The Californer - California: ICYMI: LA's rebuilding and recovery efforts continue with support from Governor Newsom and LA Rises

Trending...

~ Los Angeles continues to rebuild and recover from the devastating fires that swept through the region in 2024. With support from Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Rises, a grant program has been established to provide assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and workers who were impacted by the fires.

The first round of grants, totaling $2.7 million, was announced yesterday by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the City of Los Angeles. This initial phase will provide direct cash assistance to 82 businesses and 324 workers, including those with physical brick-and-mortar locations that were destroyed in the fires.

Governor Newsom expressed his commitment to helping these businesses and workers rise and rebuild, stating that small businesses are not only crucial for a thriving economy but also make up the heart of healthy communities. He commended the City and County of Los Angeles for quickly disbursing these critical funds.

The grant program is supported by a $10 million investment from the State of California, as well as contributions from Maersk and APM Terminals. LA Rises, led by Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter, business leader and basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and Casey Wasserman, also played a key role in providing funding for these relief funds. It is expected that an additional $15.9 million will be awarded later this month.

More on The Californer

Donations are welcomed to help close the gap on any unmet needs for these funds and can be made at lacounty.gov/relief.

Governor Newsom has been actively involved in supporting recovery efforts in LA since January when he launched LA Rises as part of his California Jobs First Economic Blueprint tour. The Blueprint includes $125 million in funding for new projects and $15 million for economic development projects for California Native American tribes.

Last month, Governor Newsom received the regional plan from the Los Angeles Jobs First Collaborative and announced an additional $3 million to support their recovery efforts. This includes launching public-facing campaigns to promote small business support and increasing capacity for near-term business and economic recovery.

In addition, at the Governor's request, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) extended the deadline for survivors of the Los Angeles fires to register for federal aid. The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance was also extended.

More on The Californer

Homeowners and renters who have suffered damage or losses from the fires now have until March 31, 2025, to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance and Small Business Administration assistance. These programs provide financial and other assistance to eligible individuals and households to help meet their basic needs and supplement their wildfire recovery efforts.

Governor Newsom continues to urge caution and preparedness as severe weather is expected to impact much of California in the coming days. He has also announced appointments, including Andrew King as Deputy Director of Data Operations Strategy at the Office of Data and Innovation.

California is also expanding its collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to utilize cutting-edge technologies in protecting public health and aiding in the rebuilding process in Los Angeles. As the state continues its efforts towards recovery, it remains committed to supporting those affected by the fires in any way possible.

Filed Under: Government, State

0 Comments

Latest on The Californer