The City offers various programs and funding opportunties for local businesses.

EDC-VC Business Loan Fund: The Economic Development Collaborative -- Ventura County (EDC-VC), with funding provided by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, has created a new Business Loan Fund for Ventura County. Loans are primarily targeted toward defense and defense related businesses or dislocated defense related workers who were impacted by he decline in defense spending. Companies in one of the county's six identified core growth business clusters (agriculture, high technology/communications, biomedical, plastics, environmental, and metals/machinery) that can demonstrate a need to hire a high percentage of dislocated defense related workers may also qualify. The EDC-VC will work with you to structure a loan package that is flexible and affordable and responds to your business needs. For more information visit http://www.edc-vc.com/loan_programs.htm or contact Marvin Boateng, EDC-VC Director Business Loan Fund Programs, (805) 384-1800, ext. 22. 

Micro-Enterprise Assistance:  The City uses a portion of its annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), a regional non-profit agency that supports the development and expansion of micro-businesses (those with from one to five employees). WEV provides a continuum of programs, including training, consulting and loans to help residents of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties start and grow small businesses. Though services are targeted toward women, WEV serves men as well. WEV’s core 14-week Self Employment Training (SET) program is offered at a reduced fee for low-income residents. For more information and to register for an upcoming free 1-hour orientation, visit WEV’s website:www.wevonline.org or (805) 667-8004.

A-Team Assistance: The City Manager will create a processing team comprised of staff from all necessary departments to assist business/developers interested in Thousand Oaks locations. For additional information, contact Haider Alawami, Economic Development Officer, (805) 449-2135.

Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ): The City of Thousand Oaks is within a Recycling Market Development Zone. Businesses using discarded material to make products are eligible for a variety of State and local assistance and incentives. For additional information, call (805) 658-4312.

For Business License Information contact the Finance Department at (805) 449-2201.

For additional program information, contact Haider Alawami, Economic Development Officer, (805) 449-2135.