“These relief funds represent real hope for the small businesses, nonprofits, and workers who lost everything in the fires,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, in Tuesday’s statement. “Recovery won’t happen overnight, but this direct financial support is a critical lifeline to help our communities rebuild and move forward.”
Parts of the county were devastated by two massive wildfires—the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire—that started on Jan. 7.
The fires destroyed or damaged about 16,000 structures and killed 30 people.
Cleanup and rebuilding are underway to restore the communities while the county continues to raise funds through a public-private-philanthropic partnership to help businesses and workers recover.
On Feb. 6, nearly a month after the fires started, the county’s economic opportunity department pitched in $1 million to launch the collection of funds to provide direct cash assistance to impacted workers, small businesses, and nonprofits.
The department has received 14,477 completed applications for the funds, the county reported Tuesday.
The $19.1 million awarded so far includes grants totaling $4.62 million for 2,309 workers and $14.52 million for 1,372 small businesses and nonprofits, according to the county.
“The ongoing impact of these fires has been devastating—including for small business owners and workers who lost everything,” County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said Tuesday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the latest round of relief grants will continue to support businesses and workers.
“Just as California came together to fight the fires, we’ll work together to rebuild these communities that have been most impacted,” Newsom said in the county’s statement.
The funds support entities and workers most impacted in the fire zones.
According to the county, 821 brick-and-mortar businesses, nonprofits, and home-based businesses in the fire zones were fully destroyed, which represents about half of the businesses with fewer than 100 employees in the fire areas.
Of the total business and nonprofit awards, about half had also had their homes destroyed. Half of them served the community as legacy businesses for more than 10 years.
The funds also supported 283 creative workers, such as those in film, television, music, writing, and other entertainment careers, according to the county.
“The arts and creative sector is part of the social fabric of communities and one of our significant economic industries locally and statewide,” said Kristin Sakoda, director of the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. “The wildfires damaged the livelihoods of artists, creatives, studios, and creative businesses, affecting the cultural vitality of LA County.”
