Small Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) helps support economic growth and innovation by working to ensure that California’s small businesses and innovative startups have the information, tools and resources they need to start, manage and grow their businesses successfully and be resilient.
We recognize that California small businesses are critical drivers of economic growth and mobility – creating jobs, building wealth, innovating to solve global problems and define future growth industries, and defining main streets across our local communities. The SB Advocate serves to elevate their voices in state government and to advocate on their behalf to help ensure all aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs are provided with the opportunity to access capital, access markets, and connect to the networks and resources they need to succeed.
Popular Resources
How We Can Help
The Office of the Small Business Advocate (SB Advocate) supports California’s small businesses and entrepreneurs with the information, tools and resources they need to plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses successfully.
California Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Program
The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program provides micro grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 and the related health and safety restrictions. Visit CAReliefGrant.com for program and application guides and to connect with a local partner.
On November 30, 2020, Governor Newsom and the State Legislature announced the allocation of $500 million to the Program to be administered by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Lendistry has been designated by the state to act as the intermediary for the Program to disburse the grant funds.
Programs and Initiatives
We support and manage several statewide programs to help California small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive, and to strengthen the ecosystems that support them. Learn more about our programs and initiatives.
Get Digital CA! is an e-commerce initiative to promote accelerators and intensive trainings to build the skills necessary to compete in an online marketplace.
#ShopSafeShopLocal is offering free or discounted resources to get digital, find e-commerce tools, learn more about industry guidance, locate small business centers near you for free business consulting, and access PPE!
Help Us Advance Entrepreneurship
GO-Biz and the SB Advocate launched the inaugural Entrepreneurship Task Force to serve as a working group to share ideas and solutions to propel California’s next generation of innovative entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses, and to ensure all California startups and established firms have access to the resources to grow or scale.
We welcome you to share your experiences and get involved!
