The Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles (LISC LA) is launching a webinar series to help local governments in Los Angeles County (LA County) and Orange County instate critical small business solutions. Hosted by Executive Director Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, the webinar series will cover best practices for local governments amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, such as adopting policies and procedures that will bolster small businesses through severe economic challenges.
With over 40 years of experience catalyzing opportunity with the people and in the places that are being most disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, LISC has the knowledge of seasoned community partners, and aptitude for expediency to uplift small business communities in times of need. Including grants, loans and equity, LISC has leveraged $65 billion in investments into communities on a national scale.
The first webinar of the series will take place on Wednesday, April 15th from 9:00am-10:00am. You can register for the first webinar here. This webinar will cover LISC LA’s small business solutions toolkit for local governments. Compiled through in-depth research and reports from LISC LA’s dozens of community-based partners on the front lines of this crisis, the toolkit includes seven immediate recommendations for mitigating the impact of the pandemic – all of which will be discussed:
Following the toolkit presentation portion of the webinar, participants will have a chance to comment and ask questions. The webinar series will carry on in the weeks following, with guest speakers representing regional governments and small businesses. The series will continue to cover information, ideas, and solutions for local governments to consider in the months and year to come – with topic requests and questions taken from webinar participants along the way.
“During these unprecedented public health and economic challenges, LISC LA is offering to work with local governments to improve relief, resiliency, and recovery efforts of diverse small business communities across our region – and the coalition undoubtedly has the tools to do it,” said Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Executive Director of LISC LA. “LISC has proved itself as a critical first responder time and time again, leading transformative relief and resiliency efforts before and after the Great Recession and in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Harvey and Maria.”
As the spread of COVID-19 continues to intensify, local governments will need to implement innovative and effective solutions for small businesses communities — especially for the people and businesses in historically under-invested communities that are likely to suffer disproportionately due to the pandemic. The toolkit, developed with funding from Wells Fargo, and webinar series have been created with a commitment to building resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity in the face of the pandemic.
“Thoughtful, efficient, and expedient solutions are needed in the communities we all care about,” added Thrash-Ntuk. “While the world has changed and will no doubt require a tailored response, the needs of the most vulnerable remain the same, and LISC LA continues to uphold its commitment to equity, working in underinvested communities and communities of color that deserve the same attention, resources and seat at the table – especially in times of crisis.”