Economic and Workforce Development Department with a picture of Los Angeles City hall draped with the American Flag

Economic and Workforce Development Department with a picture of Downtown Los Angeles City in a sunset haze with shadowed palm trees in the foreground


Resources Available for Businesses and Workers Impacted by the Los Angeles City Wildfires



City of Los Angeles



Business Assistance
Any of the 10 BusinessSource Centers (BSCs) spread across the City of Los Angeles can provide free one-on-one consultation, business and employment support, and assistance with applying for forthcoming microenterprise grants and microloans.

To find a complete list of BusinessSource Centers, use this Interactive Map.


Employment Assistance
Worksource Centers and America’s Job Centers
  • Subsidies to Train New Hires pays for training a qualified pool of employees with up to 90% of initial wages able to be subsidized. This program is called “On-the-Job Training.”
  • Subsidies to Train Existing Workers through the incumbent worker training program, the AJCCs can subsidize costs needed to train and up-skill existing, full-time employees.
  • Subsidies to Develop New Training Programs this provides training in new production technology, service procedures or green technology that requires upskilling and retraining of employees.
  • Subsidies for Hiring Youth Workers (Youth@Work) if you hire qualifying youth ages 14-24 for temporary work, this program can subsidize 100% of their wages. Each youth is expected to work 100 hours at no cost.
  • Tax Credits for Hiring Disadvantaged Workers tax credits range from $1,200 to $9,600 for employers participating in the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) who hire and employ members of traditionally disadvantaged groups.


Rapid Response and Layoff Aversion Services
Rapid Response (RR) activities are designed to respond to layoffs by coordinating services to provide immediate assistance to employers and affected workers. RR activities include but are not limited to providing information and access to unemployment compensation benefits, continued health care, employment and training services (including those provided by the WorkSource and BusinessSource systems), emergency services, and other significant services.
  • Layoff Aversion Support - the Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles (LAEDC) offers no-cost consulting services to help businesses overcome challenges and find alternatives to layoffs
  • Job Loss Assistance - schedule an orientation to learn of the resources available to individuals who lost or will be losing their jobs due to no fault of their own.
    Dennis Parks - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (English)
    Itzel Sanchez-Morales - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Spanish)
Additional business resources offered by the Economic and Workforce Development Department:
  • Business Response Unit is a one-stop shop for business assistance - businesses in the City of Los Angeles can submit any question and receive specialized help.
    phone: 213-744-7150
    email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Business Credit and Debt Counseling to help business owners counter negative financial impacts, recover, and strengthen their financial health.
  • Small Business Loan - customized loans offer fair and flexible terms and can be used for a wide variety of business needs, including equipment purchases, working capital, and acquisitions.
  • Los Angeles Regional Small Business Legal Aid Program provides free legal education and direct representation to qualified small businesses on a number of legal issues such as drafting and reviewing commercial leases and negotiating with landlords, drafting and reviewing contracts, business structure and entity formation; employment law advice; and other transactional legal matters like intellectual property assistance.


Workforce Assistance
There are 14 WorkSource Centers (WSCs) and 3 WorkSource Portals located throughout the City of Los Angeles that act as a personal employment agency to businesses. They offer free broad support to business owners and entrepreneurs looking to hire and train workers.

To find a WorkSource Center close to you, use this Interactive Map for a list of locations.


Youth Assistance
The City of Los Angeles has 14 YouthSource Centers (YSC) located throughout the region that provide young Angelenos ages 14-24 the support and resources they need to succeed in life through access to education, paid work experience, and occupational skills training.

To find a YouthSource Center close to you, use this Interactive Map for a list of locations.


FamilySource Centers
FamilySource Centers (FSC) are a one-stop shop in your neighborhood for social, educational, work, and family support services. With 19 locations established in the City of Los Angeles, we can help you find the resources to increase your family income, establish financial security, and build academic success.

Find a FamilySource Center near you, use this Interactive Map for a list of locations.


Additional City Services
  • MyLA 311 is your connection to city services and information. Use it to report fallen trees, request clean-ups and more. MyLA 311 can be accessed by:
    - Dialing 311 or (213) 473-3231
    - Submitting requests online 24/7 at myla311.lacity.org
    - Downloading the MyLA311 App

  • Emergency Management Department (EMD) plans for, responds to and recovers from complex events and disasters that impact the communities of Los Angeles by leveraging our distinctive skills and partnerships. For wildfire updates, please visit emergency.lacity.gov/updates.



County of Los Angeles



Business Assistance
  • Office of Small Business (OSB) offers one-on-one business workshops and counseling to start-ups, referrals for legal assistance and financing, contracting certifications, and government contracting technical assistance through the APEX Accelerator. Call (844) 532-4900.

  • Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) throughout the region provide free business consulting and training services in all areas of operations and management, marketing, financing, and business planning.

Workforce
  • America's Job Centers of California (AJCC)
    For Workers: job preparation, job connections, paid work experiences, and supportive services
    For Businesses: recruitment and training, layoff aversion, payroll subsidies/hiring incentives, and more

  • L.A. County Library Tools for Job Seekers
    You can take online classes, watch career-related videos, explore the Work Ready book collection, research business information, find links to popular job boards, and much more

  • LAEDC Business Assistance Program
    Free consulting services to help businesses overcome challenges and find alternatives to layoffs. Administered by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)

General Assistance
For individuals and families in need of services, The Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) offers a vast array of programs and services that can help alleviate hardship. Please note these programs have income restrictions. Apply for benefits at dpss.lacounty.gov/en.html or by calling the customer service center at (866) 613-3777.
  • California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Cash assistance to families with children and pregnant women in the last 120 days of pregnancy who have little or no assets or income.
  • e-Benefits California connects people with services in their county, such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and California Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids(CalWORKs).
Financial and Credit Management Counseling



State of California



Business Assistance



Federal Programs



Business Assistance
Small Business Development Centers provide no-cost, one-on-one consulting and low-cost training services and programs to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Small business center counselors can help identify any relevant privately funded grants for a specific city or county, as well as low-interest business loans, other local lending institutions, and state-backed loan guarantee programs.

Los Angeles Locations:
  • Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network-Lead Center hosted by Long Beach City College
    4900 East Conant Street Building O2, Suite #108
    Long Beach, CA 90808
    562-938-5020

  • SBDC Hosted by PCR Business Finance
    3255 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite #1501
    Los Angeles, CA 90010
    213-674-2696

  • SBDC Hosted by Pasadena City College
    3035 East Foothill Boulevard, Room #122
    Pasadena, CA 91107
    626-585-3105

  • SBDC Hosted by El Camino College
    13430 Hawthorne Boulevard
    Hawthorne, CA 90250
    310-225-8277

SBA Business Resource Partners around the country provide training, opportunities, and funding to communities in their local area.

Small Business Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

SBA offers a variety of loan programs to assist small businesses, ranging from micro-loans of up to $50,000 to bank loans of up to $5 million guaranteed by the SBA. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 for more information on SBA assistance.


Economic Injury Disaster Loan | Hardship Accommodation Plan

SBA is offering a Hardship Accommodation Plan for borrowers experiencing short-term financial challenges. Borrowers eligible for this plan may make reduced payments for a six-month period, with the option to renew after the plan concludes. Interest will continue to accrue, which may increase (or create) a balloon payment due at the end of the loan term. To learn more, please visit sba.org.




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