LA County Small Business Mobility Fund — Launch Grant
LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)
$5,000–$10,000
LA County launch grants for new small businesses
LA County grants of $5,000–$10,000 for small businesses launching in unincorporated LA County areas. Retail storefronts receive $10,000; non-retail commercial spaces (offices, warehouses) receive $5,000. Eligible uses include tenant improvements, facade work, signage, permits, and startup costs. For-profit only. Applications extended through June 1, 2026. Administered through ICON CDC offices in Pacoima and Van Nuys with free technical assistance.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Amount range
- $5,000 – $10,000
- Realistic amount
- All qualifying applicants in the current cycle receive the full fixed amount for their space type ($5,000 or $10,000). B…
- Deadline
- Applications extended through June 1, 2026 at 11 PM
- Status
- active
- States
- CA
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- For-profit business — nonprofits, landlords, franchises, and cannabis businesses are explicitly ineligible
- Majority owner must also be the majority manager of the business
- LA County resident with business headquartered in an unincorporated area of LA County (NOT the City of Los Angeles, Pasadena, Long Beach, or other incorporated cities)
- Annual gross revenue under $6,000,000 (or if no tax return filed: household income under $300,000)
- Fewer than 100 full-time employees
- California-domiciled business with Secretary of State filings
- In good standing with all taxing and licensing authorities (no outstanding tax liens or license violations)
- Must maintain a permanent physical location in LA County — P.O. Boxes, virtual addresses, and temporary co-working spaces are ineligible
- Must be launching (opening) in a new commercial space — this is not for businesses making improvements to an existing long-term location
Hard requirements
- Max 100 employees
- Maximum $6,000,000 annual revenue
- Location restriction: Unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County only — incorporated cities within LA County are not eligible
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Tenant improvements and leasehold buildout (for Launch Grants)
- Facade improvements and signage
- Building permits and license fees
- Startup equipment purchases
- Intellectual property costs
- Packaging and branding
- Accounting software and business management tools
Ineligible expenses
- Personal living expenses
- Existing debt payments
- Cannabis-related business expenses
- Franchise fees or royalties
- Real estate purchase
- Inventory of controlled substances (liquor, firearms)
- Multi-level marketing related expenses
How to apply
-
1
Verify your address is in unincorporated LA County
Use the LA County Assessor's parcel lookup or contact DEO to confirm your business address is in unincorporated LA County. Many addresses that have 'Los Angeles' in the mailing address are actually in incorporated cities (e.g., Unincorporated East LA, Altadena, Hacienda Heights). This is the most commonly missed eligibility requirement.
-
2
Prepare your business documents
Gather: government-issued photo ID, CA Secretary of State filings, most recent business tax return (or household income documentation if startup), business license, signed commercial lease or ownership proof, and any relevant permits. Franchises are ineligible and will be rejected.
-
3
Contact ICON CDC for free technical assistance (optional but recommended)
ICON CDC offices in Pacoima and Van Nuys offer free pre-application technical assistance to help entrepreneurs prepare their applications. This is particularly valuable for first-time applicants who may not have all required business documentation in order.
-
4
Submit application online before June 1, 2026
Complete the application at bit.ly/launchgrant. Include all required attachments: business plan, lease/ownership proof, photo ID, tax returns or income documentation, business licenses, and permits. Applications submitted after June 1, 2026 at 11 PM are not accepted for the current cycle.
-
5
Receive award and documentation of use
Approved applicants receive the fixed-amount grant. DEO may require documentation of how funds were used for eligible purposes (tenant improvements, signage, permits, equipment) within a defined post-award period.
This grant is for unincorporated LA County ONLY — if your address is in a city like Los Angeles, Pasadena, or Compton, you are not eligible even if you're in LA County. Check the Assessor's parcel map first.
Deadline & timing
The June 1, 2026 deadline is an extension. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. The program is part of the broader Economic Mobility Initiative and may have future cycles. Technical assistance is available through ICON CDC offices in Pacoima and Van Nuys.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.