AGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING NOTICE
MARCH 18, 2025
PUBLIC MEETING 5:00 P.M.
MEMBERS
Tyron Hampton, Chair District 1
Jessica Rivas, District 5
Steve Madison, District 6
Jason Lyon, District 7
STAFF
David Klug, Economic Development Director
Dion O’Connell, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
MISSION STATEMENT
The City of Pasadena is dedicated to delivering exemplary municipal services, responsive to our entire community and consistent
with our history, culture and unique character.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Assistive Listening Devices are available from the City Clerk’s Office with a 24-hour advance notice.
Please call (626) 744-4124 to request use of a listening device.
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Items on the agenda may not be called in order listed.
Agendas and supporting documents are available on the Internet at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-economic-development-technology/
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Economic Development and Technology Committee after distribution of the agenda packet will be posted online and listed as: “Supplemental Agenda Material Received after the Posting of the agenda”
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE MEETING FOR
MARCH 18, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M. WILL BE ACCEPTED IN-PERSON AND BY VIDEOCONFERENCE/TELECONFERENCE.
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Correspondence will be forwarded to the City Council prior to the start of the meeting, posted online, and made part of the legislative record for the item.
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CITY OF PASADENA
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
MARCH 18, 2025
PUBLIC MEETING 5:00 P.M.
PASADENA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBER
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE, ROOM S249
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the regular meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee, will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber to discuss matters on the attached agenda.
_____________________
Tyron Hampton, Chair
Economic Development and
Technology Committee
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this agenda in its entirety, was posted on the Internet at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-economic-development-technology/ and on the Council Chamber Bulletin Board, Room S249, and the Bulletin Board in the rotunda area; City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, this 13
th day of March 2025 by 5:30 p.m. and that copies hereof were emailed or delivered to each member of the City Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio or television station requesting notice in writing, all of which recipients are identified on the distribution herein below.
Katrine Panoyan
City Manager’s Office
DISTRIBUTION:
City Council Los Angeles Times
City Manager Pasadena Journal
City Attorney Pasadena Now
Public Information Officer Pasadena Star News
Pasadena Weekly La Opinion
Pasadena Independent
REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
MARCH 18, 2025
Public Meeting: 5:00 P.M.
Council Chamber, Pasadena City Hall
100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249
PUBLIC MEETING – 5:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public comment will be limited to a total of 20 minutes at the beginning of the meeting and will continue at the conclusion of the meeting, if necessary.
Please limit comments to 3 minutes each.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• JANUARY 29, 2025 - SPECIAL MEETING*
• FEBRUARY 27, 2025 – SPECIAL MEETING*
OLD BUSINESS
1. ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (ADU) FEE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS* Recommendation: It is recommended that the Committee recommend to City Council:
1) Find that the recommended fee reductions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061(b)(3); 2) Direct the City Attorney to prepare within 60 days an ordinance to amend Title 4 (Construction Tax) of the Pasadena Municipal Code (PMC) and a Resolution for the proposed reductions to fees in the City’s General Fee Schedule consistent with the provisions set forth in the agenda report.
INFORMATION ONLY
2. TECH MARKETING CAMPAIGN*
3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR*
ADJOURN
*Attachment
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• JANUARY 29, 2025 – SPECIAL MEETING*
01 01/29/2025
CITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 29, 2025 – 5:00 P.M.
SPECIAL MEETING
OPENING Chair Hampton called the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee to order at 5:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Chair
Vice Mayor Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Steve Madison (Arrived at 5:08 p.m.)
Councilmember Jason Lyon
David Klug, Director of Economic Development
Teresa Garcia, Senior Project Manager
Deborah Membreno, Project Manager
Dion O’Connell, Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Councilmember Lyon, seconded by Vice Mayor Rivas, to approve the minutes of September 17, 2024, October 15, 2024 (Cancelled Meeting), November 19, 2024, and December 17, 2024 (Cancelled Meeting), as submitted:
AYES: Councilmembers Lyon, Vice Mayor Rivas, Chair Hampton NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Madison
ABSTAIN: None
NEW BUSINESS SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) DISASTER LOAN
CENTER & ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS SUPPORT
Councilmember Madison
arrived at 5:08 p.m.
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and Julie Clowes, District Director of Small Business Administration (SBA), and Don Loewel, Director of Pasadena Small Business Development Cetner (SBDC), jointly presented a PowerPoint presentation providing information on SBA Disaster Loans, which offer a 12-month deferral of interest and payment from the date of first disbursement, Disaster Recovery Centers, program data summary, highlighting over 600 submitted applications from Pasadena, SBDC’s consulting services and partners, and flexibility of the SBA loan terms, with all responding to questions.
Chair Hampton requested that the SBA share data on applicants who wish to relocate, as well as statistics on the number of loan grants funds distributed.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
02 01/29/2025
EATON EMERGENCY BUSINESS RECOVERY UPDATE
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and T eresa Garcia , Senior Project Manager, presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Eaton emergency business recovery update, including providing information on business resources, impact survey results, vacant real estate coordination, grant opportunities, and business donations with both responding to questions.
Don Loewel, Director of Pasadena Small Business Development Ce nter (SBDC), provided information on the SBA on site locations and responded to questions.
Vice Mayor Rivas recommended staff consider tracking the number of customers City businesses have lost due to the displacement of residents; and emphasized the importance of housing and job recover y as the City moves beyond the emergency phase.
Chair Hampton spoke on the importance of housing individuals who were displaced due to the Eaton fire as soon as possible ; and asked staff to follow up with the Water and Power Department and SoCalGas company regarding bill waivers and available business grants.
Deborah Membreno, Project Manager, provided information on the Paseo pop-up shopping spaces, and responded to questions.
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary, reported that one correspondence was received by the City Clerk’s Office, which was distributed to the Committee and made part of the record for this item.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN: DEVELOP A
ROBUST MARKETING CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF LIFE SCIENCE
AND DEEP TECH
Chair Hampton announced that this item will not be considered and will be agendized at a future Committee meeting.
INFORMATION ONLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Chair Hampton announced that this item will not be considered and will be agendized at a future Committee meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
On the order of the Chair, the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee was adjourned at 6:14 p.m.
03 01/29/2025
ATTEST:
____________________
Betty Gao
Recording Secretary
_________________________________
TYRON HAMPTON, Chair
Economic Development and Technology Committee
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• FEBRUARY 27, 2025 – SPECIAL MEETING*
01 02/27/2025
CITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER – ROOM S249
FEBRUARY 27, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING
The special meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee, scheduled for Thursday, February 27, 2024, at 5 :00 p.m., was cancelled as ordered on February 24, 2024, and was posted.
ATTEST:
____________________
Betty Gao
Recording Secretary
__________________________
Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Chair
Economic Development and Technology Committee
OLD BUSINESS ITEMS
1. ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (ADU) FEE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS * Recommendation: It is recommended that the Committee recommend to City Council:
1) Find that the recommended fee reductions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061(b)(3); 2) Direct the City Attorney to prepare within 60 days an ordinance to amend Title 4 (Construction Tax) of the Pasadena Municipal Code (PMC) and a Resolution for the proposed reductions to fees in the City’s General Fee Schedule consistent with the provisions set forth in the agenda report.
INFORMATION ONLY
1. TECH MARKETING CAMPAIGN*
Economic Development
Strategic Plan:
Tech Marketing
Campaign
EdTech Committee
Meeting
March 18, 2025
Alignment with EconDev Strategic Plan
Economic Development Strategic Plan
• 0.2 Develop robust communication, marketing, and public relations • 1.1 Develop a robust Marketing Campaign on behalf of Life Science and “Deep Tech”
Deliverables
• Tech-focused Campaign: includes digital out-of-home ads, brand lift study, display ads, and use of City of Pasadena assets (for murals), and 1:1 interviews with education institutions, tech incubators and others to inform strategy.
• Strategic Communications and PR Plan (to be completed after campaign): Updated messaging for various platforms. Information will be in brochures, blog posts, ads, social media ads, interactive web content, press releases, newsletter and fact sheets design.
2 Campaign Timeline
3 Campaign Timeline
• June 3, 2024 – City Council approved EconDev Strategic Plan • June 18, 2024 – Marketing, PR and campaign presented to EdTech Committee • EconDev began work with Echo Factory in June 2024 for marketing, branding, and public relations services.
> Echo Factory is a Pasadena based company with 15 years of experience supporting clients such as Huntington Health, and Motiv Space Systems. • August–November 2024: development of “Deep Tech” campaign and discovery (interviews with industry experts).
• August 2024 – Launched campaign with Motiv Space System’s expansion and new facility in East Pasadena.
• December 2024: Ad campaign testing.
• February–April 2025: Campaign media buys.
• Ongoing campaign coordination.
Goals & Audience
4 Tech Focused Goals
1. Relocate: We want deep tech companies to see Pasadena as an attractive location for their businesses and relocate to the city.
2. Drive broader awareness: We want more people to think of Pasadena as a premiere location for deep tech companies and organizations.
Tech Focused Audience
▪ Primary: Tech companies and startups in biotech, AI, robotics, and quantum technologies.
▪ Secondary: Investors, venture capitalist, media outlets covering technology and local government officials.
Key Messages
5 Key Messages
• Deep Tech Innovation Hub: Pasadena is a premier destination for deep tech industries, supported by top research institutions.
• Deep Tech Success Stories: Highlight achievements of local deep tech companies.
• Supportive Environment: Emphasize Pasadena’s high quality of life, supportive business environment, unique culture and access to top talent. • Different from other tech hubs: Emphasize what makes Pasadena different from other cities and regions, especially other innovation hubs. At its core, Pasadena is a place for companies investing in solving big technological and scientific challenges.
Campaign Manifesto
6 The world doesn’t need distracting tech.
We need more world-changing ideas.
Pasadena is the hub for innovators, doers,
makers, engineers and deep thinkers who
pursue ideas of substance. An inspiring
community rich with history, friends and
funding. And plenty of talent to support new
and established businesses at all levels.
Build it in Pasadena.
The city of futures not fads.
Here by the mountains and the end of the 110
freeway, we create futures that matter. We
help innovators be pioneers again, so our city
can lead the charge into a world worth
creating.
In Pasadena, we trade followers for frontiers.
We don’t chase likes, we pursue quantum
particles.
We don’t code apps for doomscrolling, we
design robots for Mars.
7 Examples of Campaign Visuals Created
Examples of Campaign Visuals Created
8 What’s Next?
9 • Creative testing: Ad impression testing completed in December 2024 proved that messaging focusing on meaningful innovation captures attention and encourages greater engagement.
• Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH): geotargeted campaign to tech- focused areas around the region including DTLA, Burbank, El Segundo, and Irvine started 2/19.
• Programmatic visual ads: Display ads on popular digital platforms targeting tech companies started 2/19.
• Brand Lift Study: study that will measure the brand awareness and effectiveness of the ads. The data will be used to be inform future marketing and spending started 3/1.
• Use of City assets: Place ads in city-owned spaces like buses and bus shelters.
What’s Next?
1010
Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH):
• Example Locations: High-traffic areas such
as airports, billboards, mobility displays,
restaurants, and retail locations.
• Purpose: Designed to build brand awareness
and curiosity in Pasadena by targeting areas
where decision-makers and tech influencers
are likely to see the campaign.
Programmatic Display Ads
• Example Locations: Display ads on popular
digital platforms accessed by tech
professionals within both Regional and
National Innovation Hubs.
• Purpose: Continuous visibility through
programmatic ads creates repeated brand
exposure, helping Pasadena remain top-of-
mind for tech sector leaders.
What’s Next?
11 Location Examples:
• Airports
○ LAX & Hollywood Burbank
Airport Terminals
• Billboards
○ Street and Highway level digital
billboards around El Segundo,
DTLA, and Irvine
• Office Buildings
○ Lobbies and elevator placements
• Transit
○ Rideshares like Uber & Lyft, taxi
payment screens & tooftop ads
PASADENA
HOLLYWOOD /
BURBANK AIRPORT
DTLA
LAX /
EL SEGUNDO
IRVINE
What’s Next?
12 City of Pasadena
Assets
• Utilize city-owned property
including buses and bus
shelters for and digital and
print ads.
• Seek options for murals
including on City and
private property.
Advertising on City-Owned Assets
13 Results
• Media Campaign
deployed 2/19 and
we’re just getting
started.
Digital-Out-Of-Home
Impressions
724 K
Programmatic Display
Impressions
372 K
1.7 K
Clicks to the City of Pasadena
Economic Development Landing Page
End of Presentation
14 Thank you!
INFORMATION ONLY
2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR*
MEMORANDUM
Date: March 18, 2025
To: Economic Development and Technology Committee
From: David A. Klug, Economic Development Director
Subject: Economic Development Update
The Economic Development Division is committed to supporting a thriving local economy. This memo provides an update on market conditions and the Division’s efforts.
1. Business Development
a. Notable Openings & Successes
i. Neighbors & Friends, located in Old Pasadena at 88 E. Union St. is LA’s first build-your-own cheese box bar. The shop offers artisanal foods, personalized entertaining products, and handcrafted gifts from underserved makers. It serves as a community hub, celebrating local artisans and redefining the food and beverage retail space. The business held its grand opening event on November 1.
ii. Tacos Neza, located at 37 S. Fair Oaks Ave., is a family-owned Mexican restaurant that is now open and dedicated to preserving the tradition of authentic Mexican cuisine in the Los
Angeles area. The menu features
traditional recipes made with fresh, natural
ingredients.
iii. The original Panda Inn
, located at 3488 E
Foothill Blvd., reopened after nearly two
years of renovations. Founded in 1973 by
the Cherng family, the restaurant is an
iconic part of Pasadena's culinary history
and the precursor to the global Panda
Express chain. The restaurant’s reopening
is significant for Pasadena, as it marks the
return of a beloved local establishment
after a major upgrade. The renovated Panda Inn honors the Cherng family’s legacy, with updated decor and a menu that introduces new offerings, including a full sushi menu and bar. Panda Restaurant Group, led by Andrew and Peggy Cherng, is also recognized for its philanthropy, including a $100 million donation to City of Hope for cancer research in 2023.
iv. Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
, located at 812 S. Arroyo Pkwy., offers a
variety of doughnuts, including vegan options, as well as coffee, lattes, and hot chocolate. Currently, a portion of their proceeds from the Pasadena-exclusive strawberry rose glaze doughnut is being donated to the LA Fire Relief Fund.
b. Business Retention & Outreach
Economic Development staff uses the online platform Bludot to track business retention and expansion efforts. Bludot provides a comprehensive inventory of local businesses, industry sectors, and employee sizes. The platform enables automated tracking, direct communication, and analytics to boost engagement with the local business community. Metrics for the fourth quarter of 2024 include 5,117 total recorded activities, including over 981 emails providing business assistance, 20 business gatherings, and 1 grand opening or ribbon cutting event.
2. Conferences & Special Events
a. Innovate Pasadena - Friday Coffee Meetup
Staff attended the December Friday Coffee Meetup event at FoundrSpace.
The event featured a presentation by Stepan Khzrtian, who discussed his transition from corporate law to founding Corpora.us, and highlighted common legal mistakes made by new entrepreneurs in their first 100 days.
The session included informal networking, a presentation, and a Q&A moderated by Christy Conner. The event was co-hosted by CALE at Caltech and presented by Echo-Factory and Innovate Pasadena.
b. California-Mexico Business Forum 2024
Economic Development staff attended the 2024 California-Mexico gathering in Downtown Los Angeles, organized by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, and the Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos (AEM). The forum aimed to bridge borders, industries, and sectors to create
high-value connections, foster strategic
alliances, and explore cross-border
opportunities in an increasingly globalized
economy. Topics discussed included U.S.-
Mexico relations, business innovations,
nearshoring opportunities, engagement of
small and medium-sized businesses, and
cross-border collaboration in higher
education. With Mexico becoming the U.S.'s
largest trading partner, examining how
policies, cross-border economic
partnerships, public-private collaborations,
and workforce opportunities influence cities
in Los Angeles County is essential. These
dynamics shape regional economic growth
and workforce diversity while fostering
cultural and economic ties.
3. Tech, Startups & Science
a. Calstart, a Pasadena-based nonprofit dedicated to accelerating clean transportation, is leading a groundbreaking project to test an in-road electric vehicle (EV) charging system at UCLA. UCLA has received a $19.85 million grant to enhance its BruinBus fleet and establish California’s first electric roadside charging system as part of preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. The funding will enable UCLA to transition its fleet to 100% electric, expanding from five electric buses to 13, and will support the construction of a new transit hub that connects to the Los Angeles
Metro D line extension. The grant will also fund the installation of inductive wireless charging along key transit routes, allowing electric vehicles to charge while driving, as well as at pick-up and drop-off locations. This project will contribute to sustainability efforts, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve transportation accessibility in Westwood and across Los Angeles.
b. Mitico
, a Pasadena-based carbon capture technology company, has secured $4.3 million in seed funding to commercialize its innovative carbon dioxide (CO2) capture solution. The name "Mitico" reflects the company's commitment to mitigating the impact of carbon emissions through cutting- edge technology and services. The funding round, led by Exergon, an energy decarbonization fund, was oversubscribed and includes investors such as Gore Ventures, AP Ventures, Halliburton Labs, and
Freeflow Ventures, a key
player in Pasadena’s innovation ecosystem. Mitico’s granulated metal carbonate sorption technology, developed at Caltech, provides a scalable, low-energy, and cost-effective way to capture over 95% of CO2 emissions from industries like gas-fired power plants and waste-to-energy facilities. With two paid pilot projects planned for 2025, this new funding will accelerate the technology’s development and commercialization.
4. Shop Local Pasadena
To support local businesses, staff partnered with the Public Affairs and Visit Pasadena on the “Shop Local Pasadena” campaign, which launched on Small Business Saturday. This initiative encouraged residents and visitors to shop small and dine locally. The campaign featured 26 local businesses as “Welcome Stations” across the City, with participating businesses offering shoppers free canvas totes and other promotions to raise awareness and drive traffic. As part of the campaign, videos showcasing 10 of the 26 participating businesses were featured on Instagram. The campaign garnered nearly 18,000 likes and over 345,000 views. The video featuring Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery received 128,000 views, making it the fourth most popular video ever posted on the City of Pasadena's Instagram account. The campaign also earned significant media attention, with four local news features on Small Business Saturday, reaching nearly 190,000 viewers and generating almost $9,000 in local publicity value.
Staff is currently working with City of LA, LA Department of Economic Opportunity (LA DEO), Together for LA, and the City of Santa Monica to develop a regional shop local campaign, further expanding efforts to support businesses across the region.
5. Real Estate
Roark Capital has acquired Pasadena-based Dave’s Hot Chicken for $1 billion. The fast-growing chain, known for its Nashville-style hot chicken, operates nearly 300 locations globally, including 70 in California. Dave’s sales nearly doubled in fiscal 2023, reaching $406 million, and the brand is expected to hit $1 billion in sales this year. Founded in 2017 as a Los Angeles pop-up, Dave’s began franchising in 2019 and has since expanded rapidly. Roark Capital’s acquisition of Dave’s reflects the chain’s dominance in the Nashville hot chicken market and its continued global growth.
6. National Retail Sales
a. Retail Outlook for 2025
Matthew Shay, President and CEO of the National Retail Federation (NRF), recently shared insights on the retail industry’s outlook for 2025. After strong 2024 performance with holiday sales up 4% and overall growth of 3.6%, Shay expects continued growth in 2025, though economic uncertainties like trade relations and taxes remain challenges. AI and technology are key to enhancing the customer experience, improving delivery times and reducing obstacles in shopping. Despite the focus on digital, Shay emphasized the ongoing importance of physical stores for engagement, fulfillment, and inventory management. The NRF is advocating for pro-growth policies, including trade, tax, and labor reforms, to stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and drive wage increases.
b. 2025 National Retail Sales – January Update
National retail sales in January 2025 rose 3.9% year-over-year, with e- commerce up 3.8%, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Despite January being a slower month for retailers, the results were strong, especially with cold weather boosting apparel sales. The NRF reported a 5.7% increase in retail sales, excluding restaurants, fuel, and autos. After adjusting for inflation, sales volumes grew by 1.6%. Sectors like home goods and general merchandise saw 5.2% growth, while department stores rose 1.4%, and electronics inched up 0.2%. Apparel sales grew 3.6%, driven by post-holiday promotions, but sporting goods declined by 4.3%. Concerns over potential
tariffs prompted some consumers to make early purchases in categories like autos and home furnishings. While this provided a slight boost, analysts expect growth to slow later in the year due to inflation, high debt, and ongoing uncertainty. Despite these challenges, retail remains on a positive trajectory.
7. Eaton Emergency Business Recovery
Economic Development staff has been actively supporting businesses and individuals by offering personalized guidance, resources, and introductions to relevant organizations. The team has been sharing valuable information, such as grants, loans, and technical assistance, through multiple channels, including the City website, newsletters, social media, and direct outreach. Staff has also been convening discussions with state, regional, and community partners, while keeping City Council Liaisons informed.
a. Loans and Grants for Fire Impacted
Businesses and Workers
On February 26 and 28, City staff, in
collaboration with the Altadena Chamber of
Commerce, LA DEO, the Small Business
Administration (SBA), and other local
agencies, hosted an in-person clinic to assist
businesses and workers affected by recent
windstorms and wildfires. The clinic offered
one-on-one consultations and assistance
with applying for disaster relief grants and
loans, including the LA Region Small
Business and Worker Relief Fund and SBA
Business Physical Disaster Loans. The event
provided personalized support, on-site
application help, and access to parking,
ensuring impacted individuals could apply for
critical financial relief.
b. Business Impact Survey
On January 24, Economic Development staff released a business impact survey and received 557 responses, representing nearly 5% of the City’s businesses. A total of 430 businesses reported direct physical damage causing 380 of them to close for at least one day.
c. Eaton Fire Collaborative
Staff regularly attend the Eaton Fire Collaborative meetings held each Tuesday at the Pasadena Elks Lodge. The Collaborative’s goal is to provide a structured, transparent, and efficient response to the aftermath of the fire.
One early success to highlight is the partnership between The Langham Hotel and Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW). The Langham is donating essential furniture to those affected by the Eaton Canyon fire. Exclusively available to fire victims, the donation includes items such as desks, chairs, beds, TVs, lamps, and more. This generous contribution aims to offer comfort and stability as families begin their recovery and rebuild their lives.