Economic Development Corporation- Fresno County

906 N Street, Suite 120
Fresno, CA 93721
559.476.2500 or 800.373.7661
Fax 559.233.2156

Entrepreneur Guide

Central Valley Business Incubator

The Central Valley Business Incubator is a program unlike any other in California's central San Joaquin Valley. Designed to stimulate economic growth and create jobs for the central Valley, CVBI offers business development services and physical resources to ensure the success of local start-up companies. Whether you are just thinking about starting a business, are launching a company, or have an established business that you want to grow, the central valley business incubator offers an array of classes, opportunities and resources to help you achieve your goals. For information, see www.ccvbi.org or call 559-292-9033

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CVBI-ICWT

The International Center for Water Technology (ICWT) has formed a partnership with Central Valley Business Incubator (CVBI) that will make it possible to move ahead with the construction of a new building on campus to house both of these entities. The new entity will be called CVBI-ICWT. CVBI promotes and incubates business development in the Central Valley; ICWT will provide technical assistance by evaluating new products developed by entrepreneurs. This modern test facility will provide independent testing and performance certification for pumps and other water technology equipment.

The facility will also be an educational learning lab for students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and the College of Engineering and Computer Science and will serve as an incubator facility for businesses specializing in water, irrigation and clean-energy. In addition, the new facility will have a 72 kw photo-voltaic array to generate electrical energy for the campus grid and provide additional educational and research opportunities. CVBI is the recipient of a federal grant from the Economic Development Agency totaling $2.3 million. The partnership includes funding from ICWT for construction and equipment of approximately $1.5M. The building site is on the south-west corner of Barstow and Chestnut.

For more information, call CVBI at 292.9033

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Central California Small Business Development Center

The CCSBDC offers specialized training programs to meet the unique needs of businesses and their staff. Training and education is also offered on topics of interest and importance to entrepreneurs, business owners and managers. These practical workshops provide companies with the competitive edge to help them survive and thrive. Workshops are held on a regular basis. The CCSBDC has a reference library with Internet access available to the public, offering publications and videos on a variety of subjects designed to assist in successfully running a business.

The CCSBDC provides consulting services. Fees are paid by CCSBDC funding partners and are free to qualified clients. Areas of consulting include, but are not limited to:

  • Business Loan Packaging
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Strategic Business Planning
  • Cash Flow Management
  • Business Expansion
  • Export/Import
  • Government Procurement
  • Business Structure

For information, contact Richard Wheeler, director of CCSBDC at (559) 230-4056 via e-mail rickw@ccsbdc.org.

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Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Wells Fargo Bank have created a “peer” base Micro Loan Program for the Hispanic Business Community. The loans range from $5,000 to $25,000 and can be used for typical business expenditures purchases of equipment and inventory, start-up expenses, materials and supplies, advertising and working capital. The purpose for this program is to help start up business that have had a difficult time getting conventional bank financing by giving them a low-interest loan and ultimately getting them ready for larger loans with financial institutions.

The initial capital was provided by Wells Fargo Bank with Valley Small Business Development Corporation providing technical assistance to FAHCC staff on developing the credit policies and procedures. From August 2003, until today, the staff has seen over three hundred individuals interested in technical assistance and the loan program. Over thirty loans have been awarded. The FAHCC loaned a total of $750,000 to new and existing businesses at the end of 2005.

For information, see http://www.fahcc.org/

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Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

  • Research & Consulting
    The Lyles Center offers consulting and evaluation services for innovators and entrepreneurs. Submit your executive summary for review by the Lyles Center by completing the recommended information and uploading the files. By appointment.
  • Center for Technology Development & Commercialization
    • If you or your business has an idea or technology with commercialization potential, the CTDC can help. The CTDC is a technology resource center that provides technical expertise, help developing innovative products, and assistance in obtaining funding for research, development, and commercialization.

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For Entrepreneurs

  • Kauffman Internship Program
    Graduate students from California State University, FresnoFresno assist an entrepreneurial firm in growing their company and receive a $2,800 stipend for a minimum of 150 hours of work. Partially funded by the Ewing Kauffman Foundation.
  • Entrepreneur in Residence
    The Entrepreneur in Residence is a distinguished award given to a prominent entrepreneur once a year. The guest entrepreneur spends three to five days on campus lecturing in classes, conducting seminars, and meeting with entrepreneurs in the community.
  • Emerging Business Consultation
    Emerging Business Consultation with the Walter Law Group provides legal counseling services to faculty, staff, students, and community entrepreneurs and innovators. Walter Law Group holds office hours at the Lyles Center on a weekly basis and offers seminars and workshops on intellectual property.
  • International Innovation Workshops
    The Lyles Center hosts workshops for groups of dignitaries from the Peoples Republic of China on a wide range of topics including taxation, civil engineering, secondary education, entrepreneurship, judicial development, etc.
  • Availability of venture capital through the Central Valley Fund, Pacific Community Ventures and the Bulldog Capital Fund

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Partner Programs

  • Invention 2 Venture Workshop A one-day session on technology-driven entrepreneurship for students, faculty, regional entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders led as a collaboration between the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) and the Lyles Center.

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For College Students

  • $10,000 Student Business Plan Competition
    The annual Student Business Plan Competition awards students from California State University, Fresno with $10,000 in prize money. First through third place winners of the competition will receive cash to be used in the development of their business and will receive one of the eight office spaces in the Lyles Center Hatchery. Competitors must be comprised of a team with at least one member being a student enrolled at California State University, Fresno.
  • Scholarship in Entrepreneurship
    The Scholarships in Entrepreneurship program attracts students from across the country to California State University, Fresno to educate and retain as future entrepreneurs for the Central Valley.
  • Mentorship Program
    Entrepreneurship students are encouraged to enroll in the Lyles Center Mentorship program. This program matches successful local business leaders with entrepreneurship majors for meetings.

    For information, see www.lylesccenter.com or call 559.294.2045.

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University Business Center at the Craig School of Business
The University Business Center (UBC) has an impressive history of serving private enterprise and public organizations in California’s Central Valley. Built in 1987 with donations from private businesses, the UBC serves as the self-sustaining community outreach arm of the Craig School of Business. The UBC is a state-of-the art facility offering space rental & training programs such as: small business development services, customized corporate training, and business education. The UBC focuses on providing small businesses and entrepreneurs with services and resources to help businesses create jobs and increase prosperity. The UBC can connect you with the expertise of Craig School faculty and programs designed to offer the services you and your business need to succeed. For information, see

http://www.craig.csufresno.edu/ubc/
or call 559.278.2352

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