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Help for Small Businesses

2026 Major Sports Events: Preparing Small Businesses

The City is working with partners to help San José’s small business owners prepare for the major sporting events coming to the region in 2026.

The below resources build off the Small Business Toolkit hub found on the San José 2026 website, which include information on how to plan watch parties and events, download printable posters and table toppers and receive marketing support.

Watch Parties and Event Organizing

• Bay Area Public Screening Playbook for Super Bowl LX and 2026 FIFA World Cup: Provides small businesses with key information needed to host public screenings for 2026's biggest events. Whether you're planning a lively block party, turning your restaurant into a fan zone, or organizing a community gathering, this is the place to start.
• Hosting Special Events: Wish to hold a special event on public property, including streets, plazas and paseos and parks? View this comprehensive guideline to apply for a special event. 
• Entertainment Zones: Learn more about how and where to activate the City’s new Entertainment Zone ordinance, which allows for the sale and outdoor consumption of alcohol in designated zones during permitted events. 

Access to Capital / Human Resources

• Loans: Scroll below to the Loans section to learn about low-interest loans and microloans for food-related businesses, non-profits, and underserved individuals.
• Staffing: work2future can help employers with talent, training, outplacement, and expertise.
• Employer Rights and Responsibilities: I-9 Audits, Workplace Raids Review bilingual resources to assist business owners and Human Resources personnel to prepare for potential I-9 audits, workplace raids, and/or worker shortages.

Marketing

• SCORE: A resource partner for the U.S. Small Business Administration and the City of San José, SCORE provides business owners with insights and skills through live and recorded workshops, webinars, and courses for business growth, including marketing.
• Sign up for monthly news and updates from the San José Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs, including business advice trainings, events, and other resources from our partners.

Key Resources for Businesses in San José

Permitting Assistance?

• The Small Business Ally program provides step-by-step, bilingual assistance with City permits, inspections, and business tax certificate registrations (AKA, "business license"). Contact JuanBorrelli@sanjoseca.gov or Anh1.Nguyen@sanjoseca.gov. 
  
  
• Streamlined Restaurant Program: This program helps qualified San José restaurant and food/beverage businesses get building tenant improvement permits in as soon as 1–2 months instead of 4–6 months.
  
  
• Permits for Outdoor Space Use: Learn how to convert a street parklet or adjacent sidewalk or parking lot space to outdoor dining (al fresco) or other outdoor use.

Looking for legal services?

• Santa Clara University’s Entrepreneur’s Law Clinic provides by-appointment advising on legal issues: law.scu.edu/elc

Looking to Hire?

• work2future can help employers with talent, training, outplacement, and expertise. work2future.org or (408) 794-1163.
  
  
• U.S. Department of Labor: dol.gov

Looking for Online Education?

• The San José Public Library Works program provides expert online webinars on a wide variety of subjects such as ecommerce and marketing at the San José Public Library: sjpl.org/sjpl-works
  
  
• My Own Business Institute offers free online courses and resources for starting or expanding your business. scu.edu/mobi.

Safety or Blight Problems? 

• Non-Emergency SJPD 24/7: (408) 277-8900
  
  
• Code Enforcement (on private property):
  Emergency: (408) 794-7477
  Non-Emergency: bit.ly/CodeEnforce
  
  
• Issues on Public Property and Streets, including Graffiti, Abandoned Vehicles, Illegal Dumping, Potholes, Streetlight Outages, Community WiFi, and more: 311.sanjoseca.gov.
  
  
• Encampment Cleanup: BeautifySJ@sanjoseca.gov
  
  
• Homeless Outreach Team/Report an Encampment: bit.ly/CSJHomelessOutreach
  
  
• County Behavioral Health Services (Mental Health and Substance Abuse Referrals): (800) 704-0900
  
  
• County Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
  
  
• TRUST: Trusted Response Urgent Support Team, provides free, 24/7 help from trained counselors for mental health and substance use challenges. Call or text: 988 or (408) 596-7290.

 Financial Resources for your Business

Other Help For Your Business

The City of San José has community partners who can provide help and advice for free!

• Access Small Business Development Center provides one-on-one advice, expertise on access to capital and training on a wide variety of business topics: accesssbdc.org or (408) 385-9800. 
  
  
• ESO Ventures is an entrepreneurial support organization focused on providing the confidence, competence, and capital for Black and Latino entrepreneurs, including the ReEntry Business Incubator Program, which provides training for entrepreneurs with records. eso-ventures.com.
  
  
• Latino Business Foundation of Silicon Valley helps small businesses to grow. Get free help in partnership with Santa Clara University’s My Own Business Institute (MOBI) and Excite Credit Union. Lbfsv.org or (408) 618-8599. 
  
  
• Minority Business Development Agency specializes in one-on-one business advice, support for scalable growth and preparing for government contracting work: asianinc.org or (408) 998-8058.

• ProsperityLab offers in-person and online support including starting up your business. They offer a special focus on women entrepreneurs and local micro businesses: prosperitylab.org or (408) 547-3190.

• The Small Business Development Center at San José State University provides free advice and support specializing in innovation and tech-related businesses and startups. svsbdc.org or (408) 924-1402 
  
  
• Silicon Valley SCORE offers a highly personalized expert small business mentoring and training service. They have a specialist service for nonprofits. score.org/siliconvalley or (408) 453-6237.
  
  
• Start Small Think Big offers advice and services specializing in legal, marketing and financial support. hello@startsmallthinkbig.org or call 646-723-4053 ext. 101.
  
  
• Yacanex Business Group provides the know-how in taxes, permits, licenses and loans to help small businesses grow. ybusinessgroup.com/en/ or (408) 816-2072.

County Resources 

• The County of Santa Clara provides info on business property taxes, food facility permits and other resources. santaclaracounty.gov/businesses

For ongoing news and resources, sign up for the monthly newsletter or follow us on social media (@sjeconomy): Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

Questions?
Phone: (408) 535-8181 Email: economic.development@sanjoseca.gov