PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach, through the Long Beach Recovery Act, is funding a sidewalk vending support program, “Sidewalk to Success,” to help ease the financial burden for small businesses in the first year of the City’s recently approved Sidewalk Vending Ordinance which goes into effect today.

The City Council approved the development of a sidewalk vending support program to cover the costs of the required business license and health permit fees for operating in the first year and provide reimbursements for the first year of insurance costs. Under the Sidewalk to Success Program, all costs will be covered at the time of the application, with the exception of insurance costs, which will be covered through a reimbursement process for an amount not to exceed $450. A second phase of the program is being developed that will provide up to 40 free food vending carts to sidewalk vendors who apply and meet eligibility requirements; actual carts available will depend on the type of carts and program participation. Details on eligibility and how to apply will be shared later this summer once established. 

“Small businesses play a vital role in the expansion of economic development for our City,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “The new Sidewalk Vending Support Program will provide small business owners support and resources to safely serve their Long Beach customers.”

The Sidewalk to Success Program is now available for businesses. All applicants who apply for a sidewalk vendor business license and permit between Feb. 26, 2024, and Feb. 26, 2025, will not have to pay the $300 fee. During this time period, all applicants who also require a health permit and/or plan check will not have to pay the associated fees. All sidewalk vendors will be required to obtain general liability insurance coverage, which is required to be issued a business license. The City will reimburse each approved sidewalk vendor applicant up to $450 for the cost of this coverage upon receipt of the actual cost that is submitted by the vendor between Feb. 26, 2024, to Feb. 26, 2025. The goal of the program is to support sidewalk vendors who are interested in and are eligible to participate in the program. The actual number of vendors and financial support provided may vary depending on the applicants. Depending on the program’s participation levels and outcomes, additional funding may need to be explored.  

More information about the program, including how to apply for a sidewalk vendors business license and how to obtain a health permit from the Long Beach Health Department, is available at longbeach.gov/sidewalkvending. Additionally, the Health Department can be reached at 562.570.4132 for questions on health permits, and the Financial Management Department can be reached at 562.570.6211 for questions on business licenses.

The City’s Inclusive Business Navigators, a program also funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act, provides free business coaching and advising services to Long Beach small businesses. Through this program, the City partners with four community-based organizations to help guide sidewalk vendors through the business license and health permit process, assistance in obtaining the required insurance, among other business assistance and resource needs. Contact information for Inclusive Business Navigators is available at longbeach.gov/biznavigators, or contact BizCare for a direct referral by calling 562.570.4BIZ (4249) or 4Biz@longbeach.gov. Business assistance is available in English, Spanish and Khmer.

The City previously announced a sidewalk vending support program in January 2023 after the Long Beach City Council approved a new sidewalk vending ordinance with a 9 to 0 vote. The ordinance aligns with California’s Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946), which decriminalized sidewalk vending. The City’s sidewalk vending ordinance was developed at the direction of City Council, following extensive outreach.

Sidewalk to Success 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. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery. The program also aligns with Goal 4 of Long Beach’s Racial and Reconciliation Initiative to improve health and wellness in the City by eliminating social and economic disparities where health outcomes are significantly below city averages.

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.