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

The City of Long Beach announced the availability of grant funds through the Visual Improvement Program Grant, which will support local businesses impacted by crime and vandalism on or after Oct. 1, 2022. This program aims to ease the burden of property crimes and vandalism for small businesses throughout the city, with property crimes as a whole increasing from 2021 to 2022. A total of $350,000 will be available, repurposed from Long Beach Recovery Act funds.

Applications will open on Feb. 22, with more information and online application available at longbeach.gov/smallbizgrants. Applications will remain open until funding is exhausted. Grant awards will be issued on a rolling basis to eligible applicants. VIP Grant activities will be tracked through, reported on, and communicated via the Long Beach Recovery Act website. For more information, visit the Long Beach Recovery Act website at longbeach.gov/recovery/reporting-data/.

LA County’s Department of Economic Opportunity offers more than $54 million in grants to the business and nonprofit community. Potential grantees may be awarded between $2,500 and $25,000 with Phase 1 starting on January 25, 2023, initially targeting microbusinesses with less than $50,000 in annual gross revenue.



Grants for small businesses and nonprofits will be available in Phase 2, opening in late February 2023. Microbusinesses may apply now!

The Ascend LA 2023 program will begin in March 2023, and will include management education sessions delivered online on Saturday mornings led by professors from Loyola Marymount University College of Business Administration, and strategy sessions led by the award-winning business development team CMG Alliance. Participants will also receive: 

• 10 hours of 1 -on-1 advising services with our business navigators 
• 4 procurement strategy sessions  
• 12 management education sessions 
• Networking opportunities with public contracting agencies, prime contractors, and lenders

Applications are due February 17 at 11:59pm PST. To learn more, visit the application website.

The City of Long Beach announced a total of $100,000 in new Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Grant awards, which will support sidewalk activation, special events, and clean and safe initiatives. This program is in addition to the existing LB Recovery Act funding for BID Grants.

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.

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.

Join the Economic Development Commission Meeting on Monday, February 13th at 4:00pm. Agenda TBD.

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.