As soon as young entrepreneur Tania Ceballos learned that the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) launched the Small Business Resiliency Fund financial assistance program that will provide a subsidy of up to $5,000 to small businesses, she submitted an application to receive this aid.

“It would be a godsend because it is Money you don't have to pay back. Since the raids began in June, our sales have dropped by 50%. The streets are deserted and people are very afraid to go out, and it's understandable,” says Tania, who opened her small business, La Mochila City, in the San Fernando Valley almost five years ago.

“It's a food truck where we sell Sinaloa-style hot dogs. My mom and sister are my employees,” she says.

This week, Tania went to the offices of the Initiating Change in Our Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (ICON CDC) for advice on filling out and submitting the application for assistance.

“For mobile businesses, they're going to give us $2,500; and in November they'll tell us if we qualify for this grant. God willing, we hope they give it to us.”

Tania gets excited just thinking about how this money would help her.

“I'm paying off a loan that recently allowed me to buy a new truck for the business, but there are many expenses that we face as small businesses, the permits, the license, the salaries of the employees (mother and sister), gasoline, propane, the police station where we keep the truck, and the supplies.”

He says that after struggling to gain acceptance for his concept of Sinaloa-style hot dogs, which many people in the San Fernando Valley were unfamiliar with, they had managed to be successful when the immigration raids came, and what they had achieved collapsed.

“We decided to try food delivery apps for a month to see if sales improve, but these companies take 30% of each check. So things aren’t easy, but we’re fighting.”

You can apply now

The application period for this assistance is now open and the application deadline is October 31 at 5 p.m.

To learn what requirements you need to apply for this assistance, visit: opportunity.lacounty.gov/resiliencyfund.

The Fund has an initial investment of $1.8 million from the Los Angeles County Care First Community Investment (CFCI) program. It is expected to assist 300 businesses with between $2,500 and $5,000.

It was created in direct response to a motion dated June 17, 2025, by Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Janice Hahn, which establishes a grant program to support small businesses affected by closures and curfews related to the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and local economy. When they are impacted by actions that create fear and instability, we must act swiftly to support them,” said Supervisor Solis.

She stated that this fund seeks to protect the economic stability of those affected and ensure they have the resources to recover, rebuild, and continue serving their communities with strength and resilience.

The Impact of the Raids

It is administered by the Employment Development Department (DEO) in collaboration with SoCal Grantmakers, which is serving as the fiscal sponsor, and AidKit, which will oversee the grant application and distribution.

“ICE raids have plunged communities into chaos, and small businesses are being severely impacted, losing customers, employees, and revenue overnight,” said Supervisor Hahn.

“This new County program will provide up to $5,000 to help these businesses stay afloat.”

He added that small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and this assistance seeks to keep their doors open, protect jobs, and ensure that the most vulnerable neighborhoods receive the help they need.

To qualify, businesses must be located in Los Angeles County and demonstrate financial hardship as of June 6, 2025.

They must also prove they have been impacted by events related to immigration enforcement, such as forced closures, labor shortages due to worker detention, or significant revenue losses due to curfews or protests.

Grants can be used for recovery-related expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, employee wages, inventory replenishment, equipment repair,debt repayment and marketing.

The Core of the Economy

“Small businesses are the core of the Los Angeles County economy, and many are family-owned and immigrant-owned businesses that are critical pillars of their communities,” said Kelly LoBianco, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity.

“The Small Business Resilience Fund seeks to ensure that these businesses have the resources necessary to withstand disruptions beyond their control and continue providing employment, services, and stability to residents.”

A network of trusted Community Organizations (CBOs), including the Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC), the Initiating Change in Our Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (ICON CDC), and the Los Angeles Economic Equity Accelerator and Fellowship (LEEAF), will provide application and outreach support.

These organizations will offer multilingual technical assistance, help verify eligibility, and guide entrepreneurs through the application process.

Affected Businesses

According to recent reports from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), the civil unrest and curfews that followed the June raids potentially affected more than 19,000 businesses in Downtown Los Angeles alone.

More than 3,700 of these businesses operate in the retail sector, one of the hardest hit industries, many of them small, immigrant-owned and family-owned businesses.

Data from the University of Southern California (USC) Equity Research Institute further reveals that nearly 25% of undocumented workers in Los Angeles County are employed in retail trade, making the intersection of enforcement activity and industry vulnerability particularly acute.

The LAEDC estimates the total economic output of businesses within the curfew zone at approximately $72.6 billion, supporting over 284,000 jobs.

Due to limited resources, the number of eligible applicants could exceed available funding in the first round.

Businesses that meet eligibility criteria but are not selected will be placed on a waitlist and notified if additional funding becomes available.

Organizations, foundations, and institutions interested in donating to the Small Business Resilience Fund can contact Funds@opportunity.lacounty.gov.