A new program launched Thursday to help Altadena businesses and commercial property owners rebuild faster after the Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County officials said.
The Altadena Commercial Concierge Program will provide faster completion of the permitting process, individualized technical assistance and connections to recovery resources, according to the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity.
The county program pairs businesses and commercial property owners with dedicated representatives to help navigate the permitting process and coordinate with Public Works, Regional Planning and other departments. Officials said the program’s goal is to reduce the time consumed during permitting by 25%.
“Participants will be able to access specialized training and technical assistance and capital and offers an opportunity for local groups and partners to highlight newly available resources to the community,” according to a DEO statement.
The county will also will pair program enrollees with business consultants who will conduct individual assessments and develop customized recovery plans. Consultants will also help businesses connect with financing, technical assistance and training through a new Altadena Commercial Recovery Partnership, officials said.
“Altadena’s small businesses are anchors in this community, employing neighbors and offering commercial corridors that meet local needs,” LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose 5th District includes Altadena, said in a statement. “This program will help ensure business owners do not have to navigate recovery alone. By putting a dedicated team directly in their corner that will stay with them until their rebuilding journey ends, we are giving Altadena businesses the fighting chance they deserve to recover.”
Kelly LoBianco, director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, said the main intention of the program is “so impacted businesses and commercial property owners have a clearer, faster path to recovery. This initiative reflects the County’s commitment to making government work better for our communities by reducing barriers, improving coordination, and helping local businesses rebuild and recover,” she said in a statement.
The Public Works and Regional Planning chiefs also welcomed the Concierge Program’s launch.
“The Department of Regional Planning is pleased to participate in the Altadena Commercial Concierge Program in collaboration with the Department of Economic Opportunity, the County Fire Department, and the Department of Public Works,” Dennis Slavin, chief deputy director for the Regional Planning Department, said in a statement. “Small businesses in Altadena and surrounding communities were greatly impacted by the Eaton Fire, and bringing those businesses back remains a significant challenge.”
A statement from Mark Pestrella, director of Public Works said, “The Rebuild Authority fully supports this effort, and we’re here to help business owners with permitting every step of the way.”
The program stems from a Board of Supervisors motion that Barger introduced in December to speed up commercial recovery efforts in Altadena after the devastating Eaton Fire. The blaze in January 2025 claimed 19 lives, burned over 14,000 acres and affected more than 10,000 structures, Cal Fire reported.
Businesses and commercial property stakeholders can enroll in the program via the county’s Altadena Commercial Recovery webpage, opportunity.lacounty.gov/AltadenaCommercialRecovery. The webpage also has information on other currently active recovery programs and services for fire survivors.
For more information on the county’s recovery work, go to recovery.lacounty.gov.