The Technical Assistance for Capital Readiness Program

Increasing capital access for California’s underinvested small businesses

The Technical Assistance for Capital Readiness Program is backed by $25.3 million in funding from the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). SSBCI is designed to spur investment to businesses with 1-9 employees, small manufacturing companies, and businesses operated by owners from underserved communities.

How the Program Helps Business-Owners:

Guides them to navigate the loan process, prepare their loan applications, and determine what loan products, if any, will be the best fit.
Builds legal, accounting, and financial management skills
Increases awareness of state-backed capital support programs for small businesses applying for capital
Designed to spur the approval of new business loans to the state’s smallest and most vulnerable business-owners

I represent a financial institution

In 2022, California received $1.1 billion in federal SSBCI funding for capital support programs administered by the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) and the California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA). These agencies work with a wide spectrum of lenders, including Financial Development Corporations (FDCs), Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) Fund, Minority Depository Institutions, and private & institutional investors. SSBCI credit enhancements serve as risk management tools available only when lending to small businesses. New lenders are always welcome to join and can start the process with an online application.

Sign up with IBank

Sign up with CPCFA

I am a CalOSBA technical advisor partner

California supports three significant capital support programs to help lenders get to Yes on loans for very small or underinvested businesses. If you are a business advisor in any of the technical assistance programs funded by CalOSBA, these are valuable tools for you to understand and share with lenders. CalOSBA hosts a monthly webinar with representatives of both programs to answer your questions:

IBank’s Small Business Loan Guarantee: loans and lines of credit up to $20 million.
CPCFA’s CalCAP for Small Business: microloans, and loans and lines of credit up to $5 million.
CPCFA’s CalCAP Collateral Support: loans and lines of credit from $25,000 to $20 million.

I own a Small Business

More than two-thirds of small business-owners report that they will seek capital over the next 12 months, but many don’t think they understand all the available options. Studies also show that diverse business-owners must work harder to gain the same lending and equity opportunities as their peers. This Program is designed to help level that playing field.

Learn about the lending process and requirements from business advisors invested in your success
Build your legal, accounting, and financial management skills and tell a better business story
Take advantage of state-backed programs designed to improve your risk profile

Find an Advisor

About SSBCI

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which reauthorized and funded the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The new version of the SSBCI program provides $10 billion to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments to empower small businesses as the country emerges from the pandemic. The program supports business enterprises owned and controlled by Socially and Economically Disadvantaged individuals (SEDI-owned businesses), Very Small Businesses (1-9 employees) and Small Manufacturing Enterprises.

California received $1.1 billion to expand its capital support programs and $25.3 million to administer a new Technical Assistance (TA) program. SSBCI capital programs are administered by both the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank), housed within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, housed within the California State Treasurer’s Office. CalOSBA, within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), is designated as the lead office for the SSBCI technical assistance programming.

For SSBCI Technical Assistance Program questions, please contact CalOSBA at SSBCITA@gobiz.ca.gov.

California Office of the Small Business Advocate
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95814
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