State of CA Awards $10 Million to LA County’s DEO to Support Workforce Recovery for Wildfire-Impacted Communities

8 February 2025

Funding to Provide Immediate Employment, Humanitarian Aid, and Long-Term Workforce Solutions

Los Angeles, CA – The California Employment Development Department (EDD) has awarded $10 million to the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) as part of a $20 million federal and state commitment to support workers and communities impacted by the devastating wildfires across LA County.


“For so many in our community, this funding represents the start of our recovery— opening up opportunities for impacted workers to put food on the table, help pay bills, and begin their journey to rebuild their lives,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity.


“The devastation of the Eaton Fire not only took residents’ homes, but their businesses and jobs,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This grant program is an important source of support that will bolster our workforce and bring stability to our community when they need it most.”


“My heart goes out to so many families in Southern California suffering extensive loss as a result of the fires,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “We want to do everything possible to lend a hand and support workers and businesses in this area as they try to get back on their feet. These funds offer an opportunity to support the community in starting their rebuilding efforts.”


Through this grant, DEO in partnership with LA City, Foothill, and our network of local workforce development boards and community partners will provide a range of targeted programs and services, including:


  • Temporary and Transitional Job Opportunities: Connecting displaced workers to humanitarian aid roles, cleanup efforts, and transitional jobs that offer pathways to sustainable employment.


  • Workforce Development Programs: Offering on-the-job training, skill-building initiatives, and career development services through DEO’s America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) to ensure impacted workers are equipped to thrive in the evolving job market.


  • Comprehensive Support Services: Providing additional assistance such as housing, childcare, and transportation support to stabilize families and enable long-term recovery.


The $10 million grant award to DEO will complement an additional $10 million allocated to both the City and County of Los Angeles, which collectively addresses urgent community needs such as debris removal, shelter operations, and community health support in fire-impacted areas. This funding is made possible by the U.S. Department of Labor and Governor Gavin Newsom.


“These combined efforts will help restore livelihoods, strengthen the region’s economy, and ensure affected residents have the resources they need while directly contributing to their community’s recovery,” said Kelly LoBianco.


Residents impacted can access a range of services through DEO’s AJCC’s. These centers provide unemployment insurance assistance, healthcare coverage guidance, direct connections to hiring employers, and more. Find the nearest center by visiting https://bit.ly/FindanAJCC.


In addition, DEO has launched an emergency resources webpage for workers and businesses, a one-stop hub providing assistance, and up-to-date information to support businesses and workers as they navigate recovery and rebuilding efforts.


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About DEOThe LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, launched in July 2022, helps job seekers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, major industries, and communities access life changing opportunities, and is also home to the Office of Small Business, LA County’s one-stop shop dedicated to prospective entrepreneurs and small business owners. Stay connected with DEO! Follow @EconOppLA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, subscribe to our newsletter, or visit opportunity.lacounty.gov to learn about DEO services.


25 April 2026
Reposted from Pasadena Star-News By Anissa Rivera | [email protected] PUBLISHED: April 21, 2026 at 6:26 PM PDT Most Altadenans have a Webster’s story. On April 25, more will be told when the iconic town business celebrates its 100th anniversary with a community-wide event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, at 2333 Lake Ave., Altadena. Webster’s Community Pharmacy was founded in 1926 and has remained an independently-owned business known for personalized care and deep local roots. Both its original site and current storefront survived the Eaton fire in 2025, and the anniversary celebration is designed not only to honor Webster’s centennial, but also to bring neighbors together to reaffirm the strength and resilience of Altadena, owners Meredith and Michael Miller said. Set to help celebrate: Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena; Nic Arnzen, chair of the Altadena Town Council; Judy Matthews, president of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce; Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Victoria Knapp, past town council president who grew up with the business, will emcee. The Millers, who took over Webster’s in 2010, have long supported local artists, and among those set to appear at the anniversary party are Austin Scott, Colleen Boye, and the creators behind Altadena Candle Company, Manyana’s Body Butter, Heart & Sol, and A-Frame Pottery. Other artists they support include Victor Ving of Greetings Tour, Keni Arts, Heather Morrow and author Mary Lea Carroll. Musicians run lunch, Mo + Sully, and Rhythms of the Village will perform. Pasadena Humane will bring their mobile adoption center too, joining Altadena Library’s Curiosity Connection, which brings hands-on activities for children. Local Altadena favorites will also offer food and drinks for sale, including El Patron, Nancy’s Greek Café, Miya on Lake, Café de Leche, Grocery Outlet and Altadena Cookie Co. The anniversary event is free and open to the public. “This centennial celebration has turned into something much bigger more than a year after the Eaton fire,” Meredith Miller said. “It’s now our priority to not only celebrate the pharmacy’s legacy, but to bring the community joy and give Altadenans a reason to come together, since so many of us are still displaced.” Through the years, Webster’s was the go-to department store in town, where many teens got their first jobs and families went to shop for school supplies. The Webster’s on Lake, where the store relocated in 2024, pays tribute to the block-wide Webster’s of old, that still sits several hundred feet away, by curating gifts and seasonal items, nostalgic candy, books, and greeting cards. Miller calculates about three-quarters of her regular customers remain displaced, “but we are so touched when they make a special effort to come see us,” many on weekend trips to check on their lots. The store, and its seven employees, have served as touchstones and emotional support after the fires. Days after Jan. 7, they scrambled to fulfill prescriptions at nearby pharmacies. The store reopened on Feb. 17, 16 days after full containment of the fire. Since then, customers come in and update them on their lives, and share the gamut of their feelings about rebuilds and relocation. In turn, the Millers said they want to share one thing too: what has stayed the same about Webster’s and what will never change. “Our love for the community, the exceptional level of care we provide and the commitment we have to doing whatever we can do to help make people’s lives easier,” Meredith Miller said.
6 January 2026
SMALL BUSINESS POP-UP FAIR: RECOVER TOGETHER TO RECOGNIZE YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND OFFER DIRECT SERVICES TO IMPACTED SMALL BUSINESSES