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Recommendation to receive and file a report on the development of an Economic Recovery Strategy and provide input and policy direction to staff on economic recovery priorities to address the economic impacts of COVID-19, with an emphasis on equity, to promote the recovery of businesses and jobs across all sectors of the Long Beach economy following the COVID-19 emergency. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On March 17, 2020, the City Council directed the City Manager to work with the City Attorney, and all relevant departments, to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an Economic Relief Package (Relief Package) for working families and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. On April 14, 2020, the City Council unanimously adopted 25 individual actions related to a historic local Relief Package
designed to help working families and small business owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic action included a series of worker protection ordinances, eviction protections to tenants, fee deferments, emergency loans to small businesses, food delivery services, unemployment insurance benefits, rent relief and several other economic relief programs to help business owners and workers supplement lost income while COVID-19 health orders limited business activities.
On July 14, 2020, during the ongoing economic crisis caused by COVID-19, the City Council took additional action to approve budget appropriation adjustments of approximately $40.28 million in Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding and to utilize the funds to support critically needed activities and functions that are not supported by other funding sources. Since that time, the City has committed over $10 million in economic support grants to help Long Beach businesses, nonpro...
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