DISTRICT 4 Newsletters
CD4 Small Business Monthly Newsletter | Aug/Sep 2022
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Happy Friday Business Communities of CD4! I am excited to share that I’m back from maternity leave, ready to serve your small business needs, this time, as a new mother! 🙂 Please feel free to reach out to me at any time at suin.lee@lacity.org. For more general, non-business-related questions, contact our office at contactcd4@lactiy.org or your field deputies!
The Power of Procurement Each year, the City of Los Angeles spends approximately $4.5 billion procuring goods and services. That puts policy makers and city employees in an incredibly unique position to make a REAL difference with your tax dollars. Councilmember Raman believes that building a more equal, fair, and just society is by ensuring the City of Los Angeles contracts with more local and small businesses, women-owned and minority-owned businesses, and businesses modeling high environmental standards. In support of this mission, Councilmember Raman joined Eric Garcetti for the signing of the Mayor’s Executive Directive (ED) 35 — increasing access to the City of LA’s procurement process for women and minority-owned businesses. This directive follows earlier studies and recommendations to increase equity in the City’s procurement process.
ICON CDC ETP (Entrepreneur Training Program) Graduation Congratulations to our LA Entrepreneurs for successfully finishing your program and starting a new journey as business owners in Los Angeles! Entrepreneur Training Program is an extensive 8-week program that focuses on teaching participants the information and skills needed to successfully start a business in the City of Los Angeles. Click HERE to learn more about it. Councilmember Raman attended the graduation to celebrate their achievements and deliver certificates. She shared, “Los Angeles would not be half as dynamic and unique as it is without its diverse landscape of small businesses. I’m moved to see such a strong cohort of graduates carry on the spirit of entrepreneurship, and I’m so grateful to ICON for empowering this next generation with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive!”
Paid Family Leave Grant For Small Employers
Eligible small businesses in California with 1-100 employees can apply for grants of up to $2,000/employee to help offset the financial cost of family leave. For more information and the application, check out CaliforniaPFL.com or call (818) 989-0300.
$10,000 Small Business Grant
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is committed to helping small businesses grow. Applications are now open and will close on November 14, 2022. All applicants will be notified about whether or not they have been selected to receive grant funding the week of November 28, 2022. Click HERE to register.
RiseWith 10/13 – How to do business with the City of Los Angeles September 13, Tuesday 10AM
Accessing LA events connect participants to a dynamic tight-knit community of those who want to make money by doing business with the City of Los Angeles and public agencies. RiseWith promotes business/contracting development, especially in the San Fernando Valley. Click HERE to sign up for the event.
How to do business with Metro September 13, Tuesday 10AM – 12PM
As big as the City of Los Angeles is, LA Metro, is bigger – spanning a much larger area in the County of Los Angeles. Metro’s transportation system, now the 3rd largest in the US after New York and Chicago, is going through a major expansion via the voter-approved 2016 ballot measure known as Measure M. New bus and rail lines are reshaping the region and billions of infrastructure dollars mean opportunities for small businesses to contract with Metro. On September 13th, Metro will present a two-hour orientation on Metro’s Certification program, Small Business Program initiatives, Contract Look-Ahead schedules, and information to help you grow with Metro! Click HERE to register. Featured Speaker: Teresa Maxwell, Unit DBE Compliance Officer, SKANSKA USA Civil
Business Website – ADA Compliance Our office has been alerted by several small business owners in Council District 4 that lawsuits are being filed against them by law firms, often in Orange County, utilizing an obscure provision in federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding the disability accessibility of their websites. Though we have followed up with our federal partners, national reform of laws allowing this behavior is not expected in current or future sessions of Congress. Thankfully the City of Los Angeles can help. Avoid a hefty legal bill (often around $10,000) by ensuring that your business website is ADA-compliant. If you are not sure whether you are in compliance, or need help coming into compliance, please reach out to your nearest Business Source Centers to assist you.
Click HERE for The California Commission on Disability Access website for more information.
Save Money while you Save the Planet! Become a certified Green Business through LA Sanitation & Environment
This program provides free consultation and resources, including rebates, for businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact while also saving on costs. Get certified HERE
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