LA Regional COVID Fund: Small and Microbusiness Grants

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

County Spending Category
2.1 Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, and Nonprofits
Federal Expenditure Category
Loans or Grants to Mitigate Financial Hardship
Project Launch Date
04/01/2024
Anticipated End Date
06/30/2024
Interpretation Languages
  • Armenian
  • Cambodian (Khmer)
  • Farsi
  • Korean
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Tagalog/Filipino
  • Thai
  • Mandarin
  • Cantonese
  • Vietnamese
  • Arabic
  • Hindi
  • Japanese
Written Languages
  • Armenian
  • Cambodian (Khmer)
  • Farsi
  • Korean
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Tagalog/Filipino
  • Thai
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Vietnamese
  • Arabic
  • Hindi
  • Japanese
Project Contacts Indicators & Metrics Target Populations Project Description Goals & Objectives

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Number of Small Businesses Served
    8913
  • DEO will co design and approve all EOG collaterals
    0
  • Number of languages translated
    10
  • Metric Name DEO will co design and approve all EOG collaterals
    0
  • Number of individuals receiving e-newsletter
    68182
  • Number of attendees attending webinars and trainings
    5179
  • Number of website views
    663317
  • Number of website clicks
    194658
  • Ensure the Equity Explorer tool data is reflected in application data via Tableau data reporting system
    0
  • Subcontractor will provide monthly reports for ARPA reporting
    0
  • Number of entities receiving some form of technical assistance
    9563
  • Launch EOG targeting small and microbusinesses by the end of February 2024 and keep open for at least 30 days
    0
  • Number of grants awarded and broken down by sectors and demographics.
    2407
  • Number of grants provided
    2407
  • Number of Grants Provided
    167
  • Number of survey responses received from grantees
    0
  • Grantee businesses reduce or eliminate rental debt
    0
  • Grantee businesses reduce or eliminate debt incurred from renovations or purchases of supplies to comply with health and safety standards
    0
  • Grantee businesses increase ability to pay increased costs for supplies
    0
  • Business grantees increase ability to pay wages and stabilize employee hiring
    0
  • 100%of businesses that qualify for the grants
    0
  • 100%of businesses receiving grants
    0

Target Populations

  • Small Businesses

Project Description

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for small businesses, particularly small, black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) owned businesses that serve our most vulnerable populations. Los Angeles County is also home to the largest concentration of minority‐owned businesses in the United States. Of the 244,000 small businesses in the County, more than 55% are BIPOC-owned. Over 93% of all businesses in the County have 20 or fewer employees and COVID‐19 has affected these small businesses disproportionately. In addition, businesses, community-based organizations (CBOs), and nonprofits impacted during the pandemic, in the highest, high, and moderate vulnerability index areas, faced additional barriers in the recovery process. The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has created the Economic Opportunity Grant (EOG) program, which integrated the following grant programs through a single streamlined online application process: (i) Keep LA Dining, (ii) LA Regional COVID Fund: Small and Microentrepreneur Grants, (iii) LA Regional COVID Fund: Nonprofit Grants (iv) Youth Workforce Development Partnerships, and (v) State of California Microbusiness Covid-19 Grant of $12.6 million targeting microbusinesses. EOG – Phase Three With the additional funding of $4.8 million allocated to the LA Regional COVID Fund: Small and Microentrepreneur Grants of the EOG, the DEO will implement an expanded phase to provide grants to small and microbusinesses across the entertainment industry, including those small and microbusinesses in ancillary sectors that support the entertainment industry that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic disruption. The pandemic upended the Los Angeles regional economy. Certain industries were more severely impacted than others due to their dependance on in-person customers and their inability to transition to remote work like the tech or professional services industries did. According to research conducted in 2020 by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), five industries were hit the hardest during the pandemic based on employment data. They are: ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION EMPLOYMENT • SEP. 2019: 98,200 Jobs • SEP. 2020: 60,900 Jobs - 38% Loss - 37,300 Jobs lost year over year. • Jobs Added May-October 2020: 15,700 (38.1% Recovered from March/April Job Losses) • Impacted Occupations: Amusement & Rec Attendants (3,670 Jobs Lost); Ushers & Lobby Attendants (2,400 Jobs Lost) MOTION PICTURE & SOUND RECORDING EMPLOYMENT • SEP. 2019: 135,300 Jobs • SEP. 2020: 98,800 Jobs - 27% Loss - 36,500 Jobs lost year over year. • Jobs Added May-October 2020: 8,700 (15.2% Recovered from March/April Job Losses) • Impacted Occupations: Producers & Directors (6,600 Jobs Lost); Actors (4,660 Jobs Lost) Other impacted sectors that are part of or support the Entertainment Industry include: Rental Companies such as Prop Houses, Set Designers, and Clothiers • Floral Companies • Transportation Companies • Printers and Framers • Graphic Designers • Publicists, Agents, and Managers • Talent Agencies The priority of the EOG will be to address the barriers faced by small and microbusinesses, particularly those in the highest and high tiers of need that had their businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, businesses located in moderate COVID-19 impact areas are also serving under-resourced communities and may have barriers similar to those in the highest and high tiers. The planned breakdown of awards by 1/3 highest tier, 1/3 high tier and 1/3 moderate tier aligns closely with the ARDI-adopted target percentages for ARPA programs. Awards will be randomized within each tier. In summary, the online EOG application process will provide ease of access to much needed capital to support small businesses during the post-pandemic recovery process. The program is reaching those in most need, grants will be distributed in one round. Directed and focused outreach strategies will focus on the sectors listed above.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description 120+ Los Angeles County-based micro/small businesses that have experienced the greatest impact of COVID-19 pandemic will have access to capital that will stabilize their revenue streams, address increases in operational costs and reduce debt.

Objective Description February 2024 will launch initial outreach and marketing planning with TPA.

Activity Description Create a robust multilingual and culturally competent education and outreach campaign to increase awareness of the grant opportunities.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance DEO will co design and approve all EOG collaterals
1 Service Delivery Number of languages translated 0.00 14.00

Objective Description In February 2024, begin outreach and Technical Assistance, including and EOG - BIF informational webinars.

Activity Description Deploy robust multilingual and culturally competent education and outreach campaign to increase awareness of the grant opportunities along with translated collateral materials into multiple languages reflective of the highest, high, and moderate need areas prioritized for grants.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance DEO will co design and approve all EOG collaterals
1 Service Delivery Number of individuals receiving e-newsletter 0.00 70000.00
1 Service Delivery Number of attendees attending webinars and trainings 0.00 300.00
1 Service Delivery Number of website views 0.00 20000.00
1 Service Delivery Number of website clicks 0.00 10000.00
1 Service Delivery Ensure the Equity Explorer tool data is reflected in application data via Tableau data reporting system
1 Service Delivery Subcontractor will provide monthly reports for ARPA reporting

Activity Description Provide continued access to technical assistance throughout the grant application periods
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Service Delivery Number of entities receiving some form of technical assistance 0.00 300.00

Objective Description By April 1st, 2024, launch a centralized application portal at grants.lacounty.gov for the EOG –

Activity Description Create a viable program timeline that provides applicants with sufficient time to prepare application documents
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Service Delivery Launch EOG targeting small and microbusinesses by the end of February 2024 and keep open for at least 30 days 1.00 1.00

Objective Description By June 30, 2024, complete grant awards for businesses in the highest, high, and moderate COVID-19 impact areas.

Activity Description Distribute awards to grant applicants within revenue size and in the highest, high, and moderate areas, as defined by the Equity Explorer Tool
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Number of grants awarded and broken down by sectors and demographics. 0.00 120.00
1 Program Outcome Number of grants awarded and broken down by sectors and demographics. 0.00 120.00
1 Program Outcome Number of grants provided 0.00 120.00
1 Performance Number of Grants Provided 0.00 120.00

Activity Description Survey grant recipients to learn how the funds are positively impacting their businesses/operations. The outcomes listed below will be assessed via survey.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Number of survey responses received from grantees 0.00 120.00

Outcome Description 20-30% of grantee businesses reduce or eliminate rental debt accumulated for businesses unable to pay during March 2023 and prior to December of 2021
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Grantee businesses reduce or eliminate rental debt 0.00 120.00

Outcome Description 20-30% of businesses received capital to restabilize from loss of regain stability from loss of revenue
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Grantee businesses reduce or eliminate debt incurred from renovations or purchases of supplies to comply with health and safety standards 0.00 120.00

Outcome Description 20% of businesses increase ability to pay increased costs for supplies
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Grantee businesses increase ability to pay increased costs for supplies 0.00 120.00

Outcome Description 20% of businesses increase ability to pay wages and stabilize employee hiring
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Business grantees increase ability to pay wages and stabilize employee hiring 0.00 120.00

Outcome Description 80-100% of grants are distributed to marginalized and small business, with typical barriers to accessing formalized grant programs, which includes: Those located in HUD qualified census tracts; located in highest, high, and moderate COVID-19 impact;
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Number of grants awarded and broken down by sectors and demographics. 0.00 120.00

Goal Description 110 small businesses facing foreclosure due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and other similar business interrupting events will be saved from foreclosure.

Objective Description By June 2024 100%of financial grants equal to or greater than the revenue loss will be granted to small entertainment related businesses

Activity Description Create equitable criteria that clearly defines eligibility, available grant levels, and application process.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Service Delivery 100%of businesses that qualify for the grants 0.00 120.00

Activity Description Fund small business grants at two levels: (1) $10,000 for businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenue; and (2) $25,000 for businesses between $1 million to $3 million in annual revenue.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Service Delivery 100%of businesses receiving grants 0.00 120.00