Resources & Programs

Overview

Resources & Programs

Browse through the city, county, state and federal resources and programs available to businesses.

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City Resources

Business Visitation Program

The Economic Development Division’s Business Visitation Program provides a great opportunity for company representatives and economic development staff to meet and discuss business operations, business information and resources, future expansion plans and many other business-related topics. It also provides businesses with an opportunity to share and showcase what they do best.

Whether your Redlands-based business is large or small, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and let us know when a visit to your facility would be convenient.

Please contact the Economic Development staff at (909) 335-4755 ext 1, to schedule your business visit.

Opportunity Zone

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 established Opportunity Zones as a mechanism to provide tax incentives for investment in designated U.S. Census Tracts. Investments made by individuals through special funds in these zones would be allowed to defer or eliminate federal taxes on capital gains. The City of Redlands has one (1) Opportunity Zone. To learn more, click here.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing Programs

The City of Redlands, in participation with the California Enterprise Development Authority (CEDA), the California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) and their affiliated financing partners, is offering commercial and residential property owners multiple programs for financing energy upgrades and improvements. Learn more here.

Redlands Chamber of Commerce

Incorporated in 1893, the Redlands Chamber of Commerce continues to provide a service for local businesses and professionals looking to improve their business and build a better community. The Chamber’s programs and activities are focused on three main themes, business promotion and assistance, community development and community promotion.

SCORE – Inland Empire

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and has been mentoring small business owners for more than forty years. With over 30 volunteer mentors in the Inland Empire and 900 years of business experience, we are a very active chapter providing a full range of counseling services as well as putting on workshops covering a wide range of topics.

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County Resources

Workforce Development Department

The County of San Bernardino’s Workforce Development Department provides programs that can assist employers with hiring and training new employees, as well as developing customized programs to meet a company’s current workforce needs. Services include worker recruitment and advertising, tax credit verification for hired applicants and space to conduct interviews. Contact the WDD directly or the City of Redlands Economic Development Division for more information. 

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

On-the-Job Training (OJT) is a program offered by the County of San Bernardino’s Workforce Development Department to assist businesses and offset the training costs of new employees. Normally when businesses hire new employees there is a period of time when the employee is learning the job and he/she is not as productive as more experienced employees. OJT assists in offsetting these costs and helps your company hire and train highly qualified employees.

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State Resources

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration administers California’s sales and use, fuel and tobacco taxes, as well as a variety of other taxes and fees that fund specific state programs. Services include the issuance of sellers permits and business licenses, taxpayer events and education, and more.

Board of Equalization

The Board of Equalization (BOE) provides property tax oversight, ensuring that county property tax assessment practices are equal and uniform throughout the state. Currently, the tax programs administered by the BOE are concentrated in three general areas: alcoholic beverage tax, tax on insurers and property taxes. 

Department of Business Oversight

The Department of Business Oversight (DBO) provides protection to consumers and services to businesses engaged in financial transactions. The Department regulates a variety of financial services, products and professionals and oversees the operations of state-licensed financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, money transmitters, issuers of payment instruments and traveler’s checks and premium finance companies. Additionally, the Department licenses and regulates a variety of financial businesses, including securities brokers and dealers, investment advisers, deferred deposit transactions(commonly known as payday loans) and certain fiduciaries and lenders.

Department of Industrial Relations

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency.

Employment Development Department

The Employment Development Department’s Workforce Services Branch (WSB) provides a comprehensive range of employment and training services in partnership with state and local agencies and organizations through the America’s Job Center of California (AJCC). The services offered benefit all job seekers including youth, veterans, people with disabilities, adults, and dislocated workers and brings employers with job opportunities together with qualified job seekers. The WSB also prepares up-to-date statistical information, demographics, and analyses impacting the State’s business climate.

Employment Training Panel

The Employment Training Panel (ETP) provides funding to employers to assist in upgrading the skills of their workers through training that leads to good paying, long-term jobs. The ETP was created in 1982 by the California State Legislature and is funded by California employers through a special payroll tax. The ETP is a funding agency, not a training agency. Businesses determine their own training needs and how to provide training. ETP staff is available to assist in applying for funds and other aspects of participation.

Franchise Tax Board

The Franchise Tax Board is responsible for administering two of California’s major tax programs: Personal Income Tax and the Corporation Tax. The Board also administers other non-tax programs and provides delinquent debt collection functions, including delinquent vehicle registration debt collections on behalf of the Department of Motor Vehicles and court–ordered debt. Businesses can access tax forms, make payments and get information on corporate filings.

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as California’s single point of contact for economic development and job creation efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government and much more.​

Tax Credits & Exemptions

CaliforniaCompetes Tax Credit
The California Competes Tax Credit is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to come to California or stay and grow in California. Tax credit agreements are negotiated by GO-Biz and approved by “California Competes Tax Credit Committee,” consisting of the State Treasurer, the Director of the Department of Finance, the Director of GO-Biz, one appointee each by the Speaker of the Assembly and Senate Committee on Rules.

Manufacturer’s Sales Tax Exemption
A new law beginning on July 1, 2014, allows manufacturers and certain research and developers to obtain a partial exemption of sales and use tax on certain manufacturing and research and development equipment purchases. To be eligible under this law, you must meet all three of these conditions:
- Be engaged in certain types of business, also known as a “qualified person”
- Purchase “qualified property”
- Use that qualified property for the uses allowed by this law.

New Employment Credit
The New Employment Credit (NEC) is available for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2026, to a qualified taxpayer that hires a qualified full-time employee on or after January 1, 2014; pays or incurs qualified wages attributable to work performed by the qualified full-time employee in a designated census tract or economic development area [commonly referred to as a Designated Geographic Area (DGA)]; and that receives a tentative credit reservation for that qualified full-time employee.

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Federal Resources

USA.gov Business Portal

USA.gov quickly connects businesses to the services and information relevant to them, regardless of where the information is located or which agency’s website, call center or office they go to for help.

E-Verify

E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. E-Verify is fast, free and easy to use – and it’s the best way employers can ensure a legal workforce.

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. Under the immigration program certain EB-5 visas are set aside for investors in targeted employment areas designated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services based on proposals for promoting economic growth. New rules will go into effect on November 21, 2019, please visit www.uscis.gov/eb-5 for more information.

Export-Import Bank of the United States

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Ex-Im Bank does not compete with private sector lenders but provides export financing products that fill gaps in trade financing.

U.S. Small Business Administration

Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. The SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.

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Doing Business With Government

City of Redlands

The City of Redlands Purchasing Division maintains an open list of suppliers desiring to do business with the City, which is made available to all City departments. Suppliers are responsible for notifying the Purchasing Division of any changes to their information. Businesses interested in doing business with the City can be added to the vendor database by completing this form and sending contact information and product lists and/or brochure to rnunez@cityofredlands.org or dabramovitz@cityofredlands.org.

County of San Bernardino

The County of San Bernardino Purchasing Department supports the procurement of material and equipment that are essential to providing governmental services for the citizens of San Bernardino County. The Purchasing Department buys products and services needed to run many County departments including a hospital, sheriff and fire stations, detention centers, juvenile facilities, general offices, medical laboratories, mental and public health clinics, welfare programs, maintenance and construction of buildings, roads, parks, and playgrounds. A list of commodities and other information can be found on the County Purchasing web page listed above.

State of California
The State of California Procurement Division (PD) is the central purchasing authority for all state departments, agencies, institutions, community colleges, technical institutes and city or local boards of education. The California Department of General Services (DGS) Procurement Division (PD) partners with BidSync to host California’s online procurement service (eProcurement).

U.S. Federal Government

As the acquisition arm of the federal government, the General Services Administration (GSA) plays a vital role in connecting the private sector with federal agencies fulfilling their business needs. GSA offers professional services, equipment, supplies, telecommunications, and information technology from commercial businesses to government organizations and the military through acquisition solutions from its Federal Acquisition Service (FAS).

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Resource Links