Mission & History

Mission

“Capital and Capacity to Serve Communities”

History

California Capital was chartered in 1982 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation to administer the State of California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program (SBLGP), providing guarantees on bank loans for new and existing small businesses. For 40 years, California Capital has maintained a commitment to the communities we serve, strengthening the capacity of individuals and communities through financial education, business development services, and access to capital for entrepreneurs.

In 2001, California Capital was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of Treasury. In 2012, California Capital was awarded designation as a Women’s Business Center by the U.S. Small Business Administration. In 2014, California Capital was designated as a Procurement Technical Assistance Center by the Department of Defense, providing training and technical assistance for small businesses that sell their products and services to federal, state, and/or local governments. In 2023,the PTAC program renamed centers as APEX Accelerators.In 2022, California Capital launched the the Sacramento Valley SBDC, serving four counties in the Northern California SBDC Network. California Capital is co-located with the U.S. Commercial Services Sacramento Export Center, which assists businesses with selling their products and services internationally.

California Capital values our local partnerships, as we work to connect individuals to resources in the community and to connect communities to our services. California Capital has provided additional programs through the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), including specialized initiatives such as childcare business training, relief grant programs, and access to capital.  We are designated as a Business Information Center under the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency, working with that agency to provide capacity building resources that benefit entrepreneurship and small businesses; supporting job creation and retention in the region. California Capital was designated as the Lead Economic Development Implementation Partner for the Sacramento Promise Zone through the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency.

Each of California Capital’s programs are carefully designed to meet the needs of the communities they serve and are consistent with their mission to offer a wide range of flexible financial products and services to increase economic opportunities for underserved communities and people. Through community collaboration and creativity, California Capital delivers effective solutions in a changing economic environment.

Capital Financial Development Corporation is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in employment or in participation of any program or activity offered or operated by our organization. For more information: https://cacapital.org/title-vi-and-section-504-compliance/.

In Memoriam

California Capital FDC owes its continued growth and impact to the vision of its founding President and CEO, Mr. Clarence Williams. Clarence was a nationally recognized leader who dedicated his career to advancing racial and economic equity and justice through small business development. He passed away on May 8, 2023. Please click here to read more about Clarence’s living legacy.  

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