SCV Business Resource Guide
- College of the Canyons
- City of Santa Clarita
- Chamber of Commerce
- Valley Industrial Association
- Santa Clarita WorkSource Center
- Castaic Chamber of Commerce
- LAC Economic Development Corporation
- Castaic Lake Water Agency
Economic Development Division
The Economic Development Division creates and delivers services that promote the growth and prosperity of business and develop the current and future work force in the region by partnering with a variety of organizations. The main programs within the division are:
Advanced Technology Incubator (ATI)
The ATI serves a broad base of technology oriented entrepreneurs and start-up companies. The Incubator combines the resources of its Advisory Board and Mentor Group, as well as the services offered by the Small Business Development Center (see below), in offering business advisory services focused on the entrepreneur's growth and success. ATI also serves as a connector between incubator clients and local capital provider organizations, acting as a facilitator by suggesting contacts, making referrals and guiding ATI members to business development resources available through other organizations in the community.
Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT)
The CACT is one of six centers located throughout California with the mission of advancing the global competitiveness and innovation for manufacturing companies through responsive work force training and technical consulting services. Located within Aerospace Dynamics International in Santa Clarita, the CACT offers technology education and manufacturing training in a wide range of computer aided design and manufacturing disciplines, focusing on continuous workforce development and technology deployment to facilitate business growth.
Employee Training Institute (ETI)
If your company needs to drive down costs, expand the talent within your workforce and adapt to continuous improvement methods and processes, then the ETI is a great choice for your training and development needs. The ETI offers training programs customized to the needs of each business or organization. Training classes and services are offered at the client's site or at one of several college training locations. Class schedules are flexible and are based on the needs of the client. They can be offered before, during, or after business hours. Training also can be short or long-term, ranging from a single workshop to a series that runs over several months, utilizing hands-on, traditional classroom learning and other methodologies.
Small Business Development Center
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at College of the Canyons helps prospective and existing small business owners start new businesses, tackle current business challenges and develop the tools and methodologies necessary to successfully manage and grow their businesses. The center provides workshops, trainings, one-on-one consulting engagements, networking and other resources to the business community. Consulting services are provided at no cost to the small business owner and our trainings are low cost or free. The SBDC also presents several conferences throughout the year focused on the needs of the small business entrepreneur. For more information please contact the SBDC at sbdc@canyons.edu, (661) 362- 5900 or visit www.cocsbdc.org.
For more information on COC's Economic Development Division call (661) 362- 3521 or visit www.canyonsecondev.org.
College of the Canyons Career Services & Job Placement
The Career Services & Job Placement office offers businesses the opportunity to post open job positions. There is no fee for this program, and job postings will be available online for students and the community.
The Emerging Leaders Program offers students training and mentoring seminars and is conducted in conjunction with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Santa Clarita. Training seminars range in subject, and advanced notification of calendar events is available online.
For more information call (661) 362-3394 or visit www.canyons.edu.
Business Resource Center
The city of Santa Clarita has an extensive online resource for business owners and entrepreneurs interested in researching or relocating to Santa Clarita. The collection available includes a master-planned business sector map, several brochures outlining specific area advantages, and a host of specialized documents designed to give online access to a multitude of answers to business questions regarding Santa Clarita.
The city also offers the electronic brochure "How to Start a Business in the City of Santa Clarita" to potential clients at www. santa-clarita.com.
The city also created a comprehensive website that identifies local resources for small businesses, money-saving programs and grant opportunities, career-training services and workshops. Visit www. smallbizsantaclarita.com.
For more information call (661) 259-CITY (2489) or visit www.santa-clarita.com.
Enterprise Zone
Enterprise Zone business relocation information is available to business owners and entrepreneurs interested in the many tax and funding benefits of relocating in the city's designated Enterprise Zone area.
For more information about the city's Enterprise Zone call (661) 286-4065 or visit www.santa-clarita.com.
Programs, Workshops, Grants
The city of Santa Clarita offers a series of programs, workshops, job training and grant opportunity workshops in partnership with various area business resources.
For more information call (661) 259-CITY (2489) or visit www.santa-clarita.com.
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce offers a business resource guide featuring College of the Canyons, the city of Santa Clarita, Valley Industrial Association, SCV Jobs Online, LAEDC and Los Angeles County.
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce sponsors its annual Community Expo each year to offer businesses a chance to network and the public a chance to gain information about local businesses.
The Chamber also hosts a variety of events every month for networking purposes. For more information call (661) 702- 6977 or visit www.scvchamber.com or e-mail Laura Kirchhoff at lkirchhoff@scvchamber.com.
Valley Industrial Association is a business oriented nonprofit organization designed specifically to educate, congregate and advocate for Santa Clarita Valley businesses. VIA has an extensive business resource directory with a host of subjects available.
Membership in VIA gives businesses access to front-line information, movement and growth in the business industry.
For more information call (661) 294-8088 or visit www.via.org.
The Santa Clarita WorkSource Center is a federally funded work force development system that connects job seekers and employers. The Santa Clarita WorkSource Center is a partnership between the city of Santa Clarita, Goodwill Southern California, the Employment Development Department, the County of Los Angeles Community and Senior Services, and College of the Canyons.
For more information call (661) 799-WORK (9675) or visit www.scworksource.com
The Castaic Chamber of Commerce promotes and enhances businesses in Castaic.
The Castaic Chamber of Commerce also offers steps in how to start a business at www.castaicchamber.com.
Membership with the Castaic Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of benefits, including business mixers, monthly newsletters, grand opening and ribbon cutting celebrations and unique advertising opportunities.
For more information call (661) 295-8303 or visit www.castaicchamber.com.
The LAEDC is a private, non-profit organization established in 1981 with the mission to attract, expand and enhance businesses throughout Los Angeles County. The Business Assistance team has satellite offices throughout the county, including one located in Santa Clarita, and works one-on-one with companies to help solve problems and to provide information resources. Services offered under this program are pre-paid by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. LAEDC serves as the connection to city, county, and state officials, business leaders, and other economic development allies. Likewise, it taps in to an area-wide business assistance network to help local businesses take advantage of services that include:
Facilitating business retention and expansion
Containing costs and securing incentives (city, county and utility programs)
Streamlining permits (breaking city, county and state bureaucratic barriers)
Training your work force – coordinating with work source centers, training institutions and Employment Training Panel
Identifying financing opportunities (traditional and non-traditional financing)
Coordinating real estate site searches (industrial, office and flex property)
Providing community profiles, economic and demographic information
Explaining incentive zone benefits (enterprise, foreign trade, recycling materials)
Coordinating with the port, foreign trade zone, railroads and utility companies
Making referrals for low-cost continuous improvement consulting through our partner, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC)
For more information call (213) 448- 8082 or visit www.laedc.org.
Information on open bids, including Request for Quotations (RFQ), Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Invitation for Bids (IFBs), is available on the CLWA website. Open bids will remain on the website until the closing date. For more information and to view open bids, click on the link: http://clwa.org/category/doing-business. For more information and to view on public works projects, click on the link: http://clwa.org/category/public-works.
