LA County Awards $46 Million in CARES Act Funding to more than 1,400 Small Businesses

LOS ANGELES – The County of Los Angeles Dec. 22, announced that $46.2 million of federal CARES Act funding has been distributed to more than 1,400 community-based businesses to help retain or hire employees, implement COVID-19-related safety measures, and comply with local health orders. At the direction of the Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging, and Community Services or WDACS, along with REDF, a venture philanthropy focused on building the employment social enterprise sector, partnered to provide these CARES Act funds to small businesses, social enterprises, B corporations, non-profits, and Community Business Enterprises or CBE, located in economically disadvantaged communities throughout Los Angeles County.
The businesses that received funding represent a wide variety of products and services, from restaurants to education and childcare to retail.
More than 1,400 small businesses and non-profit organizations were awarded funding, out of more than 2,400 total applicants. This is a 60% acceptance rate.
34% of funding went to businesses or non-profit organizations led by people of color
A total of $46.2 million was awarded to businesses and non-profit organizations throughout all five Supervisorial Districts in Los Angeles County, helping to avert more than 5,700 estimated layoffs.
$33.3 million was awarded to small businesses
$12.7 million was awarded to social enterprises, B-Corps, and CBEs