South Valley BusinessSource Helps Owner of Happier Camper Receive $1.1M Loan
The South Valley BusinessSource Center (BSC) helped entrepreneur Derek May, founder and owner of the Happier Camper travel-trailer rental business, qualify and receive a $1,113,200 business term loan and $100,000 line of credit to expand and hire up to 20 new employees.
In 2010, Derek started a business that provides opportunities for customers to rent new and restored vintage, ultra-light trailers with an emphasis on camper-friendly design, utility, and flexibility. As demand grew, Derek launched Happier Camper in 2014 where he began designing and manufacturing his own trailers.
In 2010, Derek started a business that provides opportunities for customers to rent new and restored vintage, ultra-light trailers with an emphasis on camper-friendly design, utility, and flexibility. As demand grew, Derek launched Happier Camper in 2014 where he began designing and manufacturing his own trailers.
Read more: South Valley BusinessSource Helps Owner of Happier Camper Receive $1.1M Loan
LA:RISE – Job Seeker is 1st Female Driver For LA Graffiti Abatement Division
LA:RISE participant Denise was facing financial hardship while dealing with the loss of her father and brother, when a friend told her about EWDD partner Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), which offers educational services and job services, including a partnership with the LA:RISE, Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise, program.
Denise completed her application and interviewed for a position as a driver.
“My goal was to become the first female driver for CRCD Enterprises,” she said. “I’ve taken a lot of steps to get to this point and I’m determined to see my dream become a reality.”
Denise completed her application and interviewed for a position as a driver.
“My goal was to become the first female driver for CRCD Enterprises,” she said. “I’ve taken a lot of steps to get to this point and I’m determined to see my dream become a reality.”
Read more: LA:RISE – Job Seeker is 1st Female Driver For LA Graffiti Abatement Division
West Valley BusinessSource Helps Entrepreneur Open Clayton’s Public House
The West Valley BusinessSource Center (WVBSC) provided technical assistance, and over the course of several years, helped entrepreneur Elizabeth Peterson-Gower obtain a $650,000 loan to open Clayton’s Public House, a Victorian style pub in the Spring Arcade Building, a Los Angeles Landmark Building in Downtown Los Angeles’ (DTLA) Historic Core.
The establishment retained two jobs and created 45 jobs.
Elizabeth and her husband Tony Gower previously owned Royal Clayton’s, an English pub in DTLA’s Arts District that shuttered in 2011. In May 2015, Elizabeth first visited the WVBSC, run by EWDD partner VEDC, to reopen Clayton’s in a new location.
The establishment retained two jobs and created 45 jobs.
Elizabeth and her husband Tony Gower previously owned Royal Clayton’s, an English pub in DTLA’s Arts District that shuttered in 2011. In May 2015, Elizabeth first visited the WVBSC, run by EWDD partner VEDC, to reopen Clayton’s in a new location.
Read more: West Valley BusinessSource Helps Entrepreneur Open Clayton’s Public House
YouthSource Participants Attend Entrepreneurship Seminar
A dozen youth from the Central Los Angeles, East-South Los Angeles, South-Crenshaw, and North Valley YouthSource Centers attended an Entrepreneurship Seminar on Saturday December 1, 2018.
Held at the University of Southern California Community Room, the seminar was a two-hour crash course on how to build your dream business.
The interactive seminar was led by entrepreneur Aaron Bilgrad, founder of The Blank Press, a business strategy, marketing, and creative video advertising company.
Held at the University of Southern California Community Room, the seminar was a two-hour crash course on how to build your dream business.
The interactive seminar was led by entrepreneur Aaron Bilgrad, founder of The Blank Press, a business strategy, marketing, and creative video advertising company.
Read more: YouthSource Participants Attend Entrepreneurship Seminar
Hollywood BusinessSource Helps Entrepreneurs Open Board Game Company
The Hollywood BusinessSource Center (BSC), run by EWDD partner MCS, recently helped start-up entrepreneurs Jason Lautenschleger and Barry McLaughlin obtain a $125,000 working capital loan for their board game company, “Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment.”
The loan allowed them to develop a board game that became a “Game of the Year” finalist and hire two new employees.
EWDD referred Jason to the Hollywood BSC in May 2018. Jason and Barry were initially seeking a $60,000 working capital loan for inventory backup and developing their second board game, however after meeting with Jason and analyzing his financials, a Hollywood BSC business coach determined Jason qualified for more capital than he was originally seeking.
The loan allowed them to develop a board game that became a “Game of the Year” finalist and hire two new employees.
EWDD referred Jason to the Hollywood BSC in May 2018. Jason and Barry were initially seeking a $60,000 working capital loan for inventory backup and developing their second board game, however after meeting with Jason and analyzing his financials, a Hollywood BSC business coach determined Jason qualified for more capital than he was originally seeking.
Read more: Hollywood BusinessSource Helps Entrepreneurs Open Board Game Company
EWDD’s Rapid Response Team & BusinessSource Help Employees Buy Business, Box Pack & Ship, From Boss
In 2016, EWDD awarded a contract to Concerned Capital, a mergers and acquisition firm based in LA’s downtown Arts District that specializes in helping employee/ownership buy-outs in small businesses, as part of a pilot program to use Layoff Aversion funding to transition company ownership from retiring owners to long term employees.
As part of their contract, Concerned Capital worked directly with three retiring Los Angeles small businesses owners, including a print shop and a bakery, helping them transition their businesses by selling to one or several of their employees, thus saving jobs and ensuring the business remained open.
As part of their contract, Concerned Capital worked directly with three retiring Los Angeles small businesses owners, including a print shop and a bakery, helping them transition their businesses by selling to one or several of their employees, thus saving jobs and ensuring the business remained open.
More Than 200 Female Business Owners Look to EWDD For Tips
More than 200 female business owners visited EWDD’s Business Advancement Team (BAT) booth at LA Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Celebration on November 19, 2018.
The event was held by Mayor Garcetti's Office of Economic Development.
Approximately 600 women attended the event, which was designed to help women-owned businesses realize their full potential in Los Angeles.
The event was held by Mayor Garcetti's Office of Economic Development.
Approximately 600 women attended the event, which was designed to help women-owned businesses realize their full potential in Los Angeles.
Read more: More Than 200 Female Business Owners Look to EWDD For Tips
Creek Wildfire Grant Helps Job Seekers Gain Skills While Restoring Area
The City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department received a National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) in 2018 to employ crews of workers to help with the cleanup of areas affected by the December 2017 wildfires in Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar and Sun Valley.
The grant provides temporary employment to workers and residents impacted by the wildfires, and also gives an opportunity for long-term unemployed individuals, including ex-offenders, to get back on their feet.
The Hollywood WorkSource Center, run by EWDD contractor MCS, assembled six active crews with four employer partners and is currently working at sites affected by the 2017 Creek Fire.
The grant provides temporary employment to workers and residents impacted by the wildfires, and also gives an opportunity for long-term unemployed individuals, including ex-offenders, to get back on their feet.
The Hollywood WorkSource Center, run by EWDD contractor MCS, assembled six active crews with four employer partners and is currently working at sites affected by the 2017 Creek Fire.
Read more: Creek Wildfire Grant Helps Job Seekers Gain Skills While Restoring Area
“Delicious at the Dunbar” Grand Opening Celebration
An EWDD $500,000 Economic Development Loan Paved Way for the Dunbar Village Project
With the support of EWDD and $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds as part of the Dunbar Village revitalization project, the new restaurant Delicious at the Dunbar celebrated its grand opening November 8, 2018. The restaurant brings new energy to a location once considered the heart of the Central Avenue jazz scene and cultural center of Los Angeles’ African American community.
In the 1930s, the nightclub at the art deco Dunbar Hotel hosted jazz legends Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and others, before falling into a period of disrepair.
With the support of EWDD and $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds as part of the Dunbar Village revitalization project, the new restaurant Delicious at the Dunbar celebrated its grand opening November 8, 2018. The restaurant brings new energy to a location once considered the heart of the Central Avenue jazz scene and cultural center of Los Angeles’ African American community.
In the 1930s, the nightclub at the art deco Dunbar Hotel hosted jazz legends Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and others, before falling into a period of disrepair.
Read more: “Delicious at the Dunbar” Grand Opening Celebration
South LA BusinessSource Helps Ayara Thai Restaurant Expansion, Will Add 20 Local Jobs
The South Los Angeles BusinessSource Center (BSC) assisted entrepreneur Anna, Andy and Vanda Asapahu, owners of the Ayara Thai restaurant near LAX, helping them review financials to expand the establishment and hire up to 20 new employees.
Anna and Andy Asapahu opened Ayara Thai in 2004, specializing in dishes that were deeply rooted in their family lineage.
After a career in Public Health, their daughter Vanda returned to Los Angeles in 2010 to assist her parents with their then struggling business.
Anna and Andy Asapahu opened Ayara Thai in 2004, specializing in dishes that were deeply rooted in their family lineage.
After a career in Public Health, their daughter Vanda returned to Los Angeles in 2010 to assist her parents with their then struggling business.
Read more: South LA BusinessSource Helps Ayara Thai Restaurant Expansion, Will Add 20 Local Jobs
LA CityView 35 Airs Hire LA’s Youth Success Story Testimonials
In partnership with LA CityView 35, three EWDD YouthSource Center participants shared video testimonials about how the Hire LA’s Youth program had a positive impact on their lives.
The videos were recorded as part of Open Studio, a new program at Channel 35 that produces shorter length videos (approximately one minute or less) specifically for social media content. Below are the stories of Steven Mason, Destiny Nguyen, and Nestor Reyes connected to each of their Hire LA’s Youth segments taped for YouTube.
The videos were recorded as part of Open Studio, a new program at Channel 35 that produces shorter length videos (approximately one minute or less) specifically for social media content. Below are the stories of Steven Mason, Destiny Nguyen, and Nestor Reyes connected to each of their Hire LA’s Youth segments taped for YouTube.
Read more: LA CityView 35 Airs Hire LA’s Youth Success Story Testimonials
EWDD GM and WorkSource Demonstrate Support of Financial Literacy for Veterans
As Veteran’s Day approaches, EWDD strongly supported the “Empowering Disadvantaged Communities for Disabilities, Veterans and Service Disabled Veterans Through Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy Conference,” an event recently held at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall.
EWDD General Manager Jan Perry delivered welcoming remarks, assuring veterans, disabled veterans and spouses that they are EWDD’s top priority and that they get a spot at the front of the line when they visit the City’s 16 WorkSource Centers.
In the past year, EWDD’s WorkSource Centers have served approximately 1,404 veterans and 2,950 disabled individuals.
EWDD General Manager Jan Perry delivered welcoming remarks, assuring veterans, disabled veterans and spouses that they are EWDD’s top priority and that they get a spot at the front of the line when they visit the City’s 16 WorkSource Centers.
In the past year, EWDD’s WorkSource Centers have served approximately 1,404 veterans and 2,950 disabled individuals.
Read more: EWDD GM and WorkSource Demonstrate Support of Financial Literacy for Veterans
This WIOA Title I financially assisted program or activity is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
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2013 - 2018
Economic & Workforce Development Department
City of Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles