California Office of the Small Business Advocate

Supports California small-business growth through technical-assistance networks and partner channels that strengthen local enterprise services.

CalOSBA funds technical-assistance networks and intermediary organizations — not individual small businesses directly. It administers the Technical Assistance Program (TAP, $23M/year), Capital Infusion Program (CIP, $3M/year), Made in California marketing-lead grant, and Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF) — all structured as grants to nonprofit or established TA-center partners, who then serve end businesses.

CalOSBA is the small-business arm of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). It operates the SCALE network of 150+ business support centers statewide and pursues three strategic priorities: democratizing access to capital, diversifying the innovation economy, and driving economic mobility through entrepreneurship. By 2025 CalOSBA's network had helped unlock $3.1 billion in lending capital and $4.1 billion in equity for California businesses.

Historical direct-to-business grants (Dream Fund, COVID Relief, Microbusiness Recovery, Performing Arts Grant, Venues, Drought/Flood Relief) are all closed. Active financing programs for individual businesses — CalCAP, IBank loan guarantees — are administered by sibling agencies (CA Treasurer/CPCFA and IBank) and are not CalOSBA programs.