Cash assistance for businesses impacted by ICE raids

Los Angeles County officials announced a new cash assistance program for businesses experiencing economic disruption due to federal immigration enforcement activity.

The Small Business Resiliency Fund (SBRF) is a grant program from the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) that provides up to $5,000 in financial assistance to small businesses that experienced loss of workforce, property damage, decline in customers, economic disruption, or revenue loss due to immigration enforcement actions that occurred starting June 2025.

Funds may be used for rent, payroll, equipment repairs, inventory replacement, and recovery expenses.

During a news conference downtown, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and the Department of Economic Opportunity announced the Small Business Resiliency Fund to support eligible businesses across the L.A. region. Applications are open and will close Oct. 31 at 5 p.m.

The application portal and information on eligibility requirements can be found at opportunity.lacounty.gov/resiliencyfund.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and local economy. When they are disrupted by actions that create fear and instability, we must act quickly to support them," Solis said in a statement.

In June, Solis introduced a motion alongside Supervisor Janice Hahn for the creation of the assistance program. The fund is being administered by the DOE in partnership with SoCal Grantmakers, serving as fiscal sponsor, and AidKit, which oversees the application and grant distribution process.

An initial $1.8 million from the county's Care First Community Investment program is providing for the first round of grants.

"This fund is about protecting the economic stability of those affected and ensuring they have the resources to recover, rebuild, and continue serving their communities with strength and resilience," Solis added.

To qualify, businesses must be located in Los Angeles County and demonstrate financial hardship beginning June 6, 2025. They must also be impacted by immigration enforcement-related events, such as forced closures, labor shortages resulting from workforce detentions, or significant revenue losses due to curfews or protests.

Grants may be used for recovery-related expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, employee wages, inventory restocking, equipment repairs, debt repayment, and marketing, according to the county.

Due to limited resources, the number of eligible applicants may exceed available funding in the initial round. Businesses that meet the eligibility criteria but are not selected will be placed on a waitlist and notified if additional funding becomes available.

Organizations, foundations and institutions interested in donating to the Small Business Resiliency Fund can contact Funds@opportunity.lacounty.gov.

"ICE raids have thrown communities into chaos and small businesses are being hit hard -- losing customers, employees, and revenue overnight. This new county program will provide up to $5,000 to help those businesses stay afloat," Hahn said.

Community-based organizations such as Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation, Initiating Change in Our Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation, and the Los Angeles Economic Equity Accelerator and Fellowship will provide application and outreach support. Applicants can receive technical assistance when applying and in several languages through these groups.

"Small businesses are at the heart of Los Angeles County's economy, and many are immigrant- and family-owned enterprises that serve as cornerstones of their communities. The Small Business Resiliency Fund is about making sure these businesses have the resources they need to withstand disruptions outside their control and continue to provide jobs, services, and stability for residents," Kelly LoBianco, DOE director, said in a statement.

According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation's recent reporting, protests and curfews that followed federal enforcement activity in June potentially disrupted more than 19,000 businesses in the downtown area.

More than 3,700 of these businesses operate in the retail sector, which are most of the heavily impacted industries as many of them are small, immigrant- and family-owned enterprises.

Further data from USC's Equity Research Institute found that nearly 25% of undocumented workers in L.A. county are employed in retail trade. LAEDC estimated the total economic output of businesses with the downtown L.A. curfew zone at approximately $72.6 billion, supporting more than 284,000 jobs.

Applicants that have technical issues or questions with the application portal can contact the AidKit Support Team for troubleshooting assistance at (213) 770-6148 or support@lacsmallbizresiliency.aidkit.org.

Additional reporting by City News Service.