PPE Unite Is Working to Keep Businesses Open, Thriving and Safe for All with Free Personal Protective Equipment
DCBA Acting Director Rafael Carbajal speaks at the PPE Unite launch event.
In an effort to keep small businesses open and operating safely as the flu, cold and Covid-19 seasons converge, PPE Unite is giving small businesses 30-days of free PPE including face coverings, face shields and hand sanitizer.
The “PPE Unite” program aims to support small business owners by distributing 5.5 million units of personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost to businesses as they aim to re-open their doors and bring employees back to work. This unprecedented partnership between State, local, and private entities encourages PPE use for small business economic recovery and promotes general public health and safety.
DCBA’s Rafael Carbajal, Christian Olmos, and Azusena Favela pose with crates of personal protective equipment for L.A. County small businesses.
“The L.A. SBDC is proud to add these PPE supplies to the long list of no-cost services we provide to our region’s entrepreneurs as they weather current challenges. The PPE Unite program is about supporting small businesses, their employees, and the safety of our community,” said, Regional Los Angeles SBDC Director, Pat Nye.
PPE Unite kicked off with an event October 28th. Speakers included DCBA Acting Director Rafael Carbajal; Isabel Guzman, Director of the Small Business Advocate, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom; Pat Nye, Regional Director of L.A. SBDC; other Los Angeles County Senior Officials; Joseph Rouzan III, VSEDC President; Jay Tsao, CEO of Logisticom, Inc, and local small businesses owners.
On June 9, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion for the Development of the Los Angeles County Pandemic-Compliant Businesses and Workers Partnership Program to ensure that as the County moves towards re-opening and establishing a new normal that small businesses have the support they need to access to PPE to keep employees and clients healthy and safe. This motion led to the decision to allocate CARES Act funding to support the effort by LA SBDC , CalOES’ , and Vermont Slauson to distribute PPE to local small businesses. “The PPE Unite Program represents the best of what is possible when State and local public-private partnerships are supported, encouraged, and funded,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “The millions of face masks, hand sanitizers, and face shields
that will be provided to businesses that are reopening and have struggled to stay afloat during
this pandemic are a representation of what we’re able to do – when we unite together for our
region.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS) and the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) have partnered to ensure small businesses have access to the PPE Unite program and free business resources. Visit PPE Unite for additional resources in Los Angeles County to keep residents safe.
PPE Unite partners are united in the commitment to help small businesses across Los Angeles County survive and thrive through this period of uncertainty. “South Los Angeles businesses have experienced an exceptional amount of economic devastation as a result of COVID-19,” said Joseph T. Rouzan III, President & CEO of Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC). “With the support of PPE Unite , we are providing essential tools to keep businesses open while upholding the safety of staff and consumers.”
To register for the PPE Unite program and free supplies, L.A. County small businesses simply complete the brief registration form on the PPE Unite website at ppeunite.org . The free PPE will be distributed for 30-days, on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
