California Office of the Small Business Advocate

Small Business, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development supports economic growth and innovation and ensures that ALL California small businesses and innovative startups have the information and direct support they need to better navigate resources, programs and regulations. CalOSBA serves as the voice of small businesses, representing their views and interests across the state and advocating for equitable access to capital, markets, and networks so that all California small businesses successfully start, manage, grow and become more resilient.

Meet the Leadership Team

Office of the Small Business Advocate

Tara Lynn Gray

Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)

Tara Lynn Gray was sworn in on April 26, 2021 as the 5th Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. She serves in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development as the voice for California’s 4.1 million small businesses.

Learn More

Read the Director’s monthly column

Fatima McAlister

Executive Assistant to the Director

Henna Bains

Special Assistant II to the Director

Sarah Gonzales

Special Assistant I to the Director

Click here to learn more about CalOSBA's history

Apr 2022	CalOSBA Announces Grant Recipients to Establish 10 Regional Innovation Hubs in California The Inclusive Innovation Hub (iHub²) program is a one-time, $2.5M investment that will help accelerate regionally focused strategies to spur innovation and diversification across industry sectors and geographies while attracting entrepreneurs from underserved business communities.
Nov 2022	Outsmart Disaster Moves to CalOSBA Office launches a new website; Resilient Business Challenge promotes pisaster preparedness for vulnerable small businesses.
July 2023	Invests $25 Million for Launch of Nation’s First Statewide Program to Support Employment Social Enterprises The California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises (CA RISE) program will build capacity and provide capital to businesses that hire, train, and support California workers facing barriers to employment.
Aug 2023	CalOSBA Awarded $25.3 million from Biden-Harris Administration to Support Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs across California The United States Department of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative Program will expand technical assistance to California’s underserved entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Sep 2023	CalOSBA Opens Round 1 of California Small Agricultural Business Drought and Flood Relief Grant Program State funding supports small agricultural business impacted by severe drought and flood conditions.
Oct 2023	CalOSBA Releases the first “State of Diverse Small Businesses in California” report Details the statewide fiscal, economic and community impact of minority-owned small businesses.
Mar 2024	CalOSBA launches new $25 million program to increase capital access for California’s underinvested small businesses The Technical Assistance for Capital Readiness Program will connect small businesses to lenders, spur 40,000 new loans in the next five years.