The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and city of Los Angeles announced the latest round of grants for the L.A. Region Small Business and Worker Relief Fund that will provide direct cash assistance to impacted workers, small businesses and nonprofits. A total of $19.1 million has been awarded to 1,372 businesses and 2,309 workers, including businesses and nonprofits that had physical brick-and-mortar locations destroyed in the fires.

“Just as California came together to fight the fires, we’ll work together to rebuild these communities that have been most impacted,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “This latest round of relief grants will continue to support the businesses and workers that are the driving forces behind Los Angeles’ vibrant and diverse economy.”

Supported by a $10 million investment from the state of California, Maersk and APM Terminals, and L.A. Rises, led by Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter, business leader and basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Casey Wasserman, the relief funds have awarded $14.52 million to small businesses and nonprofits – awards ranging between $2,000 and $25,000 – and $4.62 million for workers – all receiving $2,000. It was the first investment by L.A. Rises, the unified recovery effort launched by the governor in January.

The funds are supporting businesses, nonprofits and workers who are most impacted by the disaster in the fire and emergency zones. It includes 821 brick-and-mortar and home-based businesses and nonprofits in the fire zones that were fully destroyed, representing about 50% of businesses with less than 100 employees in the zones. Of the total business and nonprofit awards, approximately 50% also faced home loss, 50% served the community as legacy businesses for 10-plus years, 65% reported underinsurance and 65% represented diverse business ownership. Of the total worker awards, approximately 50% faced permanent loss of employment or income due to the disaster, 44% report low-income and use of public benefits and 28% report ineligibility or lack of access to public unemployment assistance. The funds are also supporting 283 impacted creative workers.

At this time, there are not sufficient funds to award all impacted applicants – fundraising could close an estimated $6,742,000 funding gap that could support an additional 1,194 businesses, nonprofits and 1,169 workers. Organizations and partners interested in supporting the funds can do so directly at lacounty.gov/relief.