Toward a Sustainable Future: A Resource Toolkit for California Small Businesses
Introduction
Ethnic-owned small businesses are a critical foundation of our economy. They help define culture, generate wealth, and provide employment opportunities in their local communities. In 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) estimated that California was home to 4.1 million small businesses, nearly half of which were owned by members of racial and ethnic minority groups.1
Recently, the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge completed a study to investigate the challenges ethnic small business owners in California face, including accessing financial capital, adapting to climate change, and engaging in environmental sustainability.2 Our findings demonstrated that ethnic small business owners acknowledge the current and future impacts of climate change on their businesses and are interested in becoming more engaged in environmental sustainability planning. However, study participants—especially business owners of historically marginalized backgrounds—observed there to be a lack of readily available information, among other resources, that could better allow them to engage in environmentally sustainable practices to address climate change. In response, this toolkit provides information about various programs and rebates available to financially support small businesses to move towards environmental sustainability and renewable energy. As climate change progresses, ethnic-owned businesses must be well-informed and proactive so that they can remain in business and thrive.
For more information on our latest research and advocacy on small businesses, please visit The Economic and Recovery and Entrepreneurship Project.
Endnotes
1 In its state profiles, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) defines small businesses as independent businesses having fewer than 500 employees. SBA Office of Advocacy, “2023 Small Business Profile: California,” November 14, 2023, available online. Minority group members in the U.S. include, but are not limited to, individuals of Asian, Black, Latino, and Native American backgrounds.
2 Rosario Isabel Majano, Silvia R. González, Julia Silver, Paul M. Ong, Julia Hernandez Nierenberg, Chhandara Pech, Jennifer Uribe, Juan Carlos Ruiz Malagon, and Sonja M. Diaz, “Business as Usual: Entrepreneurs of Color in California Face Challenges in Technology, Climate Change, and Sustainability in a Post-COVID Economy,” UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI), November 1, 2023, available online.
