PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long BeachEconomic Development Department is now accepting applications for the Business License Tax and Fee Grant. The grant will cover certain business license taxes and fees for eligible restaurants.

“Long Beach is committed to supporting our local independent restaurants that have been impacted by the pandemic,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “These grants will provide much-needed financial support to help our city’s restaurants recover from this economic crisis.”

The Business License Tax and Fee Grant will provide financial relief to full-service, independently-owned restaurants by covering costs for the following business license taxes and fees charged by the City of Long Beach between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020:

• Business license taxes
• Parking and business improvement area assessments
• Health permit fees
• Fire permit fees
• Penalty or late payment fees incurred in the eligible period for the above taxes or fees

Approximately $1.3 million is available for the new program. The maximum grant available per eligible restaurant will depend on the total taxes and fees each business was charged during the eligible period. Business operators who own multiple eligible businesses may qualify for more than one grant; however, receiving a second grant will be dependent on available funding.

Eligibility Requirements
The Business License Tax and Fee Grant will provide support to businesses that meet the following criteria:

• Must have experienced financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and state, regional and local health orders
• Must have a City of Long Beach business license from the 2020 calendar year
• Must be a full-service, independently-owned restaurant
• Must not be in bankruptcy or permanently closed at the time of application

Application and Award Process
The grant application opens at noon on Monday, July 26, 2021, and will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, August 30, 2021. The application intake and selection process will include the following steps:

1. Applicants visit the City of Long Beach’sSmall Business Grant Programs webpage
2. Applicants review program eligibility requirements
3. If eligible, applicants complete a prequalification form
4. City staff screens applications for eligibility to receive grant funding
5. Applicants who are eligible for a grant will be required to submit a business owner’s valid government-issued photo ID or alternative photo ID as well as a W-9 form
6. City staff will contact approved applicants to review and sign a grant agreement and other pertinent documents

Businesses that require assistance completing a grant application may call the City of Long Beach’s BizCare Hotline at 562.570.4BIZ (4249) or visit one of the BizCare Pop-Ups that provide free in-person support to complete grant applications in multiple languages. The BizCare Pop-Ups are located at various locations throughout the city and operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following schedule:

• Mondays at Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Ave.)
• Tuesdays at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.)
• Wednesdays at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.)
• Wednesdays at The Corner Pop-up (2640 Anaheim St.)
• Thursdays at Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.)

Information about additional business assistance and resources is available on the City of Long Beach’s Business Support webpage. For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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