Businesses Resources

San Bernardino County is very business-friendly.  The County's Economic Development Agency, its public and private sector partners, and other private consultants offer a variety of resources to help new entrepreneurs and existing businesses succeed. 

Where is Opportunity, California? It’s where you live and work. It’s where you play. It’s where you thrive. It’s where partnerships create community and drive opportunity. It’s the County of San Bernardino.

Existing or forthcoming local businesses

Integrated information sources

• Opportunity, California: Tools for Business Success -- The "one-stop" shop for online business self-help.
• SBA Small Business Planner -- Another "one-stop" shop for online business self-help.

Business planning

• Business Development Workshops -- The San Bernardino County EDA provides workshops in conjunction with our partners.
• Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) -- Provides consulting, training, and technical assistance to small or forthcoming businesses.
  
• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)  -- Retired business professionals provide consulting services to small businesses.  San Bernardino County local contact: Mr. Jack Doyle
• "The Top Seven Things Investors Look For" -- By Paul Hynek of EZ Numbers, an easy-to-use software to help evaluate business scenarios and create financial statements. For further assistance, please call 310.402.4370 or [e-mail the consultant]

Financing

• SBA's Financial Assistance information page -- Information on SBA's various programs on financing, including the 7(a) loan program.  [E-mail SBA (English or Spanish)]
  
• SBA's information page on grants -- Note: SBA does not issue grants.  This is an information page provided by the SBA.  Please contact the organizations listed directly.
  
• Frequently Asked Questions about SBA 504 Loans--Provided by Enterprise Funding Corporation, an SBA lender. [e-mail the consultant]
• SBA 7a Loan vs. 504 Loan--Provided by Enterprise Funding Corporation, an SBA lender. [e-mail the consultant]

Site selection

• Google Earth layer of available retail properties
• CoStar -- Free property search (to avoid the limit of 500, search by city instead of "San Bernardino County, CA")
  
• LoopNet -- Free property search, but the number of listings is limited
  
• Please use the service request form to send us a site search request or call 909.387.9857.  Someone will contact you as soon as possible.

Labor relations/workforce issues (including training)

• EDA Business Resources Division -- This division provides many workforce-related services, including recruitment assistance, job referral, applicant screenings, training incentives, employment incentives, etc.
• CalJOBS -- The State's jobs database.  Employers can post job openings here.
• State of California Employment Training Panel (ETP) -- Provides funds for trainees who successfully complete training and are retained in well-paying jobs for a specific period of time.  For further assistance, please call 916.327.5261 or [e-mail the ETP contact person]
  
• On-the-Job Training incentives -- Provide reimbursement of up to 50% of the wages paid over a set training period for eligible new hires.
• "Improving Employee Performance" -- By Logue & Associates, a human resources consulting firm.  For further assistance, please call 909.920.0052 or [e-mail the consultant]
• "Using Assessment Tools" -- By Logue & Associates, a human resources consulting firm.  For further assistance, please call 909.920.0052 or [e-mail the consultant]
• "Are You Communicating or Just Talking?" -- By Logue & Associates, a human resources consulting firm.  For further assistance, please call 909.920.0052 or [e-mail the consultant]
• "The Key to Improving Performance" -- By Southeast Los Angeles County WIB (SELACO WIB).  For further assistance, please call 800.481.6555x1234 or x1245 or [e-mail the consultant]
• "Workers' Comp Checklist" -- By Employer Support Group, a staffing and human resource consulting firm.  For further assistance, please call 909.948.5400 or [e-mail the consultant]
• "Ergonomics Program Checklist" -- By Employer Support Group, a staffing and human resource consulting firm.  For further assistance, please call 909.948.5400 or [e-mail the consultant]
• "Worker's Comp Fraud Checklist" -- By Employer Support Group, a staffing and human resource consulting firm.  For further assistance, please call 909.948.5400 or [e-mail the consultant]
• "Termination Decision Checklist" -- By Employer Support Group, a staffing and human resource consulting firm.  For further assistance, please call 909.948.5400 or [e-mail the consultant]
• "Pregnancy Leave Checklist" -- By Employer Support Group, a staffing and human resource consulting firm.  For further assistance, please call 909.948.5400 or [e-mail the consultant]

Technical assistance

• California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) -- CMTC provides consulting services for manufacturing and logistics industries.  Some initial consultation may be free.  For further assistance, please call 951.246.0894 or  [Contact CMTC]
  
• If you are having issues with permitting, please use the service request form to alert us or call 909.387.9857.  Someone will contact you as soon as possible.  If it is not within our jurisdiction, we will try to refer you to the right contact.
  

Government incentives 

• San Bernardino County Redevelopment Areas -- Please contact the Redevelopment Agency by calling 909.387.9804 or by e-mail.
• Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) -- The redevelopment area in and around the former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino.  [E-mail IVDA]
  
• San Bernardino Valley Enterprise Zone -- Right in the heart of San Bernardino County and intersection of key interstate freeways...
  
• "San Bernardino Valley Enterprise Zone Overview" -- By DiTomaso Incentive Group, an enterprise zone consultant.  For further assistance, please call 714.458.3970 or [e-mail the consultant]
• Victor Valley Economic Development Authority -- The 5-member joint redevelopment area in and around the former George Air Force Base in Victorville.  [E-mail VVEDA]
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit -- This tax credit is earned based on number of hours of employment with the maximum credit being $2,400 for each qualified employee.
• Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit -- A business may receive up to $8,500 per qualified employee formerly receiving public assistance.

Marketing

•  "Public Relations Tools to Build Your Business" -- by Desmond McLeish, a marketing and PR firm.  For further assistance, please call 951.805.1236 or [e-mail the consultant]

International trade

• "A Basic Guide to Exporting" -- By the U.S. Dept. of Commerce in cooperation with Unz & Co., Inc.
• "Breaking into the Trade Game" -- By the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  
• U.S. Export Assistance Center -- Services by and resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• San Bernardino County Economic Development Department's International Trade Program -- [E-mail EDA]
• Foreign Trade Zone (#243) at Southern California Logistics Airport (airport code: VCV) -- This airport is the main asset of the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority redevelopment area. 
  

Connecting with other businesses

Business thinking of coming to San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County is ready and open for business!  Please check out our quick fact sheet for some introductory information on our County.  The Economic Development Agency has various programs to help businesses locate in the County.  The services provided by the EDA's various departments include:

• Site selection assistance
• Market analysis and demographic research
• Permitting assistance (e.g., land use/zoning, environmental compliance)
  
• International trade services
• Employer services for recruitment and training
• Special incentives information for enterprise zones and redevelopment areas
• and more...
  

Please use the service request form to send us a request or call 909.387.9857.  Someone will contact you as soon as possible.