CalOSBA in Central California

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalSOBA) serves as the voice of small business, representing your views and interests and advocating for equitable access to capital, markets and resources.

CalOSBA’s regional teams live and work near you so we can participate in local events and get to know our small business communities from the inside out. We want to meet you, answer your questions and support your events.

Local & Regional Economic Conferences | Ribbon-cuttings | Workshops & Webinars |

Chamber of Commerce Meetings | Lending Events | & More

Central California Team

Bob Adams

Ted Hillman

Grants and Loans

Discover grant and loan programs for small businesses. On our website you can:

Get details on upcoming grant and loan programs
Find current grant and loan opportunities
Learn how to apply for a funding program

Learn More

Small Business Support Centers

California funds a network of Small Business Support Centers that provide no-cost one-on-one consulting and no-cost or low-cost training services and programs to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Their expert advisors can assist you with all stages of your business including startup business plans, access to financing, growth, resiliency plans, e-commerce, marketing and more.

Find a Business Advisor

State of California Procurement Marketplace

Cal eProcure
Cal eProcure is an online portal that gives businesses access to state bidding, contracting and certification resources in one location. Learn more at the Cal eProcure website

Department of General Services
The Department of General Services (DGS) Procurement Division (PD) sets state procurement policies and provides purchasing services. It delegates purchasing authority to state departments; certifies small and/or disabled veteran businesses to do business with the state; and provides innovative purchasing methods that save taxpayers’ dollars, integrating quality solutions to meet customers’ needs. Learn more at the DGS website.

Source Diverse Source Local

Source Diverse Source Local is a public-private collaboration to foster an inclusive procurement process and a resilient California-based supply chain. Source Diverse Source Local supports diversity, equity and inclusion in California’s procurements by increasing state dollars spent with diverse and/or local California businesses.

This initiative aims to develop new and existing small businesses through procurement readiness programs to obtain manufacturing, government and/or corporate contracts.

Learn more here.

Resources

CalOSBA

CA Business Investment Services (CalBIS)

California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (iBank)

California Secretary of State

Small Business Administration

Small Business Development Centers

Employment Training Panel (ETP)

Apex Accelerators

Don’t Be Scared, Get Prepared

Outsmart Disaster provides California businesses and nonprofits with the training and resources needed to prepare for and recover from all types of business interruptions.

Download and customize your Business Resiliency Roadmap
Attend an online training webinar
Schedule an in-person training for your community

Trainings available in Spanish!

Get Ready to Outsmart Disaster

Small Business Success Stories from California’s Small Business Center Network

CalOSBA’s small business support partners and grant programs provide California’s small businesses with no-cost or low-cost 1:1 consulting and training to help them get started, manage, and grow. Learn how business-owners in a community near you took advantage of these services to improve the outlook for their businesses.

Mocha Magic Cafe & Bakeshop

by Ginger Cordoba | January 24, 2025 | Bakery, Central California, Coffee Shop, Stanislaus County | 0 Comments

When Maria Apodaca’s employer of 20 years was sold, she found herself in a predicament that is familiar to many. She decided it was time to turn her dream of owning her own business into a reality. Maria says small business owners should…

Dulce Organic Farms

by Ginger Cordoba | June 2, 2025 | Central California, Organic Produce, Santa Cruz County | 0 Comments

Antonia Vega Gonzalez, and her husband, Jose Juan Pulido Garcia, spent more than two decades as farm laborers in California’s strawberry fields, developing experience in every aspect of production while nurturing an entrepreneurial vision…

BCS Solar & Energy Management

by Ginger Cordoba | October 31, 2025 | Accelerate CA, Central California, Kern County, Solar Electric Power Generation | 0 Comments

Kevin Bush Jr. was already on a path lit by passion and family legacy when he started his entrepreneurial journey. Inspired by his father, Kevin Sr., who encouraged him to pursue a career in a field with long-term impact…

Sierra Mountain Center

by Ginger Cordoba | March 20, 2025 | Adventure Guide Service, Central California, Inyo County | 0 Comments

Emma’s connection to the mountains runs deep. From childhood hikes and backpacking adventures to discovering rock climbing and backcountry skiing in college, As the proud new owner of Sierra Mountain Center, she’s dedicated to…

Masala Blend

by Ginger Cordoba | March 20, 2025 | Central California, San Joaquin County, Spice Blend Retail | 0 Comments

Mamta Gupta wanted to honor her roots through the creation of Masala Blend. Her dream for the business was to locally handcraft spice blends of her family’s traditional recipes. “The seed of Masala Blend took roots while I was attending graduate school…

Carmel Honey Company

by Editorial Team | December 30, 2022 | Beauty Products, Central California, Gifts, Honey, Monterey County, Retail | 0 Comments

Jake Reisdorf, Founder/Owner/Beekeeper, is turning his passion for honey into a sweet success! His business, Carmel Honey Company, was born out of a “real world” 5th grade homework project when he created a mock website about bees…

Read All Success Stories

Accelerate California Inclusive Innovation Hubs in Your Region

Water, Energy & Technology Center

Fresno
Hosted by the California State University, Fresno, the Water, Energy, and Technology (WET) Center serves diverse-owned companies in the Central Valley in key industries like water, energy, food, and agriculture. The Center has reached over 250 entrepreneurs and secured over $500,000 in funding.

ACCELERATE CALIFORNIA | WET Center

Learn More

iHub San Joaquin

Stockton
iHub San Joaquin leverages diverse assets in the community to stimulate partnerships, drive economic development, and create jobs and support the development of sustainable technologies in three areas: Health Care, Agri-Business, and Sustainable Construction Technology.

Learn More

Kern Inclusive Entrepreneurship Hub

Bakersfield
Launched through a partnership between 3C Capital Fund and the Northern California Black Chamber Presidents Association, the Kern Inclusive Entrepreneurship Hub provides classroom learning, mentoring and coaching to entrepreneurs in Kern, Mono, and Inyo Counties.

Learn More