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In This Edition:
- City of Long Beach Awards $266,000 to Level Up Small Businesses
- Become a Certified Green Business Today through the City of Long Beach's Economic Development Department!
- Grants Available for Historic Preservation and Projects in Long Beach!
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The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department has awarded $266,000 in grants to 29 businesses that have successfully completed its Level Up LB: Extreme Small Business Makeover and Grant Program (Level Up LB). Level Up LB connects entrepreneurs with essential support and resources to help small businesses grow and thrive.
The awarded businesses include a mix of restaurants, retail shops and health and wellness facilities citywide. Participating entrepreneurs completed a series of workshops, received personalized business counseling from Inclusive Business Navigators and other local partners and established comprehensive business plans over the course of the three-month program. Twenty five small businesses have been awarded $10,000 in grant funding. Businesses also received a one-year membership to the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and a marketing package from Visit Long Beach. Additionally, four more businesses that were selected as alternates and successfully completed the Program were each awarded $4,000 grants.
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Become a Certified Green Business Today through the City of Long Beach's Economic Development Department! | |
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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 Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association (LBNMHA aka "Navy Trust") announces the opening of the 2024-2025 grant cycle. The LBNMHA will award grants between $5,000 and $50,000 to qualified US-based approved 501(C)(3) nonprofit, educational, or governmental organizations performing historic preservation projects or that further the cause of preservation in the City of Long Beach. | |
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As part of the ongoing effort to expand the City of Long Beach’s business resources portfolio, the Economic Development Department has launched the Long Beach Vacancy to Vibrancy Real Estate Map, an interactive mapping tool where business owners, entrepreneurs and prospective businesses can access data on real estate available for lease or purchase throughout Long Beach. Now available at longbeach.gov/vacancytovibrancy, the complimentary tool provides entrepreneurs and business owners with information to find the most suitable space for their business needs.
The map’s easy-to-navigate interface encourages business owners and entrepreneurs to engage in strategic decision-making and simplifies the way users can identify potential sites that offer prospects for economic growth for their business. Users can explore available listings by clicking on the interactive map to review site specific details, including location, description and intended use of space; or by using the filter or keyword feature to search by listing type, property type, square footage and more.
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The City of Long Beach has launched the next phase of its Sidewalk to Success program and is now accepting applications for its food cart giveaway initiative for eligible sidewalk vendors. The Sidewalk to Success program, which provides assistance to achieve compliance while easing the financial burden for small businesses during the first year the City’s Sidewalk Vending Ordinance is in effect, will provide up to 40 free carts to local sidewalk food vendors who meet eligibility requirements.
The cart giveaway application is in three parts: the business license form and readiness checklist; the plan submittal checklist and menu; and the final approval checklist. Other forms, such as a restroom agreement, could be required depending on the business plan. More information on how to apply for a free cart and all the application documents are available on the program webpage.
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The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department is offering a paid internship program focused on fostering collaboration through real-world learning experiences for college students interested in pursuing careers in urban planning and civic engagement.
The program is open to students ages 18 to 30 who are currently enrolled in a community college or four-year university program majoring in urban planning, architecture or related fields. Priority will be given to applicants who are residents of Long Beach and those in low-income and underserved communities. Participants must have a reliable mode of transportation. Additional information regarding eligibility and requirements is available on the program webpage. Eligible candidates are encouraged to apply online through Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.
For additional information about the program and other youth and adult employment services, the public may contact Eli Romero at 562.570.3762 or Eli.Romero@pacific-gateway.org.
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The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is pleased to announce that the application process for its fall-winter season Community Events Microgrant Program is now open.
In an effort to empower local initiatives and attract and support the creation of live events in Downtown Long Beach, the Community Events Microgrant Program offers five $1,000 grants for individuals, groups, businesses, neighborhood associations, and nonprofits who want to hold community events in Downtown.
The application process is now open for events taking place between Oct. 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025. Community Events Microgrant applicants are encouraged to review DTLB Alliance’s service area boundaries to make sure their proposed event will take place within them. Five $1,000 grants will be awarded. For complete application guidelines and to apply, please click here. The deadline to submit is Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024.
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Upcoming Events and Workshops | |
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SCORE : ONLINE: Basics of Starting a Business – ALB
- September 21, 2024, 10:30am
SBDC: Digital Marketing Strategies For Measurable Results
- September 25, 2024, 10:00 am
SCORE: Loans, Grants and Other Funding Options for Hispanic-Owned Businesses
- September 25, 2024, 1:00pm
SCORE: ONLINE: How to Start a Non-Profit - Alb
- September 25, 2024, 7:00pm
SCORE: Step-by-Step Email Marketing Guide For Your Business
- September 26, 2024, 1:00pm
SBDC: Developing An Actionable Business Plan
- September 26, 2024, 1:00 pm
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Visit the BizCare Pop-Ups for in-person business assistance on Thursdays at different locations throughout the city. Find the Popup's latest schedule at longbeach.gov/bizcare. Pop-Up services are delivered in English, Spanish, and Khmer. 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. | |
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. | |
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 10/1/2022. 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. | |
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The Commercial Corridor Façade Improvement Program (CCFIP) will provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to commercial property owners to significantly improve the appearance of the entire façade of their property that is visible from the street.
Visit the program webpage for more information and eligibility requirements.
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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. | |
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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