Economic Mobility Initiative

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

County Spending Category
2.1 Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, and Nonprofits
Federal Expenditure Category
Housing Support: Other Housing Assistance
Project Launch Date
06/15/2024
Anticipated End Date
06/30/2026
Interpretation Languages
  • Spanish
Written Languages
  • Farsi
  • Korean
  • Spanish
  • Traditional Chinese

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • # of unique businesses going through initial intake and consultation for employee ownership
    29
  • # of unique businesses assessed for employee ownership financial viability
    6
  • # of Enrolled Feasibility Clients
    3
  • # of enrolled transition clients
    0
  • Number of potentially eligible businesses and entrepreneurs reached across EMI services
    4498
  • Number of Overall Recipients and/or Participants in EMI services
    735
  • Number of EMI users that provided service feedback
    432
  • Number of qualified businesses served through one-on-one ad hoc support that meet selection criteria across EMI services
    735
  • % of Staff Members trained as part of the HUB’s training programs
    45
  • Number of Certifications successfully pursued and acquired post training for both Bootcamp and Intensive Cohorts
    0
  • Magnitude of Public Projects/Contracts Won post-training
    0
  • Number of Overall Applications received for the Bootcamp
    566
  • Number of program graduates for Bootcamp Course
    130
  • Number of Overall Applications received for the Intensive/Advanced Course
    59
  • Number of Overall Applications received meeting the selection criteria for the Intensive/Advanced Course
    56
  • Number of program graduates for Intensive/Advanced Course
    56
  • Number of potentially eligible social enterprises or nonprofits reached through outreach efforts
    278
  • Number of intake sessions with social enterprises and nonprofits
    153
  • Number of entities (social enterprises, nonprofits) entering any training cohort comprised of at least 7 entities from each District, across all cohorts
    50
  • Number of program graduates
    25
  • Number of businesses served
    30
  • Number of employees reached
    1100
  • Number of businesses served
    8
  • Number of employees reached
    455
  • Number of businesses served
    6
  • Number of employees reached
    230
  • Number of businesses served
    0
  • Number of employees reached
    90
  • Number of Informational In-Person Sessions, 1 per SD
    0
  • Number of Informational Virtual Sessions, 1 per SD
    0
  • Number of potentially eligible sidewalk vendors attending each in-person and virtual workshop.
    0
  • Number of eligible awardees successfully expending capital for its intended use
    0
  • Number of Sidewalk Vendors with SVRC or in the process of acquiring a SVRC
    0
  • Number of Intake Sessions
    1662
  • Number of Business officially enrolled and start in a cohort
    612
  • Number of program graduates, across all Districts
    498
  • Amount of capital accessed by entrepreneurship academy graduates
    1622828
  • Number of potentially eligible students reached through outreach efforts
    2350
  • Number of participants entering any cohort of the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy
    66
  • Number of program graduates
    12
  • Number of students who participate in graduation showcase or market
    12
  • Number of students who graduate with a Career Action Plan for Entrepreneurship (CAPE)
    12
  • Number of students graduating with Business Plan
    12
  • Number of students graduating with Marketing Plan
    12
  • Number of students graduating with a Financial Plan
    12
  • Develop a learning platform to house all curriculum content
    1
  • Number of businesses and entrepreneurs successfully completing the full course of curriculum training (disaggregated by factors including but not limited to, size, industry, geography, and business owner demographics such as gender, race/ethnicity, and preferred language of training)
    20
  • Number of businesses and entrepreneurs pursuing certification and contracting-related opportunities upon completion of the training, as well as the number of businesses and entrepreneurs that pursue such opportunities successfully (e.g., number of certifications acquired, number and magnitude of contracts won)
    1

Target Populations

  • Small Businesses
  • Sidewalk Vendors, Nonprofits, Social Enterprises, Youth Entrepreneurs

Project Description

The County of Los Angeles (County) Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), through the Office of Small Business’s (OSB) advocacy, programs and services, grants, and contracting opportunities, supports the ability of Los Angeles County entrepreneurs, microentrepreneurs, and small businesses to start and grow. Through the DEO’s Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI), DEO is increasing regional coordination and expanding the capacity of the OSB to: 1) engage more business owners and communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and who have historically been underinvested in; 2) design and deliver customized support with partner organizations to reduce barriers businesses face to startup and growth through the provision of education, technical assistance, capital access, networking, mentorship, business certification, and contracting support; and 3) track the impact of the support provided on short- and longer-term business development outcomes for the County’s entrepreneurs, microentrepreneurs, and small businesses owners. As part of the EMI, DEO and its OSB will serve as a coordinating “Hub” to three programmatic spokes: Countywide Specialized Technical Assistance and Training, Access to Capital and Commercial Space, and District-level Entrepreneurship Academies. The Hub will act as a DEO/OSB-led central point of support for clients seeking general business-related assistance and coordinate EMI programming led by County- and District-level implementation partners. DEO/OSB will work with a Hub implementation partner that will (i) coordinate marketing and branding for the EMI in collaboration with external marketing agency hired by DEO; (ii) coordinate outreach and support intake and triage efforts among County- and District-level implementation partners, and be responsible for (iii) data collection to track progress for reporting and monitoring, evaluation and learning requirements by working closely with other implementation partners; and for (iv) deploying a standardized customer relationship management (CRM) process across all implementation partners. Lastly, the Hub will provide general support to businesses and entrepreneurs seeking ad hoc support separately from the EMI’s three spokes. The Countywide Specialized Technical Assistance and Training Spoke will house three sets of programs and services. First, the Certification and Contracting Training and Support Programs will provide training and technical assistance on certification and contracting with the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (Metro), County of Los Angeles, State of California, and the federal government, as well as opportunities in the private sector. Second, the Social Enterprise Training and Support programs will offer training and capacity building to help existing social enterprises grow, and training for nonprofit organizations interested in adding an earned revenue component. Third, the Employee Ownership Services will build awareness and offer training and technical support for organizations interested in, or transitioning into, an employee ownership model where employees can benefit from business ownership. The Access to Capital and Commercial Space Spoke will house two funds. The first one, the Small Business Mobility Fund will provide grants to microentrepreneurs from underserved communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that face barriers to formalization such as sidewalk vendors. Sidewalk vendors, in particular, were unable to formalize their business due to delays cause the pandemic.(As a result from the COVID-19 pandemic, the County enacted the Emergency Period in 2020 which lasted 1,122 days and ended on March 31, 2023. The emergency response to the pandemic led the Los Angeles County’s Sidewalk Vending Ordinance (SVO) and related health permits not to be adopted until 2024, several years after Sidewalk Vending was decriminalized in 20218. Moreover, during the emergency period sidewalk vendors were largely unable to vend as the public were encouraged to stay in their homes and avoid public areas in which vendors sell food and merchandise. As the emergency period ended and the public were encouraged to return to normal, a large portion of the growing vending population only started vending because of the economic disruptions caused by the pandemic as sidewalk vending provides flexible working schedules and low barriers to entry.) The Small Business Mobility Fund will provide these microentrepreneurs with capital to help them formalize their businesses despite the financial impact they incurred during the pandemic. The second fund, the Commercial Acquisition Fund, will provide capital to enable small businesses and community-based organizations (CBOs) to acquire vacant properties, land, and buildings in designated communities that were most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In their rehabilitation and operation plan, recipients must lease out commercial space to small businesses and community-serving nonprofits at affordable rental rates. The District-level Entrepreneurship Academies Spoke will provide a suite of programs designed to help small businesses in each Supervisorial District start and grow. While specific services will be tailored to District-level needs, they will include at a minimum: (i) outreach to entrepreneurs and early-stage small businesses across the District that may benefit from participation in these programs; (ii) a multi-week intensive entrepreneurship training, offered through multiple cohorts, covering key topics on starting up and running a business (developing a business plan, registering a business, hiring/human resources/talent recruitment and development, marketing and branding, accounting and taxes, community engagement and partnerships, technology and operations, scaling a business, securing capital); (iii) networking and mentorship services for training participants; (iv) provision of need-based stipends for training participants; and (v) provision of further EMI navigation support to training graduates who choose to start or grow a business. The EMI will also provide additional services that offer specialized training and support programs to address specific demographic and/or business needs across the County and will include (i) youth entrepreneurship training and support, (ii) standalone certification and contracting curriculum and learning platform, and (iii) EMI-wide marketing services that will support the County and the EMI’s implementation partners outreach and marketing efforts. Any participants in these programs will be eligible for, and integrated within, the broader EMI Hub and Spoke model whenever relevant to their needs.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description By July 2024, Create a stronger, better resourced, and more inclusive small business ecosystem that increases economic mobility for historically underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses across the County. Service delivered by LAEDC.

Objective Description By June, 2024 successfully launch and implement the EMI Hub, which will coordinate EMI programming led by County- and District-level implementation partners and offer ad hoc support to small businesses and entrepreneurs across the County.

Activity Description Outreach to businesses that are eligible for EMI services.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
27 Performance Number of potentially eligible businesses and entrepreneurs reached across EMI services 4000.00
28 Performance Number of Overall Recipients and/or Participants in EMI services 1200.00
29 Program Outcome Number of EMI users that provided service feedback 1200.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
30 Performance Number of qualified businesses served through one-on-one ad hoc support that meet selection criteria across EMI services 1200.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
31 Program Outcome % of Staff Members trained as part of the HUB’s training programs 100.00

Goal Description By June 2025 Small businesses know how to secure certifications and win public and private contracts and are prepared for procurement opportunities that are coming to the County. Service delivered by LA Area Chamber of Commerce

Objective Description Successfully launch and implement a County-wide Certification and Contracting Training and Support Program that will equip businesses with the skills needed to pursue certifications and apply for contracts.

Activity Description

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
35 Performance Magnitude of Public Projects/Contracts Won post-training 50000.00
36 Performance Number of Overall Applications received for the Bootcamp 425.00
38 Performance Number of program graduates for Bootcamp Course 200.00
39 Performance Number of Overall Applications received for the Intensive/Advanced Course 200.00
40 Performance Number of Overall Applications received meeting the selection criteria for the Intensive/Advanced Course 150.00
42 Performance Number of program graduates for Intensive/Advanced Course 100.00

Outcome Description By participating in this program, there will be an improvement in the certification and contracting outcomes for small businesses which will boost their economic mobility in LA County.

Goal Description By June 2025 Social enterprises and nonprofits in the County have the resources needed for long-term growth, financial sustainability, and resiliency. Service delivered by Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM)

Objective Description This program will provide social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders with the resources and skills needed to grow and/or add an earned revenue component.

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
44 Performance Number of potentially eligible social enterprises or nonprofits reached through outreach efforts 225.00
45 Performance Number of intake sessions with social enterprises and nonprofits 135.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
48 Performance Number of entities (social enterprises, nonprofits) entering any training cohort comprised of at least 7 entities from each District, across all cohorts 50.00

Outcome Description

Goal Description By December 2024 Business owners know how to transition to an employee ownership model if they are interested in doing so, ensuring business continuity while building employee and generational wealth.

Objective Description This is meant to raise awareness and provide training and technical support for organizations interested in or transitioning into an employee ownership model where employees have the control and benefit of business ownership.

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
55 Performance Number of businesses served 80.00
56 Performance Number of employees reached 1100.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
57 Performance Number of businesses served 15.00
58 Performance Number of employees reached 455.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
59 Performance Number of businesses served 8.00
60 Performance Number of employees reached 230.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
61 Performance Number of businesses served 3.00
62 Performance Number of employees reached 90.00

Goal Description By December 2026 Small businesses and entrepreneurs have access to flexible start-up and scale-up capital that will foster their long-term growth, financial sustainability, and resiliency.

Objective Description This will provide grants for aspiring entrepreneurs and microbusinesses, low-interest loans for more established small businesses, and grants for street vendors looking to formalize.

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
64 Performance Number of Informational In-Person Sessions, 1 per SD 5.00
65 Performance Number of Informational Virtual Sessions, 1 per SD 5.00
66 Performance Number of potentially eligible sidewalk vendors attending each in-person and virtual workshop. 20.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
68 Performance Number of eligible awardees successfully expending capital for its intended use 267.00
69 Performance Number of Sidewalk Vendors with SVRC or in the process of acquiring a SVRC 267.00

Goal Description By June 2025 Early-stage business and entrepreneurs in each supervisorial District have the foundational knowledge and tools that they need to start and sustain their businesses. Services provided by 4 partners, LEEAF, VSEDC, ICON CDC, and SBDC.

Objective Description These will be housed within each supervisorial District, that delivers a suite of tailored programs that support start-up and growth.

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
72 Performance Number of Intake Sessions 1350.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
74 Performance Number of Business officially enrolled and start in a cohort 625.00
75 Performance Number of program graduates, across all Districts 500.00

Outcome Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
3 Program Outcome Amount of capital accessed by entrepreneurship academy graduates 250000.00

Goal Description By June 2025 High school and community college students in the County will have the foundational knowledge and tools they need to pursue entrepreneurship.

Objective Description Successfully launch and implement a Youth Entrepreneurship Academy pilot, that delivers a suite of tailored programs that support high school and community college students from communities affected by COVID 19.

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
6 Performance Number of potentially eligible students reached through outreach efforts 200.00

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
8 Service Delivery Number of participants entering any cohort of the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy 60.00
9 Service Delivery Number of program graduates 50.00

Outcome Description Participation in the EMI District academy programs improves entrepreneurship readiness outcomes for high school and community college students.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
10 Program Outcome Number of students who participate in graduation showcase or market 50.00
11 Program Outcome Number of students who graduate with a Career Action Plan for Entrepreneurship (CAPE) 50.00
12 Program Outcome Number of students graduating with Business Plan 50.00
13 Program Outcome Number of students graduating with Marketing Plan 50.00
14 Program Outcome Number of students graduating with a Financial Plan 50.00

Goal Description By June 2025 Small businesses have access to long-term resources that teach them how to secure certifications and win public and private contracts, and are therefore prepared for procurement opportunities that are coming to the County.

Objective Description Successfully launch and implement a standalone Certification and Contracting curriculum and learning platform that will equip businesses with the skills needed to pursue certifications and apply for contracts.

Activity Description
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
16 Service Delivery Develop a learning platform to house all curriculum content 1.00

Outcome Description Development and use of the standalone Certification and Contracting curriculum and learning platform improves certification and contracting outcomes for small businesses.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
18 Program Outcome Number of businesses and entrepreneurs successfully completing the full course of curriculum training (disaggregated by factors including but not limited to, size, industry, geography, and business owner demographics such as gender, race/ethnicity, and preferred language of training) 20.00
20 Program Outcome Number of businesses and entrepreneurs pursuing certification and contracting-related opportunities upon completion of the training, as well as the number of businesses and entrepreneurs that pursue such opportunities successfully (e.g., number of certifications acquired, number and magnitude of contracts won) 10.00