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For Immediate Release
December 7, 2022
LA County’s One-Stop Small Business Development Hub in East L.A. Relaunches
Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and the newly created Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) joined community partners and local businesses to celebrate the relaunch of the East Los Angeles Entrepreneur Center – LA County’s one-stop small business development hub. The Center, operated by DEO’s Office of Small Business (OSB), helps all LA County small business owners looking to start or grow a business, access one-on-one business counseling services, connect to technical assistance, attend business development webinars and workshops and more!
The Entrepreneur Center is located at the Centro Maravilla Community Center near diverse commercial and retail corridors. On-site OSB staff provide a multitude of bilingual services aimed at supporting and empowering local small or micro businesses, emerging entrepreneurs, and prospective business owners, and connecting them to vital programs and resources.
“Small businesses are the building blocks of our regional economy and help spur local innovation and growth,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District. “The Entrepreneur Center is located in the heart of East Los Angeles and is an essential part of my ongoing commitment to empower small businesses with vital resources to thrive and ensure local dollars stay local within the community. Through this support, coupled with the grants my office is providing through community block funding, I hope that our most impacted and vulnerable entrepreneurs see that we are committed to the long-term health and growth of their businesses.”
“The Entrepreneur Center is a beacon of support for the local East L.A. community and beyond. Any small business owner or entrepreneur in LA County can stop by the Center and immediately connect with a suite of vital support and resources to kick start, grow, and recover a business,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of the new Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). “DEO is committed to revitalizing commercial corridors, creating pathways to opportunities, and streamlining access to pandemic relief for all businesses in LA County. We’re grateful to the Board of Supervisors for their continued leadership in building an inclusive and equitable economy, and specifically to Supervisor Solis for her support of the East LA Entrepreneur Center."
The East L.A. Entrepreneur Center initially launched in February 2020, and transitioned to online services soon after the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. With today's relaunch, the Center welcomes all LA County residents back in for both in-person and online services, and will continue to support small businesses through post-pandemic recovery.
Businesses can access FREE resources such as procurement assistance, business certifications, or succession planning and connect to opportunities including the upcoming Economic Opportunity Grant program which offers more than $54+ million in grant awards ranging in size from $2,500 to $25k to help small businesses, nonprofits and microentrepreneurs recover, stabilize, and grow. Residents can also access a wide-range of services for businesses and families from other on-site, co-located County departments & partners including:
- L.A. County Aging and Disabilities Department
- L.A. County Department of Regional Planning
- L.A. County Department of Public Health
- L.A. County Department of Public Works
- America’s Small Business Development Center
- Inclusive Action for the City
- Project Equity
- Bet Tzedek Legal Services
- Opportunity Fund
To connect with the East LA Entrepreneur Center or to request help, call (323) 881-3964, email osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov or stop by the East LA Entrepreneur Center located at 4716 East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, Building B, in East Los Angeles today!
About DEO -The LA County Department of Economic Opportunity helps job seekers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and residents access life-changing opportunities. Stay connected with DEO! Follow @EconOppLA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, subscribe to our newsletter, or visit opportunity.lacounty.gov to learn about DEO services.
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