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In This Edition:
- City of Long Beach Awards $85,000 to Local Startups and Micro-Entrepreneurs
- Supporting Small Businesses Impacted by Recent Water Main Break
- City Expands Local Preference Program for Procurements to Enhance Opportunities for Long Beach Businesses
- October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
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The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department, through the Long Beach Recovery Act, has awarded $85,000 in grants to support 29 startups and micro-entrepreneurs citywide with launching or growing their business.
The Inclusive Business Navigators Microgrant Program application period ran from July 29 through Aug. 26, 2024. The Department received 167 applications, of which 115 qualified for review and 29 were selected based on the strength of their business and grant investment plans. Twenty-four businesses were awarded $2,500 and five received $5,000 grants.
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The Economic Development Department's BizCare Team is conducting outreach to small businesses impacted by the recent water main break that impacted residents and businesses in the 90805, 90807 and a small portion of the 90806 zip codes. For information about support resources for your small business, contact BizCare at 562.570.4BIZ (4249) or 4Biz@longbeach.gov.
It is no longer necessary to boil tap water for those affected by the Boil Water Notice in these areas. Long Beach Utilities issued a Cancellation Boil Water Notice early Friday, October 11. If you are able, we encourage you to visit and support the small businesses in these neighborhoods. We thank our community for your patience and resilience as our City teams worked relentlessly to resolve this issue.
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The City of Long Beach has expanded its Local Preference Program to include contracts for goods and services that are awarded through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Long Beach businesses and nonprofits will now receive an additional 5 to 10 percentage points in the 100-point rating system the City uses to rank proposals. The updated Program expands preference for local vendors to include all procurement methods that are used to purchase goods and services by the City and is designed to increase opportunities for Long Beach businesses and strengthen the local economy.
To qualify, vendors must have a place of business that is located within Long Beach city limits, as well as a valid business license issued by the City and a seller’s permit issued by the State of California, if applicable.
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Observed each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or “NDEAM,” we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM’s purpose is to confirm our commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year. That’s the spirit behind this year’s official theme: “Access to Good Jobs for All.” | |
Growing Long Beach Impact on the World 2024 - Annual Economic Forum | |
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LBEP is thrilled to announce the inclusion of Ms. LaTanya Sheffield as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Annual Economic Forum. In partnership with the City of Long Beach Economic Development and CSULB Office of Economic Research, we invite you to join us on October 24th for this important event. This year we are highlighting the global impact Long Beach is making from international trade to the future 2028 Olympic Games.
Get insider insights with our 2024 Economic Forecast, highlighting key trends and innovations shaping our community, region, and world. Come join local and regional business and civic leaders as we plan for the future.
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The LB Reuses coalition is excited to announce BYO Month in Long Beach from October 1-31! All month long, they will be celebrating local sustainably minded businesses by encouraging the community to BYO (Bring Your Own) and help reduce our environmental footprint and reliance on single-use plastics. During this time, the community can bring their reusable cups, bags, or containers to participating locations and join in on BYO events to collect stamps for fun prizes. | |
Upcoming Events and Workshops | |
The Visual Improvement Program (VIP) Grant is providing direct financial relief to local small businesses and nonprofits impacted by crime and vandalism on or after 10/1/2023. Eligible businesses can receive $1,500 to cover repairs to their storefront caused by vandalism. To find more information and access the online application visit longbeach.gov/smallbizgrants. | |
BizCare is available by phone, email, or in-person appointment. Call the BizCare Hotline at 562-570-4249, email 4Biz@longbeach.gov, or request assistance for any kind of small business assistance. BizCare can help with business advising, financial resources, city programs, and more. | |
The City of Long Beach continues to expand its innovative business resources with the launch of its Business Insights Tool, a new, free online resource for local businesses that makes big data accessible for small businesses, allowing them to benchmark performance, optimize marketing, and analyze competitors, suppliers, and underserved markets. The Business Insights tool is now available for entrepreneurs and businesses at longbeach.gov/businessinsights. | |
Whether you are looking to create digital marketing assets for the first time or you need to level up your current efforts, CSULB is here to help your small business grow! This program will work with CSULB students enrolled in Marketing 437: Digital Marketing and Media to create customized digital marketing materials to boost your business for free. Students will assist in creating marketing material such as website creation, email marketing, and social media marketing. | |
Take your business to the next level with free online courses, entrepreneurship training, and marketing tools from the Digital Library. Offering notable and distinguished resources such as Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning, the Digital Library contains an invaluable wealth of knowledge to help business owners (and their employees) upskill and lead a successful business. The Digital Library is free for all LBPL cardholders. Sign up for a library card to access these Digital Library Resource. | |
Become a Certified Green Business | |
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The Department of Economic Development will now be certifying businesses for the Green Business Program. Started in Long Beach in 2018 under the Office of Sustainability, the Green Business Program allows businesses to demonstrate their commitment to creating healthier communities and environments. The program provides free technical assistance to businesses to help them implement more sustainable practices. Our staff will support you through the process and connect you with all the resources you'll need to get certified.
This program is available to all Long Beach businesses and non-profits and is free of charge. Businesses that complete the required measures will receive their Green Business Certification good for three years. Businesses can save on utility costs and create a workplace culture that values sustainability. In addition, businesses will have access to marketing materials and gain recognition through the City of Long Beach and California Green Business Network as a Certified Green Business.
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The Certified Blue Restaurant (CBR) program supports and recognizes the outstanding Long Beach restaurants that achieve exceptional water efficiency in our community. Interested restaurants can enroll below to receive a no-cost, on-site efficiency survey, free water-efficient devices (if eligible), and an assessment for other possible rebates. Enroll your restaurant for the Certified Blue Restaurant Program. | |
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Every year, the Port of Long Beach needs small businesses to partner with, to build, maintain, and service the 2nd largest Port in the United States. Small businesses earn millions of dollars as primes and/or sub-contractors on Port contracts.
Small business opportunities are available for a variety of contract types, such as construction, supplies, landscaping, recycling services, technology hardware, software, and even food services. Visit the Port’s Business Opportunities Overview webpage to download a sampling of products/services procured by each Port division.
Port of Long Beach Small Business Enterprise / Very Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program
The main goal of the SBE/VSBE Program is to promote the participation of SBEs and VSBEs on Port contracts and procurements, via prime and subcontracting opportunities. The Port has a 27% annual department-wide goal which is achieved by setting minimum SBE and VSBE participation goals for applicable construction and professional services contracts, and bureau-wide and/or division-wide SBE/VSBE goals on applicable purchases. Learn more about the Port’s SBE/VSBE Program at polb.com/sbe.
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Long Beach Procurement Platform "Long Beach Buys" | |
The City of Long Beach has launched Long Beach Buys, a new purchasing platform and marketplace that is free for all businesses and organizations seeking to do business with the City. Long Beach Buys is part of the City’s Extreme Procurement Makeover initiative, which aims to enhance the City’s procurement process to be more efficient, results-driven, equitable, and sustainable. | |
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Contact the City of Long Beach BizCare Hotline for Immediate Assistance:
Phone number: 562-570-4BIZ (4249)
Days: Monday - Friday
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
City staff will respond to voicemails made after business hours within 24 hours.
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