PRESS RELEASE

The City of Long Beach has launched a Request for Proposals (RFPs) seeking organizations to partner with the City’s Department of Economic Development to provide outreach, education and technical assistance for local small businesses and nonprofits to support their economic recovery from financial hardships and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible organizations are encouraged to submit proposals through the City’s Vendor Portal, PlanetBids, by 11 a.m. on June 1, 2022.  

The Inclusive Business Navigators Program is designed to support equitable economic recovery for small businesses and nonprofits owned or led by Black, Latinx, Cambodian, and Asian and Pacific Islander individuals as well as businesses and nonprofits located in low-and-moderate income areas. The awarded organizations will provide key areas of support requested by small businesses and nonprofits including outreach, education and technical assistance. The scope of work includes: creating and implementing an inclusive outreach and education strategy; assisting businesses in navigating government resources and preparing to do business with government; and providing trainings or direct technical assistance in areas such as digital resources, finance and accounting, business planning, marketing, among others. 

A virtual information session is planned for interested organizations on Thursday, May 12, at 1 p.m. 

Specific details related to project scope areas, eligibility requirements and submission instructions are available at PlanetBids. The City also has developed an instructional video on the registration process.  

This program is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than twenty million dollars has been allocated to support direct business support, which includes prioritizing small businesses and nonprofits heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.   The Inclusive Business Navigators Program also aligns with the Office of Equity Race and Reconciliation Initiative: Goal 4 Strategy 2 E partnering with local organizations to facilitate business navigation services through inclusive, neighborhood-based business centers.