PRESS RELEASE

City of Long Beach 
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd, 
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov

7/29/2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 072921
Subject:
City of Long Beach Announces Storefront Reopening and Board-Up Removal Program
Grant applications now open
Contact:
Johnny Vallejo
Business Operations Bureau Manager
Economic Development Department
562.570.6792
Johnny.Vallejo@longbeach.gov




Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department is now accepting applications for the Storefront Reopening and Board-Up Removal (SRBR) Program, which provides a grant to property and business owners for the removal and haul-away of boarding materials used to cover windows and storefronts in response to either the COVID-19 pandemic, State and local health orders or civil unrest that occurred in the city last year.

In March 2021, the Long Beach City Council approved funding for the SRBR Program, as part of the Long Beach Recovery Plan. The program offers impacted business and property owners a grant ranging from $100 to $600 to assist with the removal and haul-away costs for up to 30 pieces of plywood per location. The grant amount available per eligible applicant varies based on the property size, and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The removal and disposal of boards and coverings will be conducted by the City’s on-call property management consultants. The grant cannot be used for other work or repairs.

Eligibility Requirements
The grant will provide support to qualified business or property owners impacted during the 2020 calendar year that meet the following criteria:

Businesses

  • Business owners must have experienced financial hardship resulting from either the COVID-19 pandemic, State and local health orders or civil unrest
  • Must be a nonprofit or for-profit business
  • Must have an active Long Beach business license
  • Must have 50 or fewer full-time employees within Long Beach
  • Must be located in Long Beach
  • Must be in compliance with local health orders
  • Must not be permanently closed

Properties

  • Property owners must have experienced financial hardship resulting from either the COVID-19 pandemic, State and local health orders or civil unrest
  • Must have a current vacancy
  • Must be actively marketing the property for lease or sale
  • Must be located in the City of Long Beach
  • Must not have any code enforcement violations that are active or pending

Application and Award Process
The grant application period is now open and will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, August 30, 2021. The application intake and selection process consists of the following steps:

  1. Applicants visit the SRBR Program website. 
  2. Applicants review program guidelines.
  3. Applicants complete a pre-qualification 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 email realestatedivision@longbeach.gov. Information about additional business assistance and resources is available on the Economic Development webpage at longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment

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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