From the Advocate

By Tara Lynn Gray 

To every small business-owner I have had the pleasure of meeting over these four and a half years — and those I didn’t meet — know that you are essential to California’s success as the fourth-largest economy in the world.

Dear Partners, Colleagues, Friends, and, most of all, the 4.3 million hard-working, big-dreaming small business-owners of California:

 Today, September 12, 2025, is my last day as Director of California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate. Serving the people of California has been an incredible journey and profoundly rewarding experience, and I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence Governor Newsom reposed in me throughout my tenure. I take immense pride in our accomplishments, including the appropriation of approximately $5.3 billion administered through 14 innovative initiatives and programs.

It is particularly gratifying to note the advancement of programs that have provided substantial support to small businesses and underrepresented communities across California’s diverse regions. I am grateful to have collaborated with such devoted partners and to have served under the Governor’s distinguished leadership.

Most of all, I am grateful for the countless hours of dedication and work of CalOSBA’s many partners, who helped us transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of small business owners across the state during the pandemic. Amidst one of the greatest crises our state, country, and world have ever faced, CalOSBA emerged as a beacon of hope, creating new programs and pathways for growth and success that have helped countless businesses.

We launched the California Dream Fund, igniting the dreams of thousands of new businesses across the state. We championed permanent funding for the Technical Assistance Program, awarded the first-ever non-dilutive capital acceleration grants through Accelerate California Inclusive Innovation Hubs, and launched the statewide SCALE mesh network – changing the way we partners do business with each other and putting small businesses at the core of every activity. We took the Governor’s executive order EO-N-16-22 seriously and embedded equity into all our work.

We got results, made a difference, and learned so much in the process.

To my staff, I have depended on each of you to bring your expertise to the table, crafting solutions and processes that work for all small businesses. It is not easy to build a plane while flying it. Thank you for answering the call and bringing your best every single day. To my Deputy and fiercely committed partner in this work, Clair, and my Chief of Staff, Sara – you are the best co-pilot and first mate an advocate could ever have.

To every small business-owner I have had the pleasure of meeting over these four and a half years — and those I didn’t meet — know that you are essential to California’s success as the fourth-largest economy in the world. You are the leading creator of new jobs and your communities recognize you as role models and leaders: small business continues to be the most trusted social institution in the country and trust is any nation’s most precious resource. 

As I move on, I am looking forward to new opportunities to serve California and small business-owners everywhere and to further my interests in community economic development and small business policy.

From my heart to yours, thank you for your trust. 

In Solidarity,

Your Advocate, Dr. Tara Lynn Gray