Financial Relief Through Grants of Up to $3,000 for Eligible Small Businesses in Designated East Los Angeles Impact Areas

Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) today announced the launch of the Small Business Recovery Grants, providing direct financial assistance to eligible small businesses that experienced economic impacts related to the June 17, 2026, Lineage Fire and the May 22, 2026, East Los Angeles Oil Spill near E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and N. Eastern Avenue.

Beginning Thursday, September 17, 2026, eligible small businesses located within County-designated impact areas may apply for grants of up to $3,000, depending on business type. Applications will remain open through Thursday, October 1, 2026.

“Small businesses should not be left to absorb the financial damage caused by an emergency they did not create,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “The Lineage Fire and East Los Angeles oil spill disrupted commerce and put an unfair burden on owners who were simply trying to keep their doors open. That is why I directed First District funds to establish this grant program, so local businesses have the resources they need to weather these disruptions, keep people employed and remain a vital part of our communities. These businesses have been through enough. Now, we are putting resources directly in their hands to help them move forward.”

“When an emergency disrupts a neighborhood, the impact doesn’t end when the immediate crisis is over. Small businesses can lose customers, revenue, and days or weeks of operations that are difficult to make up,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of DEO. “These recovery grants are designed to get direct assistance to the small businesses that were impacted and help them continue serving the East Los Angeles community.”

Applications will be accepted online through the County’s grant administrator, AidKit. Applicants are encouraged to first review the designated impact-area maps for the Lineage Fire and East Los Angeles Oil Spill to determine whether their business location falls within an eligible area.

If the number of eligible applicants exceeds available funding, the program will use a prioritization process and a weighted lottery to determine awardees. Eligible applicants who are not initially selected may be placed on a waitlist should additional funding become available.

To qualify, businesses must be located within a County-designated geographic impact area associated with either the Lineage Fire or the East Los Angeles Oil Spill and meet additional program requirements. Among other requirements, eligible businesses must have been operating at an eligible location for at least 30 days before the applicable incident, have 100 or fewer employees, have annual gross receipts of $6 million or less, and demonstrate or attest to a qualifying business disruption or economic impact associated with the incident. Applicants must also provide required information and documentation to verify eligibility. Businesses located outside of the designated geographic impact areas are not eligible for this grant.

Businesses can review eligibility requirements, view the designated impact-area maps, and access the application at opportunity.lacounty.gov/sbrgeastla.  

DEO’s Office of Small Business will provide direct business outreach and support, including assistance with the grant intake and distribution process. Southern California Grantmakers will serve as the program’s fiscal sponsor, with AidKit supporting grant administration and payment processing.  

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