LA County officials estimate billions in economic damage; county launches worker and small‑business funds and job centers for rebuild

Los Angeles County economic officials told a California Assembly oversight hearing that early estimates show substantial property and wage losses from the January wildfires and windstorms, and they described county, city and nonprofit programs to assist displaced workers and damaged small businesses.

"Early available data and analysis support statements that this is 1 of the most devastating natural disasters in recent years," Kelly Lobianco, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), told the joint hearing. She cited UCLA estimates of $95 billion to $164 billion in total property and capital losses and said insured losses were estimated at $75 billion; she also cited an early county estimate of $297 million in total wage loss for local businesses.

Nut graf: County officials said a mix of cash assistance, technical assistance, workforce training and access to contracting opportunities will be needed for short‑ and long‑term economic recovery. The DEO launched worker relief funds, a small business cash grant program (up to $25,000), a $2,000 worker relief grant and a business‑to‑business space‑share platform to match displaced businesses with donated commercial space.

Lobianco described immediate steps: weekly coordination calls across federal, state and local partners; an online county resource hub with DRC and SBA links; more than 2,500 impacted individuals who sought assistance at DRCs; and technical assistance for more than 300 small businesses. The county opened four impacted worker and family recovery centers offering job placement, temporary employment, and business services. DEO also said it unlocked $20 million in dislocated worker grants and will manage $10 million to support more than 300 subsidized jobs for displaced workers.

The Small Business Development Center network and other technical assistance providers said they are offering one‑on‑one advising, webinars and help with SBA loan applications and reconsiderations. Pat Nye, regional director of the Los Angeles SBDC, said the network has conducted 406 one‑on‑one advising sessions since the fires and urged more funding for outreach and technical assistance to help business owners navigate loans, grants and insurance claims.

Ending: County officials urged businesses and workers to use DRCs, SBA resources and county technical assistance, and asked legislative partners to consider funding technical assistance and targeted disaster relief to preserve local businesses and support a resilient rebuild.