Los Angeles launches Vacant to Vibrant program to turn empty downtown storefronts into small businesses

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Alongside Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, Bass is investing $500,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to cover initial start-up and leasing costs for small business owners. During the launch event, world-renowned artist Charlie Alston signed a lease to open a new art gallery in a Historic Core storefront that had been closed for a decade, made possible through Broadway Spring Center and the non-profit Art/Space 114.

The program will be administered by Downtown Works, the non-profit arm of the Central City Association, which will connect property owners with qualified small businesses. Interest forms for both small businesses and property owners are now live at ccala.org/vacant-to-vibrant. Two state bills by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, AB 1679 and AB 2418, were recently signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom to speed up permitting for vacant-space activation.

"Downtown is just 1% of our city's land, but it's home to more than 90,000 Angelenos and generates 30% of L.A.'s revenue. Revitalization is not optional, it's essential," Bass said. The program is part of her broader downtown revitalization plan, which also includes Metro Ambassadors at Pershing Square, homeless outreach, extra street cleaning, and the expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center — already booked by 16 conferences expected to bring 158,000 visitors and over $340 million in economic impact.