The State of California has established a range of tax incentive programs to promote innovation, development and growth. These include the California Competes Tax Credit, Main Street Small Business Credit, Opportunity Zones, and other similar initiatives that offer small businesses in the state the opportunity to expand and grow. Homeowners and businesses that install solar energy systems may also be eligible for rebates, incentives and tax credits. The Alliance's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a strategic partnership between three agencies that provides a comprehensive range of services to minority-owned small businesses.
Ana is responsible for all relationships with the community and for implementing business-level initiatives that promote and improve the well-being of families and communities in the Central Valley and coastal regions, with a focus on housing affordability, small business growth, financial health and sustainability. Geri heads the Green for All Business Council, a board of black and brown CEOs at the forefront of the clean and green energy sector, working with Climate Commitment companies to ensure they make equitable commitments. Director Gray has been running her own business for two decades, working with two small business development centers, and running a business association and foundation. She has a degree in International Relations, Business and Spanish from the University of San Diego and a master's degree in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute for International Studies.
Josaline has worked in both the public and private sectors for nearly two decades before joining Small Business Majority. The Treasurer and Tax Collector of Los Angeles County offers an installment repayment plan (five-payment plan) for unpaid property taxes over a five-year period for commercial properties or vacant residential lots without improvements that are less than three years in arrears, as well as residential or agricultural properties that are less than five years in arrears. If the delinquency date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday observed in Los Angeles County, by law, the delinquency date is extended until the next business day. Director Gray has been actively engaging, educating and empowering small businesses in California's Central Valley.
Mihai Patru is the executive director of the Caravanserai Project, a social impact company that provides technical business support and capacity building to entrepreneurs and companies driven by a mission. Matt was the main point of contact for external and governmental issues at his previous position, coordinating regional policy development with elected officials and subregional, state and federal stakeholders in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Jackson is committed to breaking down barriers to state contracting for California's diverse small business sector and finding ways to create more opportunities for marginalized microenterprises. Debra has more than 25 years of leadership experience at private and non-profit research universities as well as twelve years of business development experience in the private sector.
She is an adjunct professor of Sustainable Business at the Presidio Graduate School with an MBA in Finance and an Executive MBA in Sustainable Business. Debra has extensive experience in investment banking, international infrastructure development and engineering as well as Lean Manufacturing for Hexcel Corporation where she was senior director of Andersen Consulting (Accenture). She specialized in financial and operational restructuring, strategic business planning, mitigating high-conflict crises and advising companies to recover their financial viability. Salinas is president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce representing member companies throughout Los Angeles County.
