Long Beach Briefs: City Launches Microgrant Program, Explores Housing Students Experiencing Homelessness Through Tiny Homes and Unveils FY Budget

City Launches Inclusive Business Navigator Microgrant Program

The City of Long Beach, through the Long Beach Recovery Act, is launching microgrants to support startups and micro-entrepreneurs with access to small amounts of capital to launch or grow their business. The Program, led by the Economic Development Department, will distribute $2,500 and $5,000 grants to qualified businesses, with up to $80,000 in total funding. 

Applications are available through 5 p.m., Aug. 26. 

Details: Program eligibility and requirements: longbeach.gov/biznavigators.

City Explores Opportunity to House Students Experiencing Homelessness Through Tiny Homes

The City of Long Beach announced today that it is shifting the focus of its tiny homes project toward housing students experiencing homelessness. The City and Long Beach City College or LBCC are discussing possible collaborative efforts that could provide needed shelter for some LBCC students. 

Discussions with LBCC are in the early stages and a location for the tiny homes has yet to be finalized. The potential innovative partnership would help the city locate a viable space for tiny homes, assist LBCC in providing an additional pathway to housing stability for students and make a direct positive impact on the lives of LBCC students who are experiencing homelessness. 

Funding for this effort stems from the Homekey Program Round 2 Grant, which was awarded to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services or Health Department by The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development or HCD in August 2022.  

Details: longbeach.gov/homelessness and read more here: https://tinyurl.com/Student-tiny-homes-explored 

Long Beach Unveils Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

LONG BEACH — Last week the City of Long Beach unveiled its proposed fiscal year 2025 or FY 25 budget. The $3.6 billion proposed FY 25 budget includes the city manager’s proposed budget, the mayor’s recommendations to the city council and the proposed FY 25 capital improvement plan or CIP. The proposed budget focuses on key areas of investments identified in the Long Beach Strategic Vision 2030, among other critical priorities.

More information, including information about budget hearings and workshops, is available at longbeach.gov/fy25.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/Proposed-FY-2025-Budget-LB