Fire Recovery & Resilience Initiative

The Fires Recovery Grant, offered through the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) as part of its new Economic Impact Fund, provides targeted relief to small businesses and community-based organizations (CBOs) affected by the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires. This initiative is the first under the Economic Impact Fund and is focused on recovery, resilience, and long-term economic support for disaster-impacted communities. Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to approximately 80 small businesses, while four community-based organizations will receive sub-grants of $25,000 each to provide technical assistance and ongoing support to affected business owners. The program emphasizes serving businesses that have not previously accessed major aid programs and prioritizes equity-focused enterprises, including those that are minority-owned, immigrant-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and microenterprises. To be eligible, businesses must be located in or serve one of the designated wildfire ZIP codes in areas affected by the Palisades or Eaton fires. Businesses operating outside these ZIP codes may be considered if they can demonstrate proximity-based impact. Additional eligibility requirements include having been operational for at least six months prior to the fire (on or before July 1, 2024), earning less than $2 million in annual revenue, and being in good standing with all applicable regulations. Applicants must demonstrate financial losses and commit to receiving one-on-one technical assistance from LAEDC staff. Grant funds may be used for a variety of recovery efforts such as infrastructure repairs, rehiring staff, implementing digital strategies, marketing, or paying off disaster-related debt. The application process opens on August 28, 2025, and closes on September 26, 2025, at 5:00 PM PT. Award notifications will be sent within two weeks after the deadline, and funds will be disbursed in October 2025. Post-award follow-ups will be conducted at 3, 6, and 12-month intervals. Applicants are encouraged to submit supporting documents including business registration, location proof, tax returns, bank statements, disaster impact evidence (e.g., FEMA letters, photos, canceled contracts), and proof of identity. Missing documentation may impact funding decisions. CBO sub-grants will be awarded to organizations that can demonstrate a strong record of serving underserved small businesses, possess the operational capacity to manage funds, and propose clear, scalable support plans. Virtual office hours and in-person assistance sessions will be provided by LAEDC throughout the application period to assist applicants.

Include as many supporting documents as possible; missing info may impact eligibility.