|
Welcome to the Long Beach
Economic Development Department Newsletter!
| | |
In This Edition:
- City of Long Beach Releases RFP to Support Cannabis Equity Applicants with Technical Assistance
- Stay Connected With Our New Internet Assistance Hotline
- The Queen Mary Hosts American Red Cross Blood Drive
- Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei Returns In July
| | City of Long Beach Releases RFP to Support Cannabis Equity Applicants with Technical Assistance | | |
The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department is excited to announce the release of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. ED-25-618 for Direct Technical Assistance, specifically designed to support applicants in the Cannabis Equity Program. This initiative aims to provide vital resources and expert guidance to equity applicants, helping to foster a more inclusive and sustainable cannabis industry in Long Beach. The RFP will officially be released on July 17, 2025, inviting qualified organizations to submit their proposals to assist equity applicants with navigating regulatory, operational, and business challenges.
Interested parties should take note of important deadlines:
- questions regarding the RFP are due by July 31, 2025
- responses to be posted on August 14, 2025.
- Final proposals must be submitted by August 28, 2025.
This opportunity marks a significant step toward advancing equity and economic development within Long Beach’s cannabis sector.
| | Stay Connected With Our New Internet Assistance Hotline | | |
We're excited to announce a vital new resource aimed at enhancing digital inclusion in our community: the Internet Service Enrollment line! This hotline connects you to low-cost internet services and a variety of digital inclusion resources that can empower your daily life.
Digital inclusion navigators are available to assist you Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eligibility for assistance includes programs such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and other similar programs. To learn more, call (844) 321-4472 or visit us at longbeach.gov/digitalinclusion. Let's work together to ensure everyone in Long Beach stays connected!
| | The Queen Mary Hosts American Red Cross Blood Drive | | |
The Queen Mary, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will be hosting a blood drive Friday, July 18th, in the Queens Salon. If you would like to donate, you can sign up through the link below.
People who sign up get free ship admission and a Fandango gift card through American Red Cross!
| | Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei Returns In July | |
Long Beach is once again becoming a vibrant public art gallery this summer as the highly anticipated Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei festival returns from Sunday, July 20 through Saturday, July 26, 2025. Now in its 10th edition, this city‑wide, free public art celebration will feature the largest murals yet, interactive art installations, sculpture exhibitions, gallery shows, a buzzing night market, and live performances. These companion events have already endowed Long Beach with more than 120 permanent murals painted by over 129 artists and fueled more than $2 million in creative placemaking to date.
Guided by this year’s theme “Art: A Catalyst for Change,” the festivals spotlight emerging and established artists whose work engages with environmental awareness, social identity, and community resilience. Activities include artist-led panels, hands-on workshops, and a closing block party with DJs and a beer garden.
| | Small Biz Spotlight: Rosales Nursery | | Located at 6919 Myrtle Ave., the family-owned Rosales Nursery is the perfect place for local plant enthusiasts! Specializing in cacti, succulents and indoor plants, this beautiful nursery offers a wide variety of different kinds of plants to fit everyone’s unique styles and tastes. Many patrons praise the nursery for their wide selection of greenery as well as the high quality of the plants that are available for sale. | | City of Long Beach Awarded $2.6 Million in State Funding to Expand Youth Employment Opportunities | |
The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department has been awarded $2.6 million in grant funding from the California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. The funding will be used to expand the City’s nationally recognized youth employment programming and establish new career-building opportunities for local youth with a focus on those who have historically been disconnected from the workforce.
Approved by the Long Beach City Council with a 7 to 0 vote at its May 6, 2025, meeting, and administered through the Department’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) Youth Career Services Center, the funding will support new cohorts under the Long Beach Youth Jobs Corps, including the Public Service Corps, Fire Corps, Urban Planning Internship Program and other youth-centered work experience initiatives aimed at fostering interest in high-demand public sector and civic careers.
The funding will help provide 152 young people with valuable work experience at a competitive rate of $22 per hour for up to 400 hours. This effort, set to run from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2026, will significantly impact local youth by providing substantial employment opportunities and financial support.
| | Long Beach Expands Free LB Circuit Micro-Transit Service | |
The City of Long Beach is significantly enhancing its micro-mobility options with increased service and additional clean-air, accessible vehicles for LB Circuit, a complimentary micro-transit service facilitated by the Department of Public Works. The service is now operating with a larger, more Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible fleet, longer hours and a significantly expanded coverage area between Downtown and Alamitos Bay, improving access to and reducing parking impacts in neighborhoods along the city’s coastline.
With this expansion, the LB Circuit service area will extend to close gaps in the existing route network, adding coverage in Bluff Heights, Bluff Park and the remaining portion of Belmont Heights. In the Downtown area, the service will now reach further south to the Queen Mary and north to 10th Street between Atlantic and Magnolia Avenues. Additionally, service hours will be extended by two hours on Sundays, with service ending at 8 p.m. instead of the current 6 p.m.
| | City Seeks Qualified Vendors to Provide Meal Service for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness | | |
The City of Long Beach is now accepting proposals from qualified vendors to provide meal preparation and delivery services for individuals experiencing homelessness. View BID solicitation.
• Interested vendors are invited to ask questions via email by Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 11 a.m.
• The deadline for submitting proposals is Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 11 a.m.
To learn more and submit a proposal, please visit longbeachbuys.com.
| | 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 BizCare@longbeach.gov, or submit an online form. | | The City of Long Beach 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. Eligible businesses can receive $1,500 to cover repairs to their storefront. Apply online. Applications will remain open until funding is exhausted. For additional information about the VIP or assistance with completing an application, those interested can call the City’s BizCare Hotline at 562.570.4BIZ (4249) or email BizCare@longbeach.gov. | | 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 Economic Development Department 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 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.
| | |
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. at 562.570.4246.
Connect with trained Resource Navigators for assistance with:
- Housing
- Food Access
- Utilities
- Transportation
- Legal Aid
- Mental and Physical Health
- And more!
| | |
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.
| | | | |
