Vernon-Central/LATTC WorkSource Hires LA:RISE Participant as Career Coach

Jeannine poses next to the "Just Hired" notice board announcing her new job as a WorkSource Career Coach
The Vernon-Central/Los Angeles Technical Trade College (LATTC) WorkSource Center recently hired Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (LA:RISE) participant Jeannine as a career coach.

Jeannine was experiencing homelessness and struggling with unemployment when she learned about the LA:RISE program through the Vernon-Central/LATTC WSC.

Mid-City BusinessSource Helps Entrepreneurs Obtain $50K Microloan

(left to right) Mid-City BusinessSource Center business counselor Steve Meng with long-term clients Helina Zerfu and Eyob Tadesse, owners of Buna Ethiopian Restaurant & Market
The Mid-City BusinessSource Center (BSC) recently helped long-term clients Helina Zerfu and Eyob Tadesse secure a $50,000 microloan to help them consolidate a high interest debt and upgrade their business, Buna Ethiopian Restaurant & Market LLC.

Helina and Eyob first met with a Mid-City BSC business counselor in 2017 for assistance with their financials and business plan. Their experience was so positive that Helina and Eyob returned to the Mid-City BSC in November 2019 for guidance on financing options to grow their business.

EWDD Provides Contracting Info at LA Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

Visitors at the LA Women’s Entrepreneurship Day event November 19, 2019
For the second year in a row, EWDD’s Business Response Unit (BRU) attended the Los Angeles Women’s Entrepreneurship Day celebration at City Hall South, November 19, 2019.

This year, the BRU team emphasized providing information about how small businesses owned by women, minorities and disabled individuals can receive certifications to win more contracts with the City.

North Valley BusinessSource Helps Entrepreneur Launch Latin Infused Coffee Shop

Los Angeles area entrepreneurs Kim Lopez (left) and Adriana Zuniga (right) at their newly opened coffee shop, Cara Vana, in North Hollywood
The North Valley BusinessSource Center (BSC) assisted entrepreneur Adriana Zuniga to help her launch her Latin-infused coffee shop Cara Vana, Inc. Adriana learned about the BusinessSource Centers at a women’s entrepreneur event.

She visited the North Valley BSC after she encountered some issues that were preventing her from launching her business.

At the center, a business coach provided guidance about how to obtain

Compass Rose Collaborative Alum Gains Confidence, Joins Tech Field

Compass Rose Collaborative alum Demarkus Matthews working on a laptop for his information technology industry job with General Assembly
Compass Rose Collaborative (CRC) graduate Demarkus Matthews stopped by the Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center (BHYTC) on November 12, 2019 to inform staff that he is now working at General Assembly, where he earns $25 per hour working as a teacher’s assistant.

Demarkus said he loved being part of the CRC six-week hands-on construction training program because he learned practical skills, participated in a paid internship and got back into physical shape.

Harbor BusinessSource Helps Grilled Fraiche Restauranteur Expand

Grilled Fraiche original food truck
The Harbor BusinessSource Center (BSC) provided long-term business financial services to entrepreneur Peace Love Reedburg, helping him create a two-phased plan to expand his Grilled Fraiche restaurant into a second brick and mortar location.

Originally launched in 2015, Grilled Fraiche began as a food truck and, two years later, opened its first brick and mortar location in Windsor Hills in 2017. The business is aimed at offering healthy food options and catering to areas often known as "food deserts."

EWDD Staffer Shares TLHP Success Story at LA LGBT Youth Center

EWDD Administrative Clerk Breeana London sharing her Targeted Local Hire Program success story at the LA LGBT Youth Center
EWDD Administrative Clerk Breeana London visited the Los Angeles LGBT Youth Center Friday, November 8, 2019 to share her Targeted Local Hire Program (TLHP) success story. Breeana was the guest speaker for the Hollywood-based center's Youth Services Program's "Friday Speaker Series.”

These monthly career talks are designed to introduce various career paths to the homeless Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Transgender, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA) youth clients who participate in the center’s education and employment program.

Central/West BusinessSource Helps Entrepreneur Secure Microloan and Create Jobs

Entrepreneur Lennie Brown (left) holds $4,500 microloan check that he obtained with assistance from the PACE operated Central/West BusinessSource Business Counselor Frank Sosa (right)
The Central/West BusinessSource Center recently helped Lennie Brown secure a $4,500 microloan for working capital for his business Brown & Brown Quality Care Facility, Inc, which serves disabled adults by providing job training, housing, and transportation.

Earlier this fall, Lennie met with a Central/West BSC business counselor who reviewed his financials, and explored various capital opportunities.

Hollywood WorkSource Partners in Hospitality Job Fair for Young Adult

LA Hospitality Training Academy booth at the October 30, 2019, Hospitality Job Fair for Young Adults
The Hollywood WorkSource Center partnered in a Hospitality Job Fair at the Los Angeles City College (LACC) Campus on Wednesday October 30, 2019.

The job fair was geared toward youth job seekers by providing direct hiring opportunities with local hotels and hospitality employers. More than 24 hotel properties and hospitality service employers were represented by hiring managers/coordinators in attendance, including but not limited to Hilton, Kimpton, UCLA, Omni, Interstate and the Four Seasons.

EWDD Youth Staff Win CFE #SummerJobsConnect Social Media Award

(from left to right) EWDD Youth Operations Director Makeda Vela, EWDD CASW Destiny Nguyen and EWDD Interim General Manager John L Reamer, Jr, pose with the #SummerJobsConnect Social Media Award
EWDD’s Youth Operations team recently received the Outstanding Social Media Team Award from the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) for their efforts in the #SummerJobsConnect Twitter campaign.

Each year, as part of the national Summer Jobs Connect (SJC) initiative, the CFE Fund, with generous support from the Citi Foundation, partners with mayors and local governments from across the country to connect 2,550 young people with summer jobs, and more than 110,000 young people with financial education, banking access, and other financial empowerment resources.

East LA BusinessSource Helps Son Continue Legacy and Expand Family’s Restaurant

exterior of Suehiro Mini, a new Suehiro Café location in Chinatown that offers high quality food in a fast, take-out format
The East Los Angeles BusinessSource Center recently provided extensive business assistance to entrepreneur Kenji Suzuki, helping him expand his family’s business to create Suehiro Mini, a take-out location that utilizes new digital platforms to serve and deliver high quality Japanese food.

In 1972, Kenji’s mother Junko and aunt Yuriko opened Suehiro Café in Little Tokyo, which specializes in serving authentic Japanese food. Kenji took over running the family business in 2001 when his mother retired.

EWDD Staff Highlights City Financing Programs at Small Biz Expo

EWDD Business Services staff share information about the City’s Financing Programs at the Small Business Expo on Wednesday October 30, 2019
Approximately 300 people stopped by the EWDD booth at the Small Business Expo, held Wednesday October 30, 2019 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.

EWDD’s Economic Development Division provided information about the City’s Financing Programs including Microloans, Small Business Loans, City Revolving Loan Fund and Major Projects Loan program. These various loan programs are designed to assist private businesses, property owners and