Your new Sonoma SBDC, hosted by the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber

Local businesses are the backbone of our community. They are run by our neighbors and our friends, create local jobs that employ even more of our friends and neighbors, and dollars spent at these businesses are more likely to stay in our community. Approximately 87% of Sonoma County businesses are small, family-owned operations and the majority of our local workforce have a job at a small business.

As of January of this year, our small businesses and local entrepreneurs have a new ally for their success.

A new Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has come to Sonoma County, opening its office in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa. The Sonoma SBDC, hosted by the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, provides one-on-one counseling and training to support local entrepreneurs with the tools and insights to start, grow, and pivot their businesses, all at no cost for the business owner.

“There’s tremendous synergy between our organization and the Small Business Development Center,” says Santa Rosa Metro Chamber CEO, Peter Rumble. “The Chamber hosting the Sonoma SBDC is a natural fit given that supporting startup and established small businesses to bolster the economic health and growth in the North Bay is central to both our missions.”

The Sonoma SBDC aims to provide local entrepreneurs with the solutions they seek and the confidence they need to realize their dreams. The program’s individualized business advising and technical assistance helps small businesses in a number of ways.

Accessing capital is a critical step for many new ventures as well as those looking to expand. The SBDC’s Finance Center helps entrepreneurs understand their best options to secure the right type of capital in line with their business goals—whether they’re starting their very first venture or if it’s time to take their business into the next phase of growth.

One-on-one consulting from expert business advisors cover a multitude of topics with a personalized approach. From initial planning and startup to marketing, management and growth, these sessions help entrepreneurs chart and navigate a path that leads to success. All of these services are offered at no-cost by a team of local advisors experienced in helping others launch successful startups and grow existing businesses.

“We’re looking forward to providing top industry experts to support Sonoma clients who are looking to open a business, as well as those who are in business and looking for more ways to navigate the Covid economy and grow,” says Sonoma SBDC Director, Louise Dawson. “From the Restaurant Program—which has Spanish/English bilingual advisors who can provide one-on-one advising around food trucks and mobile food, cottage and artisan food, manufacturing and more—to Access to Capital Summits where local businesses can get the latest information and training on loans and grants, we’re excited to be a one-stop shop with our new host and partner, the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber.” ...view Louise Dawson's bio

To further support these efforts, partnerships with Sonoma County Economic Development Board, Sonoma State University’s School of Business and Economics, and the Hispanic Chamber of Sonoma County will focus on outreach and support of underserved groups, especially Latinx entrepreneurs and small business owners, in our local business community.

Highlighting the importance of these efforts, Chamber CEO Peter Rumble says, “The Small Business Development Center is a critical program, working in partnership with the Chamber’s existing network of services, information and advocacy, to increase the economic vitality of the region and expand economic opportunity for all in Sonoma County.”

Call today to meet with an advisor, check out a webinar or sign up for one of the business training programs on the website SonomaSBDC.org.

The new Sonoma SBDC office is located at 50 Old Courthouse Square #110 in Santa Rosa and is hosted by the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber. You can reach us at 707-595-0060.