Economic

Mobility

Initiative

Powering Businesses, Empowering Our Communities

Welcome to the LA County Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI), a one-stop to start or grow your dream venture. We empower LA County small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits by providing tailored information, technical assistance, and resources from the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)’s Office of Small Business and best-in-class partner organizations that helps you thrive and build generational wealth in our communities. Learn more about how DEO and it’s 15 partner collaborative can support your success today!  

EMI can help you with the following:

Entrepreneurship Academies

Entrepreneurship Academies

As Entrepreneurship Academy participants, early-stage business owners and entrepreneurs receive cohort-based and 1:1 instruction from partners in all 5 Supervisorial Districts on foundational business practices, mentorship, need-based stipends. Leave with a business, financial, and marketing plan and ongoing support for capital and growth opportunities.

Entrepreneurship Academies

Technical Assistance and Training 

New and expanded programs with the Office of Small Business and EMI partners offer cohort-based training and 1:1 technical assistance to small businesses and nonprofits on pro-bono legal aid, strengthening operations and adding revenue sources, gaining local, small, and diverse business certifications and winning contract awards, and transitioning to employee-owned business models, and more.

Entrepreneurship Academies

Access to Capital and Commercial Space

New programs with EMI partners support small businesses through two funds: one helps nonprofits purchase vacant properties to rent to small, community-serving business owners at affordable rates, and the other offers flexible capital for starting or growing a business.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY

Participate in 8- to 10-week cohorts that provide technical assistance, mentorship, and entrepreneurship training.

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY

Join aspiring youth entrepreneurs and build financial and social capital, plus learn how to launch your tech career and entrepreneurship journey. 

PROCUREMENT ACCELERATOR

Learn how to get certified and competitively bid for government contracts.

 Presented by the Los Angeles Area Chamber’s One LA Program.

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP INTENSIVE

Explore if this is the right option for you and your business and get the help you need to make the transition. 

 Available through Project Equity.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE INCUBATOR

Explore revenue generating options as a nonprofit or level up your existing social enterprise.

Presented by Center for Nonprofit Management and REDF.

COMMERCIAL ACQUISITION FUND

Qualify for grants to support the acquisition of vacant or abandoned land and buildings.

 (Not currently accepting new applications)

SMALL BUSINESS MOBILITY FUND

Apply for flexible start-up and scale-up capital for underserved entrepreneurs and business owners 

 (Coming December 2024)

LA COUNTY AMERICA’S JOB CENTER OF CALIFORNIA

Explore business tax credits and hiring incentives like subsidized wages.

Source, Recruit, and Hire Talent

Learn how America’s Job Centers of California can help your workforce grow.

 Available through the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Compete for Government Contracts through APEX Accelerator

Explore how you can market your goods and services to government buyers.

 Available through the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Get Legal Assistance at Any Stage of Your Business

Receive prioritized access to legal aid and connect with legal experts at no cost. 

 Available through the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Business Consultants are ready to help you get your business to the next level!

 Let us help you with the following:

  • Establishing a Business Structure
  • Cash Flow Management and Evaluation
  • Much More…

How to Apply

Step 1: Submit a common intake form  

Step 2: Get connected with an EMI team member and complete an initial assessment  

Step 3: Participate in one or many EMI programs or services that fits your needs 

Announcements

LA County Launches the Economic Mobility Initiative at the first LA Regional Small Business Summit

The Department of Economic Opportunity and LA County of Board of Supervisors invested $25 million in American Rescue Plan dollars to launch the Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI). EMI focuses critical recovery dollars, expands the capacity of the County’s Office of Small Business with 15+ partners, centralizes access through a hub and spoke model, and offers tailored information, training technical assistance, and capital that mitigates barriers and promotes economic mobility and resiliency for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits.  

Recruiting for EMI Entrepreneurship Academies! 

We are currently recruiting for Entrepreneurship Academies in all 5 Districts. Sign up for 8-10 weeks of virtual and in-person training and support with our partners at ICON CDC, Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation, Los Angeles Economic Equity Accelerator and Fellowship (LEEAF), and College of the Canyons, LA Regional Small Business Development Center Network, and Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce.  

Tutor D – An EMI Success Story

TutorD Scholars is a hands-on educational platform, teaching urban youth in-demand 22nd Century skills via online and in-person workshops and training courses. As the founder and CEO of TutorD Scholars, as a software engineer with over ten years of experience, Brandon knows that user-centered and easy-to-grasp educational approaches are essential to distinguish an excellent educational product and a life-changing product.

Brandon attended all of the EMI’s Social Enterprise Technical Assistance Training and 80% of the supplementary optional offerings such as the Social Enterprise Certification Webinar and the intro to REDF’s Impact Investments Webinar. Brandon is planning to continue to develop the concept of his social enterprise and apply for funding to support its development.  

About the Initiative

The Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI) is the County’s investment that provides integrated, comprehensive support and resources to increase economic prosperity for communities significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure their inclusive and equitable recovery. EMI is lead by the County’s Department of Economic Opportunity in collaboration across 15+ community partners to ensure access to all programs, services, and resources to advance economic mobility, build resiliency and generational wealth, and close the gender and racial wealth gap. 

Kelly LoBianco
Director of the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity
By partnering with community-based organizations and leveraging their expertise, the Economic Mobility Initiative is poised to offer personalized business assistance from the concept stage to growth. This comprehensive support system is designed to catalyze sustainable, multi-generational economic growth.

This program is made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act and a June 2021 motion introduced by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors that aimed to support BIPOC, women, and other historically disinvested communities overcome barriers to small business start up and growth. 

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