Starting this weekend at the 9th annual Taste of Soul Festival, Metro and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas will launch the Eat, Shop and Play Crenshaw campaign to support businesses impacted by the construction of the Crenshaw/LAX rail line.
Approximately 40 businesses, ranging from hair salons to restaurants to furniture stores, will be showing their goods at booths during the Taste of Soul festival.
As part of the campaign, residents will be asked to “Take the Pledge” to support local Crenshaw area businesses, especially the businesses impacted by Crenshaw Line construction. By committing to “Take the Pledge,” consumers will eat at local restaurants, shop at local stores, and play at local entertainment venues in the Crenshaw Corridor.
“We want residents to come and support our local businesses,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “This is a true partnership with our local entrepreneurs. We know that the construction has made it less convenient for patrons to shop on Crenshaw, but we need residents to support these businesses now more than ever so they continue to thrive over the next few years.”
Consumers can also visit metro.net/service/discounts/crenshaw-lax to learn about featured participating Eat, Shop, Play Crenshaw businesses.
“It will bring visibility to the store,” said Gerold Duncan, owner of Malai Hair on Crenshaw Boulevard. “Anything to get the community involved to patronize your own stores would be helpful. If I can’t survive you are hurting opportunities for us to put back into the community. I grew up in this community and I understand that is how you make a community thrive with partnerships with local businesses. ”
Date: October 18, 2014
Time: 10am – 7pm
Location: Crenshaw Boulevard between Stocker St. and Rodeo Rd. [map]
The Eat, Shop, Play Crenshaw campaign is just another program designed to help boost local businesses. Recently, the 13-member Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved a groundbreaking program designed to help businesses along Crenshaw Boulevard struggling with economic losses due to construction of the Crenshaw/LAX rail line.
Under the newly established $10 million-business interruption fund, eligible small businesses along the corridor will be able to receive a maximum of $50,000 annually, not to exceed 60 percent of their business revenue loss. To qualify, owners must have no more than 25 employees, have been in operation for two years, be in good standing with local, state and federal tax requirements and be able to produce financial record demonstrating the loss of business revenue directly related to the construction are eligible for assistance.