Tag: grants

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On February 2, the city of West Hollywood announced that it is launching its Restaurant Grant Program to help restaurants in the region with grants of up to $12,500 per business, as outlined below.

Before developing the program, city staff conducted more than 70 individual outreach meetings with West Hollywood restaurant businesses. The efforts included one-on-one assistance and support, solicitation of feedback on potential programs and initiatives, and business retention strategy sessions. The Restaurant Grant Program directly responds to feedback regarding ongoing economic transitions and rising operating costs by providing a short-term immediate infusion of funding during a historically slower time period for foot traffic and sales volume.

To fund the program, West Hollywood allocated $250,000 in General Fund resources, approved by the West Hollywood City Council at its adjourned meeting on January 20, 2026.

The Restaurant Grant Program application opens Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 8 a.m. Grant awards will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, in the order applications are received, subject to verification of eligibility and demonstrated financial need. The online application will be available at www.weho.org/business. The application period will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 19. Applicants will be notified of their grant status in March 2026.

Eligibility criteria for the Restaurant Grant Program includes:

-The restaurant must be located within the municipal boundaries of West Hollywood, have commenced operations prior to January 1, 2025, and be in good standing with a current City Business Tax Certificate and Business License;

-The restaurant must be a brick-and-mortar business with at least one physical location within the City of West Hollywood that customers can visit in person;

-The restaurant may not be hotel-based or located within a hotel; and

-The restaurant must have been impacted by economic conditions and be able to demonstrate financial hardship related to lease obligations, operating costs, or revenue decline.

Restaurant Grant Program applicants are required to complete the online program application, submit a written statement describing the restaurant’s current financial position, and upload supporting documentation. Required documentation includes: a completed Form W-9, most recent tax returns, and a 2025 profit and loss statement. Restaurants approved for grant funding must also execute West Hollywood’s Grant Agreement prior to the disbursement of grant funds.

Grant award amounts will be based on the total square footage of the restaurant, as follows (additional details are provided in the application):

-$7,500 for restaurants under 1,250 square feet;
-$10,000 for restaurants between 1,251 and 2,000 square feet; or
-$12,500 for restaurants larger than 2,000 square feet.

For more information about West Hollywood’s Restaurant Grant Program contact Paolo Kespradit, West Hollywood’s Business Development Manager, at (323) 848-6556 or pkespradit@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

 

By Danny Jones

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—On May 1, the city of Malibu announced on its Facebook page that it is looking to help local businesses in the region with its new Small Business Micro Stabilization Grant Program.

Grants from $5,000 to $20,000 will be awarded to independent businesses impacted by the recent fires, storms and PCH closures. Applications are open May 1 thru May 31.

Eligibility requirements:
-Be located within Malibu City limits
-Have a valid business license issued by December 1, 2024, or statement of exemption
-Demonstrate financial hardship linked to the disasters
-Provide a public benefit to the Malibu community
-Be in good standing with the city of Malibu

To apply online visit: www.MalibuRebuilds.org/BusinessGrants. To obtain a paper application visit Malibu City Hall at 23825 Stuart Ranch Road.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—On January 8, the Malibu City Council gave a one-time grant of $353,100 to the Malibu School Leadership Council to support local schools.

According to the city of Malibu’s website, the Malibu Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and Malibu School Leadership Council (MLSC) asked city council for a professionally run centralized fundraising entity to make it possible for the community to raise and spend funds to ensure Malibu public schools have additional resources for academics, arts, and athletics.

For more details, see the staff report: https://www.malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/6451?fileID=57922.

By Trevor

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood opened applications for its 2024 Arts Grant program as announced on Tuesday, May 2. For those who are interested in applying, WeHo will host a virtual Arts Grant Program workshop via the Zoom platform on Wednesday, May 24 at 12 p.m. Participants will learn about grant eligibility requirements and the application process. They will also be allowed to ask questions. First-time grant applicants and returning organizations with new development personnel are encouraged to attend the Arts Grant Program information workshop to become familiar with the application process.

The city of West Hollywood reported on its website that grant opportunities are available to individuals and nonprofit arts organizations. Arts grants will be awarded in varying amounts and include funding for performing arts projects, individual artists, and organizational development.

West Hollywood invites and encourages artists and organizations representing diverse populations and diverse artistic disciplines to apply for these grants. As defined in the City’s Cultural Equity Statement, diversity includes all ways in which people differ, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, education, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, geography, citizenship status, religion, language, physical appearance, and the intersection of these various identities. The city is committed to ensuring cultural equity in all arts policies and practices.

The arts grants categories with open application processes for 2024 are as follows:

-Arts Project Grant — Supports the production, performance, or presentation of art projects that take place in the City of West Hollywood and that serve the West Hollywood community. The proposed projects should take place in the City of West Hollywood in 2024 and 2025. Proposed presentations may include, but are not limited to: comedy show, dance performance, drag performance, film screening, fine art exhibit, music presentation, poetry reading, and theatre presentation. The Arts Project Grant category is a match grant (a match grant requires that for every dollar requested from the funding source, the equal amount is matched – through in-kind donations, private donations, and/or other grants) and is awarded in a two-year cycle (with one application, grantee can be awarded for 2 years). The maximum grant award is $20,000 per grantee ($10,000 per year). The deadline for this category is Saturday, July 1, 2023.

-Community Arts Grant — Supports non-profit arts organizations with a history of supporting BIPOC and/or female artists and audiences. Proposed projects should take place in West Hollywood in 2024. Proposed presentations can include celebrating heritage months, presenting social justice centered art, and/or an educational and participatory program (workshop) which engages BIPOC and/or female artists and audiences. The maximum grant award for this category is $6,000. The deadline for this category is Saturday, July 1, 2023.

-Organizational Development Grant — Supports both the organization’s mission to provide arts programming and the organization’s capacity by directly supporting technical assistance to improve its ability to fundraise, develop audiences, and build its administrative infrastructure. This grant category is not a match grant and, with one application, an organization can be funded for three years. Applicant organizations should be prepared to utilize a Technical Assistant (or arts consultant) to provide sustainable resources to the organization. The maximum grant is $5,000 per grantee per year ($5,000 for each of the first two years dedicated to technical assistance; the final year for the grantee presentation). This award includes enrollment in the West Hollywood Artists Bootcamp, a highly sought after professional development series about the business of art. The deadline for this category is Saturday, July 1, 2023.

-Transgender Arts Initiative Grant — Supports and enhances the presentation of artworks in West Hollywood by transgender artists and non-profit organizations with a history of supporting transgender artists. Proposed projects should take place in West Hollywood in 2024. Proposed presentations should include art presentations which engage trans artists and audiences. The maximum grant award is $6,500 for both artists and non-profit arts organizations. The deadline for this category is Saturday, July 1, 2023.

-WeHo Artist Grant — Supports the long-term development of an artist’s ideas by providing funds that increase the capacity for artists to realize work, advance the conditions of creation, and navigate the complexities of both making art and making a career. Eligible artists must reside in the City of West Hollywood. The grant award is $6,000 per year for three artists. This category will open on July 1, 2023, and the deadline for applications will be Friday, September 1, 2023. WeHo Artist applications are reviewed by the Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee.

Artists and organizations who would like to apply can visit www.weho.org/arts for more details. For additional information about the West Hollywood’s Arts Grant Program, visit www.weho.org/arts or contact Eva Angeloff, West Hollywood Grants Coordinator, at (323) 848-6354 or at eangeloff@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY (323) 848-6496.

By Casey