In honor of Women’s History Month, Paris Hilton’s nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact along with GoFundMe.org will award 11 small business owners with a $25,000 grant plus 1:1 advising through 2025.

This initiative prioritizes businesses that have suffered severe losses—whether from major property damage, significant revenue decline, or near closure—but have strong potential for recovery. 11:11 Media Impact’s Wildfire Relief Fund has committed $150,000 in direct grants to 11 women-owned businesses, a contribution that will be matched by GoFundMe.org, bringing the total relief fund to $300,000. Each selected small business will receive a $25,000 grant, while an additional $25,000 donation will be granted to the Pasadena Women’s Business Center at Pasadena City College to provide technical assistance and expert guidance, equating to approximately 300 hours of business coaching and free advising, to over 100 businesses.

Apply here.

LA County and partners have launched an LA Region Small Business Relief Fund for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the 2025 wind and wildfire disaster. The program will provide grants up to $25,000 for eligible applicants to access relief, start to recover, and rebuild their business in LA County and will be administered by Community-Based Organizations with the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Eligibility requirements:

• Grants will provide support to small businesses and nonprofits in LA County directly impacted by the 2025 wind and wildfire disaster either physically, economically, or both

• Must have an average annual gross receipt of $6 million or less

• Must have 100 or fewer employees

• Grant amounts will vary from $2,000 to $25,000, corresponding to economic impact

• Applications will open soon in February 2025

We recommend moving quickly on the grant submission to remain competitive. Please be patient, as the most urgent needs will be prioritized, but assistance should eventually reach everyone regardless of their circumstances.

Apply now here.

LA County and partners have launched an LA Region Worker Relief Fund for workers displaced and impacted by the 2025 wind and wildfire disaster. The program will provide grants up to $2,000 for eligible applicants to access relief and find economic security and new employment opportunities. The Fund will be administered by Community-Based Organization(s) with the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Eligibility requirements:

• Grants will be awarded to workers with employment and wage loss due to the emergency who reside in LA County and are 18 years or older

• Grants will be awarded based on impact and direct ability to access relief

• Eligible workers with employment or wage loss will receive $2,000 in cash assistance

• Applications will open soon in February 2025

Apply now here!

Hospitality workers impacted by a natural disaster may apply here for disaster relief aid. Aid may come in the form of grocery store vouchers, direct financial assistance or other relief resources depending on community needs and available resources.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must work in, or must have most recently worked in, hospitality

• Must be a U.S. resident

• Must be facing financial hardship as a result of a natural disaster that occurred within the past two months

• Typically the disaster relief grants awarded are between $250-$1000 (depending on funding available).

Applications can be submitted here.

Please Note: Completing the application does not guarantee receiving a grant.

WEBINAR  Small Business Wildfire Recovery Webinar

Thursday, February 6, 11:00 AM

Join Mayor Karen Bass’ Office of Business and Economic Development and the PaliBu Chamber of Commerce for a focused webinar for business recovery resources and support available to business owners and workers impacted by the firestorm.

RSVP here.

Here are some new resources to help you navigate the disaster and its aftermath:

• LA City Wildfire Recovery One-Stop Resource Center

• Emergency Resources for Workers and Businesses - Department of Economic Opportunity

• Business to Business Space Share Portal (Business to Business Space Share is a free exchange portal designed to provide immediate relief to businesses, including non-profits, displaced by the winds and wildfires by connecting them to donated temporary space generously provided by other businesses and organizations throughout LA County. This service is provided for a limited time by the County of LA.)

• LA County Assessor Disaster Relief Updates

Team Friday supports impacted small businesses with cash based mutual aid to help cover the cost of deductibles for insurance claims. Submit your application for potential award.

The LA Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) just created a really lovely aggregation of essential emergency programs and services for LA County workers and businesses impacted by the recent wildfires here. They’re regularly updating their list of available resources—be sure to check for updates!

The Southern Smoke Foundation is offering crucial support, including free mental health counseling for California’s F+B workers. Applications are open now! Visit here.

TMC Community Capital is providing relief grants to small businesses as a demonstration of their unwavering commitment to community, ensuring that no one is left behind on the path to recovery.

The fund offers immediate relief in the form of $5,000 grants to entrepreneurs whose livelihoods have been impacted. Eligible applicants will receive the grant within two days of selection to help our community rebuild and recover. Eligibility requirements include:

• Small business owner/self-employed and this is your primary source of income

• You are/were unable to work because of evacuation orders, physical damage and/or you live/work in an impact area as a result of the wildfires that began on 1/7/25 in the LA area

• Annual revenue is under $250,000

Apply here.

You asked for the need for a clear story to share with customers, press, employees, local government, and Angelenos about how this disaster has impacted us. It’s crucial to highlight the effect on women-owned businesses and the urgent need for support, while also recognizing the immediate challenges faced by those who have been evacuated and/or displaced. With the help and support of incredible members like Uyen of Bé Ù, we’ve developed a narrative and social script to help you craft your own story. Both are evolving resources, and we welcome your feedback.

• NARRATIVE: Lives here.

• SOCIAL SCRIPT: Lives here.

If you are an LA-based woman-owned business that has been affected by the LA Wildfires and needs assistance to rebuild, apply for our grant to get the support and resources you need most right now. Applications will be accepted through February 13, 2025 at 11:59pm PST. Apply here.

Grant amount will be up to a maximum of $5,000. Must live and/or work in FEMA designated affected regions. Must have faced negative economic impact as a result of the wildfires. Apply here.

If submitting your SBA loan application or a specific grant is feeling overwhelming, we're here to support you. Join us for a group call where we’ll walk through key applications and troubleshoot any challenges together. For an invite, reach out to Leah@RegardingHerFood.org.

Restaurants Care opened a temporary fund to provide emergency relief grants to food and beverage workers impacted by the Los Angeles Area Fires. Grants will range between $350-$1,500. Grants will be awarded based on need and available funding. Apply here.

Not all qualified applicants will be awarded funding due to the tremendous need and limited funds. To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

• Be a California resident working in California

• Be currently employed by a restaurant or foodservice operation during the time of the fire

• Have worked in the foods industry for a minimum of 6 months

• Have proof of a financial hardship due to: Permanent loss of housing, temporary loss of housing, restaurant burned down or restaurant is temporarily closed.

The #IFW4LA fund supports IFundWomen members affected by the recent fires in Los Angeles. It provides immediate financial assistance to help rebuild homes and businesses lost in the devastation. 100% of contributions go directly to supporting the recovery efforts of entrepreneurs who have lost both their homes and businesses. Apply here.

Legal support offered through the County of Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), Bet Tzedek Legal Services, and Public Counsel. Apply here.

In response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to assist affected businesses, facing operational and physical damage. Eligible entities can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Additionally, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available to provide working capital for operational expenses such as payroll and fixed debts, even if the business did not incur physical damage. Be sure to apply for “Disaster Assistance Loans” akin to Covid’s EIDL support. Apply here.

The DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund provides $10,000 grants to support local restaurants affected by natural disasters including fires. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the next round closing on March 3, 2025, at 6 PM ET. Apply here. Requirements include:

• Business Type: Restaurants, gastropubs, or bakeries with a brick-and-mortar location.

• Number of Locations: No more than three total locations.

• Employees: Fewer than 50 employees per location.

• Operational History: Open for at least six months.

• Revenue: Annual revenues of $3 million or less per location in the past 12 months.

• Disaster Impact: Experienced a loss in revenue due to a state or federally declared natural disaster within the last 12 months.

The Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) provides interest-free loans to individuals and families experiencing financial challenges. These loans are offered as a means to help borrowers achieve stability and address urgent needs without the burden of interest payments. Loans are completely free of interest, ensuring borrowers repay only the amount they borrow. Loans are typically available to individuals regardless of religious affiliation. Repayments are made in manageable monthly installments, often over a 12 to 24-month period, depending on the loan size. Apply here.

The Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) of Los Angeles offers a range of resources for businesses and workers affected by the January 2025 wildfires. Their BusinessSource Centers provide free consultations, business support, and assistance with applications for upcoming microenterprise grants and microloans. Additionally, WorkSource Centers and America's Job Centers offer employment assistance, including subsidies for training new hires and existing workers, development of new training programs, and hiring youth workers. These services aim to support economic recovery and workforce development for those impacted by the wildfires. Visit here.

Square put together the following resources for your businesses as you respond and recover in the coming days:

• Temporarily pause your subscriptions: If you need time to reopen your business, you can temporarily pause some of your software subscriptions, like Square Marketing or Square Loyalty, until your business is operational. Learn more here. 

• Reach out to the Square Loans team to learn about minimum payment delay and hold rate relief: If you have an active Square Loan and anticipate needing additional time to make your next minimum payment, we may be able to extend your due date by up to 30 days. For businesses that are still operating but need some additional support, we also may be able to temporarily reduce the repayment rate that’s applied to your business’s daily card sales through Square for the repayment of your loan by up to a month from the date requested. To take advantage of either of these offers, please reach out to the Square Loans team.

• Enable offline payments: If you’re able to operate your business safely but without a stable internet connection, you may still be able to take payments by enabling offline payments.(1) You can enable offline payments in your Square app settings.(2) Offline payments are processed automatically when your device regains connectivity, but please note that offline payments will expire if not processed within 24 hours. More information on how to use offline payments can be found here.

• Communicate with customers on your website: If you use Square Online, you can add a pop-up or banner to explain your circumstances to any potential customers, whether your business is taking a break or if shipping may be delayed.

• Pause active Square Marketing campaigns: You can easily stop any automated marketing campaigns and blast campaigns. Learn more here.

• Contact Square Support for additional help: If you have additional questions or need support, please reach out to us here. Resources, support, and advice from other sellers are also available through the Seller Community.