The CAF provides forgivable financing to support the acquisition of commercial properties by small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and mission-aligned developers. By enabling local ownership of neighborhood-serving spaces, the program aims to stabilize communities, reduce displacement pressures, and foster long-term, place-based economic growth.  

The program builds on strong results from its initial rollout. In its first funding cycle, the LA County CAF deployed $10 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support seven property acquisitions across Los Angeles County, creating space for 39 small businesses, three nonprofit organizations, and more than 125 creative workspaces. These projects are helping bring vacant and underutilized properties back into productive use while strengthening local economic ecosystems. To learn more about the first funding cycle of the CAF, visit here. To hear directly from awardees, visit DEO’s YouTube page to watch testimonials here. 

This second funding cycle will make approximately $2.6 million in initial award dollars available for new acquisitions, including $1 million in discretionary funding from Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to support acquisition of property within the Second District.  

“LA County’s Anti-Displacement Commercial Acquisition Fund allows communities to directly own and shape the future of their neighborhoods – by the community, for the community,” said Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “I’m proud to build on the success of the program’s first phase with additional funding to support more community-based organizations and developers to preserve and expand affordable commercial and mixed-use space to keep legacy businesses and residents in place and create opportunities for growing entrepreneurs.” 

LA County CAF Phase 1 applications are expected to open on May 5, 2026. In advance of application launch, DEO and Genesis LA will conduct outreach and host informational sessions to guide prospective applicants through the application process, answer questions, and facilitate introductions and collaboration between interested applicants. Interested applicants are encouraged to sign up for updates to receive information about events and application details. 

While the County remains committed to expanding community ownership and neighborhood revitalization, DEO emphasized that available funding is limited relative to the scale of need. 

“At the same time, demand for this type of investment far exceeds current resources, and not every qualified project will be funded in this round,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of DEO. “This investment, however, reflects our continued commitment to building strong, locally-driven commercial corridors, especially those that have been historically disinvested, faced economic disruption like the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires, or are planning for increased tourism and opportunity with the World Cup and LA28.” 

“I am excited to build on the success of CAF: Cycle One and to expand the Fund’s impact to more projects. LA County benefits from focused, neighborhood-scale investment that helps disinvested communities to participate in inclusive economic growth. Through CAF, local businesses and organizations have an opportunity to stay, grow, and shape the future of their neighborhoods. Genesis LA is excited to play a continued role in this work, and we hope that models such as CAF, along with a more welcoming and supportive economic ecosystem, can expand across LA County,” said Tom De Simone, President & CEO of Genesis LA.  

Partner with Los Angeles County to Expand Neighborhood Investment 

Los Angeles County is inviting private industry, philanthropic organizations, financial institutions, and local jurisdictions to partner in advancing community ownership, placemaking, and neighborhood economic development. 

With demand for commercial acquisition and corridor revitalization far exceeding available public funding, there is a clear opportunity to align capital and resources to scale this work. In response to a recently adopted motion by Holly J. Mitchell, DEO is actively restructuring its Economic Development Trust Fund—which supports programs such as RENOVATE: Façade Improvement and the Catalytic Development Fund—to be nimbler and more responsive to small business and neighborhood investment needs. 

This effort is intended to create a more coordinated and flexible platform for deploying capital across acquisition, predevelopment, capital improvement activities, and streetscape enhancements and neighborhood activation activities. Partners can play a direct role in supporting this current cycle of CAF as well as ongoing efforts for broader, place-based economic development strategies across the region. 

Organizations interested in deploying capital, co-investing, or aligning complementary resources are encouraged to email funds@opportuity.lacounty.gov to explore partnership opportunities. 

Phase I application is anticipated to be released on May 5, 2026. 

For more information and to sign up for updates, visit https://opportunity.lacounty.gov/caf.