“Small businesses and local entrepreneurs are the backbone of our communities,” State Assemblymember Mia Bonta stated in her most recent newsletter. “These businesses support the local economy with employment, services, and revenue, and serve community partners with local organizations.”
Yet many local businesses are still experiencing financial hardships—some even had to close—due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, support is still available. Assemblymember Bonta shared resources that are available to the community, including the California Network of Small Businness Technical Assistance Centers and the California Small Business and Nonprofit COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Relief Grant Program (sign up to be notified when Round 2 opens).
Other zero-cost services and programs for local entrepreneurs and business owners are available at state, local, and regional levels.
State of California
- Governor’s Office of the Small Business Advocate. This is a one-stop place helping small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs with economic growth and navigating business services. Services include workshops; local and direct assistance; locating small business centers near you; connection to community partners; learning more about government contracts; funding, grants, and other financial incentives; and applying for permits, licenses, and understanding regulations.
- Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Also known as GO-Biz, this office offers no-cost business consultation. In 2022, GO-Biz established the Community & Place-Based Solutions (CPBS) Team to support local governments, nonprofits, community-based organizations, colleges and universities, and other economic development partners in their community development needs.
Local and Regional
- Alameda County Business and Vendor Contracting. Alameda County provides local businesses the opportunity to contract with the county to cultivate economic prosperity. In addition to construction, the County is constantly looking for the potential to contract with new vendors for goods and services to build partnerships and economic development.
- California Mosaic Small Business Center. Funded in part by the California Office of Small Business Advocate, California Mosaic provides personalized business counseling sessions, connecting to resources, business planning, marketing, financial operation, and credit-building loan referrals.
- Northern California Small Business Financial Development Corporation. Nor-Cal FDC provides small businesses and entrepreneurs with greater access to sources of financial and business support such as capital, microloans, and technical assistance with business literacy. Nor-Cal FDC particularly works with low-income entrepreneurs to train and develop their economic and business plans. California’s Small Business Development Center.
- Small Business Development Center. Funded in part by GO-Biz, SBDC) provides individualized advising, business plan development, marketing and sales materials, financial assistance, and access to financial and capital resources at no cost. Find your SBDC here.
- California Women’s Business Centers provide individual training, financial and business coaching, mentoring and entrepreneurial development, and connecting to financial resources for women business owners.
- Centro Community Partners (CCP) provides small business and entrepreneurial training for economic mobility, financial literacy, and training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community members. CCP offers a no-cost entrepreneurial program to effectively plan and execute a small business with expert training, coaching, financial planning, and execution.
- Operation HOPE has a dedicated team of Small Business Coaches to support small business owners starting or growing their businesses. The Small Business Coaches provide new, or existing, small business entrepreneurs with identifying key needs, individualized coaching, education sessions, and connections to funding and resources, at no cost.
- Inner City Advising (ICA) Fund supports Black, Indigenous, and People of Color small business entrepreneurs to bridge business inequities in the Bay Area. ICA Fund provides business education, personalized mentoring, and coaching, a 16-week business accelerator program to build connections, capital, and micro-business loans.
- BuildOUT California is the world’s first LGBT Industry Association dedicated to the sustainable growth of LGBT-owned and certified businesses, and our allies, in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, Construction Services, Real Estate Development, and Related Industries. BuildOUT California offers networking, certification assistance and marketing materials, and connections to resources.
- Pacific Community Ventures provides no-cost confidential business support coaching, training, financial advice, and networking opportunities through its mentorship program. Pacific Community Ventures also supports small business owners with affordable small business loans.
- Alliance for Community Development supports historically underrepresented local entrepreneurs and business leaders with access to capital and support business services and referrals. Services and programs include free individual meetings and coaching to develop short-term and long-term business goals and strategize for success.
Alameda’s small businesses are the backbone of the community. To help them succeed and thrive, be sure to patronize Alameda’s small businesses!
