LA County WDACS to launch $500,000 Employer Assistance Grant Fund

LOS ANGELES, CA: On April 6, the Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services or WDACS, with support of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced that the LA County Employer Assistance Grant Fund will be launched April 8. The LA County Employer Assistance Grant Fund will provide a total of $500,000 to local businesses. Individual businesses may be awarded up to $10,000 based on demonstrated need. Approximately 25% of awards will be reserved for social enterprises that demonstrate a need and ability to serve vulnerable populations. Applications will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis, and will close once 150 applications are received.

A webinar to guide businesses on the application process will be held Tuesday, April 7 at 1:30pm: webinar link: https://tinyurl.com/wyocuwr

The application site will open on Wednesday, April 8, at 8:00am: workforce.lacounty.gov

In order to qualify to apply for the Employer Assistance Grant Fund, the business must:

-Be a for-profit corporation, partnership, or non-profit with a for-profit activity in Los Angeles County. Social enterprises and non-profit (501(c)3) firms qualify. Application review priority will be given to businesses in the unincorporated areas of LA County: http://planning.lacounty.gov/znet

-Have between 2 and 50 full-time employees. (Note: Applicants that serve high barrier and/or vulnerable populations may exclude transitional employees from this count).

-Have less than $2,000,000 in gross receipts or annual revenue

-Demonstrate significant economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. (Businesses that have demonstrated evidence of a loss of revenue of at least 20% will have met the burden of demonstrating significant economic hardship)

-Have been established at least one quarter prior to March 4, 2020 (on or before December 4, 2019)

-Be able to produce tax returns

Funding is not guaranteed. Factors that will be considered when determining grant awards will include (1) impact of the COVID-19 crisis; (2) best use/highest impact; (3) years in business operation; (4) number of employees impacted; and (5) ability to leverage alternate funds. Compliance with the grant will be monitored for three years.