OCED Receives SB TAEP Funding to Provide Technical Assistance to Small Businesses

This month the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced the grant
awards to 69 recipients of the California Small Business Technical Assistance Expansion Program (SB
TAEP). The Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) at Fresno State was one of the 69
recipients of SB TAEP funding. SB TAEP is available to small business technical assistance centers that
are designated by federal funding partners to operate federal small business technical assistance
programs throughout the state. The funding will support the Fresno State Small Business University
program expansion to rural communities in Kern County by providing free one-on-one confidential
consulting and low-cost or free training to help small businesses and entrepreneurs start, expand,
facilitate investment and create jobs in Kern County. SB TAEP provides state grant funding to build on
and expand consulting and training services currently provided by the Fresno State Small Business
University program. Additionally, grant funds will help establish a satellite office in McFarland California
and build capacity to reach underserved small businesses, including women, people of color and
veteran-owned businesses in rural Kern County. Today, rural Kern County faces low-wealth and
disaster-impacted communities. Fresno State Small Business University will provide the following
services:

• Assemble Fresno State students-consultants and pair them with eligible small business owners.
• Provide workshops on areas of business that are not being covered by other small business serving entities such as; QuickBooks, Branding/Marketing, Small Business legal consultations, social media utilization, food cottage opportunities, added value strategies, etc.
• Collaborate with and support other small businesses serving organizations in the region.
• Develop customized services that will best address underserved entrepreneurs' specific needs.
• Provide 10 training small business workshops in rural Kern County.

 

Want to know about upcoming Small Business Resource Workshops hosted by Small Business University? Subscribe to the Valley Harvest Newsletter, and follow the San Joaquin Valley Rural Development Center on Facebook.