NEWS: Earthquakes and PayPal Announce Winners of the Support Our City Small Business Grant Program

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes and PayPal, today, announced the winners of the Support Our City Small Business Grant program, awarding three Bay Area-based small business owners $5,000 each to help them grow their businesses. The program gives Bay Area small business owners with strong ties to the local community an opportunity to apply for a grant to help them take their business to the next level. After reviewing the applications, PayPal and the Quakes have selected the winners, which include CocoTutti Chocolates, landscaping design company Golden State Gardens, and chiropractic business 650 Spine & Wellness.

The San Jose area is home to small businesses that serve as community builders, enablers of opportunity, and job creators -- employing more than 640,000 people in the area. Over the past few years, however, small businesses have had to navigate many challenges -- from pandemic related closures and supply chain issues to rising interest rates and a credit crunch. With these grants, PayPal and the Quakes are helping these small business owners take the next step in growing their business.

“It’s exciting to see these two San Jose-based organizations working together to benefit local small businesses,” said San Jose Chamber of Commerce Director of Membership Tanya Morales. “We’re proud to partner with PayPal and the Quakes once again as we deliver this amazing grant program and give back to our Bay Area community.”

PayPal and the Earthquakes share a deep-rooted commitment to helping small business owners achieve their dreams. As a cornerstone of the long-term partnership, the Support Our City program was designed to highlight local businesses based within Bay Area communities. Whether these are restaurants, barber shops, or clothing stores, they are instrumental in defining the place we collectively call home.

“Over the past several years, small businesses have experienced incredible challenges - from supply chain issues and inflation to rising inflation rates and restricted capital access. Perhaps more now than ever before, these business owners need our support to help them thrive and maintain a strong backbone to the national economy,” said Bernardo Martinez, Vice President of Microbusiness, PayPal. “The Support Our City Small Business Grant Program aligns directly with PayPal’s mission of supporting small businesses, and we are proud to partner with The San Jose Earthquakes on this incredible program.”

“The Quakes are constantly looking for ways to support the local community and the Support Our City Small Business Grant Program is a perfect reflection of that,” said Earthquakes Chief Operating Officer Jed Mettee. “We appreciate all the local small business owners who applied and are excited to honor our three grant winners.”

For more information on PayPal’s Support Our City program, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/supportourcity.