soon as possible but no later than March 31, 2027.
- Fully completed Microgrant Assistance Application Form (available week of 3/9)
- Copy of current or applicable City of San Jose Business License
- For Tier 2: Proof of EBRC Business Microgrant eligibility (as defined above)—and provide any one of the following:
- Two years of Income Tax Returns to verify losses
- Sales tax filings
- Proof of continuous operation during construction activities which occurred between September 2024, to September 2026
- Federal and State Withholding Exemption Certificates--W-9 and 590
Note: Application Form, Declaration of Eligibility Form, and Withholding Exemption Certificates are available via hard copy upon request by calling (408) 321-7575.
- Once the completed application and supporting documentation have been received by mail, email, or delivered to VTA they are then forwarded to VTA’s Risk Management Team for validation of financial impact and provided to a third-party administrator for review. This review will evaluate the impact of the circumstances presented by the applicant, including additional review if appropriate. VTA may request additional supporting documentation as necessary.
- Based on the evaluation, VTA may approve a financial assistance microgrant between $3,500 and $50,000 (for the most extreme construction related impacts). For applicants that enter both the Tier 1A and Tier 2 process, the Tier 1A payment of $5,000 will be deducted from the approved Tier 2 financial assistance payment.
- For those requesting Tier 2 assistance, once evaluation is completed, those applicants who did not also participate in the Tier IA process will be notified by mail of the recommended financial assistance payment and will be required to sign a Tier 2 Waiver releasing all past claims. The Tier 2 Waiver must be signed within 30 days of the date of the notification letter and returned to:
- In Person: VTA Community Outreach Field Office, located at 1091 S. Capitol Avenue, San Jose, open Tuesday 1-4, or by appointment.
- Or mail to: VTA Government Affairs, Attn: Manolo Gonzalez-Estay, 3331 North First Street B-2, San Jose, 95134
- VTA then submits information for processing.
- Tier 1A and 1B payments will be mailed to recipient within 10 business days of approved Tier 1A/1B Microgrant Assistance Application package.
- Tier 2 payments will be mailed to recipient upon completion of third-party administrator review, which is currently anticipated to take longer than Tier 1A and 1B payments.