Migrant entrepreneurs in Long Beach will benefit from a $281,000 state grant intended to help the city train them with marketable skills that will help their new businesses succeed.
The City Council voted this week to accept the Local Immigrant Integration and Inclusion Grant from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, also known as Go-Biz.
The money will help expand services under the Inclusive Business Navigators Program to immigrant entrepreneurs through Sept. 30, 2025.
The grant will be used in collaboration with another training initiative through the Pacific Gateway Workforce, a city agency dedicated to workforce development.
The new funds will help expand Pacific Gateway’s training programs, which are supported by federal resources and private donations, to train migrants how to market their products or services.
To reach that objective, the city has partnered with ORALE, a local organization that advocates for and provides services to immigrants, and Inclusive Business Navigators to build trust with immigrant communities and residents who might not feel safe accessing government resources.
ORALE — which stands for Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation and Empowerment — is expected to hire an economic justice manager to provide outreach and case management for program participants. One of ORALE’s goals, according to its website, is “securing opportunities where immigrant communities thrive.”
Once program participants complete the Pacific Gateway training, they will be referred to Inclusive Business Navigators for further training on forming their businesses, said a staff report for the Tuesday, Dec. 5, council meeting.
This step will include writing a business plan, understanding business finances, applying for and obtaining a business license, setting up a business entity, and starting a bank account.
Earlier this year, Long Beach launched the Inclusive Business Navigators Program to provide outreach, workshops, education and direct technical assistance for local small businesses and nonprofits to support their economic recovery from the hardships and disruptions caused by COVID-19.
Inclusive Business Navigators also support local entrepreneurs with increased access to small business grants and loans, marketing and free business advising and coaching, and digital operations and resources in multiple languages.
The navigators will also reach out to more immigrant entrepreneurs to increase recruitment into these training workshops and provide individualized support as needed, the staff report said.
Courtney Chatterson, program manager with the Long Beach Economic Development Department, could not be reached for comment on Friday, Dec. 8.
