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Writer's pictureNatalie C. Papagni

California Wildfire Recovery Resource Guide for Individuals & Families, Businesses and Workers

Updated: 14 hours ago




For emergency information and recovery resources, visit LA City’s newly-launched One Hub For Resources at LACity.gov. This centralized site provides essential updates and support for those impacted by the wildfires.


Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation has a comprehensive Wildfire Assistance page with information about Emergency & Recovery, Business Assistance, Government Resources, Accommodation & Transportation, Non-Government Support (Red Cross, Salvation Army, CAL Fire Foundation), Mental Health Support, etc.


Resources for Businesses and Workers

If you’re a business owner or worker impacted by the wildfires, the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) provides resources to help. Visit EWDD.lacity.gov for support programs, disaster recovery assistance, and more.


Los Angeles County has created a Recovery Resources page.



Recovery for Workers:


FEMA Disaster Assistance


SBA Loan Disaster Assistance

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will open two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) in Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The centers will assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations, and residents who sustained economic losses and physical damages from the wildfires and straight-line winds that began Jan. 7.


Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The DLOC locations and hours of operation are listed below.


LOS ANGELES COUNTY 

Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Pasadena City College Community Education Center (PCC CEC)

Multi-Purpose Room 

3035 E. Foothill Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91107

Opens 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14

Mondays - Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Closed Monday, Jan. 20,

 in observance of MLK holiday


VENTURA COUNTY

Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Ventura County Community 

Foundation (VCCF)

Economic Development Collaborative

4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Ste. A 1

Camarillo, CA 93012 

Mondays - Fridays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Monday, Jan. 20 in observance of MLK holiday


Eligible small businesses and PNPs of any size are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.


Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence. 


Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.563% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition.


Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.


The SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs, such as ongoing operating expenses for small businesses and PNPs. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage.


SBA’s Disaster Loan Program funding was replenished via the American Relief Act, 2025, which was signed into law on Dec. 21, 2024. The SBA acted immediately and, within six hours of the Act being signed into law, issued more than 21,000 outstanding commitment letters (loan offers). The SBA will continue to issue new loan offers and ensure survivors quickly understand their loan options.


With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.


Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.


The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 10, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 8, 2025.


California Association of Realtors Homeowner Disaster Relief Grant 


From the LA County Assessor’s Office – Information for Business and Residential Property Owners


Under California law, if your property, your home or business, has been damaged or destroyed by fire, you may qualify for property tax relief under the Misfortune & Calamity (M&C) program. This program allows my office to reduce the assessed value of your property, which is what your property taxes are based upon, to be reduced to reflect the damage.


Here are the key details to the M&C tax relief program:


• To qualify, the damage must exceed $10,000, and a claim form must be filed with our office within 12 months of the damage.


• Once filed, we will investigate and verify the claim, determine the cost to cure, and reduce the assessed value effective the date the damage occurred. This reduction remains in place until the property is repaired, rebuilt, or undergoes a change in ownership.


The filing of this claim also facilitates coordination with the Treasurer and Tax Collector, allowing taxpayers who pay property taxes directly, not through an impound account with a mortgage lender, to defer their current year property taxes without incurring penalties.


We are working closely with our County partners to identify impacted properties and will assist homeowners and businesses through every step of this process. For all claims, we aim to process them as soon as possible. 


Once the tax roll is updated, the Auditor-Controller will recalculate the taxes. If you are due a refund, it will be issued, or if taxes remain owed, an adjusted bill with new due dates will be sent.


My office can be reached at assessor.lacounty.gov or call us at (213) 974-3211. 


The direct link to our disaster page is: https://assessor.lacounty.gov/disaster  



Los Angeles Regional Small Business Legal Aid Program


Donations


California’s new California's Donation Portal 

The portal provides information on ways to make monetary donations, find out about volunteer opportunities, and where corporate entities can make in-kind donation offers.


Philanthropy California is an alliance of Northern California Grantmakers, Southern California Grantmakers, and Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties. We partner with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to support immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery efforts. 



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Cobalt PacWest Advisors

La Jolla


8910 University Center Lane

La Jolla, CA 92122

858.754.8277 


Cobalt PacWest Advisors

Century City


10250 Constellation Blvd #100

Century City, CA 90067

424.230.3162


Cobalt PacWest Advisors

Irvine


3333 Michelson Drive

Irvine, CA 92612

949.287.8337




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