PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – Today the City of Long Beach announced upcoming contracting opportunities for technical assistance providers to support the City’s Climate Action Accelerator initiative, an effort to ensure that residents, local businesses and nonprofits are prepared to pursue funds available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

“We know that these opportunities from the Inflation Reduction Act will help the City get ready to support communities most impacted by the effects of climate change,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We are going to hit the ground running on implementation to strategically maximize funding to Long Beach.”

The Climate Action Accelerator Program includes the following upcoming contracting opportunities:

• Climate Action Accelerator Request for Proposals (RFP): The City will seek a technical assistance and implementation partner to ensure that its communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change can obtain and benefit from funds in the federal IRA. The selected contractor will establish and operate an integrated program that includes a platform to assist residents, businesses and nonprofits in applying for grants, rebates, or other funding made available under the IRA.
• Inclusive Businesses and Nonprofit Navigator Request for Quotes (RFQ): The City will issue an RFQ to establish a bench of qualified technical assistance providers. This RFQ will support the ongoing Inclusive Business Navigators Program in addition to providing technical assistance for businesses and nonprofits accessing federal funding opportunities as part of the Climate Action Accelerator. The Accelerator will focus outreach and assistance in environmental justice communities.

The application period for these contracting opportunities will begin late October 2023. Eligible organizations will be encouraged to submit proposals through the City’s vendor portal, Long Beach Buys. Specific details related to project scope areas, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria and submission instructions will be available at Long Beach Buys in October 2023. The City also has developed an instructional video on the registration process. Resources and guides for vendors are available in multiple languages.

“We’re getting ready for some historic growth in Long Beach’s green economy,” said Bo Martinez, Director of Economic Development. “The Climate Action Accelerator will work to capture the federal funding available to serve our local businesses, nonprofits and residents in reducing GHG emissions, and creating positive impacts in communities hardest hit by climate change.”

The IRA is the largest climate investment in U.S. history, designed to mobilize private capital to achieve climate goals and strengthen long-term growth. The IRA provides funding for several key programs that help local governments advance their climate and clean energy goals, such as funding for Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants for community-led projects in disadvantaged communities and community capacity-building centers to address the disproportionate environmental and public health harms caused by pollution and climate change.

The City’s BizCare team, which provides support for small businesses and nonprofits accessing resources and information such as grants, loans and technical assistance, will support outreach and assistance on the Inflation Reduction Act for businesses throughout the city. For more information visit the Inflation Reduction CM webpage.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Department of Economic Development is available at longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/ and on social media @lbecondev on Facebook, Instagram and X.