Sacramento Valley SBDC Partners with Yuba County to Launch Business Start-Up Program

Marysville, CA | Small businesses now have the opportunity to take part in free entrepreneurial education – and a chance at $10,000 – through a new startup program from Yuba County and SBDC. This week, Yuba County opened applications for Yes to Start Ups, a business incubator program established in partnership with Sacramento Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The program is a free, online training series that offers fundamental business education, resources, and technical assistance to entrepreneurs starting or growing new businesses in Yuba County. The series will culminate in a pitch competition where participants will receive start-up funding grants of up to $10,000. Applications are available on sacramentovalleysbdc.org/yestostartups and are accepted until January 14. To participate in the program, legal business entities must be registered or plan to register in Yuba County. The 6-week series will take place virtually on Tuesdays, Jan 30 through March 5, 2024.

“Yuba County is a great place to start a business,” says Rachel Downs, Business Engagement Manager with Yes to Yuba. “We have strong communities that love to shop small and support the local economy, and we’re proud to create new opportunities for the area’s entrepreneurs to thrive.”

The series will be taught by a business advisor from Sacramento Valley SBDC, a business development nonprofit that serves Yuba County businesses with no-cost advising and education. The six-week training will focus on writing a business plan—including financial projections, market research, and pitching to funders—and will prepare participants for the pitch competition.

“This program provides an innovative way for entrepreneurs to grow their business and help them to develop a winning pitch to access funding.,” explains SiewYee Lee-Alix, Director of Sacramento Valley SBDC. “We are looking forward to watch business owners pursue their dreams and to continue supporting them.”

Through the capstone pitch competition, the entrepreneurs who complete the educational portion of the program will have the opportunity to receive start-up funding. This increase in access to funding is another significant step towards elevating Yuba County as a location where businesses can start, grow, and thrive.