Lake Forest City Council celebrated local entrepreneurship at their recent meeting by recognizing 20 businesses awarded grants through the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center's (SBDC) Main Street Digital Program. The initiative, funded by a $50,000 allocation from the city’s SEAP funds, aims to bolster the online presence of brick-and-mortar retailers.

Economic Development Manager Adrian Grijalva highlighted the program's success, noting that each participating business received $1,000 to support digital advertising campaigns after completing a four-week training program. This included personalized sessions with SBDC consultants, focusing on effective online marketing strategies.

Mike Daniel, the regional director of the OCIE SBDC, expressed gratitude to the city council for their support, emphasizing the program's role in empowering local business owners to harness social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to attract more customers. He underscored the importance of such partnerships in fostering business growth and success.

The council's recognition of these grant awardees not only celebrates their achievements but also reinforces the city’s commitment to supporting local businesses in an increasingly digital marketplace. The initiative is expected to continue, further enhancing Lake Forest's economic landscape.