City of Long Beach Awards $266,000 to Level Up Small Businesses

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: Mayor Rex Richardson (far left) stands alongside Level Up LB participants at
a culmination ceremony held Sept. 18, 2024.

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department (Department) has awarded $266,000 in grants to 29 businesses that have successfully completed its Level Up LB: Extreme Small Business Makeover and Grant Program (Level Up LB). Level Up LB connects entrepreneurs with essential support and resources to help small businesses grow and thrive.

"Level Up LB reflects the City's commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit and business-friendly environment that drives Long Beach," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "By investing in our small businesses, we are not only helping them to grow and succeed but also strengthening the economic foundation of our city."

The awarded businesses include a mix of restaurants, retail shops and health and wellness facilities citywide. Participating entrepreneurs completed a series of workshops, received personalized business counseling from Inclusive Business Navigators and other local partners and established comprehensive business plans over the course of the three-month program. Twenty five small businesses have been awarded $10,000 in grant funding. Businesses also received a one-year membership to the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and a marketing package from Visit Long Beach. Additionally, four more businesses that were selected as alternates and successfully completed the Program were each awarded $4,000 grants.

The Department received 183 applications for Level Up LB, of which 95 qualified for review by a selection panel, and 25 were selected to participate. Businesses were scored and selected based on their need and readiness to participate, the potential impact to their business and diversity of representation throughout the city and multiple industries.

As part of the recently adopted Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, the Long Beach City Council approved a one-time funding of $500,000 to support business improvement districts and small businesses, including continuation of Level Up LB in 2025. Applications for the second cohort are expected to open early next year.

"Investing in entrepreneurs and small businesses is essential to our local economy and makes our community stronger and more authentic," said Economic Development Department Director Bo Martinez. "We're proud to be a part of the journey for these 25 businesses and thrilled that the program will continue to be available to support entrepreneurs with taking their business to the next level!"

The City is committed to empowering small businesses. Over the past year, the BizCare Team has provided support and resources to more than 2,750 businesses and over 436 businesses have received assistance through the Inclusive Business Navigators Program. Additionally, 224 Visual Improvement Plan (VIP) grants have been awarded to businesses impacted by vandalism since the VIP launched in 2023; and since 2022, 27 small business loans, totaling $1.1 million, have been issued to entrepreneurs in Long Beach.

Level Up LB aligns with Goal 4, Strategy 2 of Long Beach's Racial and Reconciliation Initiative, which focuses on partnering with local organizations to facilitate business navigation services through inclusive, neighborhood-based business centers. The Program also aligns with the City's Blueprint, Business Expansion, Attraction, and Retention focus area.

The first cohort of this program was made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $20 million has been allocated to provide direct business support, which includes prioritizing small businesses and nonprofits heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.

To learn more about programs and resources for small businesses, those interested can call the City's BizCare Hotline at 562.570.4BIZ (4249) or email [email protected].

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Long Beach Economic Development Department, visit longbeach.gov/ed, follow on Facebook, X and Instagram. Stay up to date on business news by signing up for the City's Business Brief.

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