In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, EWDD highlights EWDD staff members and Los Angeles business owners of these cultural groups.

Caroline Kim Palacios provides project management leadership and cross-functional coordination of strategic initiatives and special projects that impact the department. As the daughter of Korean immigrant small business owners, it is deeply meaningful for her to contribute to work that asks how we can build a more inclusive and equitable economy for all Angelenos, especially her own community. AANHPI Month is a time to honor the contributions of the generations of immigrants who established AANHPI communities where she lives, to learn about the many unique, diverse cultures that comprise the community.

William Ha's duties include analyzing various types of data and then inputting this information into ArcGIS software to transform it into usable maps, charts, and graphs. As a multi-ethnic Asian American, Chinese-Vietnamese American, Ha is proud to uphold the cultural traditions that have been passed down from past generations and looks forward to continuing them and creating new memories in the future.

Connie Garcia's duties include processes, reviews, and approval of Special Fund invoices. This includes handling Community Development Block Grants and CRA invoices for EWDD’s Economic Development division, as well as assisting the Workforce division with their invoice approvals. For Connie, AANHPI month means remembering her Filipina American roots and enjoying her favorite foods that include: Adobo, pancit, lumpia shanghai, and sinigang.

Michael Cham leads his team in managing and leveraging real estate assets with the goal of revitalizing neighborhoods and spurring economic growth. As a first-generation Chinese American, he appreciates how America takes time to celebrate different backgrounds. He believes that this melting pot of cultures, traditions, and foods is one of the best things about living in the U.S.

Chef Evi Catering & Events LLC

The Hollywood BusinessSource Center (BSC) helped Chef Evi Catering & Events LLC, a catering business impacted by the entertainment strike in Los Angeles, secure a grant to sustain her business and retain workers.

"The current economic climate in Los Angeles for small businesses, especially those vulnerable to shifts in the entertainment industry, impacted many businesses like mine starting with COVID and continued to drown us throughout the strikes due to the lack of industry events,” said Evi Yeh, Chef Evi Catering and Events’ business owner. “Many of us were shut down or had to take every opportunity on, regardless of the rates, to stay afloat and keep our teams employed.” 

Due to the Hollywood strikes, many of the scheduled bookings were canceled or postponed, prompting Yeh to contact the Hollywood BSC to seek access to capital counseling. Through the counseling efforts of  Elaine Pang, Yeh applied and won a grant for $10,000 from the California Restaurant Foundation Resilience Fund and used the funds to remain open and pay her team members fair wages.

Clique Nails, Inc

The Pico-Union/Westlake BusinessSource Center (BSC) assisted Nra Kudelka in acquiring a $150,000 loan to open Clique Nails Inc., a nail boutique shop. 

Kudelka has over 25 years of experience as a stylist and costume designer in the Hollywood entertainment industry. While employed by leading fashion entities in the industry, she discerned a niche within the broader fashion landscape, inspiring her to establish a nail salon as an integral component of the overall fashion realm. Kudelka’s vision for Clique Nails Inc. is to not merely pioneer a new fashion culture in LA, but also serve as a hub for mentorship, idea exchange, and visionary conversations. Clique will be a space for women, by women, but where everyone feels welcome and free to be themselves.

In order to launch her dream business, Kudelka received business consulting from the Pico-Union/Westlake BSC. The BSC provided Kudelka with training sessions such as covering fundamental aspects of running and expanding a business, obtaining permits, and managing business operations. These tools helped guide her in structuring her business plan and thus led to the establishment of her nail shop. 

Clique Nails is currently undergoing tenant improvement for the new space and is expected to have a grand opening in May 2024.

LA Small Business Summits

What a great turnout at the LA Small Business Summits! Business owners were able to connect with various providers to receive information about business programs, tips on how to improve their business operations, and learn about the launch of new programs that include LApreneur, LA Optimized, and the Legacy Business Program. 

In attendance at the first summit, Deputy Mayor Rachel Freeman mentioned the importance and the value these summits bring to the small business community, “together with nonprofits, small businesses under one roof build stronger communities and make LA the leaders they are today."



Additionally, EWDD leadership participated in multiple panels providing advice and tips to all business owners of levels ranging from entrepreneurs, established businesses, and aspiring business owners. Resourceful advice included:

• “Have a business plan, but also a financial plan. When you come to a BusinessSource Center, we need to have the documentation and that is what will set you up to secure and get assistance from us.” -Fred Jackson, Assistant General Manager
• "All of our services are FREE, we are here to support you." -Rosa Penaloza, Assistant Chief Grant Administrator
• "WorkSource Centers provide a number of services to employers. The superpower is that it's all about connecting the dots as we serve over 20,000 people and connect them to services." -Gerardo Ruvalcaba, Assistant General Manager

EWDD's BusinessSource Centers are open to help all with resources and programs such as assistance with access to capital, one-on-one consulting, and entrepreneur workshops. Also, businesses that have been in operation for over 20+ years can still apply for the LA Legacy Business Program online.

To learn about all of the EWDD's Business Programs, visit ewdd.lacity.gov.

EWDD's Rapid Response Team Assists Affected 99 Cent Only Store Workers

EWDD’s Rapid Response team made a difference in the lives of over 400 people affected by the 99 Cents Only Stores closures. Within two weeks, EWDD staff and partners conducted virtual and on-site orientations at over 31 locations to provide timely employment transition services in groups and one-on-one settings. 

Additionally, the WorkSource Centers launched a pilot program promoting the Rapid Response program to store managers in order to respond quickly to those affected with assistance, access to training, and supportive services. Lastly, dislocated workers are being connected with other potential employment opportunities with local retailers such as Costco, HomeDepot, Walmart, Sam's Club and Target.