Local Chambers play a vital role in our communities, particularly during times of crisis or economic disruptions, providing direct support to small businesses when it is needed most. They carry out this work while operating as small businesses themselves, often with limited resources during those same challenging periods. These awards recognize the importance of their partnership with local government and their critical role in ensuring a vibrant small business community. The EOG for Chambers of Commerce opened in August 2025 in collaboration with Third-Party Administrator (TPA) Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) with an extension on October 22, 2025 and fully closed on October 31, 2025 with over 70 applications. The awardees were competitively selected based on eligibility and location in high and highest tier neighborhoods according to the County’s Equity Explorer Index. Awardees received grants of $5,000 and include:

The EOG Program was created by DEO with the California State Office of the Small Business Advocate and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to offer relief to the region’s microbusinesses, small businesses, and nonprofits, recognizing their disproportionate impacts from COVID-19 and outsized contributions of essential goods and services to communities. The Program was administered by Lendistry and PACE as TPAs across phases and the LA Regional Small Business Development Network with 13+ hyperlocal community-based organizations to ensure multi-lingual, culturally competent technical assistance and access for businesses and organizations hardest hit by economic disruptions and with highest barriers to recovery. The program consolidated funding streams and requirements within a single platform to reduce administrative burdens when seeking urgent relief from LA County.

“We know that when crisis hits, relief and stabilization are critical for small businesses and nonprofits who operate on the margins, yet communities rely on for information, support, space, and community,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of DEO. “The EOG Program was a way to transfer significant state and federal relief to community hands, fast and with partners we all trust. We know this relief is step one in our relationship to recover and eventually grow and thrive, no matter the pandemic or economic disruption.” 

“PACE is honored to be a proud partner of LA County’s Department of Economic Opportunity and work with the County to deploy the Economic Opportunity Grants initiative,” said Kerry DOI, President and Chief Executive Officer of PACE. “This initiative is truly timely with Small Business Saturday happening on 11/29 and aligns with PACE’s mission to empower minority-owned and disadvantaged businesses.” 

“On behalf of the Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, we are deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of an Economic Opportunity Chamber Grant from the Department of Economic Opportunity. This support could not have come at a more critical time,” said Andres Kabrera, President of the Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “It will significantly strengthen our ongoing operations and ensure we can provide essential working capital as we continue to champion local businesses, expand community programs, and drive economic growth throughout the Antelope Valley.”  

The EOG Program operated in five phases. The first phase – EOG for Microbusinesses – offered grants up to $2,500 for businesses with less than $50,000 in revenue. The second phases – EOG for Small Businesses, Microbusinesses and Nonprofits – offered grants up to $25,000 for businesses with less than $2 million in revenue and nonprofits with less that $5 million in revenue. The third phase – Entertainment Business Interruption Fund – acknowledged the dual burdens of the pandemic and historic double Hollywood strikes and offered grants up to $25,000 for businesses serving the entertainment industry like caterers, laundry mats, prop shops, and florists. The fourth phase – EOG Holiday Grants – offered grants up to $5,000 to boost stability during below average spending holiday seasons. Finally, the fifth phase – EOG for Chambers of Commerce – offered grants up to $7,000 to round out the program. 

“During COVID, we suffered a long period without work, cancellations of work, and work that stopped progress. We had rent, utilities, and other expenses that had to be paid during this time and with no income coming in during this period, the burden of maintaining payments came from personal funds which was difficult,” said Darly Overlock, Owner of American Home Source. “With the support of the Economic Opportunity Holiday Grant, we continued to grow, covered our remaining debts, and focused on the future of our business. Grants like these continue to give hope to the small businesses in and around the area.”  

“During COVID-19, we exhausted our savings in order to pay our mortgage, utilities, and staff. We made the difficult decision considering the health and safety of our congregation, to close the church doors, and broadcast from our home. That meant cutting costs, laying off staff, and everyone volunteering their time,” said Daphene Crown, Co-Pastor of Love and Grace Christian Fellowship Church. “The Economic Opportunity Holiday Grant assisted us by restoring our cash flow, rehiring our staff, paying off outstanding debt, and relieving some of the financial stress incurred from the impact of COVID.”  

“History For Hire Prop House has supplied props to the entertainment industry since 1985. Started by my husband and brother Bob, we’ve supplied props for films all over the United States and the world,” said Pam Elyea, Co-founder and Co-owner of History for Hire. “There was no film production for months once the pandemic started. We applied for the grant because we needed funding to pay the rent, staff, benefits, and utilities. We took a leap of faith and used the time (keeping most of our staff on payroll) to take our catalog of props online. I am so grateful to LA County for the Business Interruption Fund. This fund brought so many small businesses together to talk about our issues and the road ahead.” 

The EOG program represents an unprecedented recovery investment for small businesses and nonprofits following the pandemic. DEO has continued to support our region’s small businesses with cash relief in the wake of compounding economic tragedy and disruption, including the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires with the $27.5 million LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Fund and the ongoing immigration enforcement actions with the Small Business Resiliency Fund, anticipated to include at least $5 million. DEO knows that capital access – during an emergency and to build resiliency for future crises – alongside education and technical assistance from trusted partners, are keys to success.