LEEAF | LA County Small Business Growth & Equity

Hi 👋🏾 we’re LEEAF! & we’re on a mission to create a more diverse, equitable, & thriving economic landscape 🌿 We are dedicated to investing in equity throughout LA County with an approach rooted in a broad base of research: Women of color are underserved engines of the economy 💪🏽💪🏿💪🏾 🌱 Our first-of-its-kind micro business Accelerator & Fellowship was designed to connect talented, early-stage business leaders with resources & training to launch, grow, and sustain their businesses over time 📊 🌳 We don’t stop there though! Our Community & Beyond program provides workshops, training, and other resources to hundreds of other businesses in LA County, supported by our boots-on-the-ground Outreach Team, who provides support tailored to each local community they visit. 💥Ready to make an impact with us? Head to our interest form! Link in bio 🔗 ....... #accelerator #AcceleratorProgram #BusinessAcceleratorProgram #AccelerationProgram #AcceleratorProgramForBusinesses #LaAcceleratorProgram #AcceleratorProgramForSmallBusinesses #WomenEntrepreneuersAcceleratorprogram #community #LAcommunity #mentorship #SmallBusinessMentorship #BusinessIncubator #EntrepreneurshipCommunity #StartupCommunity #BusinessDevelopment

At LEEAF we’re changing the game when it comes to racial, gender, & economic equity ✊🏽 We’ve built two programs that provide tailored and personalized support and resources to as many BIPOC small businesses owners across LA County, as we can. Why? 🤔 LEEAF’s research has shown time and again that BIPOC small businesses should be the anchor ⚓️ in ANY economic revitalization plan and that plan should be community-centric, always. 📣 Looking for support for your small businesses? Have a friend who might? Let us know you're interested by heading to our link in bio! ....... #accelerator #AcceleratorProgram #BusinessAcceleratorProgram #AccelerationProgram #AcceleratorProgramForBusinesses #LaAcceleratorProgram #AcceleratorProgramForSmallBusinesses #WomenEntrepreneuersAcceleratorprogram #community #LAcommunity #mentorship #SmallBusinessMentorship #BusinessIncubator #EntrepreneurshipCommunity #StartupCommunity #BusinessDevelopment

🚀Our impact has been substantial over the last two years and we’re just getting started! 
🏢 Not only have we served over 1700 small businesses, but we’ve been witness to so many of them achieve amazing goals and become sustainable, thriving businesses in their community. 🫳🏿 Our 2-Year Impact report is dropping this week, so stay tuned here to learn more about how LEEAF has effected impactful results and truly creates equity, one entrepreneur at a time 💪🏾

🥇Want to be one of the first to see our report? Send us a DM with “IMPACT” or drop it into the comments & it’ll be in your inbox 📫 ....... #accelerator #AcceleratorProgram #BusinessAcceleratorProgram #AccelerationProgram #AcceleratorProgramForBusinesses #LaAcceleratorProgram #AcceleratorProgramForSmallBusinesses #WomenEntrepreneuersAcceleratorprogram #community #LAcommunity #mentorship #SmallBusinessMentorship #BusinessIncubator #EntrepreneurshipCommunity #StartupCommunity #BusinessDevelopment

​A little PSA 📣 for our favorite local LA County small business leaders! 👋 ​Did you know? 🤔 A business permit 📝 gives you the legal right to operate 🏢, but a business certification 🏅 (like SBE, LBE, MBE) is what actually gives you priority status 🥇 when bidding on government contracts. 🏆 ​To make things a little trickier 🎢, while some certifications are reciprocal 🤝 between LA City 🏙️ and LA County 🌴, many are not! 🚫 Don't assume your City certs automatically clear you for County contracts. 🛑 ​Navigating this can be confusing 😵‍💫, but we've got you covered! 🛡️ Join our Certify and Thrive LA series 🎓 to learn exactly how to untangle the red tape ✂️, get the right certifications ✅, and start winning those contracts! 💰📈✨ ​🔗 Click the link in our bio 📲 to sign up for the series today! 🎟️ . . . . . . . . . . . Hashtags/keywords: #LACounty #LosAngelesBusiness #GovernmentContracting #EntrepreneurEducation #LEEAF LA City vs LA County certification, Los Angeles business certifications, county vendor ID, local government contracting, LEEAF workshops

She was running a business. Making money. Paying bills. 💼 But still… lost. Exhausted. Wondering if she should give up 😞 Then she found the right environment: classes, mentorship, and a community that actually listened 🤝 It didn’t just teach business. It saved the business — and her 💡 LINK IN BIO 🔗

​East LA is the largest unincorporated area in California. With nearly 120,000 residents 👥, the way local decisions get made here is completely unique. ​Because major calls about our roads 🛣️, parks 🌳, and local businesses 🏪 go directly to the county, there is a massive question on the table right now: What kind of voice 🗣️ do East LA residents want to have moving forward? ​The East LA Community Forums are happening for one reason, to figure out what kind of representation 🤝 you think fits this neighborhood best. ​There are no predetermined outcomes and no right or wrong answers . We are simply holding the space for you to talk with your neighbors 🏘️ about how East LA should speak for itself. ​Whether you think things should stay exactly as they are , or you want to explore new ways to organize 🔄, your perspective belongs on the official record 📝. We're setting up the chairs 🪑; you just need to bring the opinions 💡. ​📍 Join the Conversation: Come grab a seat at the table, meet some neighbors, and share your perspective with us this Saturday, May 16th 🗓️ at City Terrace Park (2 PM). Tap the link 🔗 in our bio to RSVP! ​💻 Can't make it in person? We absolutely still want you in the mix. You can drop your thoughts and ensure your feedback is counted online 🌐 right here: eastlaforums.org/comment-online . . . . . . . . . ​#EastLA #EastLosAngeles #EastLACommunity #LocalGovernment #YourCommunityYourChoice EastLos UnincorporatedEastLA

She started with a $2 cup of coffee ☕ Not to make money. To share a story. People came for the brew… Stayed for the connection 🤝 Then asked: can we buy the beans? 🌱 Business isn’t always about growth at first. Sometimes it’s about holding space for what matters 💭 LINK IN BIO 🔗

What is next for East LA? You tell us. 🎤🏘️ ​Right now, there is a big conversation happening about whether East LA should form a local Advisory Council, a group of residents that would meet to discuss local issues and share those priorities with the county. ​But here is the most important part: We are not here to tell you if this is a good idea or a bad idea. 🛑 ​That decision belongs 100% to the people who actually live and work here. The LA County Board of Supervisors wants your unfiltered thoughts on a few key questions: 1️⃣ Is an Advisory Council even a good fit for East LA in the first place? 2️⃣ If it is, what should its priorities be? 3️⃣ Should it be organized by the County, or completely independent? ​We are bringing these questions straight to the community. Bring your honest opinions (even if it's a hard "no"), your questions, and your neighbors to the next East LA Community Forum. We are simply here to pass the mic to you. 🎙️💛 ​📍 Upcoming Forums: May 16th | June 6th | June 27th ​Tap the link in our bio to secure your spot and RSVP to a forum near you! 🔗 . . . . . ​#EastLA #EastLosAngeles #EastLACommunity #LocalGovernment #YourCommunityYourChoice EastLos UnincorporatedEastLA LosAngelesCounty CivicEngagement

Let’s be real 😣 nobody wants to sit in a stiff chair for two hours just to be lectured at. 🛑 ​That’s exactly why the newly expanded East LA Community Forums are doing things completely differently. We are officially ditching the podiums. 🎙️🚫 ​Instead, expect small, casual table chats with just 6 to 10 of your neighbors. You actually get the floor to share what matters most to you. And to answer the biggest question we get: Yes, every single idea is documented and put into the official report. Your voice actively goes on the record to shape the future of our community. 📝✨ ​If you live or work in unincorporated East LA, we want you in the room. ​📍 First up: Saturday, May 16th at City Terrace Park 🗓️ Upcoming dates: June 6th & June 27th ​Tap the link in our bio to RSVP and claim your seat! (RSVPs aren't required, but they definitely help us make sure we have enough space for everyone 🤝). ​Let’s go, East LA! 💛 . . . . . . . Hashtags/keywords: #EastLA #EastLosAngeles #CityTerrace #EastLACommunity #LocalGovernment EastLaCommunityForum UnincorporatedEastLA, EastLos, eastlacommunity, YourVoiceMatters

Why isn’t great coffee more accessible? ☕ Diana asked that. Then she built it herself. Pop-ups 📍. Direct with farmers 🌱. Learning every step 📚. It wasn’t just about coffee — it was about access, networks, and knowing how to make things happen 🌐 Sometimes asking the right question is all it takes 💡 LINK IN BIO 🔗

Most people talk about entrepreneurship after it works. This is from the part before that ⏳ Diana Martinez breaks down what it actually feels like to build a business without formal training, mentors, or balance — and why outside support can determine whether a founder keeps going or burns out 💭 Full episode 001 of Entrepreneurship Reimagined by @leeaf.la available now 🎧 LINK IN BIO 🔗

The math is definitely mathing. 💅 We know paperwork isn't the most glamorous part of being a founder, so we are doing the heavy lifting with you. Our virtual CERTIFY AND THRIVE LA breaks the whole county process into manageable steps. Part 1 kicks off on May 21st at 5 PM. What you need to bring for the Virtual session on May 21st: ✅️Your SSN, ITIN, or Federal EIN ✅️ Your Laptop ✅️ 60 minutes of your time 👇 Comment 'VENDOR' to get the RSVP link sent right to your inbox. . . . . . . #WomenInBusinessLA #MinorityOwnedLA #LACountyVendor #SmallBusinessTips #LEEAF how to become a county vendor, minority owned business LA, women owned business Los Angeles, LA County procurement, business certification California