City of Long Beach Business Brief
May 13, 2022
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Welcome to the Economic Development Department's Business Brief! We are continuing to ensure you are updated on the latest business resources and news. |
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Economic Development Commission Meeting |
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Did you miss the Economic Development Commission Meeting on Monday, May 9 at 4:00 p.m?
Be a part of planning the City’s Blueprint for Economic Development! The Blueprint focuses on advancing a 10-year vision of making Long Beach a City of opportunity for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs.
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Long Beach Recovery Act Grants Still Open |
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The City of Long Beach continues accepting applications for the Long Beach Recovery Act Small Business and Non-Profit Relief grants, a new recovery program to help small businesses and nonprofits that have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now until 8 p.m. on May 15, 2022 and June 15, eligible small businesses and nonprofits can apply to receive working capital to help pay for a variety of business expenses.
Applications can be submitted through LiveStories, the City’s vendor application portal. The City will begin to review and award grant applications as early as April 15, so businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Additional information, including eligibility requirements, required documentation, application questions and the application process, is available at longbeach.gov/smallbizgrants.
Currently available grant opportunities include:
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Restaurant, Brewery and Bar Relief Grant will provide direct financial relief to small Long Beach food and beverage businesses. Eligible small businesses can receive between $5,000 and $25,000 to support their business.
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Personal Services and Fitness Relief Grant will provide direct financial relief to small Long Beach personal services and fitness businesses. Eligible small businesses can receive between $5,000 and $25,000 to support their business.
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Small Business Relief Grant will provide direct financial relief to small Long Beach businesses that do not qualify for the Restaurant, Brewery and Bar Grant nor the Personal Services and Fitness Relief Grant. Eligible small businesses can receive between $2,500 and $10,000 to support their business.
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Non-Profit Relief Grant will provide direct financial relief to 501c3, 501c19, and fiscally sponsored nonprofits. Eligible nonprofits can receive between $5,000 and $25,000 to support their nonprofit.
The City is partnering with community-based organizations to serve as Business Navigators and offer free assistance for small businesses and nonprofits applying for grant programs and has contracted with LiveStories to provide comprehensive grants administration support services.
Businesses and nonprofits can access free application assistance by calling the City’s BizCare Hotline at 562.570.4249, emailing [email protected],
Technical support for the LiveStories online portal is available weekdays from
This opportunity is made possible by Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $20 million has been allocated for business support under the Recovery Act. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.
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Economic Development Employment Opportunity |
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The City of Long Beach, Economic Development Department is recruiting at-will, part-time Administrative Interns to serve as BizCare Interns. BizCare is a program that connects diverse small businesses to important resources, such as grants, loans, and technical assistance through a proactive, community-based approach to economic and digital inclusion. The BizCare Interns are responsible for engaging small business owners and entrepreneurs in Long Beach to share information about resources, grants, loans, and programs that can support their businesses. This recruitment will close at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
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The City of Long Beach has launched a Request for Proposals seeking organizations to partner with the City’s Department of Economic Development to provide outreach, education and technical assistance for local small businesses and nonprofits to support their economic recovery from financial hardships and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible organizations are encouraged to submit proposals through the City’s Vendor Portal, PlanetBids, by 11 a.m. on June 1.
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The City of Long Beach is seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals to provide direct technical assistance to Cannabis Social Equity Program participants (“Equity Applicants”) pursuing cannabis business ownership or operating legal cannabis businesses in the City of Long Beach. Eligible firms or individuals are encouraged to submit proposals through the City’s Vendor Portal, PlanetBids, by 11:00 a.m. on May 20, 2022.
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The City of Long Beach has launched a Request for Proposals (RFPs) seeking an organization to partner with the City’s Department of Health and Human Services and local organizations to provide training and technical assistance for a cohort of community-based organizations (CBOs) engaged in the Promotora/Community Health Champions Program who will work to create a more robust network of Health Champions in Long Beach. Eligible organizations are encouraged to submit proposals through the City’s Vendor Portal, PlanetBids, by 11 a.m. on May 23, 2022.
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The City of Long Beach launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) to partner with community organizations to implement programs that address the systemic barriers and racism that created the inequitable differences seen locally throughout the pandemic and address the impacts of COVID-19 in the most at-risk, historically underserved and under-resourced communities in Long Beach. RFPs for organizations are in nine different activity categories outlined below and further described in the RFP. Eligible organizations are encouraged to submit proposals through the City's Vendor Portal, PlanetBids, by 11 a.m. on June 13, 2022. Specific details related to project scope areas, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions are available at PlanetBids. The City also has developed an instructional video on the registration process.
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NEXT Long Beach Small Business Accelerator |
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Is this the year you take your business to the next level?
Building your business is challenging – but you don’t have to do it alone.
Run your business with CONFIDENCE.
The FREE program includes personalized mentorship, Mastermind sessions for peer idea exchange and accountability, expert workshops, and online networking events with other highly motivated entrepreneurs in our community.
Own your business. Own your future.
If you or someone you know is interested: Apply Today! (May 15 deadline)
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Get connected now to digital inclusion resources and services! The City’s Technology and Innovation Department has relaunched its Digital Inclusion Resources Hotline ( (562)570-7000! The Hotline is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act as part of the City’s Digital Inclusion Initiative.
A team of digital inclusion navigators will be available via email and by phone on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to connect residents and business owners to information about free and low-cost internet services, computing devices, digital literacy training, and more.
One-on-one assistance and language interpretation services will be available for callers in English and Spanish through the digital inclusion navigators, with language interpretation services in Khmer and Tagalog available upon request.
Hotline resources are available by calling (562)570-7000 or by emailing [email protected].
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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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411 W. Ocean Blvd Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 570-4249
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