Business Counseling
Small Business Hotline and Rapid Response Website
You can now call 833-ASK-SBDC (833.275.7232) to reach the Northern California Small Business Development Center’s hotline for SBDC support and business financial urgent care. Partners are welcome and encouraged to share this resource with their clients. There are two email addresses as well that are being served by the hotline as well.
Email loans@asksbdc.com for assistance with available loans.
Email espanol@asksbdc.com para asistencia en español.
Free Business Counseling
- For one-on-one advising in Alameda County:
east bay sbdc
Contact: Margaret Jackson, Program Director
Phone: 510.742.2329
Email: ACSBDC@ohlone.edu
If your business is facing closure or layoffs: Rapid Response via Economic Development Department of California. Rapid Response teams will meet with you to discuss your needs, help avert potential layoffs, and provide immediate on-site services to assist workers facing job losses.
- You can contact your local America’s Job Center of California for more information about available Rapid Response services or contact your local Small Business Development Center.
- The Alameda County Workforce Development Board is one such local entity which can help employers with the Rapid Response program:
Contact: Javier Contreras, Rapid Response Coordinator
Phone: (510) 259-3831
Email: javier.contreras@acgov.org
Contact: Samantha Miller, Program Financial Specialist
Phone: 510-259-3832; cell 510-915-7186
Email: samiller@acgov.org
More Support and Counseling for Small Businesses
State Treasurer Fiona Ma
Contact: Gloria Li
Email: askfiona@treasurer.ca.gov
Assistance available in Mandarin and Chinese
State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara
Phone: 1-800-927-4357 (HELP)
Live Chat: insurance.ca.gov
Assistance available in multiple languages
Small Business Majority
Contact: Bianca Blomquist, Policy & Engagement Director
Email: bblomquist@smallbusinessmajority.org
Northern California Small Business Development Center
Hotline: 833-ASK-SBDC (833.275.7232)
Email loans@asksbdc.com for assistance with available loans
Email espanol@asksbdc.com para asistencia en español.
Website: https://asksbdc.com/
Alameda Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Contact: Margaret Jackson, Program Director
Small Business Questions: 510 516-4118
Email: ACSBDC@ohlone.edu
Website: https://www.acsbdc.org/
East Bay SCORE
Contact: Neil Rubenstein, Chair
Phone: (510) 273-6611
Email: info@eastbayscore.org
Website: https://eastbay.score.org/
Start Small Think Big
Website: www.startsmallthinkbig.org
Contact: Grey Torrico, Program Manager Serving California Businesses
Email: grey@startsmallthinkbig.org
Pro Bono Rapid Response Services: https://www.startsmallthinkbig.org/
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center - East Bay
Contact: Lucero De Leon, Richmond Program Manager
Phone: (510) 221-2000
Email: info@rencenter.org
Website: https://www.rencenter.org/