Mayor Robert Garcia on Thursday announced he is pushing to create two additional funds, each for $1 million, to create a youth ambassador program and support for businesses affected by COVID-19.

The youth ambassador program will empower young people to train and educate each other about wellness and healthier living, particularly in denser areas of the city that seen higher rates of coronavirus.

“We’ll be able to hire a lot of young people over the next few months,” Garcia said.

The program will provide needed summer jobs for young people, doing work “they can be proud of,” the mayor said.

The youth ambassador program would be coordinated with established nonprofits in the city, he said.

The second fund will provide support for the city’s Business Improvement Districts, which provide assistance to businesses throughout the city in established corridors, such as Belmont Shore, Uptown, Midtown and Downtown.

Garcia said additional assistance for businesses is on the way, with more details to come.

The funds being used are from the state of California, which allocated about $41 million to Long Beach through the federal stimulus CARES Act.

Two other $1 million funds announced earlier this week—to improve Black health in the city and support community groups that are supporting basic needs—are also from the state allocation.

The City Council will consider these funds in coming weeks.