Above: The Small Business Advisory Committee's first meeting was held December 7, 2023 

This November the Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) established a new Small Business Advisory Committee with a goal to advocate for all small businesses in San José.

Here in San José and Silicon Valley, small businesses help drive the economy. Today there are more than 60,000 active businesses in San Jose and in the past ten years, more businesses than ever have launched here in the city of San José . More than a third of San José’s small businesses are micro-businesses, employing two to nine full-time employees. These small businesses play a key role in creating jobs for our residents and add to the vibrancy of our community.

However, the COVID pandemic severely impacted many existing small businesses in San José and not all have recovered. The city’s response recognized the important role small business plays in creating wealth, building community and promoting equity. The formation of the Small Business Advisory Committee speaks to the City’s desire to encourage supporting these small businesses. The mission of the Committee will be to advocate for small businesses in San José, promote entrepreneurship and continue to make San José an ideal place to live, work and do business in.

Vic Farlie, OEDCA’s lead for the committee sees it as “the key link between how we improve what we do now and how we design the future for all business in San José”.

The City Manager appointed 12 committee members to serve a three-year term through 2026. The committee’s members reflect a diverse range of stakeholders who have a clear economic interest in supporting small business here in San José: small business owners, representatives of chambers of commerce, education, banks, neighborhood business associations and technical assistance providers.

Several committee members shared what they hope to achieve with the committee.

Christina Bui, owner of Love Me Knots Bridal and Chair of the Tully Road – Eastridge Business Association shared that, “Being a small business owner, I’m hoping to support and uplift the small businesses out there like mine.”

Mimi M. Hernandez, co-founder and executive Director of Prosperity Lab is excited that her appointment to the Committee will “provide a platform to continue to advocate for resources, policies and initiatives that favor small business owners from historically disinvested communities and diverse backgrounds.”

Azer Manashir, Senior Vice President of Bank of America expressed, “As the nation’s top lender to small businesses, it’s a great honor to serve on the City of San José Small Business Advisory Committee. Bank of America was founded by a San José native, A.P. Giannini, who had an unshakeable commitment to serving local entrepreneurs. I look forward to sharing the bank’s insights and resources in support of this important effort.”

The committee held its first meeting on December 7, 2023, discussed initial priorities and will begin work in January to develop a work plan and elect the chair and vice chair of the committee.

Small Business Advisory Committee Meetings will be open to the public, live interpretation can be provided upon request and will include space for public comment.

To stay connected with future meetings of the Small Business Advisory Committee or for more information, visit the Small Business Advisory Committee page, follow us on social media or reach out to Vic Farlie at (408) 535-8230 or victor.farlie@sanjoseca.gov.