Two Los Angeles County small businesses are demonstrating resilience and community spirit as they rebuild from the devastating Palisades Fire that struck earlier this year, with both reopening within weeks thanks to local support and county grants.
Dr. Cerisa Clouse's Palisades Dentists and Jeran Bruce's Forge Makerspace lost their original locations in the fire but quickly established interim operations, serving as symbols of the area's determination to recover.
"The love and generosity we felt from our patients is what kept us going—we knew we had people to care for, and that gave us the strength to rebuild," said Clouse, whose minority-, woman-, and veteran-owned dental practice had deep roots in the Palisades community.
Within three weeks of losing her building, Clouse had interim dental locations operating. The rapid turnaround was made possible through unwavering patient support and a critical grant from the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity that covered essential expenses including laptops, staff payroll, and temporary subleasing costs.
"The grant from the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity was a lifeline—it helped us cover everything from laptops to staff pay so we could reopen quickly and keep serving our patients during a time when nothing else felt normal," Clouse said.
The practice continues seeing patients daily while evaluating permanent locations. Clouse aims to return to the Palisades by 2026, noting recent progress in the area's recovery efforts.
"My family was recently able to move back to the Palisades and it's encouraging to see so much rebuilding construction happening daily. I really feel like the Palisades and Altadena are coming back," she said.
Similarly, Forge Makerspace founder Jeran Bruce faced uncertainty about his educational business's future after the fire destroyed his original location. The makerspace, which teaches children engineering and building skills, held special significance for Bruce, who grew up in Santa Monica and spent considerable time in the Palisades as a child.
"I grew up in Santa Monica and spent a lot of time in the Palisades as a kid, so opening Forge there felt really special—it's one of the few places in L.A. that still feels truly community-oriented," Bruce said.
Community response proved immediate and strong. Parents reached out quickly after the fire, and many returned with their children for classes as soon as operations resumed. A successful GoFundMe campaign provided initial recovery support.
However, Bruce identified the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity grant as a crucial turning point. The funding helped replace $50,000 to $60,000 worth of tools and equipment lost in the fire.
"One of the biggest turning points in our rebuilding journey was receiving a grant from the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity—their support allowed us to replace tens of thousands of dollars in tools for our students," Bruce said.
A parent's offer of space in a Santa Monica building enabled Bruce to establish a new location within weeks. Forge Makerspace now operates summer sessions from Santa Monica, with approximately half the attending children being former Palisades residents. Bruce hopes to eventually expand and reopen a second location in the Palisades alongside the new Santa Monica facility.
Both business owners praised the grant application process as smooth and noted exceptional ongoing support from county staff.
The recovery efforts reflect broader county initiatives to support wildfire-affected businesses. Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath recently announced the launch of the Malibu-Topanga Business Interruption Fund, a $250,000 grant program targeting small businesses impacted by extended road closures following the Palisades Fire.
Administered by the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity in partnership with AidKit, the program offers eligible businesses between $10,000 and $20,000 to offset revenue losses from decreased customer access during prolonged closures of Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
"Our local small businesses aren't just surviving challenges — they're shaping the comeback story of Malibu and Topanga," Horvath said. "This fund is about fueling that momentum and making sure every business has a real chance to grow, succeed, and keep these communities moving forward."
Applications for the Malibu-Topanga fund opened July 23 and close August 22 at 5 p.m. Award notifications will be issued in fall, with payments made directly via ACH deposit.