By Karen Pearlman

Aug. 8, 2026 (La Mesa) — The East County Economic Development Council and the city of La Mesa are collaborating to boost the local economy though the four-year-old La Mesa Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program.

Originally begun in 2022 to help La Mesa business owners get new ideas off the ground, the La Mesa Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program, now dubbed “LEAP Forward,” has pivoted this time around to help more established businesses thrive.

Applications are currently open for the fourth cohort of “LEAP Forward.” The initiative will provide 10 selected local businesses with free, individualized advising, technical assistance and development support.

While the city’s initial LEAP cohorts successfully targeted entrepreneurial startups seeking to launch their concepts, LEAP Forward is explicitly designed for established operations. To qualify for this round, businesses must be for-profit entities that have been operating within La Mesa city limits for at least one year.

Entrepreneurs hoping to secure a spot must act quickly — applications close on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Applications for LEAP first opened in July 2022, with the program originally approved by the La Mesa City Council in June of that year, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.

When it began, then ECEDC President and CEO James Sly described LEAP as the first program of its kind in California to direct ARPA relief funds toward supporting entrepreneurs/ Before ARPA funds became available, La Mesa had no official way to raise or distribute money directly to struggling businesses. The initial structure offered $20,000 to each entrepreneur that met eligibility requirements.

The program is a joint effort between the city of La Mesa, the ECEDC, and the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center Network.

According to program guidelines, eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in San Diego County and hold a valid La Mesa business license.

Interested businesses must have less than 20 employees. While nonprofits are not eligible to apply, entrepreneurs who participated in previous LEAP cohorts can submit applications, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Acceptance into the program comes with a strict time commitment. The 10 selected entrepreneurs will be required to complete four mandatory, in-person SBDC training classes scheduled between September and November.

Because make-up sessions will not be available, attendance is critical.

Participants will also complete three one-on-one advisory sessions and any assigned coursework, with the expectation that the entire program will be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.

Business owners interested in applying for the LEAP Forward program can find the application on the ECEDC website. Applications will be reviewed and analyzed directly by ECEDC staff following the mid-August deadline.