• July 6, 2021

Recovery Fund, Help Center Earn DCBA National Awards

Recovery Fund, Help Center Earn DCBA National Awards

Recovery Fund, Help Center Earn DCBA National Awards 1000 588 Consumer & Business

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has recognized the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) and its partners with a prestigious 2021 Achievement Award in the category of Community and Economic Development for the LA Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund.

At the direction of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, DCBA, in partnership with the LA County Development Authority (LACDA), designed the Recovery Fund, a public-private partnership that leverages public dollars to increase the amount of funding and resources available for nonprofits and small businesses. DCBA engaged the City of Los Angeles, philanthropy, and the private sector to grow the fund to $100 million and fund pre-application technical assistance.NACo Achievement Award 2021 Seal

“The grant helped my business to pay the rent and the bills and to keep us alive… to keep our dreams alive,” said grant recipient Monica Delgado, Owner of CY Fernando Beauty Salon.

A total of 8,500 hours of technical assistance were delivered in up to 15 languages to help small businesses apply for the Fund. The Recovery Fund disbursed nearly $100 million in relief grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 to approximately 7,325 entities in the County of Los Angeles. Of these, 43% were women-owned, 80% were minority-owned, and 203 entities were veteran-owned.

“The recognition for this unique public-private partnership is greatly appreciated, but the greatest reward comes from being able to help the small businesses and nonprofits who most needed it during this pandemic,” said DCBA Director Rafael Carbajal. “The goal was to equitably deliver as many resources as possible, in the most expedient manner. It has been particularly rewarding to see the impact of these efforts on those we serve.”

DCBA and partners also received a NACo 2021 Achievement Award for launching the LA County Disaster Help Center.

Since 1970, NACo’s annual awards have honored innovative and effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents. Nationally, awards are given in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide.

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The National Association of Counties (NACo) has recognized the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) and its partners with a prestigious 2021 Achievement Award in the category of Civic Education and Public Information for the launch of the L.A. County Disaster Help Center.

In immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic, DCBA, in partnership with L.A. County Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS) and the Los Angeles County Development Authority, launched the Disaster Help Center to help business owners, non-profits, workers, homeowners, landlords, and tenants navigate the impacts of an unprecedented pandemic.

“We are immensely proud to receive this national award for the Disaster Help Center,” said DCBA Director Rafael Carbajal. “Above that, the biggest recognition is the positive impact that our work has meant to all the small business owners, nonprofits, workers, property owners, and renters that we continue to serve.”

The Help Center has operated daily since its launch on March 26, 2020, with live agents who answer COVID-19-related calls from LA County residents in the areas of emergency aid, funding sources, reopening protocols, eviction protections, and rental assistance. Help Center agents connected workers to tenant resources and unemployment help. In total, Help Center agents have managed more than 36,500 calls and 2,600 emails in nine languages to address the needs of LA County’s diverse population.

The Help Center was supported through the LACountyHelpCenter.org website which centralized all available emergency resources and COVID-19 related guidance. The Help Center website has received more than 320,000 pageviews since its launch.

Since 1970, NACO’s annual awards have honored innovative and effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents. Nationally, awards are given in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide.

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