LA Optimized, an initiative to help local small businesses recover from the pandemic by expanding their e-commerce capabilities and growing their online presence, was launched on Nov. 25. The project will be overseen by Mayor Eric Garcetti’s newly appointed 2021 entrepreneur-in-residence, Rober-to Martinez.

“COVID-19 has changed everything – the way we communicate, work, socialize and shop – and our brick-and-mortar stores need to rapidly rethink how they reach their customers, market their goods, sell their products and thrive when so much business is happening online,” Garcetti said.

LA Optimized aims to help small businesses adapt to the rapid shifts in consumer behavior and technological advances by empowering them to boost digital marketing, maximize online business listings, create or optimize websites, and increase knowledge and presence in the e-commerce space. The service is free. Through the help of dedicated partners, the mayor’s office plans to allocate over $1.5 million to the services.

The program will also partner with the ArtCenter College of Design and verynice (design studio) to deliver up to $500,000 to vetted creative professionals to provide $500 in business and digital content services to struggling small businesses including branding, video, photography and graphic design. In its first year, up to 1,000 small businesses will be able to access services to increase their online visibility and engagement, and help adapt to digital marketing platforms.

While the pandemic has accelerated a surge of online sales this year, small and medium businesses have long faced digital challenges to compete with larger corporations, the mayor said. This year, California’s small business revenue dropped by 29.3%, and a September 2020 report found that Los Angeles has seen 15,000 closures, half of which are permanent.

LA Optimized will be open to active small businesses in Los Angeles, with priority given to brick-and-mortar establishments in low income communities. Businesses can enroll by visiting coronavirus.lacity.org/laoptimized.