City of Long Beach Business Brief
May 28, 2021
Welcome to the Economic Development Department's Business Brief! We are continuing to ensure you are updated on the latest business resources and news.
Small Business Grant Recipient-
Kassandra's Boutique
This week we kickoff a series focused on highlighting businesses that received small business grants thanks to support from the City of Long Beach. Kassandra’s Boutique is a woman-owned business located in Downtown Long Beach. The business owner received assistance through our BizCare Pop-Ups where Economic Development staff helped Kassandra's Boutique apply for local, state, and federal small business grant programs. Kassandra's Boutique has received an estimated $30,000 in grants to help their small business survive and recover!

The City of Long Beach is committed to helping small businesses survive and recover. Businesses may benefit from grant programs that the City of Long Beach provides. Some of these programs will be available in June 2021 while others will launch later this summer.

For the full list of upcoming and current grants click here.
KIVA Loan Recipient
We are thrilled to announce that a recent KIVA campaign for Antonio’s AFG hair salon for a $9,500 loan has been fully funded! Antonio is an entrepreneur that has come from New York to Long Beach to pursue his dreams. He will be using the loan to purchase specific items for his business (specialized furniture, construction supplies, and more). The KIVA loan will also help Antonio continue his efforts to make a positive social impact as an advocate in his endeavors for women experiencing a housing crisis. Antonio has connected with non-profit organizations focused on helping women experiencing a housing crisis in the Long Beach area, in which he will provide services to their clients.
 
Check out Antonio’s KIVA campaign:

Long Beach entrepreneurs can access 0% interest rates, no-fee loans, and up to $15,000 through KIVA (www.kiva.org), a nonprofit organization focused on expanding financial opportunities to small businesses in the community. The City of Long Beach has partnered with LISC-LA to ensure that the business owners, that may be unable to access traditional commercial loans from a bank, can find KIVA loans to be a successful tool to sustain or grow their business.

KIVA Requirements for to business owners:
  • Must be 18 years and older
  • Business must be based in the United States
  • Food, farming, social services, fashion, or retail-based businesses are ideal

The City of Long Beach is now accepting applicants to endorse through the KIVA process. To learn more, please contact Fatima.Avila@longbeach.gov or call (562) 570-4249.

To learn more about other City of Long Beach loan programs click here.
UPS 2021 Small Business Grant Application
UPS is committed to keeping Latinx-Owned small businesses moving forward. Covid-19 has impacted small businesses across the board and minority small business community have been especially hard hit. UPS has partnered with the USHCC to invest in keeping Latinx-Owned small businesses moving forward. Together they are making a donation to provide direct assistance to small businesses in need.
Applications are open until Friday, June 11, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Grant Criteria: 
  • Applicants must be a small business with less than 20 full-time employees. 
  • Applicants must be a majority Hispanic-owned business with an active EIN or ITIN number.
  • The business must have been in operation for at least 9 months from the date that you complete this form.
  • The business registered main address must be located in the U.S. states or territories. 
  • Typical grant amounts will be $5,000 per business that is selected. 

If you have any technical difficulties filling out this grant application, please contact Brianna Dimas at bdimas@ushcc.com or 210-639-5587. 
Long Beach Economic Partnership Quarterly Forum
Mark your calendars! On Thursday, June 17 join the Long Beach Economic Partnership for Accelerate Long Beach, which will focus on exploring the history, present and future of Long Beach’s aerospace, satellite and technology industries.
 
You'll hear from the Cal State University, Long Beach Office of Economic Research about Long Beach’s economic picture, and how the long history of aerospace innovation in the region means the road to Mars goes through the LBC. 
 
You'll also hear from space and technology business leaders on how starting their business in Long Beach or relocating to the area set their company up for success in this increasingly competitive field.
 
This live, virtual conference is free and open to all! Live Q&A sessions with the speakers and experts will provide deeper insight into Long Beach’s economic picture, and the future of the local aerospace and technology industry.
 
The information and data they'll share will be useful not only to those already doing business in the city, but anyone looking to invest in Long Beach.
Commercial Improvement Rebate Program 
The Commercial Improvement Rebate Program provides rebates of up to $2,000 per project to commercial property owners and business owners to improve the exterior of their commercial properties along designated business corridors (CDBG Areas Map). Exterior improvements such as painting, signage, exterior tile or brick veneer, window replacement, and security lights are some common exterior improvements. Pre-approval is required for all proposed improvements.

Eligibility requirements are available for download in EnglishSpanish, Tagalog, or Khmer.

Note: If you own a property as well as a business on that property, you may qualify for two separate $2,000 rebates, provided that different exterior work is being performed. An example would be one rebate used for signage and the other used for painting. If you believe this applies to you, you must fill out an application for both.

Completed and signed applications must be mailed to:

Commercial Improvement Rebate Program
411 W. Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor,
Long Beach, CA 90802

For more information contact the Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau at (562) 570-6866 or Phillip.Jennings@longbeach.gov.
Free Entrepreneur Courses
Do you have a brilliant business idea? Are you ready to hire your first employee? Do you need capital to expand your business? DreamBuilder empowers entrepreneurs through free online entrepreneurial training. DreamBuilder offers online courses that teach the skills and knowledge to start or grow a business.

Courses are interactive, convenient and available in both Spanish and English. Best of all, they're free.

TWO PROGRAMS:

1) DreamBuilder - 13 sessions - How to start or grow your business. You will develop a personalized business plan, and receive a Certificate of Completion.
2) Finance Your Dream - 1 session - Learn about different types of capital and create an action plan to secure it. You will develop a Capital Action Plan and receive a Certificate of Completion.
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.