By Dianne Anderson Ever since the last go-round of stimulus dollars, money has been flowing through multiple streams, and will continue over the next two years for those astute enough to grab at it. Jeff Williams, operations director for the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion (LBCEI), said that ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] funding ...

By Dianne Anderson Robin Thorne is not a novice engineer, but when it comes to her latest management gig, she’s excited to just get her foot in the door. She was recently awarded the contract in managing the Long Beach Transit’s modernization project, which involves upgrading their facilities, including a state-of-the-art training center. The Transit ...

By Dianne Anderson Some 40% of Black businesses have crashed over the last nearly two years of the COVID shutdown, while some owners have managed to soar to new heights. Pepi Jackson knows that it’s not luck. It’s access to money and strategy. While many businesses have gone under, he said others have managed to ...

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ Next week, after more than a year, California is expected to lift the majority of its COVID-19 related restrictions and reopen its economy at almost-full capacity. But as the state prepares for a long-anticipated comeback, many Black businessowners say enterprises across the state that African Americans own face ...

By Dianne Anderson California businesses – those left standing – may pick up speed as the state soon reopens without the outdoor mask mandate, and a promise of more money for those that apply through May 31 for round two of PPP loans. Robert “Bobby” McDonald, Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County President, said ...

Orange County District 2 Supervisor Katrina Foley has announced the appointment of Debbie E. Lumpkin as her Chief of Staff. “I’m delighted to welcome Ms. Lumpkin as our new chief of staff,” confirmed Supervisor Foley (District Two). “She brings a wealth of experience into the Second District, particularly around workforce development, and contracting and support for ...

By Dianne Anderson Pivot took on a whole new meaning this past year. Businesses have closed up shop across the nation, leaving those remaining in survival mode hoping for enough to hold them over until their customers return. Some are now slowly starting to reopen their doors, although limited to 25% capacity. If next month ...

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he had appointed Tara Lynn Gray, 57, of Fresno, as Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). In that role, Gray, who is African American, replaces Isabella Casillas Guzman, who President Biden appointed the 27th Administrator of ...

By Tanu Henry California Black Media Most small businesses in California are very small. A whopping 95 % of them are companies with less than 50 employees, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Yet these businesses employ a majority of workers in the state – up to an estimated 75 % of the labor force. But, for most official purposes, California defines ...

By Quinci LeGardye California Black Media  Gov. Newsom says he wants to help small businesses. Combined, they are a major economic engine in the state. He wants them to get online quicker and expand their markets to reach new customers in cyberspace. This is as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hammer their bottom lines and ...