MONTEREY PARK — Seventy-five small businesses in unincorporated communities will receive grants totaling $525,000 during a ceremony Friday at East Los Angeles College, as immigrant entrepreneurs continue facing economic pressures from recent federal immigration enforcement actions.
The grants, distributed through the PACE Small Business Grant Program, will provide $5,000 to 45 businesses and $10,000 to 30 businesses. The funding aims to support economic resilience and promote long-term sustainability for businesses in Los Angeles County’s First District.
Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, who serves as chair pro tem of the county board, will present the grants at 10 a.m. at the Vincent Price Art Museum on the East L.A. College campus. The funds come from Community Development Block Grant money provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“This support is more vital than ever in a local economy built and sustained by immigrant entrepreneurs,” Solis said in announcing the ceremony.
The Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused on advancing economic opportunities for underserved communities, administers the grant program. Kerry Doi, the organization’s executive director, will join Solis at the presentation.
To date, more than $3 million in federal block grant funds has been allocated to PACE for the small business program. The investment comes as many businesses continue recovering from impacts of recent ICE raids that have affected local commerce and consumer confidence.
Small businesses in unincorporated areas often face additional challenges accessing traditional financing and support services compared to those in incorporated cities. The grants are designed to help fill that gap while strengthening the economic foundation of communities that rely heavily on immigrant-owned enterprises.
The ceremony will take place at East Los Angeles College, located at 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park. The college serves as a key educational and community hub for the area’s diverse population.
The PACE Small Business Grant Program represents part of the county’s broader efforts to support economic development in underserved communities through federal funding partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.
