Pasadena First Buy Local

Technical Assistance

Overview

The ongoing technical assistance referrals for local businesses is discussed in objective five of the Operations Document as the primary focus for strategic partnerships. It is designed to develop internal and external relationships that support the services necessary to advance local procurement, contracting, and hiring efforts. Staff will seek strategic partnerships with technical assistance providers to establish necessary support components for local businesses seeking to do business with the City of Pasadena to include Finance, State Small Business Certification, and Business Development Workshops.State of California Small Business Certification

State of California Small Business Certification

The City of Pasadena offers a 5% preference to businesses for being certified as a small business with the State of California on Request for Proposals. The links and instructions below will help you to understand the ancillary benefits to being certified with the State, eligibility requirements, and instructions for initiating the application process.

• Small Business Certification Benefits and Eligibility Requirements
  http://www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/smbus/sbcert.htm 
 
• Certification Application Requirements
  http://www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/smbus/certappreq.htm
 
• Online Certification Process
  Print out these instructions before you begin:
  http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/eprocure/HowtoBidSync.pdf
  Click here to start the process:
  http://www.eprocure.dgs.ca.gov/default.htm

Finance

Through Pasadena First Buy Local the City of Pasadena offers referrals for local businesses in need of financial assistance.  The agencies listed below are part of the Strategic Partners to facilitate financial assistance for local businesses.

• Contract Financing Description

Consistent with our strategy to provide technical assistance to local businesses staff recognizes an unmet need of local vendors in order to provide products or services to the City of Pasadena. This contract-financing referral service is designed to meet the immediate needs of local businesses to initiate work on City contracts. The application process is typically 30 days from the time of submitting a completed application.
Vendors that have been awarded a contract from the City of Pasadena, and are in need of advanced funding to begin work will be referred to a Community Based Lender to apply for financing by using the revenues from these contracts as collateral. The amount and term of the loan is typically based on the contract and the business’ revenues.


Specifically these financial technical assistance partners have been identified to provide financing services to:

• If qualified, provide advance funding (loans) to local businesses for government contracts that require immediate capital when awarded
• If qualified, provides capital that is often used for contract mobilization needs or as a bridge loan to the vendor’s next level of growth
• If qualified, provide access to capital that is repaid by cash flow generated from the borrower’s contract when invoiced by the vendor
• Design and administer loan agreements with local businesses

Business Development Services

Through Pasadena First Buy Local the City of Pasadena offers referrals for local businesses in need of “business development services” including proposal writing; bidding on government contracts; and managing government contracts. The agencies listed below are part of the Strategic Partners to facilitate Business Development Services for local businesses  

Youth Entrepreneurship Outreach

General Description

Through collaboration between Pasadena First Buy Local and the Business & Entrepreneurship Academy, outreach and referrals are being facilitated to partner Pasadena youth with Local Businesses. The Business & Entrepreneurship Academy is seeking local businesses to facilitate mentoring, job shadowing and work-based learning opportunities for Pasadena youth.

The Business & Entrepreneurship Academy (Academy) is one of several partnerships in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) to administer a program called “Pathways.” The Pathway at John Muir High School is designed to combine academic instruction with advanced technical skills through mentoring, job shadowing and work-based learning opportunities by the participation of local organizations, local businesses, and parents. 

Local Business Participation

Consider “Pathways” as an opportunity to become a business-mentor for Pasadena’s future business owners and leaders. Work with the Academy to facilitate the following milestones with PUSD’s 11th, and 12th grade students (and Parents):

• Work-Based Learning Opportunity
• Job Shadowing Opportunity
• Mentoring Opportunity
• Guest Speaking to High School Students

Student Eligibility; and Benefits

Students must be at least 16 years of age, a junior in high school and meet PUSD Pathways guidelines for participation. By the hands-on training from Local Businesses, Students will be offered the opportunity to establish a connection between their goals, and their education. Students will also gain experience from guest speakers that can expose them to different career opportunities in the area of business. Each Pathway will provide students the experience of writing a business plan and presentation skills which are skills all students need for their future.

For More Details:

Business & Entrepreneurship Academy
1905 N. Lincoln
626-396-5600 x82185
626-396-3600 x88425