Local and Small Business Assistance

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) can guarantee bonds for contracts up to $2million, covering bid, performance and payment bonds for small and emerging contractors who cannot obtain surety bonds through regular commercial channels. Link to SBA Surety Bond Guarantee website. 

The City of Long Beach is pleased to announce an agreement with Alliant Insurance Services to provide a low-cost insurance alternative aimed at assisting small business enterprises in meeting the City's insurance requirements for bidding on small, low risk projects for the City and Port of Long Beach.

Coverage is bound for City and Port projects only (not all work performed by the vendor/contractor). This program has low premiums, low deductibles and many pre-approved classes, which expedites contract issuance. If you are interested in participating in this program you must contact Alliant Insurance Services directly.

The City of Long Beach is committed to supporting local businesses in its procurement process. Through the Local Preference Program, Long Beach-based vendors receive the following preferences: 

• Request for Proposals (RFP) – for goods or services where a contract is awarded based on vendor’s ability to provide the best value to the City: 
  • Home-based businesses receive an additional 5 percentage points to overall score.
  • Retail/commercial (non-residential) businesses receive an additional 10 percentage points to overall score.
    
    
• Invitation to Bid (ITB) – for goods where contract is awarded to lowest responsible bidder: 10% preference, up to $50,000.
  
  
• Small-Dollar Purchases – for purchases under $40,000 that are handled through an informal procurement process where the City selects vendor who submits the best value quote: 10% preference.

To qualify, the bidder must possess a current, valid business license from the City of Long Beach showing a place of business within the city limits and must have a current valid seller's permit (also known as a sales tax permit), if applicable, showing a place of business within the city limits.

Please note: Local preference can NOT be applied in certain locations of the city and when restricted funds are being utilized, including Tidelands Areas and when some grants are involved.

BizCare Program

The BizCare Hotline supports Long Beach community members who want help accessing resources and information to support their small business or nonprofit. BizCare staff connect business owners and nonprofit leaders to important resources and information, such as grants, loans, technical assistance, information on City policies, and more. The BizCare Hotline is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 pm. Here are the following ways you can connect with the BizCare team to access resources and request assistance: 

The Inclusive Business Navigators Program provides free technical assistance, workshops, and business coaching/advising services to Long Beach small businesses. Assistance is available in multiple languages through our partners listed below. Assistance is available for: