Fire survivors, including small business owners affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires, must apply for financial relief Wednesday night.
The Los Angeles-area Small Business and Workers Relief Fund provides direct support for businesses, nonprofits and workers affected by storms and wildfires in January.
Officials say the cash aid is designed to provide immediate relief, “Los Angeles, Los Angeles, and federal, state, local and community partners provide plans for long-term economic recovery and resilience programs for those affected.”
The deadline for filling out an online application is March 12 at 5 pm
Small businesses and workers can find the app and more here.
Homeowners and tenants looking for relief can find more information and apply online here.
“This is a crucial opportunity for those affected by devastating wildfires,” said Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County District 5 supervisor. “I strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to apply before tomorrow’s deadline.”
Small business owners and nonprofits
Small businesses and nonprofit owners whose brick facilities are fully destroyed may qualify for grants up to $25,000.
Here is a breakdown of small businesses and nonprofits:
- Small businesses and nonprofits operating from commercial spaces can receive $25,000 in bricks and huge sales
- If both are partially destroyed, they can receive up to $20,000.
- Any report reporting loss of income can claim up to $15,000.
- Home businesses and independent contractors (including nonprofits operating from home) are eligible for a $5,000 loss of equipment grant and $2,000 in lost revenue.
Applicants are eligible:
- They have been financially affected by the Los Angeles area fires and storms that began on January 7.
- Their headquarters are within the borders of Los Angeles County and in a fire zone during disaster period, evacuation order level 3 or evacuation warning area 2.
- Businesses, including branches, must have 100 or fewer employees, with an average annual income of $6 million or less.
- Nonprofit organizations and social service providers with names of 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(19) must serve low-to-middle income communities with annual income of $6 million or less.
- The applicant independently owns a business or non-profit organization that sells or provides services and/or products.
- The business owner applying for a grant must be the majority owner and manager of the qualified business and the owner’s main means of income in the 2024 taxable year. The person applying on behalf of a nonprofit organization must be its executive officer or president.
- Applicants must be an active business currently operating and maintain good credibility in all local, state and federal tax and licensing authorities.
Worker
Workers who have lost their homes or jobs due to the impact of the fire area may be eligible for $2,000 in aid.
In order to be eligible for assistance, the applicant must be:
- 18 years old or older
- Residents of Los Angeles County
- When a fire in the Los Angeles area is in danger, you may find employment or self-employed in Los Angeles County (such as family labor).
- Loss of income due to the emergency area (fire area, evacuation order 3 area or evacuation warning 2 area) or due to the loss of its home, temporary or permanent.
There is no need for a job right status to apply for this grant.
Documentation required for this application includes:
- Acceptable form of government-issued (US or foreign) photo logo
- Certificate of residence in Los Angeles County (this can be a government-issued photo ID with a home address, utility bill, mortgage or lease document.)
- As of January 7, a physical address in the emergency area is in the proof of income or employment (this can be a salary stub, invoice, employer or verification).
- Proof of permanent damage, including workplace or residence due to wind and wildfires, including structural loss, damage or temporary damage (closure of the workplace). (This can be a FEMA confirmation letter, a publicly available data for photos of emergency area structures, or a evacuation order received.)
Residents and tenants
Instant cash grants range from $6,000 to $18,000 to accommodate homeowners and tenants displaced from the fire, so their homes must be damaged or destroyed until they are uninhabitable.
Applicants may also be eligible for help if they suffer death in families linked to the Los Angeles area fire.
The amount of grant depends on the size of the family.
This is a crash:
- A family of one or two people, including those living alone or couples without dependents, may qualify for $6,000.
- Three or more families, at least one person, who is a dependent minor or dependent family, may be eligible for $12,000.
- A multigenerational family of at least four people, including dependent minors and/or dependents, consists of at least three separate generations and may qualify for $18,000.
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