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Business Resources

COVID-19 Business Resources

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit: longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Free COVID-19 testing is available to Long Beach residents who are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19. 

 

Not sure where to start?

The Long Beach Economic Development Department has created a Business Hotline and Call Center that can be reached at 562-570-4BIZ (4249). Businesses can be connected with city staff to answer COVID-19 business and worker-related questions. 

The Business Hotline and Call Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. Thursday, and every other Friday. All voicemails made after business hours will be reviewed within 24 business hours by city staff. 

Further information on business and worker resources is provided by the Economic Development Department. 

 

BizCare pop-ups are also available to all Long Beach small businesses and are located in neighborhoods that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pop-ups provide business owners or their representatives with free one-on-one, in-person support to complete local, non-profit, state, and federal grant applications free of charge. Businesses are also introduced to other resources, such as loans and free technical assistance. Services are delivered in English, Spanish, and Khmer. Visit the BizCare Program website to learn more about BizCare pop-ups. 

Business Resources

Free Virtual Business Consultation and Resources  

  • The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is providing free virtual business consultation to assist small businesses with disaster preparedness and recovery. Contact the local SBDC at 562-938-5100 or visit the SBDC website for more information. 
  • SCORE Long Beach/South Bay is providing free business advise, resources, and local business training for businesses who would like support through COVID-19. Free mentoring, workshops and events, and a resource library can be found on the SCORE website. 

Free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Long Beach Businesses 

  • The City of Long Beach is providing Long Beach based businesses free PPE. Please call the City’s business hotline at (562) 570-4BIZ (4249) or complete a request form on PPE Unite to book a pick-up time. 

Temporary Open Streets 

  • In an effort to assist businesses in the COVID-19 recovery, the City of Long Beach Department of Public Works is streamlining temporary repurposing of the sidewalk and roadway for dining, salon and gym services, customer queuing, and vehicle loading. Find more information in the Open Streets FAQ. 
  • Temporary parklets and sidewalk spaces will remain in place at least through the end of June 2022, or as long as physically-distanced services are required. Under City Council direction, Temporary Parklet Applications through the Open Streets Program are no longer being accepted. To obtain a permanent parklet, please visit the Public Works Permits and submit a new application. 

California Green Business Network Resource List 

Assistance Programs 

  • Check out Long Beach Economic Development's City Loan Program if you need capital to launch, stabilize or grow your business. For more information on each program and who to contact, visit this website. Various programs as listed:
    • Emergency Microloan Program provides loans between $2,500 to $10,000 for small businesses and non-profits that have been financially burdened by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
    • Kiva Long Beach Loan Program provides loans between $500 to $15,000 to Long Beach small businesses.
    • Microenterprise Loan Program provides loans between $25,000 to $100,000 for small businesses operating in Long Beach.
    • Grow Long Beach Fund provides loans between $100,000 to $2 million for businesses operating in Long Beach for at least 2 years.
  • LA Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund: This program offers various loans and grant resources to micro-entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profits.
  • Jump Start Loan Program: This program provides microloans between $500 to $10,000, technical assistance, and financial literacy training.
  • California Capital Access Program (CalCAP): This program encourages banks and other financial institutions to make loans to small businesses that have experienced difficulty obtaining financing. This program offers small businesses a chance to receive more favorable loan terms from a lender if your loan is enrolled in the CalCAP Loan Loss Reserve Program.

Utility/Fee Assistance 

  • The City of Long Beach has suspended natural gas and water disconnections until further notice.  
  • Businesses and residents experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to establish a payment plan to pay gas or water bills. Please call (562) 570-5700 or visit the Utility Services website for additional information.  

Southern California Edison https://www.sce.com/ 

  • Budget Billing Plan - offers eligible customers the opportunity to pay for their annual electricity service across 11 equal monthly payments. 
  • Energy Assistance Fund - Helps low-income customers in financial hardship with electric bills. 
  • Residential Summer Discount Program - Provides credit for customers who permit Edison to install and use a device that allows Edison to remotely turn off the customer’s air conditioner at high-peak hours. The amount of credit received is dependent upon how often the customer allows Edison to use the device. 

 

Worker Resources

Pacific Gateway

  • Pacific Gateway helps connect those looking for a job to employers who are hiring, provides career counseling and vocational training, and has access to information about special State, County and City programs for workers who face layoffs and downsizings.  

Childcare Resources 

  • CaliFlex offers childcare services with trained professionals to essential workers, low-income families and those who work in public safety and healthcare.  

Insurance and Leave Benefits 

  • Disability Insurance - Provides short term benefits to eligible workers who have lost full or partial wages due to having been exposed to COVID-19, certified by a medical professional.  
  • Paid Family Leave - Provides benefits to workers who need to take time off work to care for a severely ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19, certified by a medical professional.   
  • Paid Sick Leave - Provides benefits for workers experiencing illness. 
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program - The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program provides Unemployment Insurance benefits to independent contractors and self-employed individuals.  
  • Unemployment Insurance - Workers who have lost their job or becoming partially unemployed as a result of COVID-19 closures may file and Unemployment Insurance claim. 
  • Workers’ Compensation - Provides benefits for workers who suffer from work-related injuries or illnesses.  

Housing  

Additional Resources 

  • Local Funding Finder by Excelerate America - helps small business owners easily connect to available grant and loan opportunities in their local areas. Visit Excelerate America’s website to contact them.
  • Southern California Edison offers resources for small businesses on their website.
  • For other possible resources, please visit the City's Businesses website.