Welcome to the Economic Development Department's Business Brief! We are continuing to ensure you are updated on the latest business resources and news.

Vast, a company developing artificial gravity space stations, has relocated its corporate headquarters to Long Beach. With the relocation to Space Beach it will allow Vast to grow their engineering team, expand research and development efforts and begin the installation of production equipment. Vast said it projects to have about 700 employees by the end of 2027.

Read more about Vast in the article from the Los Angeles Business Journal.

The City of Long Beach has launched the 2023 Smart City Challenge! The Smart City Challenge, conducted annually, enables City staff to explore pilot technology solutions that address critical City needs. These pilot projects are intended to provide City staff with a no-cost opportunity to quickly understand how we might adopt technology and leverage partnerships to drive innovative and equitable service delivery for our residents, in alignment with our Smart City Strategy.

More information specific to each challenge, including project background, detailed objectives, and minimum requirements, can be found on the 2023 Smart City Challenge website. The submission period for vendors will close on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. Interested vendors are also invited to attend an open Q&A session on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. 

The Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach, a bureau within the Department of Health and Human Services, is offering several incentives to encourage new housing providers to lease up with people who are assisted through its Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) and Housing Choice Voucher programs.

The Housing Authority is providing monetary incentives – including direct payments to landlords – to cover leasing bonuses, security deposits, utility deposits, application fees, and damage mitigation or repairs. Additional resources are available to help EHV families with costs associated with moving, renter’s insurance and furnishing their units. 

Housing providers interested in learning more or signing up for an information session may can call 562.570.6985, e-mail HA-Owners@longbeach.gov or visit longbeach.gov/haclb.

The City of Long Beach is hosting two Sidewalk Vending Community Feedback Meetings to seek community feedback on the development of sidewalk vending regulations for Long Beach. Feedback from the community meetings will be utilized to help inform sidewalk vending regulations that address the needs and concerns of sidewalk vendors, residents, business owners and other stakeholders. Community members are encouraged to join the conversation by participating in one of the community meetings.

Learn more and register for the Community Feedback Meetings in the press release. For additional questions, people may call 562.570.6211 or email lbbiz@longbeach.gov with the subject line, “Sidewalk Vending.”

The City of Long Beach recently launched its new Long Beach Collaboratory (LB Co-Lab), to engage residents with civic technology design and equip them with technology skills to thrive in our “smart” economy. The LB Co-Lab will engage local Long Beach stakeholders in a collaborative community engagement process to implement new pilot technology projects in four targeted neighborhoods of focus: Hamilton, Ramona Park, Willmore, and the Lower Westside.

This program will ensure the City invests in technology enhancements based on community-identified needs, while also teaching community members about technology design and development! Those interested in participating in the program are encouraged to submit an interest form on the LB Co-Lab webpage.

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), announced a second round of nearly $45 million in new funding for the California Venues Grant Program. The program provides grants to eligible independent live events venues whose revenues were impacted by COVID-19 in 2020.

The first round of the California Venues Grant Program application period is December 19, 2022, through January 31, 2023. Distributing more than $111.5 million in the fall of 2021 to nearly 830 eligible independent live events venues, including more than 150 women-owned businesses and 587 small businesses in low-income areas.

The next California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) application period starts Tuesday, January 3, 2023, with $120 million in available tax credits. Businesses interested in applying can register to view a live webinar explaining the application process.

The deadline to submit applications is Monday, January 23, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. and the online application website will automatically close once this deadline has passed. The online application can be accessed starting January 3, 2023, at www.calcompetes.ca.gov.

The City of Long Beach launched its electric-powered shuttle service for the Downtown Long Beach – Alamitos Beach neighborhoods as part of the Micro-Transit Shuttle program. This is the second and final fleet of electric-powered shuttles, which will operate Thursdays through Sundays*, and are intended to support mobility programs for economic recovery, promote non-automotive transportation modes for trips under three miles and alleviate parking impacts by connecting to nearby underutilized parking lots.

All riders are encouraged to download the Ride Circuit mobile app, available from any app store, or by visiting ridecircuit.com/ride for more information. For more information, visit the City of Long Beach Micro-Transit Shuttle program webpage.

The BizCare Pop-Ups have transitioned to once per week taking place Thursdays at different locations throughout the city. Find the latest schedule at longbeach.gov/bizcare.

Walk-ins are welcome, or you can schedule an appointment with one of our Pop-Up staff members with services are delivered in English, Spanish, and Khmer: Niyah (English), Rachel (English, Khmer), Sam (English, Spanish), Ariel (English, Spanish).

To learn more about the BizCare Pop-Ups or for questions call the BizCare Hotline at 562-570-4249 or email 4Biz@longbeach.gov.

The Long Beach Water Department is offering a Free Spray Valves Program for Long Beach Restaurants. To register for your free replacement and installation of high efficiency pre-rinse spray valves and faucet aerators, please visit the registration site and complete the form in its entirety.

Following your registration, the LBWD program representative will contact you to schedule your installation. If you require assistance, email waterconservation@lbwater.org

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.

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 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.

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.

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.