Small business assistance

2025-2027 Strategic Plan

Small Business Assistance Tool

Use this helpful online tool to find assistance for starting, growing and accelerating your business.

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The mission of the Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California is to create and grow sustainable small businesses and job development by supporting micro business development agencies.

Build Capacity

To accomplish its mission to create and grow sustainable small businesses and job development by supporting micro business development agencies, the Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California will implement a three-year (2025-2027) strategic plan that will convene, build, and support the work of our Partners dedicated to small business development.

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Small Business Programs

Nonprofit and government agencies provide training, technical assistance, support services and access to capital to individuals starting and growing small businesses.

Business incubators, counselors and workshop trainers, micro-lending, business owner networks, labs and maker spaces for design and innovation are examples of the kinds of services, programs, and products provided by small business programs.

Most of these are offered free or very low-cost for low and moderate-income individuals and disadvantaged and underserved populations such as people of color, women, immigrants, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and veterans.

Financial Institutions

Banks and credit unions are often the first connections a small business owner makes when searching to start or grow a business. Financial institutions offer a number of services that are key to a small business operation, such as credit cards, lines of credit, payroll services, and business checking and savings accounts. Bank branch staff and business loan officers want to build long-term relationships with business owners and look to small business programs to help with that effort.

Financial institution staff want to:
  • give the proper referrals that will help business owners address their needs and they want
  • retain their customers while working in partnership with Small Business Programs.

Government Agencies

Government Agencies are an integral part of small business operations. Many times, government agency staff will connect with small business owners when they first start a business, plan to grow, or are in crisis. It is critical for government agencies to be aware of the Small Business Programs available to assist at these times and feel confident in referring them. Government Agencies can also lead public education efforts to improve small business development for their constituents and seek federal funding for this purpose.

Corporate and Community Foundations

Foundations address critical issues of our time and provide operating and program support to the effort of improving economic conditions for underserved low and moderate-income individuals. Small business development provides the means for these target groups to achieve equity and a viable income. Small business development also improves the quality of life and economic success within communities.

The Microenterprise Collaborative must have the capacity to lead small business development efforts in the region. What follows are the essential elements the Collaborative needs to achieve strong organizational capacity.

Measure Success

The Microenterprise Collaborative will measure success in the following ways:

  • Acknowledge improvements with Small Business Program capacity such as increases in funding support, partner referrals, and program performance.

  • Collect data and success stories that indicate increases and improvements in the number of small businesses served, capital accessed, jobs created or retained.

  • Promote policy successes and new partnerships that benefit small business development.