|
For Immediate Release
April 8, 2025
Contact:
Angela Herrera Perez, Senior Public Information Specialist
press@opportunity.lacounty.gov
LA County DEO Announces $19.1 million in LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Fund Awards for Wildfire-Impacted Communities
LOS ANGELES, CA — As of today, the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has awarded a total of $19.1 million in relief grants to 2,309 workers and 1,372 small businesses and nonprofits as part of the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds (Funds). This includes $14.52 million for small businesses and nonprofits (awards ranging between $2,000 and $25,000) and $4.62 for workers (all receiving $2,000).
On February 6th, less than one month after the fires began, DEO mobilized the region to launch both Funds to provide direct cash assistance to impacted workers, small businesses, and nonprofits and kick started the Funds with $1 million. Over the course of the last two months, the County has raised these award funds through a committed and collaborative public-private-philanthropic partnership, including $4 million in County investments, and received 14,477 complete applications in both the Small Business and Worker Relief Funds.
“These relief funds represent real hope for the small businesses, nonprofits, and workers who lost everything in the fires," said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. "Recovery won’t happen overnight, but this direct financial support is a critical lifeline to help our communities rebuild and move forward. I appreciate all the partners who stepped up to make this possible. I’ll continue pushing for more resources to meet the ongoing need.”
“The ongoing impact of these fires has been devastating — including for small business owners and workers who lost everything,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “LA County has taken action through launching the Small Business and Worker Relief Funds to get direct support to the people who need it most. I’m grateful to all of our partners who have joined us in helping communities begin to recover and rebuild their lives.”
“Just as California came together to fight the fires, we’ll work together to rebuild these communities that have been most impacted. This latest round of relief grants will continue to support the businesses and workers that are the driving forces behind Los Angeles’ vibrant and diverse economy,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom.
"In just weeks, we stood up and mobilized an unprecedented public-private-philanthropic partnership to deliver rapid, direct relief to the workers, small businesses, and nonprofits whose livelihoods were upended by the devastating wildfires" said Kelly LoBianco, Director of the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity. "Our commitment doesn’t end here we will continue to stand with our communities every step of the way as we rebuild and recover."
The Funds are supporting businesses, nonprofits, and workers who are most impacted by the disaster in the fire and emergency zones. This includes awarding 821 brick-and-mortar and home-based businesses and nonprofits in the fire zone who were fully destroyed, which represents about 50% of businesses with less than 100 employees in those zones who were destroyed. Of the total business and nonprofit awards, approximately 50% also faced home loss, 50% served the community as legacy businesses for 10+ years, 65% reported underinsurance, and 65% represent diverse business ownership. Of the total worker awards, approximately 50% faced permanent loss of employment or income due to the disaster, 44% report low-income and use of public benefits, and 28% report ineligibility or lack of access to public unemployment assistance. The Funds are also supporting 283 impacted creative workers.
“The arts and creative sector is part of the social fabric of communities, and one of our significant economic industries locally and statewide. The wildfires damaged the livelihoods of artists, creatives, studios and creative businesses, affecting the cultural vitality of LA County. We were pleased to partner with DEO to combine resources to support artists and creatives whose work includes music, art, film, craft, production, and more. It’s crucial both to their lives and because we know their work, and our arts infrastructure, will be needed for the rebuilding and recovery of the whole community," said Kristin Sakoda, Director of the LA County Department of Arts and Culture.
The Funds saw applications from approximately 3,000 businesses and nonprofits and 2,500 workers who shared they experienced impact outside the fire and evacuation order and warning zones, demonstrating the far-reaching economic impacts of the emergency. DEO will be working with the State and local partners to conduct an economic impact analysis that supports additional relief and long-term recovery in the areas.
On April 8th, 2025, awardees began receiving notifications of their selection for funding through AidKit, the Fund’s third-party administrator. Selected awardees must complete a short enrollment form by April 19th to confirm their preferred payment method, including direct deposit for businesses and direct deposit or prepaid debit cards for workers. Prepaid debit cards will be available for pick up at designated times to be shared by AidKit and locations, including the Boyle Heights Impacted Family and Worker Center at 213 E. 1st Street, Ste 110 and the West LA Impacted Family and Worker Center at 5446 Sepulveda Blvd.
At this time, there are not sufficient funds to award all impacted applicants. Those not selected have been placed on a waitlist and will be notified should additional funding become available. The Funds remain open to contributions. Organizations and partners interested in supporting the Funds can do so directly by credit card or through the Fund’s fiscal sponsor, SoCal Grantmakers at lacounty.gov/relief.
These funds were made possible through generous contributions from organizations that have stepped up to help our communities rebuild and recover including LA County, the State of California, Maersk and APM Terminals, LA Rises, led by Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter, business leader and basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Casey Wasserman, Fire Aid, California Community Foundation – CalFire, Wells Fargo, Kayne Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Hilton Foundation, Prologis, Publicis Media, The Korean American Association of Southwest, and New Jersey Capital.
Resources, assistance, and up-to-date information to support businesses and workers as they navigate recovery and rebuilding efforts are available at: https://bit.ly/DEOWildfireResponse.
###
About DEO: The LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, launched in July 2022, helps job seekers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, major industries, and communities access life changing opportunities, and is also home to the Office of Small Business, LA County’s one-stop shop dedicated to prospective entrepreneurs and small business owners. 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.
|
