City of Long Beach Business Brief
June 24, 2022
Welcome to the Economic Development Department's Business Brief! We are continuing to ensure you are updated on the latest business resources and news.
ActivateLB Seed Grants Available to Grow Community Events, Activate Businesses
Long Beach, CA – Applications are being accepted starting June 21, 2022 for the City of Long Beach’s recently announced ActivateLB grants, providing Long Beach Recovery Act funding to support neighborhood cultural events and activate small businesses. The application period is open through July 21, 2022.

Additional information regarding the application process and eligibility requirements can be found on the Recovery Act Grant Opportunities webpage at longbeach.gov/ActivateLB.

As part of the City’s ongoing efforts to provide application assistance for Recovery Act-related programs, Economic Development’s BizCare Program will offer free assistance for the ActivateLB Grant Programs. Free application assistance is available at 562.570.4249 or 4biz@longbeach.gov. In-person assistance is also available at various BizCare Pop-Ups, with the latest schedule at longbeach.gov/bizcare.
BizCare PopUps
The BizCare Pop-Ups are located at various locations throughout the City and operate Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. 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: Rachel (English, Khmer), Leaandro (English, Spanish).
Zone In: City Core (ACZIP), previously known as the Anaheim Corridor Zoning Implementation Plan (ACZIP), is a joint effort between the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach community to update zoning regulations in the area bounded by Pacific Coast Highway, 10th Street, Magnolia and Ximeno Avenues.
 
The Zone In: City Core (ACZIP) project will update zoning regulations to support the development of new housing and a greater mix of uses particularly along commercial corridors in the area, including Anaheim Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The plan will create a more complete community where residents, businesses, jobs and shopping are located near each other with a more pedestrian-friendly design.
 
If you are a business owner in the City Core project area, we encourage your participation in the business survey linked below. Please feel free to share this survey with other business owners in the project area. Additional information on the Zone In: City Core project can be found on the project webpage.
Community Survey also available in Spanish, Khmer; Vietnamese
Long Beach New Procurement Platform "Long Beach Buys"
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. The new procurement software positions the City to more effectively engage with local, diverse and disadvantaged businesses and facilitates the lowering of barriers for prospective businesses to contract with the City with easy-to-use technology, a landing page and instructions available in multiple languages, and an expeditious vendor onboarding process. 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.
Long Beach Resource Line
Digital Inclusion Resources Hotline
The Hotline connects the Long Beach community to digital inclusion resources, services and language interpretation services. 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 direct 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 digitalinclusion@longbeach.gov. 
My Hood My City
Public Mural Program
This Public Mural Program is designed to enhance the local environment, promoting enjoyment and understanding of public art by inviting emerging artists to contribute to the City’s collection of neighborhood murals. This program provides funding for artists proposing mural installations at a public facility through one-time grant funding for design, installation, and ongoing maintenance that uplifts, highlights, and embraces the layers of history and culture of Long Beach.
The Public Mural Program, also part of the Creative Economy Program, will remain open until August 5.
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.