LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO OFFER RENT RELIEF GRANTS FOR QUALIFYING SMALL BUSINESSES
|
Los Angeles, CA, November 15, 2021 – In an effort to assist Qualifying Small Business Tenants (QSBT) that have fallen behind on rent, Los Angeles County will launch the Small Business Rent Relief Grant Project on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. The Project, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and authorized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, will be administered by the County in partnership with the National Development Council. The Small Business Rent Relief Grant Project will provide up to $40,000 to help businesses cover rent that became past due as of March 4, 2020. To be eligible, a QSBT must meet the following criteria:
Only one application per QSBT will be considered. “The County has a moral obligation to pursue partnership to bring much needed funding to small businesses and help our region recover from both an unprecedented pandemic and the ensuing severe inequities in the region,” shared Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor to the First District. “Our economic healing depends on the wellbeing of this sector and their employees. To that end, I urge our small business community to take advantage of this project – this relief will help guide our local small businesses to recovery and set them on the path to long term prosperity.” “The Small Business Rent Relief cannot come soon enough for the countless businesses that have had to weather the costly and unpredictable impact of COVID-19. As Los Angeles County starts to recover, our employers have been left with crushing amounts of back rent due,” shared Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “I am proud to help offer this lifeline to ensure that our businesses are able to stay open. This will be just the first of many County projects targeting economic resiliency for our small employers.” “During the pandemic, we asked many businesses to temporarily close their doors so we could stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “We are incredibly grateful for the sacrifices made by small businesses to protect their communities, and now we, in turn, want to support them with a small business rent relief grant. If you’re a small business that took a hit during the pandemic, this project is for you. Please check it out.” “Just because a business survived the pandemic, doesn’t mean they don’t need help,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “The COVID-19 crisis and the health orders the County put in place to try to save lives hit our small businesses hard and many of them still owe back rent. This project is meant to give these small business owners some relief so they can get past the pandemic and focus on recovery and the future of their businesses.” “Providing tangible economic support to small businesses during times of need is critical,” stated Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the County’s Fifth District. “The County’s new rent relief grant project is another important step forward that will help business owners in our unincorporated areas recover and thrive again.” The County is working to ensure equitable distribution of resources, focusing on communities most in need of immediate and long-term pandemic and economic relief interventions based on relative risk using indicators that assess risk factors for COVID-19 infection, vulnerability to severe outcomes if infected, and ability to recover from the health, economic, and social impacts of the pandemic. Small Business Rent Relief Grant Project applications will be sorted by tier per equity lens and a lottery will be held for each tier to determine ranking order. Applications will be accepted starting Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 8:00 a.m., and remain available through Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. To apply or obtain additional information, please visit https://ndconline.org/small- |
