LA County has opened a Small Business Resiliency Fund to provide grants of up to $5,000 for businesses harmed by federal immigration enforcement that began in early June. The fund officially launched on September 29 and will accept applications until October 31.
The Board of Supervisors approved the program in June through a motion by Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn, directing county agencies to support businesses disrupted by raids, curfews, and worker shortages. The Department of Economic Opportunity is administering the program, with SoCal Grantmakers serving as fiscal sponsor and AidKit overseeing applications and grant distribution. The initial $1.8 million in funding comes from the county’s Care First Community Investment program.
To qualify, businesses must be small and locally rooted. They must have been operating in Los Angeles County before June 1, 2025, report $6 million or less in gross revenue for 2024, and employ fewer than 100 people. Independent contractors and sidewalk vendors are eligible, but nonprofits, landlords, professional service firms, and large corporate franchises are excluded. Applicants must show financial harm beginning June 6, when federal immigration sweeps intensified.
Funds may be used for a wide range of recovery expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, payroll, restocking inventory, repairing equipment, and paying down debt. Officials emphasize that the grants are meant to help businesses stabilize after sudden losses tied directly to enforcement activity.
A network of community organizations, including Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation, ICON CDC, and LEEAF, is providing outreach and technical assistance to ensure the program reaches immigrant-serving small businesses and vendors. The county is also hosting webinars in English and Spanish to help walk applicants through the process.
The scale of disruption is significant. The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation estimates that more than 19,000 businesses in Downtown Los Angeles alone were affected by curfews and unrest following the raids, including 3,700 small retail shops. The total economic output of the curfew zone is estimated at $72.6 billion, supporting nearly 285,000 jobs. A study by USC’s Equity Research Institute found that nearly one quarter of undocumented workers in the county are employed in retail, making those sectors especially vulnerable.
Because funding is limited, county leaders acknowledge that not all eligible businesses will be selected. Applicants who qualify but are not awarded funds will be placed on a waitlist, and the county is asking private donors and institutions to contribute to expand the program. Officials stress that the fund is both a lifeline for local businesses and a recognition that the impacts of federal enforcement ripple through entire communities, from workers and families to the small businesses that anchor neighborhoods.