BEAM Circular Launches $2.2 Million Stanislaus County Bioeconomy Job Catalyst Fund
For Immediate Release
Stanislaus County, CA (January 27,2026) — Stanislaus County, CA — BEAM Circular, a leading regional nonprofit organization driving the growth of California’s circular bioeconomy, has opened applications for the Stanislaus County Bioeconomy Job Catalyst Fund. The $2.2 million competitive grant program supports businesses and employers pursuing projects that create quality jobs and deliver workforce and community benefits in Stanislaus County.
Administered by BEAM Circular, the program is supported by Stanislaus County with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and is intended to deliver measurable job, workforce, and community benefits, including benefits to populations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is part of Stanislaus County’s $10 million investment in BEAM Circular to accelerate bio-based manufacturing, drive regional economic growth, and create quality jobs for local residents.
“This fund is about translating innovation in the bioeconomy into real jobs and durable economic opportunity for Stanislaus County,” said Neal Best, Vice President of Business and Economic Development at BEAM Circular. “By supporting both early-stage companies and anchor employers, we’re building the conditions for long-term bioindustrial growth.”
The Job Catalyst Fund is structured across two funding tracks to support both early-stage business development and larger-scale expansion projects.
Track 1: Small Business Capital Access, Research, and Commercialization Fund ($200,000)
Track 1 supports early-stage activities that enable small business growth and innovation through access to capital, research, feasibility, and commercialization support.
Awards of up to $75,000 are available, with a total program allocation of $200,000.
Track 1 applications will be accepted in two rounds, with deadlines of March 30, 2026, and May 30, 2026.
Allowable uses include non-federal grant application preparation, early-stage research and feasibility analysis, engagement of technical experts or consultants, intellectual property and commercialization planning, supply chain and partner identification, and internships or work-based training programs that upskill local workers.
Track 2: Anchor Employer Development Fund ($2 million)
Track 2 supports larger-scale projects led by anchor employers or growth-stage companies pursuing capital deployment, operational expansion, or commercialization activities with significant job creation potential in Stanislaus County.
Awards may be up to $1 million, with a total program allocation of up to $2 million.
Track 2 applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 2026, subject to funding availability.
Eligible applicants include anchor employers with the potential to create 100 or more jobs over five years, or growth-stage employers with a credible pathway to 50–100 or more jobs over five years and a demonstrated commitment to long-term operations in Stanislaus County. Allowable uses include project-specific infrastructure and site development, capital equipment investments, pre-development costs, and co-location or expansion within one of BEAM Circular’s anchor projects, the California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus.
For both tracks, projects aligned with the circular bioeconomy—including those that reduce pollution, divert waste or agricultural byproducts to higher-value uses, support regenerative or sustainable practices, or strengthen regional bioindustrial capacity—are strongly encouraged.
For more information, eligible businesses and employers can access full application instructions, eligibility requirements, and proposal templates here. For additional information, prospective applicants may contact bizprograms@beamcircular.org.
About BEAM Circular
BEAM Circular is a nonprofit organization building California’s circular bioeconomy through shared infrastructure, partnerships, and programs that connect agriculture, manufacturing, and innovation. Based in the North San Joaquin Valley, BEAM Circular leads regional and statewide initiatives—including the California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus and the CBIO Collaborative—to accelerate technologies that transform waste into valuable products and create inclusive economic opportunity. Learn more at www.beamcircular.org.
Federal funding acknowledgment: This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP2096 awarded to County of Stanislaus by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
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