County association and SBDC representatives urge distribution timelines and $26M for small-business assistance

During the public-comment portion of the California State Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 4 hearing, two statewide stakeholders thanked the subcommittee for proposed funding and urged additional or clarified support for local implementation.

Justin Garrett of the California State Association of Counties told the subcommittee the association was grateful for the committee’s full funding of the program he referenced at $1,000,000,000 and for the commitment to distribute funds by the Sept. 1 target date; he said the association looks forward to continued engagement on trailer-bill language.

Christina Rico, speaking on behalf of the Small Business Development Centers, thanked staff for collaboration and requested that GO-Biz be funded at $26,000,000 for the SBDC network’s loan assistance and technical-assistance programs. Rico described the request as a one-time augmentation intended to support thousands of businesses currently unable to receive services because the program is oversubscribed; she added that the SBDC network and women's business centers served over 150,000 businesses last year.

Both presenters framed their remarks as implementation and distribution concerns tied to the budget actions the subcommittee was considering. The chair thanked public commenters and said written comments or suggestions may also be submitted to the committee’s website for inclusion in the official hearing record.