Apply before Nov. 24
In an effort to assist Qualifying Small Business Tenants (QSBT) that have fallen behind on rent, Los Angeles County launched the Small Business Rent Relief Grant Project Nov. 17 and applications will remain available through Wednesday, Nov. 24, at 5 p.m. To apply or obtain additional information, visit https://ndconline.org/small-business-lending/california/lacsbrr/ or call (626) 210-4500.
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:
• Have a brick and mortar business located in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County;
• Have an annual average number of nine or fewer full-time equivalent employees;
• Have annual total gross revenues of no more than $1 million; and
• Be able to demonstrate a gross revenue loss of at least 25 percent over a 12-month timeframe falling at least in part within the period of Los Angeles County’s COVID-19 Emergency Order that went into effect March 4.
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.”
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.
Questions regarding the Small Business Rent Relief Grant Project can be sent to LACountySBRR@ndconline.org
