Los Angeles County Supervisors Approve Motion to Protect Small Businesses and Boost Economic Resiliency

New motion builds on Small Business Resiliency Fund to provide ongoing support for local businesses.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved a motion authored by Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and co-authored by Board Chair Pro Tem and Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to strengthen protections for small businesses and bolster economic resiliency through the establishment of a permanent, ongoing fund in response to the Trump administration’s federal immigration enforcement, tariffs, and other economic disruptions.

The motion builds on a June 17, 2025, Board action introduced by Chair Solis directing County departments to assess the economic effects of immigration enforcement activity. That action followed reports of workplace raids that resulted in workforce losses, reduced customer traffic and declining revenues for local businesses.

A subsequent economic impact report, conducted by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity in partnership with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, found that nearly 60% of surveyed small businesses were concerned about their ability to maintain their workforce in the coming months, while 44% reported revenue losses exceeding 50%. The report also found that immigration enforcement activity contributed to a broader climate of fear that reduced consumer activity and discouraged residents from visiting local businesses.

“With 3.5 million immigrants and countless small business owners and workers calling Los Angeles County home, cruel and inhumane raids that disrupt livelihoods create enormous ripple effects through our entire community,” said Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “When employees are taken from their jobs and homes, families struggle, communities lose vital services, and our local economy suffers. This motion ensures small business owners and their employees have access to the support, resources, and guidance they need to recover, protect their workforce, and build long-term economic stability across the County.”

“When economic shocks hit, small businesses often feel it first. This motion strengthens Los Angeles County’s ability to respond by creating tools like a permanent business interruption fund and expanding outreach so businesses can actually access recovery support,” said Board Chair Pro Tem and Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “Our small businesses power our local economy, and we need to make sure they have the help they need to recover and stay open when disruptions occur.”

The motion directs the Department of Economic Opportunity, in collaboration with the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs and other County departments, to develop a framework for a permanent business interruption fund to support small businesses impacted by economic disasters, including natural disasters, public health emergencies and immigration enforcement activity. It also calls for the creation of a flexible, low-interest loan program through the County’s Economic Development Trust Fund, with a focus on reaching the most impacted communities.

Both programs would be paired with culturally competent, multilingual technical assistance to help small businesses access capital, improve financial literacy and navigate application processes. The motion also calls for evaluating eligibility requirements across County-supported disaster funding programs to reduce barriers and improve access for microbusinesses, immigrant-owned businesses and those operating in cash-based economies.

In addition, the motion directs the County to expand outreach and education efforts through a standing countywide small business convening to share resources, provide updates on policy changes and connect businesses to services. It also calls for identifying County facilities where small businesses can access in-person support through rotating community-based services, and for exploring a pilot program that partners with local artists to incentivize shopping at small businesses in unincorporated areas.

County departments are expected to report back to the Board within 90 days with implementation plans and recommendations.

Last week, Chair Solis joined the Department of Economic Opportunity to announce the second round of funding from the Small Business Resiliency Fund, providing more than $3.6 million to 872 small businesses. Established in response to federal immigration enforcement actions that disrupted local economies, the fund has now delivered more than $5.1 million in support to over 1,200 small businesses, including an additional $590,000 for 146 First District businesses. Today’s motion seeks to build on that effort by establishing a permanent, sustainable program to provide ongoing support for small businesses facing economic disruptions.