The city of Long Beach today announced a new program designed to help businesses take down and haul away materials used to board up storefronts and windows “in response to either the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local health orders or civil unrest that occurred in the city last year.”

Business and property owners can qualify for grants ranging from $100 to $600 for the removal and haul-away costs for up to 30 pieces of plywood per location. The program is funded as part of the Long Beach Recovery plan, which was approved by the City Council in March.

Applications for the program can be submitted through the program website starting today through August 31 and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

The grant amount available per eligible applicant varies based on the property size, according to a city press release. Grants cannot be used for other work or repairs.

Businesses and properties qualify as long as they fulfill the following criteria:

Businesses

  • Business owners must have experienced financial hardship resulting from either the COVID-19 pandemic, State and local health orders or civil unrest
  • Must be a nonprofit or for-profit business
  • Must have an active Long Beach business license
  • Must have 50 or fewer full-time employees within Long Beach
  • Must be located in Long Beach
  • Must be in compliance with local health order
  • Must not be permanently closed

Properties

  • Property owners must have experienced financial hardship resulting from either the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local health orders or civil unrest
  • Must have a current vacancy
  • Must be actively marketing the property for lease or sale
  • Must be located in the city of Long Beach
  • Must not have any code enforcement violations that are active or pending