*This blog originally appeared on eBayinc.com

California has been especially hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its small businesses have been significantly impacted. Recognizing these hardships in our home state, eBay is introducing a new ecommerce training program for California retailers as part of our ongoing Up & Running initiative. 

Up & Running is a global program created in 2020 to help small businesses get online and grow through the pandemic and beyond. As part of this initiative, eBay recently announced 50 recipients of an Up & Running grant, which included three California-based businesses; each will receive a $10,000 grants package including cash, credits, and dedicated training through eBay Seller School. 

Ecommerce offers tremendous opportunity for small businesses, allowing them to stay rooted in their local communities while vastly expanding their reach to potential buyers on a global scale. Established in partnership with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), eBay’s new Up & Running California program will equip up to 300 in-state businesses to take full advantage of this opportunity with interactive coaching and instruction that will help them effectively compete and grow online. 

Selected businesses will learn how to supercharge their listing and marketing strategies, create a dynamic digital storefront, leverage powerful data analysis tools to fuel their performance, and more. Applications are now open at ebay.com/california until 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday, March 11.

“California’s small business owners have continuously adapted to meet the demands of this changing marketplace, all while working to keep their employees and customers safe,” said Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, Dee Dee Myers. “As the state continues to work to support our entrepreneurs, we are thrilled to partner with a California company like eBay to provide additional resources to Californians who are the backbone of our state economy: small business owners.”

“At eBay, we believe it’s paramount to do everything we can to help ensure the small businesses of today are here tomorrow,” said eBay’s Chief Marketing Officer, Andrea Stairs. “Small businesses are crucial to the vibrancy and history of local communities, and we’re excited to partner with the Governor’s Office on our Up & Running California initiative.”

In response to the pandemic, the state of California has established several programs to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, including the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program,  an initiative that provides micro-grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000; the new, Get Digital CA! ecommerce program to help small business owners compete in an online marketplace; the California Rebuilding Fund, a public-private partnership which helps small businesses in untapped communities access low-interest loans and free advisory services; and the new Main Street Hiring Tax Credit, which authorized $100 million in hiring tax credit for qualified small businesses.

How to Apply for Up & Running California

This new, 100% free program will offer participating businesses with the educational resources, interactive instruction and seller-to-seller coaching they need to compete on eBay’s marketplace. 

Participants will enjoy full access to eBay Seller School, our interactive online learning platform. Seller School offers both beginner-level and more advanced courses to help all sellers accelerate and scale their eBay business, regardless of their time and experience on the platform. 

Other program benefits will include:

• Exclusive access to six weekly webinars, led by a dedicated growth advisor;
• Seller-to-seller coaching;
• 200 free insertion fees per month;
• A 90-day, eBay basic store subscription upon “graduation”; and
• A seller “starter kit” that includes various supplies to immediately begin selling online. 

California small businesses interested in participating must meet the following requirements to apply: 

• Based and operational in the state of California
• Registered eBay business account in good standing(businesses may be new to eBay, but they must register before applying) 
• Business operating history of six months or longer 
• Sell a product (not a service) aligned to one of our merchandise categories (see ebay.com to view categories) 

Applications will be open until 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday, March 11, at ebay.com/california. 

Additional Information on California Small Businesses

Selling online offers vast economic opportunity for small businesses and enables them to tap a larger global customer base. For California small businesses, a recent eBay study found an increasing number of entrepreneurs turned to the marketplace for an additional source of income following the onset of the pandemic lockdowns in March 2020. Read the new, California Small Online Business Report at ebaymainstreet.com/california.