A state grant program aimed at expanding entrepreneurship among immigrants and limited-English residents could bring fresh opportunity to Fresno’s small business landscape.
The Employment Training Panel, in partnership with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, has announced the availability of up to $6.75 million in California General Fund dollars through the Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) 3.0 Grant.
SEED funding emphasizes entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic mobility and community development. Awards are designed to support immigrants and Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals who face barriers to traditional employment.
Legal status, inaccessibility to financial institutions, and language constraints continue to limit the growth and scale of entrepreneurial enterprises for immigrants, according to Pedro Ramirez, Entrepreneurship Projects Consultant for Immigrants Rising, a California nonprofit founded in 2006.
“For someone who may be an immigrant entrepreneur, this program can help them start something small and scale up pretty quickly,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez referenced a garage bakery that, though a previous SEED funding cycle, now occupies a brick-and-mortar storefront.
A 2025 research report from the nonprofit describes entrepreneurial contributions from immigrant business owners, and how they provide critical services and local jobs: “From street vendors and family-run food carts to mobile coffee shops and childcare centers, immigrant entrepreneurs are not just surviving—they are building enterprises rooted in cultural pride, necessity, and aspiration.”
Overwhelmingly, immigrant entrepreneurs in Fresno operate small, early-stage ventures that are either mobile or home-based, the majority of which are led by women, the report stated. Ramirez added that participants in previous SEED cycles in the Central Valley represent a wide array of industries, “touching many sectors,” from construction, food service, retail, transportation, and manufacturing.
SEED 3 funding will flow to qualified intermediary organizations—nonprofits like Immigrants Rising—which will then provide micro-grants, entrepreneurial training and technical assistance to eligible participants. The grants are intended to help individuals launch new ventures or stabilize and expand existing small businesses that address social problems or unmet community needs.
Ramirez said new businesses could apply for $5,000 in grant funding. Applicants for awards must first complete a year of entrepreneurial training before monies are allocated, and accountability is paramount. There are guidelines for how the money can be used, Ramirez said, and all financials (e.g., receipts, invoices, bank statements) must be provided within the first year of allocation.
Business that are “already up and running,” said Ramirez, can apply for $10,000 grants to expand operations.
The SEED 3.0 program represents the latest iteration of California’s effort to broaden access to economic opportunity through entrepreneurship. SEED 1.0 and 2.0 allocated a combined $30M in grants and training to immigrant entrepreneurs.
Ramirez said that programs like SEED provide vital resources to help Central Valley residents turn business ideas into sustainable enterprises, and—in the process—strengthen the local economy from the ground up.
“Our goal is to provide these resources for anyone in the Central Valley,” Ramirez said. “There is no business that is too small.”
The deadline for nonprofits to apply for funds is February 26, 2026. Nonprofits interested in applying for SEED 3.0 grants should visit the Employment Training Panel’s website, where they can find information and join live support sessions.
For more updates on Fresno County development and business initiatives, stay connected with the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
Photo by Nathalia Segato on Unsplash
