SECTION 3: BUSINESS RESOURCES

Program Profiles for Economic and Workforce Development Providers

X. Chambers of Commerce
XI. Other Area Business Development and Assistance Organizations
XII. Additional Business Resources
XIII. Libraries

X. CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Chambers of Commerce function as trade associations for member businesses and professionals. Included in their services to members are business education and promotion, legislative advocacy, referrals, community information. One of the first things a new business owner should do is join the local Chamber and take advantage of its networking and referral opportunities.

Anderson Valley Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 275
Boonville , CA 95415
(707) 895-2379
Fax: (707) 895-2666
Website: www.andersonvalleychamber.com

Fort Bragg-Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce
332 N. Main Street
Fort Bragg , CA 95437
(707) 961-6300
Fax: (707) 964-2056
Email: chamber@mcn.org
Website: www.mendocinocoast.com

Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce
200 S. School Street
Ukiah , CA 95482
(707) 462-4705
Fax: (707) 462-2088
Email: info@ukiahchamber.com
Website: www.ukiahchamber.com

Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 338
Gualala , CA 95445
(800) 778-5252
Email: info@redwoodcoastchamber.com
Website: www.redwoodcoastchamber.com

Round Valley Chamber of Commerce
76405 Covelo Road
Covelo , CA 95429
(707) 983-6736
Website: www.covelo.net

Willits Chamber of Commerce
239 S. Main Street
Willits , CA 95490
(707) 459-7910
Fax: (707) 459-7914
Email: info@willits.org
Website: www.willits.org

California Chamber of Commerce
1201 K Street
Sacramento , CA 95814
(916) 444-6670
Website: www.calchamber.com

XI. OTHER AREA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS

 Economic Development and Financing Corporation’s (EDFC) assists the development of business and economic growth in Mendocino County and the surrounding region. EDFC provides services to existing business and start-ups interested in relocating to Mendocino County. They have an excellent website with extensive information available:

Services include:

• Coordinating business expansion, attraction and retention efforts county-wide
• Business planning & technical assistance
• Direct financial assistance through revolving loan funds
• Economic development planning & research
• Community and business marketing assistance

Economic Development and Financing Corporation
631 South Orchard Avenue
Ukiah , CA 95482
(707) 467-5953
Fax: (707) 467-5901
Website: www.edfc.org

Employment Development Department (EDD) is a major source of experienced employees. EDD has the largest single data base of employers and workers in the county with access to more than 500,000 job applicants statewide.

Employment Development Department
631 South Orchard Avenue
Ukiah , CA 95482
(707) 463-4703
Website:www.edd.ca.gov/employer.htm

Mendocino College Contract Education provides educational services to business and other community entities that are not normally offered through the college’s curriculum and programs. Customized, credit and not-for-credit courses, seminars or workshops for businesses at times and locations convenient for employers and employees.

Mendocino College Contract Education
P.O. Box 3000
Ukiah , CA 95482
(707) 468-3047
Fax: (707) 468-3120
Website: www.mendocinocollege.com

Mendocino County offers a number of economic development services. The County’s Economic Development Coordinator works in concert with public, private, and non-profit economic and workforce development providers.

XII. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS RESOURCES

 International Trade
California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency
Global Economic Development Division
1102 Q Street, Suite 6000
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-5511
Fax: (916) 324-5791
Website: www.tradeca.com

 Trade Information Center
U.S. Department of Commerce
(800) USA-TRADE
Fax: (202) 482-4473
Website: www.trade.gov

 Minority Business Development Centers , sponsored by the Federal Government, help minority businesses get contracts with the federal government. They also provide credit, management and technical assistance.

 MBDA Regional Office – San Francisco
221 Main Street, Room 1280
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-3001
Fax: (415) 744-3061
Website: www.mbdc.gov

 U.S. Small Business Administration , established in 1953, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their businesses.

 Small Business Administration
San Francisco District Office
455 Market Street, 6 th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-2420
(415) 744-6820
Website: www.sba.gov/ca/sf

XIII. LIBRARIES

CITY/COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES

The Mendocino County and City Libraries are excellent resources for business information needs. If they don't have the specific answers to your business questions, they can point the way to people and agencies that can help you. You can also call the Information Reference Desk of the County Library with your questions at (707) 463-4493. The Main Branch of the County Library has the largest set of business resources of all the public libraries

Mendocino County Library
Website: www.mendolibrary.org/mendolib.html

 Ukiah Public Library, Main Branch
105 N. Main Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 463-4491

Fort Bragg Public Library
499 Laurel
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 964-2020

Willits Public Library
390 E. Commercial St.
Willits, CA 95490
(707) 459-5908

Coast Community Library
280 Main Street
Point Arena, CA 95468
(707) 882-3114

Round Valley Library
76508 Covelo Road
Covelo, Ca 95428
(707) 983-7636

Mendocino Library
10591 Williams
Mendocino, CA 95460
(707) 937-5773

The newly established Mendocino County Law Library provides basic federal and state codes and practice books (law topics). The Library also carries legal forms, legal encyclopedias, County and Municipal Codes, Court Rules, and Lexus/Nexus. For more information, contact:

Mendocino County Law Library
Courthouse, Room 307
Room 207
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 463-4201
Fax: (707) 468:3459

COLLEGE LIBRARIES

College of the Redwoods
1211 Del Mar Dr.
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 961-1009, ext. 5

Mendocino Community College
Ukiah Campus
1000 Hensley Creek Rd.
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 468-3053

NON-PROFIT LIBRARIES

Mendocino Works has a resource library available to businesses in Mendocino County.

Mendocino Works
631 South Orchard Avenue
Ukiah, CA 95482

West Company Resource Library houses titles of current business publications, including books, periodicals, journals, trade show and conference calendars, and reports. Emphasis is on the "How-To's" of marketing, finance, and business planning. West's Resource Library also holds an impressive collection of sector specific information including: managing a home-based business; marketing specialty crops; and doing business in the service sector.

West Company
631 South Orchard St.
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707)467-5900
www.westcompany.org

West Company
760 B Stewart St.
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707)964-7571

The Sawyer Center , a project of the Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center, has a specialized collection of patent, trademark, and copyright information. The Sawyer Center will assist businesses in identifying and utilizing information in the collection, provide fee-based consulting and make referrals. Sawyer Center Initial Patent Search is available as an on-line, fee-based service.

The Sawyer Center
Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center
606 Healdsburg Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 524-1773
(707) 524-1772
Email: sbdcl@ap.net
Website: www.santarosa.edu/sbdc

Although contents differ, each Small Business Development Center has an extensive library available to people starting or operating a small business. This is an easy way to find resources to help you. A variety of publications from the Small Business Administration in such areas as business plans; financial management; management and planning; marketing; crime prevention; and personnel management. You may read the publications at the Small Business Development Center.

Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center
520 Mendocino Avenue, Suite 210
Santa Rosa, CA 59401 (7
07) 524-1771

• Demographics
• Infrastructure Development
• Financing Assistance Business Loans ($10,000+)
• Economic Development Planning/Research