Small Business Mobility Fund - Formalization Grants is sponsored by L. A. County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).

These grants are available to sidewalk vendors looking to formalize their business in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. This directly supports small business development and technical assistance for a specific entrepreneurial group.

Small Business Mobility Fund - Department of Economic Opportunity LA County registered vendors are being targeted by a phishing email impersonating the Los Angeles County Local Small Business Enterprise (LSBE) program, requesting business information under false pretenses. Please be advised that this email is not sent from the County of Los Angeles, DEO, or any other County department.

The County does not request vendor information updates through unsolicited external emails or links. If you have received this email, please do not response, click any links or provide any information. If you have any questions, please contact DEO’s Office of Small Business by emailing osb@opportunity.

lacounty. gov. or by c all ing (844)-432-4900 . Small Business Mobility Fund The Small Business Mobility Fund is part of the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI) and its broader mission to reduce barriers to business success by expanding access to education, training and technical assistance, and capital to small businesses across all five Supervisorial Districts.

This is an EMI program powered by DEO and ICON CDC. Applications closed for Entrepreneurship Academy Grants as of February 13th, 2026 at 11:00 PM. Applications for Launch Grants have been extended through June 1st, 2026, at 11:00 PM, and ongoing for Formalization Grants until dollars exhausted.

Available to new and existing businesses launching a brick-and-mortar location in retail commercial spaces with a storefront, as well as non-retail commercial spaces in the unincorporated areas of the County. Applications extended through March 31st at 11 PM. Entrepreneurship Academy Grants Available to graduates from DEO’s Entrepreneurship Academies launching their business or taking it to the next level.

Applications are Now Closed Available to sidewalk vendors looking to formalize their business in the unincorporated areas of the County. Applications are still OPEN. Grant amount, eligibility, requirements, and eligible uses vary by applicant type: $5,000 grants – For businesses launching a business in a brick-and-mortar non-retail commercial space, such as an office or warehouse, in the unincorporated areas of the County.

If already opened, must have opened after September 1, 2025. B usinesses operating from shared spaces that are temporary in nature or operating from non-brick-and-mortar locations do not qualify (i.e. open-air swap meets, farmer’s markets, sidewalk vending, etc.) $10,000 grants – For businesses launching a business in a brick-and-mortar retail commercial space with a storefront in the unincorporated areas of the County.

If already opened, must have opened after September 1, 2025.

Businesses in shared spaces of any kind do not qualify Other eligibility requirements Must be a for-profit business Applicants must reside in LA County Business must be headquartered in LA County Applicants must be the majority owner and manager Annual gross business revenue must not exceed $6 million (or less than $300,000 in household income if a business tax return has not been filed) Business must have less than 100 employees Must be domiciled in California and have required filings with the California Secretary of State Existing businesses must be in good standing with all local, state, and federal taxing and licensing authorities Cannot be listed as an ineligible business type Full List of Ineligible Business Types: Non-profit organizations (including churches or other religious organizations) Landlords (Schedule E Passive Income) Businesses that do not have a permanent physical location in LA County, including those using addresses for P.

O. Boxes, co-working spaces with temporary leases and/or memberships, virtual business addresses, Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRAs), and the like, are not eligible.

Unlicensed cannabis businesses Liquor stores and smoke shops Corporate-owned franchises Payday loan stores, pawnshops and other firms involved in lending activities, such as banks, finance companies and any other firm whose stock in trade is money Firms involved in speculative activities (i.e., day trading, stock market exchange facilitators) Insurance companies, such as life, auto, home, bail bonds and other similar entities Astrology, palm reading, tarot, etc. Night clubs and any businesses that presents live or other performances of a sexual nature Gambling businesses (i.e., track waging facilities, casinos, bingo parlors) Trailer-storage yards and junkyards Multi-sales distribution & multi-level marketing Lobbying firms or businesses that dedicate 50% or more of their time or resources in lobbying activities Government offices or agencies Other businesses that may be deemed ineligible by DEO, based on information submitted by the applicant Eligible uses include tenant or facade improvements, signage, and related building permits.

Must submit the following: A business plan detailing planned usage of funds to support their business’s launch . If you do not have a business plan, you can use an EMI Business Plan template . Proof of lease or ownership of commercial space.

Please note, co-working spaces with temporary leases or that are non-brick-and-mortar (i.e. open-air swap meets, farmer’s markets, sidewalk vending, etc.) are not eligible. Subleases are not accepted, unless under circumstances where the landlord and primary lessee provide proof of sublease and allowed sublease.

Government-Issued Photo Identification Proof of residency in LA County Doing Business As (DBA)/Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Filing California Secretary of State Filings Any related industry permits from the State and the County of Los Angeles (i.e. Health Permit, Establishment License, etc.) Signed most recent tax return, according to the business’s most recent tax return filings (2023 or later).

If no business tax return was filed, household income cannot exceed $300,000 and a personal tax return is required Form 941, if firm has employees Entrepreneurship Academy Grants Grant amount, eligibility, requirements, and eligible uses vary by applicant type: $2,000 grants – For business owners or entrepreneurs that graduated from the EMI Entrepreneurship Academy Program seeking to launch their business or take their business to the next level Launch a business: refers to the process of establishing and formally introducing a new enterprise by developing a viable business concept, completing required legal and regulatory steps, securing initial resources, and beginning operations with the intent to offer goods or services to the market.

(e.g. new website or new business location, as well as other costs associated with formalizing a business) Take a business to the next level: refers to the deliberate process of advancing an organization beyond its current stage of performance.

(e.g. new product or service, expansion to new customer segment, rebrand, new online store, transition to a brick-and-mortar location, and new equipment to expand product offerings Other eligibility requirements Must be a for-profit business Applicants must reside in LA County Business must be headquartered in LA County Applicants must be the majority owner and manager Annual gross business revenue must not exceed $6 million (or less than $300,000 in household income if a business tax return has not been filed) Business must have less than 100 employees Must be domiciled in California and have required filings with the California Secretary of State.

Existing businesses must be in good standing with all local, state, and federal taxing and licensing authorities.

Cannot be listed as an ineligible business type Full List of Ineligible Business Types: Awardees of other Small Business Mobility Fund Grants Non-profit organizations (including churches or other religious organizations) Landlords (Schedule E Passive Income) Businesses that do not have a permanent physical location in LA County, including those using addresses for P. O.

Boxes, co-working spaces with temporary leases and/or memberships, virtual business addresses, Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRAs), and the like, are not eligible.

Liquor stores and smoke shops Corporate-owned franchises Payday loan stores, pawnshops and other firms involved in lending activities, such as banks, finance companies and any other firm whose stock in trade is money Firms involved in speculative activities (i.e., day trading, stock market exchange facilitators) Insurance companies, such as life, auto, home, bail bonds and other similar entities Astrology, palm reading, tarot, etc. Night clubs and any businesses that presents live or other performances of a sexual nature Gambling businesses (i.e., track waging facilities, casinos, bingo parlors) Trailer-storage yards and junkyards Multi-sales distribution & multi-level marketing Lobbying firms or businesses that dedicate 50% or more of their time or resources in lobbying activities Government offices or agencies Other businesses that may be deemed ineligible by DEO, based on information submitted by the applicant Grants are provided to help businesses accomplish the following: Website development and branding Start-up and set-up costs Intellectual property protections Packaging, inventory, and equipment Required building permits Must submit the following: Signed confirmation of graduation from an EMI Entrepreneurship Academy Government-Issued Photo Identification Proof of residency in LA County A business plan detailing planned usage of funds to support their business’s launch or expansion .

If you do not have a business plan, you can use an EMI Business Plan template . Proof of lease or ownership of commercial space or residence, if a home-based business or independent contractor. Subleases are not accepted, unless under circumstances where the landlord and primary lessee provide proof of sublease and allowed sublease.

Doing Business As (DBA)/Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Filing California Secretary of State filings Any related industry permits from the State and the County of Los Angeles (i.e. Health Permit, Establishment License, etc.) Signed most recent tax return, according to the business’s most recent tax return filings (2023 or later).

If no business tax return was filed, household income cannot exceed $300,000 and a personal tax return is required Form 941, if firm has employees For application assistance, contact ICON CDC or visit one of their offices. You can also view a presentation deck that covers both the Launch Grants and Entrepreneurship Grants. 13168 Van Nuys Blvd.

, Pacoima, CA 91331 5805 Sepulveda Blvd. , St. 801, Van Nuys, CA 91411 For general questions on small business services from the County, contact or visit the Office of Small Business: Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM East LA Entrepreneur Center 4716 E.

Cesar E. Chavez, Los Angeles, CA 90022 osb@opportunity. lacounty.

gov Funding Methodology and Distribution The Small Business Mobility Fund Launch Grants and Entrepreneurship Academy Grants are made possible through LA County’s Care First Community Investment (CFCI) funds. Funding is limited and eligibility does not guarantee a grant.

Eligible applicants will be scored based on a pre-determined priority matrix, which includes number of employees, location in comparatively high unemployment areas , and business plan, among other factors. While not a requirement, priority is also provided to businesses dislocated by recent wildfires or opening a business in the unincorporated areas of the County in close proximity to the fires.

Additionally, at least 15% of awards will be distributed to businesses in each Supervisorial District to ensure widespread distribution of funds. A blind lottery system will be applied for instances where there are more eligible applicants within the same score bracket than grants available. DEO anticipates providing approximately $500,000 to 100 businesses.

This is an EMI capital access program powered by DEO and ICON CDC. Learn more about EMI at emi. lacounty.

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