Business Assistance Programs

On January 12, 2011 Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed Executive Directive 14, the Business Inclusion Program. A link to this new Directive: ED14-1 & Business Inclusion Program. Over the next few months, City will provide updates on implementation including vendor training. Stay tuned.

Local Job Assistance
Did you know there is a free job resource center for jobseekers right here in Wilshire Center at the Wilshire-Metro WorkSource Center located at 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Visit their website to learn more (www.communitycareer.org).

State Enterprise Zones
Wilshire Center/Koreatown business community is within the State Enterprise Zone (SEZ) which can aid businesses by way of hiring tax credits, sales or use tax credits, business expense deduction, net interest deductions, net operating loss carryover, LADWP rate discount, site plan review fee waiver, sewer facility charge extended payment option, reduced parking ordinance, and work opportunity tax credit. HIRING TAX CREDIT Program offers up to $37,440 per Qualified Employee! The LADWP offers a 5 year discount on your electric bill. SEZ Information, Tax Incentives & Credits, and Zone Area Maps - http://cdd.lacity.org/bus_statecred.html

Public Sector Contracting Opportunities

There is contracting work available to your business - check out the various public sectors such as the City of Los Angeles, LADWP, County of Los Angeles, LAUSD, LA Airport, Metropolitan Water District, MTA, USC, UCLA, U.S. General Services Admin. visit their web sites and see the opportunities. If you want new work it is out there in the public sector, and they want to do business with you. A few good places to start are at City of LA Contracting Opportunities and County of LA Contracting Opportunities. Also explore: Supplier Diversity Programs

More information on contracting:

Contractor Enforcement
Information and forms for meeting Living Wage, Service Contractor Worker Retention, and Equal Benefits ordinance requirements.

Contracting Opportunity Guide
Assists prospective bidders and contractors in obtaining contracts with the City of Los Angeles; also serves as a contact reference to various awarding agencies. Register your business to receive information about current bid opportunities: for City of Los Angeles opportunities and for nationwide opportunities listed on the Phoenix System

Los Angeles Business Assistance Program

Los Angeles Business Assistance Program (LABAP) offers free training and technical assistance to business owners seeking to improve their operations and profitability. For more information go to http://cdd.lacity.org/bus_labap.html

Pacific Coast Regional
Pacific Coast Regional provides free or low cost business services for small business organization. They are located 3255 Wilshire, Ste 1501, LA, 866-301-9989 or 213-739-2999, www.pcrcorp.org.

Business Seminars

The WCBID collaborates with the Community Development Department (CDD) and the U.S. Small Business Administration in presenting a series of seminars/fairs to help businesses grow. Seminars are offered to district businesses in the areas of financing, technical assistance, training, and business tax incentives. Last November we partnered with CDD to provide an event where there were opportunities to meet with over 25 public and non-profit organizations that assist businesses, and with seminars on the value of the SEZ and on business opportunities with the public sector agencies.

District Amenities

Whether you are considering leasing, renting or buying, the Wilshire Center Business Improvement District offers a variety of programs and services that enhance the quality of life in the district, stimulate local economic development, and benefit the area as a whole. This conveniently located mid-Wilshire community boasts an array of transportation options, cafes, restaurants and hotels, making it the perfect place to locate your business.

Additionally, the Wilshire Center BID is committed to providing the following District programs and services for the benefit of its owners, tenants, residents, and visitors alike: Sidewalk Cleaning Services; Private Security Services; Streetscape Maintenance Services; Business Information Services; Promotion Services; Environmental Services; and Advocacy. More information on our services go to our quarterly newsletters.

Business Resource Directory

California Franchise Tax Board
Lila Fedler, Education & Outreach Specialist
Lila.Fedler@ftb.ca.gov

Community Development Department
Kim Brown, Business Development Manager
(818) 374.9967
Kim.Brown@lacity.org

State of California Board of Equalization
Frederick Duenas, C.P.A., Senior Tax Auditor
(310) 283-6294
frederick.duenas@boe.ca.gov

University of Southern California Business Expansion Network
Sergio Gascon, Executive Director
(213) 368-1450
sgascon@usc.edu

PACE Business Development Center
Jackie Jones, Director
(213) 989-3154
jjones@pacela.org

U.S. Small Business Administration
Natalie Orta, Chief
natalie.orta@sba.gov

Pacific Coast Regional Corp.
Constance Anderson, Vice President, Communications & Training
(213) 674-2696
Constance.Anderson@pcrcorp.org

Los Angeles World Airport
Rose Cote, Business Outreach Coordinator
(310) 417-6490
rcote@lawa.org

Department of Transportation
Thomas L. Knox, Jr., Small Business Administrator
(213) 897-0597
Thomas.knox@dot.ca.gov

University of Southern California
Rhonda S. Thornton, Director
(213) 821-1783
rhondat@usc.edu

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Kenneth L. Ashford, Business Outreach Program
(213) 217-6719
kashford@mwdh2o.com

City of Los Angeles Office of Finance
John Dierking, Taxpayer Advocate
(213) 738-9270
john.dierking@lacity.org

Korean Churches for Community Development
Jin Kim, Executive Director
(213) 216-7053
jinkim100@gmail.com

W Hotel - Hollywood
Kristi Blake, Marketing Manager
(323) 798-1321
kristi.blake@whotels.com

LA County Office of Small Business/Procurement

Joan Shelley, Administrative Analyst

323-881-3963

jshelley@isd.lacounty.gov

KYCC

Rick Kim, Economic Development Service Corrdin.

213-365-7400 ext 228

rkim@kyccla.org

Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program

Cooke Sunoo, Director

213-473-1603

csunoo@ltsc.org

L.A. Department of Water & Power
Patrick Umeh
(213) 367-4718
Patrick.Umeh@ladwp.com

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Sherman Gay, M.C.A, Small Business Outreach Officer
(213) 922-3502
gays@metro.net

U.S. Department of Commerce
Minority Business Development Agency
Maria D. Acosta, Los Angeles District Manager
macosta@mbda.gov

University of Southern California Business Expansion Network
John Gutierrez
(213) 368-1450

U.S. General Services Administration
Pamela Smith-Cressel
(213) 894-3210
pam.smith-cressel@gsa.gov

Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Aurelio Marquez, Program & Communications Manager
(213) 978-0671
aurelie.marquez@lacity.org

Hollywood Work Source Center
Joan Samuels, Program Director
323-953-4002
jsamuels@mcsrehab.com

Encore Tax Consulting Group, Inc.
Luis Rivera, Managing Director
626-236-5997
lrivera@etaxgroup.com

L.A.U.S.D.
Michael Bejarano, Assistanr Manager
(213) 241-4973
michael.bejarano@lausd.net

Minority Business Enterprise Center
Sergio Gascon, Executive Director
(213) 368-1450
sgasco@usc.edu

Business & Job Resources Center
Diane Castano Sallee, Director of Outreach
(310) 649-3489
diane@imwis.com

Los Angeles Business Asst Program
Miguel Acuna, Region Director for South Valley
(818) 374.9963
Miguel.Acuna@lacity.org

Wilshire-Metro WorkSource Center
Mary Lee
mlee@communitycareer.org

CRA/LA
Donna Yep, Contract Specialist
(213) 977-1627
dyep@cra.lacity.org

Minority Business Opportunity Center

Ronald Lowe, Business Development Manager

213-978-1533

ron.lowe@lacity.org

LA City Supply Services Division

Isaac Ike, Purchasing Manager

213-928-9502

Isaac.Ike@lacity.org

LA County Economic Development Corp.

George Hernandez, Regional Manager

213-236-4835

george.hernandez@laedc.org

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