LACI Announces $125,000 Grant from BMO’s LA Wildfire Recovery Fund to Support LACI’s Resilient Rebuilding Workforce Development, Startup Incubation Programs

On Anniversary of Palisades and Eaton Fires, BMO’s Grant Helps LACI Train Workforce for Sustainable Reconstruction of Homes, Support Entrepreneurs to Deploy Innovations for More Resilient, Affordable Neighborhoods; LACI Committed to Helping the Region Achieve Progress on Resilient Rebuilding by 2028 Games

Los Angeles, January 7, 2026 – The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is pleased to announce a $125,000 grant from BMO’s LA Wildfire Recovery Fund. The grant will support the new cohorts of LACI’s workforce development and startup incubation programs, both of which will focus on resilient rebuilding in response to the devastating Los Angeles fires that took place on January 7, 2025:

• LACI’s Resilient Rebuilding Training Course, which will launch on January 23, 2026, will provide technical training focused on rebuilding energy-efficient homes and buildings, and supporting disaster-resilient infrastructure. As with other cohorts, LACI then places graduates in paid internships with employers–in this cohort, the goal will be for interns to work with startups as well as builders, contractors, and other related firms. 
• LACI’s latest and first themed Incubation cohort–focused on resilient rebuilding–includes 14 new portfolio companies that have been carefully selected for their unique solutions to support communities across the entire resilience spectrum, from disaster response and near-term rebuilding to long-term risk reduction and preparedness. LACI will work to help the startups deploy and pilot their solutions to reduce energy costs, increase affordability, and accelerate rebuilding.  

“We are tremendously grateful to BMO for their support during this critical moment in our region’s recovery from the devastating Palisades and Altadena fires,” said Matt Petersen, President and CEO of LACI. “As a result of our growing and lasting partnership with BMO, LACI is better able to provide tools needed for our startup entrepreneurs and green workforce participants to help communities rebuild sustainably, resiliently, and more affordably.”

“As a Los Angeles resident, I know the wildfires left scars that go far beyond burned landscapes. Restoring homes and infrastructure is an important part of rebuilding our communities, but creating a sustainable path to the future is also essential to help Southern California fully heal,” said Halé Behzadi, Vice Chair, California, BMO U.S. “LACI’s programs emphasize technical training and workforce opportunities that align with BMO’s purpose to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. We’re proud to work together to make our communities stronger and more resilient for the future.”

Behzadi recently discussed the aim of BMO’s LA Wildfire Recovery Fund–a $3 million commitment to supporting organizations that are aiding individuals, families and small businesses recover from the wildfires earlier this year–during a spotlight conversation at LACI’s Road to 2028 Leadership Summit on December 8 and 9, 2025. A recording of Halé’s remarks can be found here.  

The Road to 2028 Summit, which took place at BMO Stadium, convened key stakeholders and brought about commitments from public and private sector leaders accelerating clean energy, transportation, and resilient rebuilding–to create jobs, grow the economy, and advance clean air–by the time the world arrives for the 2028 Games. Other videos of Summit sessions can be found here. At the Summit, the winner of LACI’s Resilient Rebuilding Cup–Reframe Systems–also made a commitment to build a microfactory for resilient homes in Los Angeles.

ABOUT LACI:
The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is unlocking innovation by scaling cleantech startups, transforming markets through catalytic partnerships with policymakers, innovators, and market leaders, and enhancing communities through workforce training, pilots and other programs. Founded as an economic development initiative by the City of Los Angeles and its Department of Water & Power (LADWP) in 2011, LACI has helped 506 portfolio companies raise over $1 billion in funding, generated $344 million in revenue, and created 2,626 jobs throughout the Los Angeles region, with a long term economic impact of more than $733 million.

BMO Gives. Good grows here.
Whether we’re giving to community organizations across North America, investing in partnerships to address societal needs, or supporting the giving and volunteer activities of our 55,000 employees, we pride ourselves on our 200-year-plus legacy of growing the good in the communities we serve. Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO’s Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. In 2024, we directed more than $80 million (USD) to drive progress for communities, which included $74.3 million in philanthropic contributions to hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations across North America. Our colleagues spent over 54,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $28.7 million (USD) of donations through employee-driven giving in our annual campaigns. For more information, please visit BMO.com.  

###