City Officials Create $207 Million Proposal To Boost Local Economy in Long Beach Recovery Act

City officials are putting forward a $207 million Long Beach Recovery Act to help rebuild and promote the local economy due the adverse effects of COVID-19.

“The Long Beach Recovery Act is a bold and ambitious plan to jumpstart the local economy, protect the health and safety of our community, and secure the future of our city.” said Mayor Robert Garcia. 

The Proposed Long Beach Recovery Act is focusing on boosting economic recovery, community health and safety and the future of the city’s recovery plan. 

The economic recovery plan focuses on providing relief directly to local businesses and workers in breweries, bars, arts and cultural organizations, nonprofits and fitness and personal services. The plan will include up to $51 million funding toward equitable actions to provide lower-income neighborhoods access to open up jobs through the city’s WorkLB program, and provide CARES Act grants toward technology access for residents. The proposal also plans to fund the Long Beach’s Clean City Program to help with illegal dumping and enhance standard of living. 

The Long Beach Recovery Act is dedicating $72.8 million to approach the state of the city’s community’s members through programs to assist public health. The city is working toward providing free COVID-19 tests through mobile and designated testing sites; providing PPE equipment to non-profit organizations giving back to the community; residents food and housing insecurities; programs for mental and physical health equity; childhood development & education; rental assistance and more.

The plan will address the effects of COVID-19 and aim to renew any revenue losses and budget shortages through funding and balancing the city’s budget and obliterate City furloughs for the remainder of 2021. This plan is to help restore any of the City’s crucial services that have been disrupted during the pandemic.  

The plan is an action to tackle the city’s downfalls from the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Long Beach has faced many socio-economic challenges from the effects of the pandemic and the Safer at Home health orders. These shortfalls included many businesses closing and facing restrictions, mass unemployment and sudden disruption in crucial resources and services to provide basic aid and assistance for residents of Long Beach.

The plan will be provided through federal, state and local funds. Federally, the plan will reserve $15 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The plan also will include up to $29 million in Emergency Rental Assistance funding and $27 million from Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The proposed plan will be reviewed and may be assessed for modifications on March 16th, 2021 by the Long Beach City Council. 

To view the full detailed layout of the Long Beach Recovery Act please visit www.longbeach.gov/