Small Business Development Center of Contra Costa
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) conducts research, counsels, and trains business people in a wide variety of business topics and provides comprehensive information services and access to experts in many fields.

SCORE
Counselors to America's Small Business, the SCORE Association (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide.  Get free business advise.  To contact the local East Bay Chapter of Score click here.

Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA will provide assistance in Starting, Financing or Managing your Business, plus help with finding a Business Opportunity. The SBA plays an important role in helping individuals and businesses recover from disasters.

Alameda County Small Business Development Center SBDC
The East Bay Small Business Development Center provides tools and expertise to business owners interested in accelerating the success of their ventures. Through expert consulting, top-notch trainings and other business planning resources, the East Bay SBDC helps build businesses that build the local economy.

Business Owner's Toolkit
Use the information in the CCH Small Business Guide to answer your business, tax, and legal questions and to get practical tips that will help you work smarter, save money, and stay in compliance with the law.

Business.gov
Business.gov is the U.S. Government's official website for small businesses. Business.gov provides access to Federal, state, and local information that helps business owners successfully start and operate while staying compliant with laws and regulations.

California Employer Advisory Council
Local Employer Advisory Councils (EAC) provide a contact reference and monthly speakers who provide information on important business issues.

California Employers Association
California Employers Association (CEA) helps member companies maximize the performance of their employees and organization through talent, tools and training.   CEA’s HR professionals provide expertise in the areas of compliance, recruitment, retention, surveys, safety and training and organizational development.

Community Buisness.gov
Do you have questions? Our Community has answers. Discuss, share and get insight from your fellow business owners as well as industry and government experts. Find the information you need to start, grow and run your business.

CompassPoint Nonprofit Services
CompassPoint Nonprofit Services is a consulting, research, and training organization providing nonprofits with management tools, strategies,and resources to lead change in their communities. With offices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, we work with community-based non profits in executive transition, planning, boards of directors, finance systems and business planning, fund raising, and technology.

Conta Costa Means Business
ContraCostaMeansBusiness.com ... a new comprehensive web portal designed to be relevant specifically for business owners and entrepreneurs in Contra Costa County. This is a cooperative and collaborative effort also intended to benefit every business services organization in the county by improving the visibility of the information, resources, services and expertise each organization has to offer.

Contra Costa County Library Business Center
Welcome to the new Business Subject Guide. Find the business information you need to start, grow and succeed in your small business.

Contra Costa Economic Partnership
An association of business, education and public sector leaders dedicated to retaining and creating quality jobs for Contra Costa to maintain the county's quality of life. For contact information scroll to the bottom of their webpage.

East Bay Economic Development Alliance
The economic development organization that serves the East Bay, providing assistance with site location, financing, regulatory coordination, workforce and a number of business climate issues.

Employment Development Department/employers
Section for employers. This portion of EDD's webpage will provide you with information on Disability Insurance Information, Employer Advisory Council, Employment Tax Information, Job Recruitment/Referral Services, Labor Market Information, Employer Tool Kit and more.

Oakland Business Development Corporation
Located in Oakland, California, OBDC has helped hundreds of small business owners access capital and business assistance to successfully develop their businesses

Online Women's Business Center
Whether you are writing your business plan for the first time or rewriting it for the twentieth, there are certain steps you can follow in order to make the process easier. See a sample business plan.

Richmond California Business
Your Home Front for Business. City of Richmond Office of Economic Development

THE FEDERAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER
The mission of The Federal Technology Center (The FTC) is to promote economic development by facilitating technology transfer between government and the private sector, and by helping small businesses successfully compete for government contracts.

The Internal Revenue Service - Starting a Business
This page provides links to basic federal tax information for people who are starting a business. It also provides information to assist in making basic business decisions.

TMC Working Solutions
Working Solutions is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that assists underserved microentrepreneurs in the Bay Area access the capital and resources they need to successfully start and grow their businesses in order to strengthen the economy, create jobs, reduce poverty, and build strong communities.

US Chamber Small Business Tool Kit
Let the U.S. Chamber assist you in building, managing, and expanding your company from Starting Your Business to Protecting Your Assests.

Find RFPs
Find RFP connects government contractors and government agency buyers. Find RFP is a pioneer in online government purchasing and e-government, and a leader in providing government RFP, government bid and government contract finder and notification services.

Northern California Supplier Development Council
The Northern California Supplier Development Council (NCSDC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting diversity in the workplace. Our mission is to facilitate access to contracting opportunities between certified Minority Business Enterprises and corporate/public purchasers.NCSDC provides MBE certification, networking opportunities at our events as well as partner organizations and access to corporate and MBE contacts through our local and national databases.

The East Bay Innovation Group
ebig.org is the East Bay's leading technology forum. Connected to the best and brightest developers, entrepreneurs, and start-ups in the San Francisco East Bay, with strong ties to industry experts, major technology corporations, and local municipalities, eBig is the East Bay's premier resource for information, education, and personal networking for people seeking connections and technology resources.

Small Business Development Center of Contra Costa
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) conducts research, counsels, and trains business people in a wide variety of business topics and provides comprehensive information services and access to experts in many fields.

Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA will provide assistance in Starting, Financing or Managing your Business, plus help with finding a Business Opportunity. The SBA plays an important role in helping individuals and businesses recover from disasters.

Alameda County Small Business Development Center SBDC
The East Bay Small Business Development Center provides tools and expertise to business owners interested in accelerating the success of their ventures. Through expert consulting, top-notch trainings and other business planning resources, the East Bay SBDC helps build businesses that build the local economy.

Community and Economic Development Agency Oakland, California
Community and Economic Development Agency offers business assistance in the following areas, financial incentives, business loans, business incubators, international trade, redevelopment and workforce development

Conta Costa Means Business
ContraCostaMeansBusiness.com ... a new comprehensive web portal designed to be relevant specifically for business owners and entrepreneurs in Contra Costa County. This is a cooperative and collaborative effort also intended to benefit every business services organization in the county by improving the visibility of the information, resources, services and expertise each organization has to offer.

East Bay Economic Development Alliance
The economic development organization that serves the East Bay, providing assistance with site location, financing, regulatory coordination, workforce and a number of business climate issues.

Oakland Business Development Corporation
Located in Oakland, California, OBDC has helped hundreds of small business owners access capital and business assistance to successfully develop their businesses

Opportunity Fund
Apply for Small Business loans today.

TMC Working Solutions
Working Solutions is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that assists underserved microentrepreneurs in the Bay Area access the capital and resources they need to successfully start and grow their businesses in order to strengthen the economy, create jobs, reduce poverty, and build strong communities.

Association of Bay Area Governments
One of more than 560 regional planning agencies across the nation working to help solve problems in areas such as land use, housing, environmental quality, and economic development.

• City of Alameda		• City of Newark
• City of Berkeley		• City of Oakland
• City of Brentwood		• City of Pittsburg
• City of Concord		• City of Pleasant Hill
• City of Dublin		• City of Pleasanton
• City of Fremont		• City of Richmond
• City of Hayward		• City of San Pablo
• City of Livermore		• City of San Ramon

California
State website with links to all departments and services. Click on the Business link to find information on the different agencies that affect the conducting of business in California. A handy guide to locating resources to start a business.

California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED)
Provides a forum for building a network of local economic development organizations in California. Among its services CALED provides venues for economic development training and best practices through education sessions and conferences on economic development issues.

California Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber directs positive action on key legislative and regulatory issues affecting California's economy and the ability of California business to make a profit. Value added services include: the labor law helpline, unemployment cost control service, and the compensation and benefit survey.

Alameda County		Contra Costa County
• Alameda Chamber of Commerce		• Antioch Chamber
• Albany Chamber of Commerce		• Brentwood Chamber of Commerce
• Berkeley Chamber of Commerce		• Concord (Gtr.) Chamber
• Danville Area Chamber		• Dublin Chamber
• Fremont Chamber		• Hercules Chamber of Commerce
• Hayward Chamber		• Lafayette Chamber
• Livermore Chamber		• Martinez Area Chamber
• North Silicon Valley/Newark CC		• Pinole Chamber of Commerce
• Oakland Chamber		• Pittsburg Chamber
• Pleasanton Chamber		• Pleasant Hill Chamber
• San Leandro Chamber		• Richmond Chamber
• Union City Chamber		• San Ramon Chamber
		• Walnut Creek Chamber

California Department of Finance
Provides economic news and trends as well as information on economic development and county demographic profiles. Also, each county has many data elements represented on one page: population, income, housing, imports, employment data and more.

California Department of General Services
diverse functions include e-commerce and telecommunications site development, acquisition, development, leasing, disposal and management of state properties architectural approval of local schools and other state-responsibility buildings printing services provided by the second largest government printing plant in the U.S. procurement of supplies needed by other state agencies and maintenance of the vast fleet of state vehicles.

California Department of Transportation
Caltrans professionals today must consider such complex issues as land use, environmental standards, and the formation of partnerships between private industry and local, State and Federal agencies, in addition to a changing mix of transportation modes - such as highways, rail, mass transit and aeronautics

California State Board of Equalization
Currently the tax programs administered by the Board are concentrated in four general areas: sales and use taxes, property taxes, special taxes and the tax appellate program. In addition to administering key state revenue programs, the Board plays a critical role with regard to California property taxes. Further, it acts as the appellate body for franchise and income tax appeals.

California State Contracts Register
The California State Contracts Register (CSCR) is your one-stop information source for state contracting opportunities. The CSCR connects business to government, providing an easy-to-use, on-line publication which lists services and construction contracts over $5,000, commodity contracts over $25,000, and IT goods contracts over $100,000.

California Travel, Events and Visitors' Information Webpage
Find information about what is happening in California. Get online maps of various cities, etc.

California's Office of Economic Development
State resources for Small Businesses - Whether you’re starting a business, looking to expand, or wondering about a particular policy or procedure, we have answers. Contact one of our business specialists to get the help you need.

How to Do Business with the State of California
The following information helps you understand how your firm can become a potential supplier to the State of California and how the State buys products and services.

Tax Rates
California City and County Sales and Use Tax Rates - Cities, Counties and Tax Rates

California Business Investment Services (CalBis)
California Business Investment Services serves employers, corporate real estate executives, and site location consultants considering California for new business investment and expansion

Department of Labor Map
Your guide to local and regional Department of Labor programs and services. Use the map or table to select your state information.

East Bay Economic Development Alliance
The economic development organization that serves the East Bay, providing assistance with site location, financing, regulatory coordination, workforce and a number of business climate issues.

TechVentures
Technology Ventures Corporation identifies technologies with commercial potential, coordinates the development of business and management capabilities, and seeks sources of capital investment for the businesses.

California Community Colleges Economic & Workforce Development Network
A team of professionals working closely with businesses to maximize and leverage the resources of the California Community Colleges to fulfill its role as the primary provider in fulfilling the vocational education and training needs of California business and industry.

Centers of Excellence
Mission: The Centers of Excellence, in partnership with business and industry,deliver regional workforce research customized for community collegedecision making and resource development.
Vision: We aspire to be the premier source of regional economic and workforce information and insight for community colleges.

Training Subsidies
For tax and salary incentives and subsidies to help with your training needs

Blackworld
Enormous International Internet directory designed primarily (but not exclusively) for black communities around the world. Their Career Center is operated in partnership with CareerMosaic.

California Department of Finance
Provides economic news and trends as well as information on economic development and county demographic profiles. Also, each county has many data elements represented on one page: population, income, housing, imports, employment data and more.

Centers for International Trade Development CITD
.Value-added assistance to help expand your business internationally. Our professionals bring industry experience and knowledge to meet your international business challenge

Community and Economic Development Agency Oakland, California
Community and Economic Development Agency offers business assistance in the following areas, financial incentives, business loans, business incubators, international trade, redevelopment and workforce development

Delphion Research Intellectual Property Network
Delphion Research Intellectual Property Network provides an on-line search for US Patents

East Bay Economic Development Alliance
The economic development organization that serves the East Bay, providing assistance with site location, financing, regulatory coordination, workforce and a number of business climate issues.

Global Center for Trade - GLOCENTRA
GLOCENTRA designs, organizes, conducts and delivers training seminars on international trade, business and marketing as well as technical Export-Import seminars, international trade shows, global networking events while offering online and onsite professional training and consulting services for companies, individual entrepreneurs and managers in the United States, China and Worldwide.

International Association for Human Resource Information Management (IHRIM)
is your link to the unique world of HR information management, systems issues, trends, and technology.

International Trade Association
Provides links to resources for conducting trade or establishing business abroad.

Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute
Your gateway to business and economy in Israel. Succeed in commercial ventures with Israeli companies and in the Israeli marketplace.

Trade Adjustment Assistance Program
The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program provides assistance to workers who are laid off due to increased imports from any foreign country. This federally funded program offers a full range of employment services including training, job search allowances and relocation allowances to help eligible individuals return to work.  Also see the Dept of Labor website on the Trade Act. Click here

TradePort
This site, developed and managed by the Bay Area Economic Forum, has all the resources to support an employer who wants to export goods.

U.S. Commercial Service - Dept of Commerce
Export.gov provides online trade resources and one-on-one assistance for your international business – whether you’re just starting or expanding your global sales. Browse our online information or call 1-800-USA-TRADE to find a trade specialist in your area and get answers to your export questions.

U.S. Export Assistance Center in Oakland
The U.S. Commercial Service is the global business solutions unit of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It offers a variety of services to help U.S. companies to expand into foreign markets. The Oakland Export Assistance Center is one of 15 offices in California and works with companies in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Women in Technology International WITI
Mentors, networking opportunities, and jobs for qualified women in technology. Their purpose is to encourage women to the upper administrative levels and encourage more women to pursue technical careers. Looks like a great professional and support organization. Their job database includes more than just technology jobs, but most positions are in various high-tech companies.

Workforce Development in the Global Economy
Under an IQC for Workforce Development activities, GWIT provides expertise and support to USAID Missions, Bureaus and other operating units in developing sound workforce development systems that support economic growth and poverty reduction and increase countries’ competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Bay Area Green Business Program
We certify environmental performance. The Bay Area Green Business Program is a successful partnership of environmental agencies and utilities that assists, recognizes and promotes businesses and government agencies that volunteer to operate in a more environmentally responsible way.

The Green Economy
Understanding the Green Economy What is a "Green" industry or occupation?

Bay Area Council
With a mission to sustain business leadership that fosters excellence in public policy to support and promote economic prosperity and quality of life in the Bay Area.

Bay Area Marketing Partnership
A complete guide to doing business in the San Francisco Bay Area. It includes vital statistics on all nine Bay Area counties, breaking news, an online business resources directory and focused discussion groups dedicated to the Bay Area.

Bureau of Economic Analysis
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) promotes a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic accounts data in an objective and cost-effective manner.

Economic Development Administration
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established to work with states and localities to generate new jobs, retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas and regions of the United States.

Economic Policy Institute - Datazone
National data-Aggregate time series data documenting historical labor market trends. State and regional data Historical employment and earnings data at the state level.

GovSpot
The government information portal of the Web. The free site offers a high-utility collection of top government and civic resources along with insightful, nonpartisan editorial in one user-friendly spot.

SSTI (State Science & Technology Institute)
The most comprehensive resource available for those involved in techology-based economic development.

SuperBizDirectory
SuperBizDirectory.com is human edited directory for business related sites. Directory is divided in business related categories and subcategories. All information on this site are available for free.

Tech-Based Economic Development Resource Center
Looking for information on building a technology-based economy? Hundreds of reports have been prepared over the last four years on topics ranging from strategic plans to research on entrepreneurship from best practices to addressing the brain drain. This interactive website will enable you to tap into the wealth of information that is availble in these reports.

U.S. Census Bureau
A service of the Department of Commerce.

U.S. Department of Commerce
Links to numerous federal services related to economic and business development, including a direct link to the Secretary of Commerce.

U.S. Department of Labor
Responsible for the administration and enforcement of over 180 federal statutes. They cover a wide variety of workplace activities including: protecting workers' wages, health and safety, employment and pension rights promoting equal employment opportunity administering job training, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation programs strengthening free collective bargaining and collecting, analyzing and publishing labor and economic statistics.