California’s Small Businesses to Become Stronger, Greener With Inflow of Climate Resilience Funding

Lila Brown | California Black Media Perry Bennett, owner, Perry’s Joint (CBM) – The state of California, in conjunction with the federal government, has allocated millions of dollars for small businesses in California to help them become greener and to strengthen their resilience to climate change. However, many Black business owners across California say there is an information gap — they have never heard of those climate-focused grants and other funding opportunities. “In my community, we struggle to access information about available programs. Historically, by the time we hear about these opportunities, the funds are usually all gone, or the programs have ended, said Perry Bennett, the owner of Perry’s Joint, a “handcrafted gourmet sandwich shop” in Pasadena. “We are always eager to grow our businesses, but we just don’t know what’s available. I’ve been in business for 30 years, and the cost of doing business has only increased,” Bennett added. “We want to use energy-efficient equipment, but we are a mom-and-pop operation. Help us out. We don’t even have the resources to take advantage of the resources.” To identify what it would take to help businesses like Perry’s Joint, & The Center by Lendistry, a non-profit focused on helping...