By Stephen Witt
As small businesses along the East San Fernando Valley light rail (ESFV) project corridor bite their nails concerning its future, a well-healed regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) out of Long Beach is lining up its ducks to cash in on their woes.
Multiple sources report that Patrick Nuy, the Los Angeles Small Business Development Network regional director from the Lead Center at Long Beach City College, has visited the Valley Economic Alliance and several Chambers of Commerce along the ESFV corridor.
According to these sources, some of whom would not go on record lest it affect existing business relationships, Nuy has been pitching partnerships with them on the ESFV Business Solution Center (BSC), indicating the SBDC out of Long Beach would be working with Metro in leading the initiative.
“He (Nuy) came to us with the premise that his SBDC is going to partner with the Chambers in the San Fernando Valley and on the Metro Business Solution Centers,” said one Chamber president. “But I respectfully declined out of loyalty to existing relationships.
Natasha Madarian, president of the City of San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, said Nuy also came to her and remains open to a possible partnership.
“Anytime we get an opportunity, it doesn’t matter who brings it to us, it is worth looking at the possible benefits,” said Madarian, adding her Chamber could possibly set up workshops for businesses along the corridor as a central hub as part of the BSC.
Nuy would not confirm or deny to LA County Politics (LACP) that he went to the chambers to speak specifically about the ESFV BSC, but said as a regional director, he talks with local chambers all the time. He referred all questions regarding the ESFV BSC to Metro.
LA Metro insists it hasn’t picked an organization to help the roughly 1,000 businesses in the footprint of the 6.7-mile light rail line project connecting Van Nuys, Panorama City, Arleta, and Pacoima along Van Nuys Boulevard—one of the Valley’s busiest corridors.
“Metro has not yet recommended or awarded a contract for a Business Solution Center (BSC) operator,” said Metro Spokesperson Dave Sotero. “Metro is considering a BSC provider with capacity to operate on a regional level throughout Los Angeles County who would then partner with local CBOs [community-based organizations] when providing these services for Metro transit projects throughout our county, thereby increasing the opportunities for local CBOs to work together with Metro.”
Among the CBOs well-positioned to do this work is Initiating Change in Our Neighborhood (ICON) CDC, which also operates the City of Los Angeles BusinessSource Center (LABSC) for the North and South San Fernando Valley.
Last year, ICON surveyed businesses along the ESFV project corridor. Among the survey’s findings were that many small businesses rent commercial space month-to-month and face a larger chance of displacement as landlords seek to redevelop for chain and big box stores to take advantage of the gentrification that the new public transit line may bring.
Additionally, the survey recommended that a local business assistance/marketing organization engage in a more proactive and comprehensive marketing outreach campaign to maintain customer volumes in the affected commercial corridors.
ICON Executive Director Roberto Barragan resisted Metro’s decision to award a BSC contract to a regional entity. He and several chamber sources also have suspicions about Nuy and his relationship with Metro, and they speculate that he is going to local Chambers to co-opt their support for a regional BSC.
METRO did not respond to any LACP questions regarding their relationship with Nuy.
“They [LA Metro] have never been interested in saving businesses along Van Nuys Boulevard. All they care about is the line, and half the businesses along it could be wiped out,” said Barragan.
“It’s tragic that Metro continues to insult the local community in the San Fernando Valley. They contracted directly with a CBO on the Expo line, which resulted in real assistance to area businesses. Their regional strategy is flawed in an attempt to avoid engagement with local communities,” he added.
According to Metro’s website, some preliminary infrastructure work on the $3.6 billion project has already been completed, and the line is expected to be operational by 2031.
