City of Long Beach Business Brief
May 21, 2021
Welcome to the Economic Development Department's Business Brief! We are continuing to ensure you are updated on the latest business resources and news.
Long Beach Permit Center at City Hall Begins Limited In-Person Services for Customers
The Long Beach Development Permit Center, located on the 2nd Floor of City Hall, is now open for limited in-person services by appointment only for Express Permits related to minor construction projects. Same-day appointments can be scheduled when available (walk-ins without appointments will not be allowed).

In-person appointments may be scheduled Monday through Friday, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. For detailed information and to book an appointment, visit: longbeach.gov/permits.

Patrons of the Permit Center should be aware of the following current guidelines and procedures:
  • Those with appointments entering City Hall must wear a face covering and adhere to other COVID-19 safety guidelines, including occupancy restrictions.
  • All appointments are for minor construction projects that qualify for an Express Permit. Examples include water heater replacements, electrical service or heating upgrades, window replacements and re-roofs. See Information Bulletin IB-058 Express Permit Service for a list of minor construction projects that qualify for this service.
  • Customers should be prepared to submit all applicable materials as digital PDF files on a USB device.  
  • Online services will continue to be available for other types of projects that do not qualify for in-person service. 
Open Streets and Patio Dining Extended
On Tuesday, City Council approved an extension for the Long Beach parklet program, which gave restaurants and other businesses an opportunity to expand service outside during the pandemic. The program will be extended through the end of October.The extension will allow many of the businesses that opened parklets to apply to make them permanent, including those on Pine Avenue in the Downtown area that were closed to traffic completely.The parklet program was set to originally expire June 30.As part of Tuesday’s decision, the businesses that apply for permanent parklets will have to go through a permitting process and adhere to guidelines established by the city.
The application process could include review of safety concerns due to traffic conditions on the streets they’re located, effects on parking in the area and feedback from residents who live around them.

The city has over 100 temporary parklets throughout the city but some have already begun to come down. The extension of the program would apply to parklets and to the complete street shutdown of Pine Avenue, something that members of the council have expressed interest in making permanent.
But the city already announced that it would be reopening lanes on Atlantic Avenue in Bixby Knolls that had been temporarily closed to allow area restaurants to expand out into the street. Those lanes are expected to reopen next week.

The state is expected to lift most of its remaining COVID-19 guidelines on June 15.June 15 is also be the day that California will loosen mandates on wearing masks in public settings for those who are vaccinated.
Caltrans Encampment Clean-ups 
As a result of an agenda item presented to Council in November 2020, our City is making headway on partnership efforts with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in tackling trash and debris clean-ups and homeless encampment abatement in our high-need freeway on/off ramps. See the latest City Manager memo with details on these efforts and what the City is doing to address the health and safety concerns of our Long Beach community.
Businesses may be eligible for 2021 employee retention tax credits of up to $7,000 per quarter and up to $28,000 annually per employee. These credits deliver cash flow as soon as they are claimed. Businesses can file for this credit every quarter of 2021 on the form 941and may also receive an advance payment of a portion of the credit.
 
Get paid back for keeping employees on the payroll if your business:
  • Has 500 or fewer employees;
  • Was at least partly closed due to a government order OR the business’s revenue declined by 20% or more for any quarter this year; AND
  • You kept employees on the payroll:
  • You may be eligible for 2021 employee retention tax credits of up to $28,000 per employee. And the longer you keep your employees on payroll, the more benefits you are eligible to receive.
  • For 2021, the employee retention credit (ERC) is a quarterly tax credit against the employer’s share of certain payroll taxes. The tax credit is 70% of the first
  • $10,000 in wages per employee in each quarter of 2021. That means this credit is worth up to $7,000 per quarter and up to $28,000 per year, for each employee. If the amount of the tax credit for an employer is more than the amount of the employer’s share of those payroll taxes owed for a given quarter, the excess is refunded – paid – directly to them
 
 
(1) your business was fully or partially shut down due to a governmental order during any part of the quarter, or (2) the business’s gross receipts in a quarter declined more than 20% compared to either (a) the same quarter in 2019 or (b) the immediately preceding quarter in 2020 or 2021. If the answer to either question is YES, and the business had 500 or fewer employees, then any wages paid in the quarter may count towards the $10,000 per employee amount.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund Still Open
Applications are still open for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. SBA is awarding funding through the Restaurant Revitalization Program to restaurants, bars, and other similar places of business that serve food or drink. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

The Call Center is available in 10 languages for questions at 844-279-8898. 

If you would like to prepare your application view and complete the SBA Form 3172 sample application form.

For more information and to prepare your application please visit,  www.sba.gov/restaurants (en Español: www.sba.gov/restaurantes). 
United Cambodian Community Webinars
UCC provides culturally competent social services to the Cambodian community in Long Beach, home of Cambodia Town. UCC is a multi-service agency providing youth development, workforce development, gang prevention, and mental health services to address the changing needs of the growing Cambodian population. Currently, UCC’s mission is to elevate the Cambodian community through local engagement and leadership that embodies Cambodian cultural values.

Upcoming webinars topics include:
Centro CHA Small Business, Micro-Grant Program, General COVID-19 Updates, Paycheck Protection Program, Updates, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, & Targeted EIDL Advance Updates, City of Long Beach Small Business Loan Programs, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Access to Technical Assistance Providers





Government Contracting: May 24, 2021 2:00PM-3:00PM
Uptown Commons Grand Opening
The Uptown Commons, one of three major North Long Beach developments, will have an upcoming grand opening event. The two-acre lot at 6600 Atlantic Ave. has brought fun new food restaurants for the the North Long Beach community. The design of Uptown Commons, is simple and straightforward—lots of brick and wood are met with dark metals, atriums, green spaces, and patios, as the space hosts four restaurants and offers the neighborhood of District 9 its first full-service bank. Visit the grand opening this Saturday, May 22 at 12PM.
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.