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Welcome to the Long Beach
Economic Development Department Newsletter!
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In This Edition:
- Community Solar Available for Long Beach Residents and Businesses
- Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Offering Regional Export Training and Assistance Program
- Long Beach Board Connection for Prospective Board Members Event
| | Community Solar Available for Long Beach Residents and Businesses | | |
Join Community Solar today! Community solar is supported by the State’s Community Renewables Program carried out by Southern California Edison (SCE). The program aims to provide the benefits of renewable energy without the need to install solar panels on individual properties, making it a great option for renters and homeowners.
Program benefits:
- Save money on your utility bill
- Get solar without the hassle
- Invest in local, clean energy
| | Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Offering Regional Export Training and Assistance Program | | |
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is offering the Regional Export Training and Assistance Program (RETAP) at no cost to eligible manufacturers in Los Angeles and Orange County.
This comprehensive workshop series is funded by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz). The Program provides expert training and resources to help small manufacturers expand internationally.
Benefits of RETAP:
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Comprehensive Export Training: Eight workshops for new exporters, focusing on export fundamentals, and five advanced workshops for current exporters to explore market identification and expansion strategies.
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Personalized Mentorship: Access to a dedicated mentor who will connect you with one of 16 partner organizations to assess export readiness, globalize your website, and identify high-potential markets.
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Market-Entry Support: Guidance on strategies for distribution, pricing, promotion, and ensuring cultural and regulatory compliance.
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Buyer and Distributor Assistance: Support in finding buyers and distributors, negotiating trade terms, and securing payments.
View the workshop schedule online!
| Long Beach Board Connection for Prospective Board Members Event | | |
Thinking about serving on a Nonprofit Board?
Join the Long Beach Board Connection and network with professionals looking to do more within the community together. The event will be held Monday, March 24, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. Register to attend.
The Nonprofit Partnership and Leadership Long Beach are excited to present this opportunity to bring professionals from the corporate, public, and nonprofit sectors together with the intent of building networks and developing Boards of Directors for nonprofit organizations. With nearly 50 nonprofit organizations serving Long Beach in attendance, you'll have the chance to connect with and learn about the many different missions and causes supported by our local nonprofits. Whether you are interested in supporting the arts, children and youth, social services, housing, animals, or the environment, our team is happy to connect you.
| | Pigeon's Roller Skate Shop | | In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re recognizing a woman-owned business here in the city. Pigeon's Roller Skate Shop was established in 2013 by Shayna "Pigeon" Meikle. Her shop at 2148 E. 4th St. sells a variety of roller skates, skate gear and related apparel. She has also opened up two roller rinks, one here in Long Beach and another in Mission Viejo. Shayna was a recipient of the Economic Development Department's Level Up LB: Extreme Small Business Makeover Grant in its inaugural year and continues to be a thriving Long Beach small business. | | City Seeks Vendors to Provide Inclusive Community Outreach and Engagement | | |
The City of Long Beach is seeking qualified vendors to provide community outreach and engagement services across various sectors, including climate resiliency, equity, public health, housing and homelessness, parks and open space, public safety, technology, transportation and other disciplines.
The City has launched this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) with the goal of enhancing the City’s capacity to implement equitable community outreach strategies and ensuring inclusive participation in City programs and projects, while also improving outreach to historically underserved communities with culturally responsive and accessible communication efforts.
The RFQ will open on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and will remain open until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Qualified organizations are encouraged to submit qualifications through the City’s procurement portal, Long Beach Buys.
| | City of Long Beach Recognizes March as National Procurement Month | | |
During the Tuesday, March 4, 2025, meeting, the Long Beach City Council recognized the month of March as National Procurement Month, acknowledging the vital role that procurement plays in delivering essential goods, services and programming to residents, businesses and visitors. To celebrate National Procurement Month, the City has launched a month-long social media campaign to provide information on its procurement process and resources available to businesses and nonprofits interested in contracting with the City.
In addition to procurement information and resources, the campaign will showcase the City’s recently expanded Local Preference Program, which supports local businesses by giving them a competitive edge in the contracting process.
As part of these efforts, the City invites businesses and nonprofits to register on its procurement platform, Long Beach Buys, to gain access to contracting opportunities.
| | City of Long Beach has Implemented a No Trespassing Program | | |
To assist residents experiencing trespassing problems on private property, the City of Long Beach has implemented a “No Trespassing Program.”
To be part of the program, the property owner or owner’s agent must contact their division Patrol Resource Officer and complete the following steps:
1. Fill out and sign a “Request for Service” form
2. Purchase and post the authorized “No Trespassing” signs in a visible location near the property’s problem areas.
3. Turn in the completed forms to the Patrol Resource Officer for filing with the Long Beach Police Department and have him/her verify that the signs are posted.
The posted signs notify the public that you authorize patrol officers to request trespassers leave a property and/or make an arrest when necessary if they refuse to leave.
| | Long Beach Gives – Applications Open Now! | |
Are you part of a nonprofit making a difference in our community? Or do you know an organization that could use more support? Long Beach Gives is here to help!
Since 2019, Long Beach Gives has been the city’s online giving movement, raising millions to support the incredible nonprofits that uplift our community. Whether they’re feeding families, protecting our environment, rescuing animals, empowering youth, or supporting the arts—we celebrate them all!
Who Can Apply?
- Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit or organization with a fiscal sponsor
- ALL sizes welcome! From grassroots groups with $5K annual budgets to multi-million-dollar nonprofits—everyone deserves a spotlight!
- It's FREE to participate!
Applications are open NOW!
| Ascend LA is Now Accepting Applications for its 2025 Cohort | | |
Applications for LISC LA’s Ascend LA 2025 are now open! This premier business accelerator is designed to help small businesses secure contracts tied to major events shaping Los Angeles County, including the 2028 Olympics and World Cup. With billions of dollars in contracts up for grabs, Ascend LA provides the tools, resources, and connections to position your business for success.
What You'll Get:
• Six-month world-class training program taught by Loyola Marymount University faculty and industry experts
• Mentorship, one-on-one support, and networking
• Preparation for lucrative contract opportunities
Applications are open through March 28, 2025.
| | Applications Open for California STEP Grant | | |
The California State Expansion Program (STEP) grant offers financial assistance to eligible California small businesses seeking to expand into foreign markets through STEP events and Export Vouchers.
STEP aims to boost the number of qualified small business exporters and increase the volume of goods and services they export. Eligible California small businesses can participate in up to two (2) STEP events per federal fiscal year, with potential participation in additional events based on space and funding availability. For the Export Voucher, eligible businesses can receive reimbursement for up to 75% of pre-approved expenses, capped at $10,000 per federal fiscal year of October 1, 2024 – September 28, 2025.
| | 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 4Biz@longbeach.gov, or submit an online form. | | 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 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. Administered by the Economic Development Department, eligible businesses can receive $1,500 to cover repairs to their storefront caused by vandalism. For more information about the VIP and to complete an online application, visit longbeach.gov/smallbizgrants. | | |
The Department of Economic Development 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 (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. | | 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. You can also submit your contact information through an Assistance Request Form.
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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