Economic Development Program
Okaley's Economic Development team can work with you to help clear away obstacles, solve problems, and link you to key resources and opportunities.
What do you need help with today?
- Development Services
- Find Targeted Sites
- Active Projects & Permits
- Recent Relocations & Expansion
- Financing & Incentives
- Tax Information
Business Planning & Technical Assistance
From COVID-19 to e-commerce, the past five years has seen huge changes in almost every aspect of small business – so it is critical for your business to have access to expert technical assistance and business planning.
The City of Oakley can help! The City manages the Oakley Entrepreneur Center and offers a full calendar of business trainings, workshops, and networking events. Learn more at: www.ci.oakley.ca.us/oakley-entrepreneur-center.
We maintain strong partnerships with expert business organizations, and we can connect you to:
- East Bay Small Business Development Center
- East Bay SCORE
- Contra Costa Workforce Development Board
- MANEX
- Employment Training Panel
- California Business Portal
- CalGold – California Government Online
- Secretary of State’s Business Programs Division
- U.S. Small Business Administration
We also have demographics, industry data, and real estate metrics that can assist with your business planning.
Financial Support & Incentives
Beginning in 2023, the City of Oakley will offer two programs to assist local small businesses and/or businesses relocating to Oakley:
- Retail & Light Industrial Revitalization Grant Program, with grants of up to $50,000 or more to qualifying businesses.
- COVID Recovery Business Support & Grant Program, with free technical assistance and $5,000 grants to qualifying businesses.
Oakley’s Economic Development staff can help you access the most effective resources and programs to help meet your company’s financial needs. Contact us today to discuss which of the following programs might be useful for your business needs:
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): 7(a), 504, and microloans
- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) small business programs
- Industrial Development Bonds
- CalCAP
- California Competes – Grant & Tax Credit Programs
- Employment Training Panel
- Sales & Use Tax Exemptions
- R&D Tax Credit (both Federal & State)
- New Market Tax Credits
- Marble Bridge Funding Group
- Main Street Small Business Tax Credit
- Food Production Investment Program
- New Employment Tax Credit
- California Rebuilding Fund
- PG&E Economic Development Rate
- Capital Investment Incentive Program
- CDFA Healthy Soils Program
- California State Historic Tax Credit
We can also assist you with accessing the Bay Area’s Venture Capital and Angel community, or exploring crowdfunding or other alternative finance tools.
Site Selection & Real Estate Support
The City maintains a list of available commercial/industrial space and development opportunity sites. You can learn more at our Property Search and Analysis
For more information, contact Harumi Murata at (925) 625-7006 or murata@ci.oakley.ca.us.
Permit Assistance
Economic Development staff is available to guide you through the permit process, to get your project under construction or your business up and running. Our General Plan and Zoning policies are designed to make your permit process as clear, simple, fast, consistent, and hassle-free as possible. In addition to offering one of the fastest, most business-friendly permit processes of any Bay Area city, we also offer special permit streamlining services.
For more information, contact Harumi Murata at (925) 625-7006 or murata@ci.oakley.ca.us.
Workforce Development Support
Oakley is located within 45 minutes driving distance to 15 colleges and universities, including U.C. Berkeley, University of the Pacific, Los Medanos College, Saint Mary’s College, Cal State East Bay, and many other academic institutions that can provide workforce training and support for local businesses. Oakley is also located in proximity to Berkeley National Labs, Sandia National Labs, and Lawrence Livermore National Labs. For companies seeking a highly trained workforce, Oakley offers a unique location with access to major research and academic facilities.
The City can assist local companies with their job training and placement needs, thanks to our partnerships with:
Key Industries
The City of Oakley is home to a fast-growing cluster of retail and industrial businesses. Our economic development program is currently targeting:
The City can assist local companies with their job training and placement needs, thanks to our partnerships with:
- Medical device and other biomedical
- Advanced manufacturing
- Clean Tech
- Drones, robotics & advanced engineering
- Distribution & goods movement
- Retail
- Fine eating & drinking establishments
- Food processing
- Outdoor recreation
- Health Care
- Education Services
- Employment Training Panel
- Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County
- California OJT (On-the-Job Training) Program
Learn more at City’s Economic Development Work Plan
Marketing Support
The City of Oakley’s Very Important Business (VIB) Program can help promote your business. In addition, the City can help link your business to customers and business partners through a variety of ongoing initiatives. The City participates in several regional economic development groups including: East Bay EDA, Team California, EC2, and the East Bay Leadership Council.