LOS ANGELES – Seven local nonprofits will share $10 million in grants in a program designed to allow groups impacted by COVID-19 to acquire vacant property for inclusive economic development and community-serving use, officials announced Saturday.
The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity announced the first round of awardees from the LA County Commercial Acquisition Fund, administered in partnership with Genesis LA and supported by a $10 million American Rescue Plan investment.
All awardees received recoverable grants between $500,000 and $2 million.
“Too often, we’ve seen longtime residents and small businesses pushed out by corporate interests and rising rents,” LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said in a statement. “By helping mission-driven organizations `buy back the block,’ we’re anchoring opportunity, protecting community identity, and building lasting wealth in neighborhoods too often left behind. This is how we fight displacement and make equity real — by investing in local ownership and providing economic justice for future generations.”
In May and June of 2024, more than 200 nonprofits applied to the CAF to verify qualifying status, and 39 eventually submitted project proposals for acquisition. The seven nonprofits that were awarded have since acquired their project properties in all five supervisorial districts of Los Angeles County.
“When we thought about pandemic recovery, we got creative. We saw historically disinvested communities again facing disproportionate loss from COVID-19, including small business closure and dislocation,” DEO Director Kelly LoBianco said. “With the board’s leadership and recovery dollars, we are proud to have catalyzed a new capital development and access solution for more inclusive development and a more equitable and resilient economy as we build back — and as we face today’s challenges.”
The seven nonprofit awardees and project locations are:
— Freedom and Fashion + Backyard Crossfit, 4440 Alhambra Ave., Los Angeles;
— Community Coalition + Primestor, 8601 South Vermont Ave., Los Angeles;
— Destination Crenshaw + Inner City Kitchen, 6400 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles;
— Holos, 315 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles;
— Long Beach Blues Society + Lockout Studios, 1975 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach;
— Pacoima Beautiful, 8809 Sunland Blvd., Sun Valley;
— Strength Based Communities for Change, 40038 170th Street East, Lake Los Angeles.
Officials said the county is expanding the program beyond COVID-19 recovery to vacant and underutilized properties in high-need communities, with an additional $3.3 million available. The new program will open for application in fall 2025.
