LA County Commercial Acquisition Fund
The LA County Commercial Acquisition Fund (LA County CAF or CAF) empowers small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and mission-aligned developers to purchase neighborhood commercial real estate and transform vacant and underutilized properties into vibrant, community-serving spaces throughout LA County.
Phase I Application is now open! Application closes on June 30, 2026.
About The Fund
Fund Overview
LA County CAF is a public-private partnership between the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation (Genesis LA), a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
CAF provides forgivable loans to eligible applicants to purchase vacant, abandoned, under-leased, or under-utilized properties with the goal of restoring them into community-serving commercial uses that help revitalize commercial corridors, reduce small business displacement, and promote equitable economic development throughout Los Angeles County.
Projects selected for CAF: Cycle Two may receive a loan up to $340,000. Projects in Supervisorial District 2 may be eligible for up to an additional $1,100,000. Projects in Altadena in Supervisorial District 5 may be eligible for up to an additional $600,000. Disbursement of the funds will be at the County’s sole discretion, including the discretion to disburse the funds in whole or in part.
Through CAF, LA County strives to:
Revitalize commercial corridors and neighborhood main streets
Expand access to ownership for small businesses and community-based organizations
Reduce displacement by stabilizing community-serving uses
Drive equitable economic growth across diverse communities
CAF: Cycle One invested $10 million throughout LA County, enabling the acquisition of seven properties, creating space for 39 small businesses, three nonprofit organizations, and more than 125 creative workspaces, and laying the groundwork for long-term neighborhood investment.
Eligibility
Who & What We Fund
Who We Fund
Applicants that meet the below criteria will be considered qualified to apply for CAF:
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A for-profit entity that is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field of operation. It must have $16 million or less in average gross annual revenue receipts in the most recent three years with 100 employees or fewer (or a manufacturer with 25 or fewer employees) as defined by the State of California.¹
FOOTNOTE
Exclusions include: Subsidiaries of large corporations; Shell companies and entities created solely for loan award purposes.
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All types of active nonprofit organizations with legal standing, including community development corporations, and community land trusts). Non-profits must be active and in good legal standing, with Nonprofits Articles of Incorporation; Organization Bylaws; Organizational Chart of Entity and Affiliates; and 501(c)(3) articles of incorporation.
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A real estate development entity with a background in commercial or mixed-use projects, serving local and regional County of LA residents. To be eligible, it must be independently owned and operated (not a subsidiary or affiliate of a larger national or institutional development firm); has a cumulative development volume of $50 million or less over the past five years; has completed or currently owns no more than five income-producing properties or projects.¹
FOOTNOTE
Medium-to Large Scale Developers may be considered if submitting in partnership with an eligible entity listed above.
Other Criteria
Applicants must be incorporated, provide proof of being registered to do business or as a nonprofit in the State of California, must have a Los Angeles County business address, must have operated in Los Angeles County for the past three years, and must be in good standing to be eligible.
Additional criteria may apply.
Disqualifications
Entities that are disbarred by a federal, state, or local governmental entity or with unresolved violations noted in LA County’s contracting database are disqualified.
What We Fund
To be eligible for funding, proposed properties for acquisition must be:
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A commercial property (or the commercial units within a mixed-use property) that has been unoccupied for two years or more. Eligible properties include both vacant land and properties with vacant or abandoned commercial structures on the land.
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A commercial property (or the commercial units within a mixed-use property) that has had an average vacancy rate of 30% - 50% (depending on size of the property) the prior twelve-month period. Properties may have an active owner, with some active commercial uses. Under-leased can also refer to a property where a tenant's lease interest has not been properly recorded for the prior twelve-month period.
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A property or portion thereof that has not been built to the maximum development potential allowed within the governing zoning code.
Property requirements
All properties must be zoned for commercial use.
Properties can be purchased for owner-occupancy. If properties are leased, all tenants must provide community-serving commercial or mixed-uses for the neighborhood, and at least 51% of commercial space must be leased to small businesses.
Location
Where We Fund
All acquired properties must be located within the County of Los Angeles, with preference given to projects located along commercial corridors where the County is actively planning and investing in revitalization efforts as listed below:
Priority Commercial Corridors*
Supervisorial District 1
East LA: Whittier Boulevard from S Burger Avenue to Goodrich Boulevard
Supervisorial District 2
Florence-Firestone: Central Avenue from Florence Avenue to Manchester Avenue / Firestone Boulevard
West Athens / Westmont: Vermont Avenue from West 83rd Street and to West Century Boulevard
Supervisorial District 3
Pacoima: Van Nuys Boulevard between Hoyt Street and San Fernando Road
Supervisorial District 4
Huntington Park: Pacific Blvd between Florence Avenue and Randolph Street
Supervisorial District 5
Altadena: S Lake Avenue between E Altadena Drive and Beverly Way
Altadena: Lincoln Avenue between Figueroa Drive and Wyoming Street
Altadena: Fair Oaks Avenue between Maple Street and East Washington Boulevard
It is anticipated that at least one project will be awarded in each of the five Supervisorial Districts.
*The County reserves the right to add priority commercial corridors to be defined in Phase II applications.
Property Search
If you have a property in mind, click here to search which Supervisorial District it is located in.
Funding details
Funding Conditions
Long-Term Property Covenants (30-Year Restriction)
To ensure that acquired properties serve a long-term public benefit, awardees must agree to property covenants that apply restrictions on the awardee and every successive property owner for a period of 30 years.
The covenants will require that awardees (and future property owners):
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1
Renovate and rehabilitate the acquired property
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2
Provide below market rent to eventual commercial tenants
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3
Lease commercial space to tenants that provide community-serving or mixed-uses for the neighborhood, including at least 51% to small businesses
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4
Provide temporary relocation and first right of return to existing qualified tenants during renovations
Additional requirements for provision of affordable housing in the case of redevelopment mixed-use projects.
How to Apply
Submit the CAF Phase I Application by June 30, 2026.
informational brochure
Key Details,
At-A-Glance
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