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Welcome to the Long Beach
Economic Development Department Newsletter!
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In This Edition:
- #CelebrateSafelyLB This Fourth of July Aboard the Iconic Queen Mary
- City of Long Beach Awarded $2.6 Million in State Funding to Expand Youth Employment Opportunities
- Long Beach Expands Free LB Circuit Micro-Transit Service
- City Accepting Bids for Vendor to Operate Lifeguard Tower Advertising Program
- City Seeks Qualified Vendors to Provide Meal Service for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
| | #CelebrateSafelyLB This Fourth of July Aboard the Iconic Queen Mary | | |
Celebrate Independence Day aboard the historic Queen Mary with a one-of-a-kind celebration featuring themed parties through the decades, live entertainment, tasty bites, family fun activities, and a spectacular fifteen-minute fireworks show. Upgrade your experience with VIP ticket options for exclusive access and enhanced amenities or make it a weekend getaway with special overnight room packages. This unforgettable 4th of July celebration is only aboard the Queen Mary!
The City of Long Beach is encouraging residents and visitors to #CelebrateSafelyLB this Fourth of July weekend. Fireworks are illegal in Long Beach and can cost you upwards of $20,000 in response costs or more, plus in fines. Report fireworks here: longbeach.gov/fireworks.
| | City of Long Beach Awarded $2.6 Million in State Funding to Expand Youth Employment Opportunities | |
The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department has been awarded $2.6 million in grant funding from the California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. The funding will be used to expand the City’s nationally recognized youth employment programming and establish new career-building opportunities for local youth with a focus on those who have historically been disconnected from the workforce.
Approved by the Long Beach City Council with a 7 to 0 vote at its May 6, 2025, meeting, and administered through the Department’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) Youth Career Services Center, the funding will support new cohorts under the Long Beach Youth Jobs Corps, including the Public Service Corps, Fire Corps, Urban Planning Internship Program and other youth-centered work experience initiatives aimed at fostering interest in high-demand public sector and civic careers.
The funding will help provide 152 young people with valuable work experience at a competitive rate of $22 per hour for up to 400 hours. This effort, set to run from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2026, will significantly impact local youth by providing substantial employment opportunities and financial support.
| | Long Beach Expands Free LB Circuit Micro-Transit Service | |
The City of Long Beach is significantly enhancing its micro-mobility options with increased service and additional clean-air, accessible vehicles for LB Circuit, a complimentary micro-transit service facilitated by the Department of Public Works. The service is now operating with a larger, more Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible fleet, longer hours and a significantly expanded coverage area between Downtown and Alamitos Bay, improving access to and reducing parking impacts in neighborhoods along the city’s coastline.
With this expansion, the LB Circuit service area will extend to close gaps in the existing route network, adding coverage in Bluff Heights, Bluff Park and the remaining portion of Belmont Heights. In the Downtown area, the service will now reach further south to the Queen Mary and north to 10th Street between Atlantic and Magnolia Avenues. Additionally, service hours will be extended by two hours on Sundays, with service ending at 8 p.m. instead of the current 6 p.m.
| | City Accepting Bids for Vendor to Operate Lifeguard Tower Advertising Program | | The City is launching a Lifeguard Tower Advertisement Program led by the Economic Development Department! We are currently accepting proposals from qualified vendors to manage and operate the new program. Proposals are due Tuesday, July 8, 2025, by 11 a.m. View BID solicitation. | | City Seeks Qualified Vendors to Provide Meal Service for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness | | |
The City of Long Beach is now accepting proposals from qualified vendors to provide meal preparation and delivery services for individuals experiencing homelessness. View BID solicitation.
• Interested vendors are invited to ask questions via email by Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 11 a.m.
• The deadline for submitting proposals is Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 11 a.m.
To learn more and submit a proposal, please visit longbeachbuys.com.
| | Small Biz Spotlight: Good Time Cafe | | |
Good Time Cafe, located at 1322 Coronado Ave., is a LGBTQ+ owned coffee shop here in Long Beach. This cozy café owned by Joey Villalobos is more than just a place to get a delicious cup of brew, it serves as a place of community where differences are not only accepted but also cherished.
The walls of the coffee shop are filled with art from local artists, showing their dedication to creating a welcoming “homely” environment for their customers. Their diverse staff encourages people to come in and share their stories all while sipping on their many flavorful drinks.
| | City of Long Beach Celebrates 16 Certified Green Businesses | |
The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department has certified seven new businesses and re-certified nine as part of its Green Business Program. The green businesses were recognized at the June 3, 2025, Long Beach City Council meeting for their efforts to create a healthier, more sustainable city.
Since the Program started in 2018 under the California Green Business Network, the City has certified 90 Long Beach businesses. The City’s Program offers free certification to local businesses and nonprofits committed to sustainable practices. Participants receive technical assistance to implement measures in energy and water conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction and community education. Businesses are re-certified every three years to ensure continued best practices are implemented as laws and/or best practices change. Certified businesses benefit from marketing support and recognition through city and state platforms. To become a certified green business, businesses can sign-up online.
| | Considering the Future of Your Business? Explore Employee Ownership With Project Equity | | |
Are you a local business owner thinking about succession planning or exploring ways to strengthen your company? Whether you're looking to grow revenue, boost employee engagement, improve operational efficiency, or attract and retain top talent, employee ownership could be a smart path forward.
Transitioning your business—either partially or fully—to employee ownership allows you to sell at fair market value, preserve your company’s roots in the local community, and secure your legacy.
Project Equity, a California-based nonprofit with a strong presence in Long Beach, partners with small and medium-sized locally-owned businesses to explore this powerful option. As a full-service transition partner, they provide customized support based on your goals, hands-on assistance before and after the transition, access to capital, and more.
| | Immigration Compliance for Small Businesses: I-9 Audits, Enforcement Trends, and Worker Protections | |
The California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, in partnership with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, Public Counsel, and California Chamber of Commerce, invites you to an informative webinar designed to help employers understand and comply with evolving federal and state immigration regulations.
This upcoming webinar will focus on small businesses, offering practical guidance to help business owners and Human Resource professionals navigate common challenges related to immigration compliance. Attendees will gain the tools necessary to maintain a lawful workplace, protect their employees, and avoid costly penalties.
Key Topics Covered:
- Latest developments in Form I-9 compliance and documentation requirements
- Trends in worksite enforcement, including immigration audits and investigations
- Practical steps small businesses can take to support workforce stability while maintaining compliance
- Resources and tools available for employers navigating complex immigration issues
| | The Economic Development Department's BizCare Program provides support and resources to small businesses and nonprofits in Long Beach. Our dedicated staff is available to connect you with helpful information regarding grants, loans, technical assistance and more to help your small business thrive. For assistance, call the BizCare Hotline at 562.570.4BIZ (4249), email BizCare@longbeach.gov, or submit an online form. | | The City of Long Beach Visual Improvement Program (VIP) grant provides direct financial relief to local small businesses and nonprofits impacted by crime and vandalism on or after October 1, 2023. Eligible businesses can receive $1,500 to cover repairs to their storefront. Apply online. Applications will remain open until funding is exhausted. For additional information about the VIP or assistance with completing an application, those interested can call the City’s BizCare Hotline at 562.570.4BIZ (4249) or email BizCare@longbeach.gov. | | The City of Long Beach continues to expand its innovative business resources with the launch of its Business Insights Tool, a 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 available for entrepreneurs and businesses at longbeach.gov/businessinsights. | | |
The Economic Development Department is now 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 nonprofits 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. Become a green business today! Visit greenbusinessca.org/cityoflongbeach for more information.
| | Take your business to the next level with free online courses, entrepreneurship training and marketing tools from the Long Beach Public Library. Offering notable and distinguished resources such as Udemy and LinkedIn Learning, the Library offers digital resources to help business owners (and their employees) upskill and lead a successful business. The digital resources are completely free with your library card. Visit the LBPL Digital Library page to get started! | | The Certified Blue Restaurant 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. | | 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. | | |
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.
The main goal of the Small Business Enterprise (SBE)/Very Small Business Enterprise Program (VSBE) 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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The Long Beach Resource Line is a hotline that supports anyone in Long Beach who needs help finding local, City and community resources. Calls are answered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 562.570.4246.
Connect with trained Resource Navigators for assistance with:
- Housing
- Food Access
- Utilities
- Transportation
- Legal Aid
- Mental and Physical Health
- And more!
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For questions and support, contact our BizCare Team!
562.570.4BIZ (4249)
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Calls received after normal business hours will be responded to within 24 business hours.
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