Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, introduced a motion on May 12 to move $1 million of the council office’s AB 1290 Discretionary Funds to a grant program that will assist small businesses in his district during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

O’Farrell is initiating the Emergency Small Business Grant Program for businesses in the 13th District with 26 or fewer employees. The program will assist those struggling to make ends meet during the public health emergency orders. The program will be administered and developed in partnership with the city’s Economic and Workforce Development Department. AB 1290 funds come from property taxes and are used for redevelopment and services in urban communities.

“As emergency orders are relaxed and our small business community ramps up for a new normal in their operations, financial assistance will help some restaurant, retail and service operators survive,” O’Farrell said. “Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and we must take action that will provide a swift, steady and safe return for employers and employees.” 

The City Council has taken many actions to assist small business owners. O’Farrell won the support to refine the Right-of-Recall Ordinance, which ensures workers who lose their jobs due to the pandemic have the opportunity to regain employment when emergency orders are lifted. O’Farrell also fought to expand the job notification requirement to include email and text messages to notify former employees when work is available.

The councilman introduced a resolution that supports federal legislation to alter the Paycheck Protection Program to assist small business owners, and initiated a motion making it unlawful for a third-party food delivery service app to charge more than 15% of the purchase price in fees per online order for the use of its services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

Additionally, O’Farrell led a unanimous vote to waive late fees on rent and extend eviction protections and the payback period to three months for commercial tenants.

For information, visit cd13.com.