PRESS RELEASE

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

8/21/2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 082120
Subject:
City Provides Tips for Avoiding Small Business Grant Scams
Contact:
Eric Romero
Project Manager, Economic Development Department
562.570.6705
Eric.Romero@longbeach.gov




Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach offers grant programs to support Long Beach businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the civil unrest that took place on May 31, 2020. It has been brought to the City’s attention that entities not affiliated with the City have made attempts to scam Long Beach small businesses seeking such grants. 

Please note the following regarding the City’s grant application and award process:
  • Information about the City’s small business programs is always free.
  • There is no charge to apply for grants through the City of Long Beach.
  • City employees will never ask you for your credit card or bank account number, nor is this information required to apply for a grant.
  • Official City email correspondence will come from email addresses ending in longbeach.gov.
The City offers the following tips:
  • If you receive an email, phone call or text message that seems suspicious, do not reply. Call 562.570.4BIZ (4249) for assistance.
  • Do not send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request.
  • If you receive a robocall claiming to be affiliated with Long Beach small business grant programs, hang up immediately and do not respond to any prompts.
Long Beach business owners can call the Long Beach Business Hotline, 562.570.4BIZ (4249), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays for information about small business grants and the application process for each grant. Additionally, Long Beach business owners can email 4BIZ@longbeach.gov with questions.

Media inquiries may be directed to Eric Romero, Project Manager, Economic Development Department, 562.570.6705, Eric.Romero@longbeach.gov.

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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