In our resource corner, we have an announcement from California Volunteers with the Office of the Governor seeking applicants passionate about fighting climate change for paid service positions. Recently, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) accelerated Climate Credits to help customers with high natural gas bills this winter. I know that our small business community has been struggling due to a recent string of break-ins. My office continues to monitor the situation and engaging with local businesses to find resources and solutions for those impacted and to help keep everyone safe. At this time, there are several available from the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Police Department, feel free to share this with your friends and neighbors and stay tuned for more updates.

Paid Climate Service Positions with California Volunteers

• California Volunteers, Office of the Governor wants champions of climate action to apply for the California Climate Action Corps paid service program. Governor Newsom launched California Climate Action Corps as the nation’s first state-level climate service corps with the mission of empowering Californians to take meaningful action to protect their homes, health and communities against the harshest impacts of climate change. 
• 2023-24 California Climate Action Corps Fellows will serve from Sept. 18, 2023, to Aug. 15, 2024, in communities throughout the state. Summer fellows will serve 300 hours from June 5 to Aug. 4, 2023.
• From 2021 through 2022, the California Climate Action Corp Fellowship achieved the following:
  • 147,072 trees planted, maintained, or given away. ​ 
  • 1.6 million pounds of food or organic waste diverted from landfills. ​ 
  • 1 million pounds of recovered food distributed to people in need. 
  • 17,770 volunteers engaged for 54,220 hours of climate action. ​ 
  • 52,002 people engaged through climate-related education and outreach. 
  • 172 acres, 85 sites, and 36 homes/structures treated for climate resiliency.​ 
• Go to ClimateActionCorps.ca.gov to learn more and apply.  

CPUC Accelerates Climate Credit To Provide Utility Bill Support to Customers

• The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently accelerated the timeframe in which residential energy customers will receive a Climate Credit on their bills in order to provide much needed support to customers experiencing unusually high natural gas bills this winter.
• The combined Climate Credit of roughly $90 to $120 will automatically show up as soon as possible on the bills on Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Gas Company. Customers of Bear Valley, Liberty, PacifiCorp, and Southwest Gas will also receive an accelerated credit. Check your climate credit amount here: www.cpuc.ca.gov/climatecredit. 
• Customers do not need to do anything to get the credit. Households typically receive the Climate Credit on their October or November and April or May bills each year, regardless of energy consumption or bill amount.

Resources for Small Businesses Impacted by Commercial Burglaries 

• To all our small businesses and community impacted by the recent string of break-ins I want to let you know that we are here for you. At this time, my office and I are monitoring the issue and collaborating with local government leaders to connect with small businesses and provide the latest updates and information available. I know this is a difficult time for everyone as we continue to face the ongoing challenges of a post-pandemic economy, and I will do all that is in my power to help ensure our working families and small businesses have the support they need to be successful. Relief is currently available to help with damages or financial loss caused by crime and vandalism, and I will continue to share more updates as they become available. If you or someone you know needs help navigating or accessing resources, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. 
• Visual Improvement Grants (Long Beach): Support for local businesses impacted by crime and vandalism on or after Oct. 1, 2022. Grants of $1,500 can be used for storefront repairs, boarding costs, insurance deductibles and business operating expenses. Applications will open on February 22, 2023. More information and online application available at: longbeach.gov/smallbizgrants. 
• Business Improvement Districts Grant (Long Beach): A total of $100,000 in new Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Grant awards, which will support sidewalk activation, special events, and clean and safe initiatives. For a list of Business Improvement Districts receiving funding and for more information visit: https://bit.ly/3ljkjvu.
• Safety Tips For Small Businesses (LBPD) : In addition to increasing visibility citywide, investigating leads and engaging with the business community, the Long Beach Police Department has shared a list of safety tips to help keep businesses and employees safe, you can access the list at: https://bit.ly/3RLvl8Z. 
• $54 Million+ Grant Now Open for LA County's Microbusinesses (LA County): The Economic Opportunity Grant (EOG) program will distribute more than $54 million across 6,800 grants to small and microbusinesses and nonprofit agencies, prioritizing the most COVID-impacted and highest-need communities and organizations in LA County. Phase One of the program targets microbusinesses with under $50k in revenue and will award grants of $2,500 per grant, funded by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. Interested applicants can visit grants.lacounty.gov.