CalCAP ADA Retrofits (CalCAP ADA) Information for Small Businesses

CalCAP ADA Participation for Small Businesses

•  A small business participates in CalCAP ADA when a small business applies to a participating financial institution (PFI) for a loan and, after the PFI underwrites, approves, and disburses the loan, the PFI enrolls the loan in CalCAP ADA.
• Prior to applying for a PFI, small businesses can utilize the services of a Certified Access Specialist (CASp), resources about ADA accessibility, and resources for small businesses.
• Once a small business is ready to consider a loan, they can choose which PFI(s) to which to apply.
• PFI/Lender Contact List: All CalCAP Programs including CalCap ADA

CalCAP ADA Eligibility

•  Information about CalCAP ADA qualifying loan, qualifying building, and qualifying small business

CalCAP ADA Frequently Asked Questions

•   Frequently asked questions about CalCAP ADA

Resources for Small Businesses

• Evaluating ADA accessibility: The California Department of General Services Division of the State Architect provides information about the benefits of hiring a Certified Access Specialist (CASp)
• Certified Access Specialist (CASp) Information
• The CalCAP ADA program includes reimbursement for some of the cost of a CASp inspection report to small businesses which receive a qualifying loan from a participating financial institution

• General information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

• California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA) (CA Department of General Services)
• ADA Update: A Primer for Small Business (U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division)

• For small business owners: Small business centers provide no- and low-cost services to small businesses on how to become “loan-ready” and how to determine which programs (including but not limited to CalCAP ADA) and terms are appropriate for their loan amount, loan purpose, business category, and region.

Regional Small Business Center Networks

An excellent starting place for many small businesses is signing up for services with the lead for their region’s network of California’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).

• Regional lead for the network in Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba Counties
• Regional lead for the network in Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne Counties
• Regional lead for the network in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties
• Regional lead for the network in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
• Regional lead for the network in Imperial and San Diego Counties

Specialty Small Business Centers

There are also specialty small business centers.

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) Network includes the following:

• Manufacturing
• Minority Business Development Centers
• Procurement
• Veterans
• Women’s Business Centers
• Over 30 other small business centers serving specific industries, localities, or language-speakers

Other Resources for Small Businesses

Other state of California resources for small businesses include:

• California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)’s Outsmart Disaster
• California Grants Portal