Southern California Gas Co. donated $75,000 to the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help small businesses in Altadena recover from damage caused by the recent Eaton Fire.
The donation will provide grants to businesses in the 91001 ZIP code for critical expenses including relocation, equipment replacement and operational restart costs. The Pasadena Chamber Foundation and Altadena Chamber will jointly review applications and award funds based on need.
“As small businesses work to rebuild after the devastation of the Eaton Fire, this support from SoCalGas is both timely and deeply appreciated,” said Paul Little, executive director of the Pasadena Chamber Foundation. “These grants will help cover essential costs—from replacing tools and vehicles to restoring internet and phone service—so that business owners can get back on their feet and continue serving the community.”
“The Eaton Fire left a lasting impact on Altadena’s small business community, and recovery will take all of us working together,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “I commend SoCalGas for stepping up with this generous donation and thank the Pasadena and Altadena Chambers for their leadership. These grants will provide a vital lifeline to help local businesses rebuild, reopen, and continue serving our neighborhoods.”
“SoCalGas stands with the Altadena business community during this critical time,” said Andy Carrasco, vice president of communications, local government and community affairs at SoCalGas. “We recognize the resilience of these small businesses and the vital role they play in the local economy. Through this collaboration with the Pasadena Chamber Foundation and the Altadena Chamber, we hope to provide meaningful support that helps them recover and thrive.”
Little encouraged affected businesses to apply for assistance.
“We encourage any business impacted by the fire to apply for assistance,” Little said. “Sometimes, this help can make the difference between reopening and closing for good. We also hope this inspires others to contribute and help Altadena’s small business community recover.”
Business owners can apply for assistance at www.pasadenachamberfoundation.
SoCalGas previously contributed $400,000 in January to the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles to expand Eaton Fire response efforts. That funding enabled extended hours, free access to showers, Wi-Fi, food and water, emergency childcare for displaced families and first responders, and access to Teen Centers.
The utility company has restored natural gas service to almost 16,000 customers in the Eaton and Palisades fire areas. Most of SoCalGas’ infrastructure in fire-affected areas remains undamaged because it is underground.
SoCalGas serves more than 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. The company is a recognized leader in the energy industry and has been named Corporate Member of the Year by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for its volunteer leadership in the communities it serves. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra.
The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Foundation, established in 2017, supports workforce development, internships, homelessness prevention and disaster recovery efforts for businesses in the greater Pasadena area. Since its inception, the foundation has placed more than 100 interns in local schools, provided financial literacy workshops for public middle schoolers and initiated a homelessness prevention effort.
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