COVID-19 Response
 

Our Response Efforts


LISC mobilized to help the people and communities hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Rapid Relief & Resilience Fund, we raised crucial funds to address the following areas:

  1. Supporting Vital Small Businesses: We allocated grants to women- and minority-owned small businesses, which are the lifeblood of local economies. By doing so, we aimed to bolster their resilience and enable them to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic.

  2. Strengthening Community-Based Organizations: We extended support to thousands of community-based organizations dedicated to serving those in need. By offering assistance, we helped these organizations continue their vital work and meet the growing demands within their communities.

  3. Enabling Access and Connectivity: Recognizing the importance of connectivity during these challenging times, we provided tech support and infrastructure to facilitate access to work, education, commerce, and social connections. By bridging the digital divide, we ensured that residents and businesses had the means to navigate the new normal

Building Strength and Equity

The COVID-19 crisis had a devastating impact, particularly on communities of color, highlighting the underlying issues of discrimination and long-standing underinvestment. Our response focused on addressing these disparities and creating a more equitable future. Our efforts were not confined to the immediate crisis but extended beyond it, aiming to help communities and individuals recover while building strength and resilience.

LA COVID-19 Regional Recovery Fund

LISC LA partnered with the County of Los Angeles along with other philanthropic partners to oversee and manage the LA COVID-19 Regional Recovery Fund. 

Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund

Thanks to a $7.5 million investment from Verizon, we offerred grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they could resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing became available. Learn more.

Toolkit for Local Governments

LISC LA developed a toolkit, with funding from Wells Fargo, that offered several small business policy agenda ideas and innovative solutions for local governments to consider. Compiled through in-depth research and reports from LISC LA’s dozens of community-based partners on the front lines of this crisis, the toolkit included seven immediate recommendations for mitigating the impact of the pandemic. 

Keeping Our Shops on the Block: Resource Guide and Grants Programs

At LISC LA, we talked to business owners in our neighborhoods, brainstormed with partners, and scoured the internet to put together this guide that provided key learnings in 5 categories and links to local resources to help small businesses get through the pandemic. Learn more about this here.

Keep Our Shops on the Block was a program initiated by LISC LA to support small businesses, particularly those owned by people of color, during the COVID-19 crisis. Small businesses are essential to our local economy as they provide goods and services, create jobs, and foster a sense of community. However, many BIPOC-owned small businesses faced significant financial challenges due to the pandemic, such as limited cash reserves, a lack of digital presence, and difficulties accessing credit and equity.

LISC LA's Keep Our Shops on the Block programs took a multi-faceted approach to support "Main Street" mom and pop businesses in the neighborhoods where they operated. The initiative involved investing in both the people and the places that made our communities vibrant and thriving.

The program included various grant programs and technical assistance initiatives. Some of the initiatives under this program were as follows:

  • LA County Personal Care & Retail Recovery Grant: This grant program aimed to support personal care and retail businesses located in the County of Los Angeles. The program deployed 481 grants of $10,000 to eligible businesses. To learn more about the impact analysis and access the downloadable PDF, you could have clicked on the following image: Keep Our Shops on the Block Impact PDF.
  • Digital Accelerator Program: The Keep Our Shops on the Block Digital Accelerator program was a virtual accelerator program specifically designed for BIPOC-owned small businesses in the personal care, retail, and food industries. It offered tailored and culturally appropriate business advising and technical assistance to help businesses in these sectors thrive.

SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

The Paycheck Protection Program was a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. 

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance provided vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they were experiencing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Loan advances of up to $10,000 were available to provide economic relief to businesses that were experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Learn more.

Kiva Program

LISC LA had a Kiva Accelerator Fund to match borrower campaigns $1 for $1. 

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Resources

As part of our Financial Partnership Community of Practice, LISC LA facilitated peer-to-peer interactions for financial coaching staff. These interactions helped build connections and fostered knowledge-sharing opportunities, which were particularly important during the pandemic. One notable session involved industry leaders from Bet Tzedek who provided insights on the nuances of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefit for gig economy and independent workers. This session offered valuable information for those seeking guidance on PUA resources. To learn more about the topic, participants were encouraged to explore further. Learn more.