Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Application Deadline Approaches for LA County Wildfire Relief Funds

Los Angeles County officials are urgently reminding residents affected by January’s wildfires that the deadline to apply for critical financial assistance is rapidly approaching. Business owners, nonprofit organizations, and workers impacted by the January 2025 wildfires, including the Eaton Fire, have until March 2 at 5:00 p.m. PST to apply for emergency relief through the LA Region Small Business Relief Fund and the LA Region Worker Relief Fund.

“I urge all eligible businesses and workers impacted by the January wildfires to apply for this critical financial relief before the March 2 deadline,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “These funds are designed to provide immediate support as our communities work toward long-term recovery. I want every bit of relief that’s available to wildfire survivors to be accessed. If you need assistance, help is available—don’t wait to apply.”

The Worker Relief Fund offers $2,000 cash grants to workers who lost income or employment as a direct result of the disaster. Meanwhile, the Small Business Relief Fund provides more substantial support with cash grants ranging from $2,000 to $25,000 for businesses and nonprofits that suffered structural damage, equipment or inventory loss, or significant revenue loss due to the wildfires.

Priority for business relief is being given to operations that were completely destroyed in the fires. To qualify for either program, applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside in Los Angeles County. Workers must demonstrate they were employed or self-employed in the County when the disaster occurred.

For those needing assistance with applications, multilingual support is available at numerous locations throughout the County. Help can be accessed at Disaster Recovery Centers, America’s Job Centers of California, BusinessSource and WorkSource Centers, the Department of Economic Opportunity’s Office of Small Business, and Impacted Worker and Family Recovery Centers.

A comprehensive list of over 50 organizations offering in-person help and technical assistance is available by clicking here. Anyone with general questions or experiencing difficulty accessing technology can contact Los Angeles County’s Small Business Relief Fund by calling or texting (213) 523-3231.

Detailed eligibility requirements, application instructions, and additional resources can be found at laregionfund.lacounty.gov before the March 2 deadline.