From the first moments of the pandemic, our City has kept our focus on two key priorities: saving lives and supporting our hardest-hit families, businesses, and workers. 

That effort continues today, as more Angelenos get vaccinated, as more shops and workplaces reopen, and as our recovery begins. We have to bring the same strength, resilience, unity of purpose and spirit that got us through the COVID-19 crisis to the task of restoring everything we love about L.A. — and reimagining a future of prosperity and possibility for all.

We need to make it clear: hope is on the horizon, and help is on the way. 

A Helping Hand for Small Businesses
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities, and through L.A. Optimized, we have already connected hundreds of local stores, restaurants, and merchants to free resources to help them get online, optimize their sales, and ramp up their marketing efforts.

On June 15, we will launch the next step of this program: the Accelerator Academy, a free webinar series that will equip businesses with the tools and support to grow their digital presence, connect with customers, and increase their online sales. These webinars will be open to anyone and held on the first Tuesday of every month. For more information, visit LACityOptimized.org.

Tapping into L.A.’s Creative Spirit
There’s far more ahead with L.A. Optimized. The next step is the establishment of the Los Angeles City Creative Taskforce. This collection of creative professionals is ready to step to the plate to lend their expertise in developing branding kits, marketing tools, and materials to help our businesses attract and retain customers.

Taskforce members receive a $500 grant for every small business they assist. Applications are now open. Visit LACityOptimized.org/creativetaskforce to learn more.

Lifting Up Our Seniors
Few populations were hit harder by the pandemic than L.A.’s seniors, and we took steps from the beginning to make sure our older neighbors received meals, support, health care, housing — and never lost hope.

Now, we will keep following through on our promises to our seniors through the L.A. ADU Accelerator Program, where older adults facing housing insecurity are being paired with existing homeowners willing to rent out their ADUs. Participating in this initiative will deliver critical benefits for homeowners, such as qualified long-term tenants, landlord support, and stable rental payments. 

Applications are now open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply by June 27 for priority reivew. If you have any questions, you can reach out to [email protected].

Eric Garcetti
Your Mayor