Tag: Businesses

MALIBU—On Tuesday, September 2, the city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the city will be hosting informational workshops on recovery resources for fire-affected businesses, homeowners, and renters.

The workshops are scheduled for the following dates and times:

-Sunday, September 7 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
-Tuesday, September 9 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
-Wednesday, September 10 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The workshops will take place at Malibu City Hall – Council Chambers (23825 Stuart Ranch Road)

Participants will get:
-Expert financial recovery support
-One-on-one meetings with SBA representatives
-Info on Express Event Permits & Sign Permit process
-Guidance on mitigation projects & increasing SBA loans

Spaces are limited and to register in advance call 571-686-5772 or visit Disaster.email@sba.gov.

MALIBU/PACIFIC PALISADES—On Thursday, August 14, the city of Malibu announced on its Facebook page that Steadfast, in partnership with Banc of California, is helping small businesses impacted by the Palisades Fire.

Businesses can apply for direct grants up to $50,000 to cover urgent needs, including rebuilding damaged property and covering fire-related expenses.

The LifeFund website states:

“The devastating wildfires in Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades tested the resolve of the small business community in Los Angeles, but it couldn’t break their spirit. The road to recovery is a process, and financial support is still needed.”

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the grants.

-Business must have been operating on or before October 1, 2024. Operational is defined as generating sales revenue, as evidenced by activity in a business bank statement. Applicants without a business bank account will not be considered.

-Business is located in Palisades, Malibu or Altadena and applicants must reside in Los Angeles County or contiguous counties

-Applicants must own fewer than three businesses offering similar products or services

-Cannot be a dedicated adult entertainment operation, liquor stores, vape/smoke shops or lending organization

-Grant applicants must be majority owner or equal share ownership of business

-All applicants will be required to hold a video conversation with a LiftFund staff member prior to disbursement

-Operates from a commercial storefront location (no online-only businesses)
Applicant has no more than 100 full-time employees

-Each individual applicant is eligible for only one grant award, regardless of the number of businesses or legal entities (EINs) they own or control

-Generates no more than $6 million in annual gross sales

-Must currently operate, or demonstrate intent to re-open within Altadena, Malibu, or the Palisades and applicants must reside in Los Angeles County or surrounding counties. Out of state applicants will not be considered.

-Applicants must be a legal resident with a valid Social Security Number or ITIN

-Applicants must agree to share their name, likeness, and participate in an on-camera interview

To apply visit: https://www.liftfund.com/la-small-business-initiative/. For more information, contact sbgrants@liftfund.com.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU/TOPANGA—On Tuesday, July 22, it was announced by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath launched the Malibu-Topanga Business Interruption Fund to support small businesses affected by the closures of Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard following the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires in the region.

Grants from $10,000 to $20,000 are available for eligible businesses in Malibu or Topanga experiencing revenue loss.

To be eligible to apply applicants must adhere to the following:

-be a small business with under $6 million in revenue and fewer than 100 employees

-be located in zip codes 90265 or 90290

-must have incurred a 10 percent plus revenue loss year over year between the months of January and May

-must be a brick-and-mortar business with storefront or conduct business through in-person services

Applications opened on Wednesday, July 23 at 9 a.m. and will be accepted through Friday, August 22 at 5 p.m. Funding is limited, and meeting eligibility requirements does NOT guarantee a grant award.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—On June 7, the city of Malibu announced on its Facebook page that on June 2, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed updates for Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) and Sign Permits.

To assist the business community, the Planning Commission recommended that the Malibu City Council formally adopt the following temporary changes:

-Events with 99 attendees or fewer now only require a Planning Department clearance submitted 2 days in advance — no public notice required.

-Events with 100–250 attendees must submit a TUP application 7 days in advance and provide notice to properties within 500 feet.

-Events with 251 and above would continue under existing MMC Chapter 17.68 provisions (submitted 35 days in advance, notice sent 32 days in advance)

-Six temporary signs per shopping center or two per parcel for other commercial businesses (maximum 16 square ft. in size each)

-Recommended to be in effect until January 31, 2026.

“The current TUP requirements are perceived to be too limiting to help businesses attract visitors. The following temporary uses are proposed to be allowed only for commercially and institutionally zoned parcels to aid economic recovery resulting from the 2025 Palisades Fire subject to appropriate event permits. This
ordinance will be in effect from June 9, 2025, through September 1, 2025.

Events must first be reviewed for compliance with the Malibu Local Coastal Program.
Events with 99 attendees or less are proposed to be allowed with a planning clearance approved by the Planning Department. The proposal includes the requirement to obtain a planning clearance from the city to allow minor events at a commercial site. The application will need to be submitted at least two (2) days prior to the event. No public noticing is required,” the city of Malibu stated in its Commission Agenda Report.

The Malibu City Council will review and discuss this at its June 23 meeting. For additional details on the proposed amendment, visit https://bit.ly/45dsTB5.

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica announced on its Facebook page that the Economic Development Team will be hosting its first event for businesses in the community on Wednesday, June 4.

The event will take place at 9 a.m. at 1212 Santa Monica, 1212 Third Street Promenade.

Attendees can learn about what the Economic Development Team is doing to streamline city processes and strengthen collaboration with the business community to development economic growth in the city.

Individuals must RSVP by Sunday, June 1: https://ow.ly/JTos50W1g3v.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu is asking businesses to complete the Malibu Business Pulse survey by April 7.

Malibu is committed to supporting local businesses. They have launched the Malibu Business Pulse Survey to better understand challenges facing the business community in the aftermath of the recent fires. Feedback from the public will help shape future programs and resources.

Businesses are asked to provide feedback as, their input is invaluable in building a stronger, more resilient Malibu.

The survey closes on Tuesday, April 8. To take the survey visit: https://bit.ly/43x95Ie.

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA—On Wednesday, February 5 the city of Santa Monica announced on its website that to assist with impacts of the recent wildfires on local businesses, they waived its license fees for outdoor dining areas, sidewalk dining, parklets and pier deck extended dining for the month of February in a supplement to its Emergency Order in response to the Palisades Fire.

“The city is committed to supporting our local businesses, and as a small business owner, I understand firsthand how a disaster can reverberate across a business community,” said Mayor Lana Negrete. “Waiving outdoor dining fees this month can provide much needed relief as we recover, and I encourage everyone to support our local restaurants, shops, hotels and businesses and enjoy everything our beautiful city has to offer.”

At the moment, a total of 101 businesses are enrolled in the city’s outdoor dining programs, which started during the COVID-19 pandemic as a pilot program that became permanent in October 2022. Businesses can apply for the Sidewalk Dining or Outdoor Parklet programs. For more details on the city’s outdoor dining programs, click here.

“As a city, it’s important that we are responsive to our business community, and we heard from many of our restaurants about their severe loss of customers and overall sales due to the impacts of the fires,” said Economic Development Manager Jennifer Taylor. “We hope that by waiving the fees for a month, they’ll be able to get back on their feet and continue to benefit from these outdoor programs, which we know our community loves and enjoys.”

Santa Monica’s emergency proclamation in response to the wind and firestorm remains in place to ensure the continued support of regional wildfire recovery. The Emergency Order was updated on January 31 to provide additional flexibility for schools and businesses impacted or displaced by the wildfires and to refine criteria for housing support for fire victims.

For details and resources for businesses impacted by the regional fires, click here.

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA—On Wednesday, October 23, the city of Santa Monica disclosed that the Santa Monica City Council approved updates to city zoning rules to provide greater flexibility for businesses downtown and on Third Street Promenade.

Updates include:

-Allowing game arcades and arcade bars on Third Street Promenade

-Simplifying review for larger restaurants

-Allowing large-scale commercial entertainment and recreation on city-owned property

-Making it easier for more businesses on 2nd and 4th streets to get alcohol licenses

-Relaxing limits on signage to support creativity, including animated/digital signage, for greater on-site business promotion

-Eliminating restrictions on business size for the Third Street Promenade, such as banks, pet stores, food halls, general personal services and others. Tuesday’s decision will help launch outdoor-only uses in Santa Monica’s office campus districts.

“Encouraging a thriving business community is a key priority for our city and especially in our downtown and Third Street Promenade,” said Community Development Director David Martin. “We will continue to listen and look at holistic approaches to how best to continue to support our city’s economic recovery.”

The recent slate of zoning updates continues the city’s efforts to encourage Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality, directly addressing inquiries and interest from the business community. They remove unnecessary city processes and approvals, providing greater certainty and predictability for property owners and their existing tenants, along with prospective businesses considering locations downtown.

“These changes represent a critical step in supporting the economic recovery of small businesses within Downtown Santa Monica,” said Downtown Santa Monica Inc. CEO Andrew Thomas. “By removing unnecessary barriers and providing new opportunities for businesses to thrive, these updates will help create a more dynamic, engaging environment for both locals and visitors.”

Changes to the sign code will go into effect immediately. The zoning ordinance will go back to the Santa Monica City Council for final adoption on November 11 and go into effect in 30 days.

By Trevor

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Monday, June 24, the city of Los Angeles removed planters that were placed on the sidewalks by business owners to halt homeless encampments in the region of Highland and Sunset Boulevard.

Homeless encampments have been blocking sidewalks throughout Los Angeles for a period of time impacting businesses in the region with trash and decrement that has impacted foot traffic to businesses in the region.

The planters were placed outside of businesses in May 2024 to halt the blockage of sidewalks and paths to businesses for the past 2 years. According to reports, the planters have helped deter crime in the region.

Last week the city of Los Angeles placed notices noting the planters were obstructions and had to be removed or the city would remove them, as the business owners who installed them did not have permits to do so.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez said in a statement to NBC 4 Los Angeles:

“We understand the frustration that local businesses feel about this issue, and we encourage residents to follow the legal process and work with the city to obtain the proper permits to install community beautification projects in the public right of way.”

Sunset Sound Recorders, a business on Sunset Boulevard was surrounded by homeless encampments in earlier February 2024, which impacted business for its high-profile clients who were concerned about safety. In early June 2024, a homeless encampment outside of the business was cleared by city officials.

The removal was part of the Mayor of Los Angeles Inside Safe program which is aimed at housing the homeless in the area. The program has helped move 21,000 Los Angelenos off the streets since December 2022. The program has spent over $341 million as of May 31, 2024. A total of $105 million has been spent by the program to house individuals in motels.

Only 539 individuals are currently in housing, with 305 in limited subsidized housing, 68 in permanent supportive housing. A total of 1265 individuals have housing courtesy of motels that have bene paid for by the program. A total of 842 people have exited the program, with 735 individuals returning to homelessness, 50 being incarcerated and 44 dying.

The Los Angeles Homelessness Service Authority reported more than 75,000 people living in homelessness in 2023 in the region. The number of homeless individuals in LA rose 14 percent from 2022 to 2023.

By Trevor

TOPANGA CANYON—On Tuesday, January 9, the Los Angeles Police Department Major Crimes Division announced they are asking victims of a vandalism suspect to come forward. The LAPD reported on January 8, around 3:30 p.m., Topanga Area patrol officers arrested Edelidio David Wallace, 64, in the 21000 block of Victory Boulevard. He was arrested and booked at Valley Jail for 594 (b)(1)PC: Felony Vandalism, with an outstanding felony warrant, booking number 6739226.

Authorities indicated on January 6, at approximately 3 a.m., Topanga Area patrol officers responded to three vandalism incidents within three blocks of the 20900 block of Victory Boulevard. The suspect used rocks and cement bricks to smash glass windows and doors belonging to several closed businesses. The suspect fled from the location on foot.

On January 8, between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., Wallace vandalized additional closed businesses on Vanowen Street, Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and Sherman Way, again throwing rocks and bricks. All the vandalism occurred within a two-mile radius. Major Crimes Division is investigating the vandalism series to determine if there is a hate crime nexus based on three businesses being Jewish owned. The rocks recovered had “Glory” and “Pay Up” written on them.

Major Crimes Division is investigating additional vandalisms that occurred on January 5 and January 7 in the same general area to determine if they are related. During the incidents, authorities noted that Wallace was wearing the following items:

-January 6: Nike green sweatshirt, black pants, white Nike shoes

-January 8: Nike burgundy sweatshirt, black pants, white Nike shoes

Investigators believe there are other victims who have yet to be identified. Anyone who may have been a victim or have information about the investigation is asked to contact Major Crimes Detectives Beard or Patin at 213-486-7280. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

By Trevor

WOODLAND HILLS—The Los Angeles Police Department are currently investigating a string of businesses that were vandalized in the Woodland Hills region.

Video captured a man tossing a rock at one business. The glass was not shattered as a result of the object being thrown. The LAPD are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime after receiving two other reports on Saturday, January 7 on the 20900 block of Victory Boulevard.

According to CBS Los Angeles, one business owner indicated several other businesses were targeted, all Jewish owned that had damage to their establishments with windows being shattered because of object that were thrown at them. Messages written on the businesses included “Pay Up” or “Glory.” One of the businesses damaged was a dance studio.

The LAPD have not reported any arrests or additional details on a suspect or suspects in any of the incidents.

By Trevor