On April 6, the Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services, with support of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced the L.A. County Employer Assistance Grant Fund.

The fund will provide a total of $500,000 to local businesses. Individual businesses may be awarded up to $10,000 based on demonstrated need.

Approximately 25% of awards will be reserved for social enterprises that demonstrate a need and ability to serve vulnerable populations. Applications will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis, and will close once 150 applications are received at workforce.lacounty.gov.

To qualify to apply for the Employer Assistance Grant Fund, the business must be a for-profit corporation, partnership, or nonprofit with a for-profit activity in Los Angeles County – so­cial enterprises and nonprofit firms qualify – that has between two and 50 full-time employees and less than $2 million in gross receipts or annual revenue.

Applicants must demonstrate significant economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. Businesses that have demonstrated evidence of a loss of revenue of at least 20% will have met the burden cant economic hardship.