California Groups Partner to Help LA County Businesses Recover From Wildfires

The California Association for Local Economic Development is redirecting federal grant money to help small businesses through Los Angeles County recover from recent wildfires.

CALED announced it is pivoting funding from a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to support technical assistance services for fire-affected businesses through its Outsmart Disaster program.

The Sacramento-based organization is partnering with PCR Business Finance to help LA County businesses apply for funds and receive technical assistance for resilience planning. The effort operates through a program managed by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate under the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

“This is a strong example of how we’re leveraging our partnerships across the state to respond to the needs of small businesses,” said Tara Lynn Gray, director of CalOSBA. “CalOSBA is proud to support Outsmart Disaster and ensure businesses in LA County have access to the resources they need to recover, rebuild, and thrive.”

The program addresses immediate recovery needs while prioritizing state-supported small business initiatives, according to CALED.

“Small businesses are the backbone of any economy,” said Gurbax Sahota, CALED’s president and CEO. “Through this initiative, we are all directly supporting efforts in Los Angeles County to help Southern California economies recover from the devastating wildfires.”

PCR will serve as sub-recipient, providing technical assistance including creating a disaster webpage, collaborating with CALED members in affected areas, conducting multimedia and multilingual outreach, providing one-on-one coaching, hosting workshops and helping businesses apply for grants and loans.

“By partnering with CALED to implement an Outsmart Disaster program as part of CalOSBA’s work in this area, we are furthering our vision of providing economic access and prosperity to small businesses and communities most in need,” said Mark Robertson Sr., president and CEO of PCR Business Finance.

CALED, founded in 1980, has about 1,000 members and describes itself as California’s premier economic development association.