California Capital Access Program (CalCAP)
Seismic Safety Financing Program

The California Capital Access Program (CalCAP), administered by CPCFA since 1994, encourages banks and other financial institutions to make loans to small businesses. The purpose of the CalCAP Seismic Safety Financing Program (CalCAP/Seismic Safety) is to incentivize private financing for California small businesses and residential property owners (including multiunit dwellings and registered mobilehomes) to finance the costs of seismically retrofitting existing buildings and homes.

CalCAP is a form of Loan Loss Reserve coverage which may provide up to 100% coverage on certain loan defaults. By participating in CalCAP, financial institutions have available to them a proven credit enhancement to meet the financing needs of California’s small businesses. The CalCAP/Seismic Safety Financing Program extends the credit enhancement to residential and commercial building owners, in addition to being available for small business loans.  A loan enrollment for a loan to a borrower located in a community defined as Severely Affected Community (SAC) is eligible to receive an additional contribution from CalCAP State funds that is equal to one-half the PFI contribution.  The Authority's regulations define a Severely Affected Community as an "economically distressed geographic area", as designated by the Executive Director. In recognition of the economic impact of designated disasters, public safety power shutoffs, and COVID-19 to California small businesses, CalCAP will authorize a supplemental contribution for a credit enhancement for the 12 months following the designation for CalCAP for Small Business, CSP, CalCAP/ADA and CalCAP/Seismic Safety loans enrolled for borrowers located in areas designated as an emergency or disaster area by the Governor, and whose businesses are directly impacted by the emergency or disaster. This impact must be detailed on the Supplemental Severely Affected Community (SAC) Contribution Lender and Borrower Certification stating specifically how the business was affected, including the number of days, sales amount lost, and/or number of employees.

For Building Owner information, please visit Tools for Building Owners.

Borrowers will need to contact a Participating Financial Institution to start the CalCAP loan enrollment process

Eligible Uses of Loan Proceeds

Proceeds from loans enrolled in the CalCAP/Seismic Safety Financing Program may be used for seismic retrofit construction alterations performed on or after January 1, 2017, of a qualified building or its components to substantially mitigate seismic damage. Seismic retrofit construction includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Anchoring the structure to the foundation
• Bracing cripple walls
• Bracing hot water heaters
• Installing automatic gas shutoff valves
• Repairing or reinforcing the foundation to improve the integrity of the foundation against seismic damage
• Anchoring fuel storage
• Installing an earthquake-resistant bracing system for mobilehomes that are registered with the Department of Housing and Community Development
• Strengthening a building’s lateral load resisting system

Terms

The maximum enrolled loan amount is $250,000 and can be enrolled for up to ten years. Participating financial institutions set all of the terms and conditions of the loans.

Eligible Participating Financial Institutions

Any federal or state-chartered bank, savings association, certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), or credit union is eligible to participate in CalCAP. A financial institution must certify that it is in good standing with its regulatory body (Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Comptroller of Currency, Thrift Supervision, National Credit Union Administration, or state banking authority). Financial institutions which qualify as microbusiness lenders, those that have executed participation agreements with the Small Business Administration, and others may be eligible.

CalCAP invites financial institutions to participate in CalCAP/Seismic Safety. It is easy for financial institutions to sign up.

Financial Institution Sign Up for the Program

• Financial Institution Application
• Certification to Participate in the California Capital Access Program

Loans, Claims and Reports

• Loan Enrollment Documents
  • Loan Enrollment Application – Seismic Safety
  • Participating Financial Institution Lender Certification – Seismic Safety
  • Borrower Certification - Seismic Safety
  • CalCAP Supplemental SAC Contribution Form (Participating Financial Institutions can utilize this form to select a qualifying event to receive a Severely Affected Community (SAC) contribution.)
  • Privacy Notice
  • Borrower’s Agreement to Pay Participating Financial Institution Lender’s Fees
• Change in Loan Terms
  • Notification of Change in Loan Terms Form
• Claims
  • Claim Application
• Reports
  • Quarterly Reporting Schedule
  • Quarterly Report Instructions & Template
• Media Release Authorization
  • Media Release Form