Timed with Small Business Saturday, the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity closed the fifth and final phase of the more than $56 million grant program with $100,000 awards to 20 chambers of commerce.
The final round of grants concludes a three-year effort to provide $56.3 million via 5,302 Economic Opportunity Grants to small businesses and nonprofits, DEO officials said Saturday. The funding supports nonprofits’ “resiliency and recovery from COVID-19 and regional economic disruptions.”
Officials said local chambers of commerce play a key role in communities, notably during crises or economic disruptions by directly supporting small businesses when they need it most.
“They carry out this work while operating as small businesses themselves, often with limited resources during those same challenging periods,” according to the county. “These awards recognize the importance of their partnership with local government and their critical role in ensuring a vibrant small business community.”
The grant program for local chambers began in August and fully closed Oct. 31 with more than 70 applications, officials said. Grant recipients were selected based on eligibility and location in high- and highest-tier neighborhoods based on the county’s Equity Explorer Index.
Awards of $5,000 went to chambers in Arcadia, Alhambra, El Monte, Covina, Burbank, Bellflower, Wilmington, Pomona, Gardena Valley, Boyle Heights, Santa Monica, San Pedro, Pacoima, Torrance and Claremont. The San Gabriel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Greater LA African American Chamber of Commerce, Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles and Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce also received $5,000 grants.
Funding for the program is from the California State Office of the Small Business Advocate and federal American Rescue Plan Act, according to the county. The program recognizes disproportionate impacts from COVID-19 on small businesses and nonprofits as well as their “outsized contributions of essential goods and services to communities.”
Financial services firms Lendistry and PACE administered the grant program across phases, along with the LA Regional Small Business Development Network and over 13 local community organizations “to ensure multi-lingual, culturally competent technical assistance and access for businesses and organizations hardest hit by economic disruptions and with highest barriers to recovery,” officials said.
“We know that when crisis hits, relief and stabilization are critical for small businesses and nonprofits who operate on the margins, yet communities rely on for information, support, space, and community,” DEO Director Kelly LoBianco said in a statement. “The EOG Program was a way to transfer significant state and federal relief to community hands, fast and with partners we all trust. We know this relief is step one in our relationship to recover and eventually grow and thrive, no matter the pandemic or economic disruption.”
Andres Kabrera, president of the Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement, “This support could not have come at a more critical time. It will significantly strengthen our ongoing operations and ensure we can provide essential working capital as we continue to champion local businesses, expand community programs, and drive economic growth throughout the Antelope Valley.”
The program’s first phase for microbusinesses offered grants up to $2,500 for operations that generate revenue below $50,000.
The second phase — EOG for Small Businesses, Microbusinesses and Nonprofits — offered grants up to $25,000 for businesses with less than $2 million in revenue and nonprofits that generate under $5 million.
Phase 3 — the Entertainment Business Interruption Fund — addressed both the pandemic and strikes by Hollywood writers and actors, offering grants up to $25,000 for businesses serving the entertainment industry including caterers, laundry mats, prop shops and florists, officials said.
The fourth phase was EOG Holiday Grants that provided up to $5,000 to bolster stability during below-average seasonal spending, and Phase 5 for chambers offered grants up to $7,000 to round out the program.
“During COVID, we suffered a long period without work, cancellations of work, and work that stopped progress,” Darly Overlock, owner of American Home Source, said in a statement. “We had rent, utilities, and other expenses that had to be paid during this time and with no income coming in during this period, the burden of maintaining payments came from personal funds which was difficult. With the support of the Economic Opportunity Holiday Grant, we continued to grow, covered our remaining debts, and focused on the future of our business. Grants like these continue to give hope to the small businesses in and around the area.”
The pandemic significantly impacted the Love and Grace Christian Fellowship Church in Lancaster.
“During COVID-19, we exhausted our savings in order to pay our mortgage, utilities, and staff,” Co-pastor Daphene Crown said in a statement. “We made the difficult decision considering the health and safety of our congregation, to close the church doors, and broadcast from our home. That meant cutting costs, laying off staff, and everyone volunteering their time. The Economic Opportunity Holiday Grant assisted us by restoring our cash flow, rehiring our staff, paying off outstanding debt, and relieving some of the financial stress incurred from the impact of COVID.”
History For Hire Prop House, which has supplied props to the entertainment industry worldwide since 1985, took a major hit during the Hollywood strikes two years ago.
“There was no film production for months once the pandemic started,” Pam Elyea, co-founder and co-owner of History for Hire, said in a statement. “We applied for the grant because we needed funding to pay the rent, staff, benefits, and utilities.”
Elyea and her colleagues “took a leap of faith” and kept most of the company’s staff on payroll to take their catalog of props online.
“This fund brought so many small businesses together to talk about our issues and the road ahead,” she added.
DEO has continued to support our region’s small businesses with cash relief in the wake of compounding economic tragedy and disruption, including the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires with the $27.5 million LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Fund and the ongoing immigration enforcement actions with the Small Business Resiliency Fund, anticipated to include at least $5 million. DEO knows that capital access – during an emergency and to build resiliency for future crises – alongside education and technical assistance from trusted partners, are keys to success.
More information about the EOG Program is on the county’s website.
