Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development

Name

Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development

Legal name

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development

Website

https://business.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Taxation & Revenue Administration (BPAIABAD), Licensing & Permitting Authorities (General) (BPAIAOAB)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business assistance programs
• Tax credit administration
• International trade promotion
• Small business support

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California's lead agency for job growth, economic development, and business assistance. It offers no-cost consultation to business owners for attraction, retention, and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, regulatory navigation, small business assistance, and international trade development. It administers tax credit programs (California Competes Tax Credit, Film & Television Tax Credit), grant programs, and export promotion through the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).

Product overview

GO-Biz serves as California's leader for job growth, economic development, and business assistance. The agency offers a portfolio of programs including the California Competes Tax Credit (an income tax credit for business attraction and expansion), the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program (incentives for film/TV production), the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP for export support), and the Opportunity Zones 2.0 Program. CalOSBA provides small business advocacy and resources through a network of over 1,000 advisors. California Jobs First drives regional economic development. CalGold assists with permit navigation. These programs collectively support business attraction, retention, workforce development, international trade, and sustainable economic growth across California's economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• California Competes Tax Credit (CalCompetes): Program that provides income tax credits to businesses locating or expanding in California
• California Film & Television Tax Credit Program
• California State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
• California Jobs First

Products and services

• California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Every $1 of film tax credit generates $24.40 in economic output, $16.14 in GDP and $8.60 in wages
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• SelectUSA Investment Summit (U.S. Department of Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026GO-Biz led California's participation at the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit, the cornerstone of California's foreign direct investment strategy. GO-Biz led its largest-ever delegation of 33 economic development organizations from across California, representing a unified statewide approach to investment attraction. At the Summit, GO-Biz hosted a sold-out California Spotlight Event with 340+ international organizations, and engaged investors from more than 60 international markets.
• SelectLA Investment SummitminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026As a pre-SelectUSA platform, GO-Biz participated in SelectLA Investment Summit in Los Angeles on April 28 to engage international investors and shape perceptions of California regional opportunities.
• TeamCalifornia Roadshow (Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino Counties)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026GO-Biz conducted a TeamCalifornia Roadshow in Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties from April 28-30 to demonstrate opportunities for global firms in dynamic regions of the state.
• Francisco Motors CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2025GO-Biz formally expressed support for Francisco Motors' proposed $5 billion electric vehicle manufacturing expansion (Project Mesa) in Santa Clarita Valley. GO-Biz offered an extensive incentive package including R&D tax credits, sales and use tax exemptions up to $20 million, property tax abatements through the Capital Investment Incentive Program, and workforce training funding up to $850,000. Francisco Motors cited California's advanced EV ecosystem, institutional support, and favorable policy environment as key reasons for choosing California over expanded domestic manufacturing in the Philippines.
• Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs (Minister Henk Kamp)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2017GO-Biz Director Panorea Avdis and Netherlands Minister for Economic Affairs Henk Kamp signed an agreement in San Francisco enabling increased Dutch investment into California for zero emission vehicle infrastructure. This bilateral cooperation formalized collaboration on EV infrastructure policy and investment promotion between California and the Netherlands.
• IBank (California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBank provides financial assistance to support infrastructure and economic development in California and is part of GO-Biz's business ecosystem, operating within the GO-Biz family of economic development entities.
• Visit CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit California works with the state's travel industry to develop marketing programs that inspire travel to California. It operates within GO-Biz's business ecosystem.
• California Film CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe California Film Commission is GO-Biz's one-stop resource for film, TV, and commercial production across the Golden State. It administers the Film & Television Tax Credit Program under GO-Biz's oversight.
• CalOSBA (California Office of the Small Business Advocate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalOSBA helps California small business, entrepreneurs, and startups better navigate statewide resources, programs, and regulations. It operates under GO-Biz's umbrella, elevating small business voices in state government.
• World Trade Center Los AngelesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of the 33-member California delegation at SelectUSA 2026. Represented California's investment opportunities and engaged international investors.
• World Trade Center San DiegominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of the 33-member California delegation at SelectUSA 2026. Engaged with international investors and showcased San Diego's innovation economy.
• Greater Sacramento Economic CouncilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of the 33-member California delegation at SelectUSA 2026 representing regional economic development interests.
• San Diego State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented regional research and commercialization capacity as part of the 33-member California delegation at SelectUSA 2026.
• Port of Los AngelesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort of Los Angeles received an $8 million grant from GO-Biz — the largest among five grants totaling $27 million — to upgrade its Port Optimizer cloud-based technology platform. The upgrade develops three key enhancements: a unified truck appointment system interoperable with Port of Long Beach, a CalPorts mobile app for data exchange, and an online gateway for carbon impact data with real-time Green Asset Scores.
• Port of Long BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort of Long Beach is the interoperability partner for the unified truck appointment system being developed by the Port of Los Angeles with GO-Biz grant funding.
• California Competes Tax Credit CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CCTC Committee is comprised of GO-Biz Director (Chair), State Treasurer, Director of Department of Finance, and two legislative appointees (Todd Walters appointee of Senate Rules Committee; Madeline Janis appointee of Speaker of the Assembly). It evaluates and approves tax credit applications.
• Economic Innovation Group (EIG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIG provides interactive dashboards and OZ 2.0 resources linked by GO-Biz in its Opportunity Zones guidance. EIG is also listed as a resource for OZ census tract exploration.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JobsOhio: Ohio's private nonprofit economic development corporation that administers state tax incentive programs (Job Creation Tax Credit, Ohio Job Creation Retention Grant) and executes single-point-of-contact site selection and incentive packaging — a structurally analogous model to GO-Biz's CalCompetes program.
• Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT): Colorado's state economic development agency, administering tax credit programs (Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit, Strategic Fund), international trade promotion, and no-cost business consultation — closely mirrors GO-Biz's mandate across tax credits, international trade, and small business support.
• MassDevelopment: Massachusetts's state economic development and finance authority, providing tax-exempt bond financing, tax incentive administration, and real estate development tools. Comparable to GO-Biz's IBank and CalCompetes functions.
• Empire State Development: New York State's principal economic development agency, administering Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and similar attraction/retention/expansion services. Directly comparable as a state-level agency offering no-cost business consultation, tax incentive programs, and international investment attraction.
• Georgia Department of Economic Development: Georgia's lead state agency for business recruitment, retention, and international trade. Operates with similar functions to GO-Biz including international offices, incentive negotiation, and Small Business Administration partnerships.
• Florida Department of Economic Opportunity: Florida's principal state economic development agency, administering tax incentives (Capital Investment Tax Credit, Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund), workforce training, and international trade — directly comparable to GO-Biz's program portfolio and a top peer competitor for relocating businesses.
• Texas Economic Development & Tourism: Texas's state-level economic development office within the Office of the Governor. Administers the Texas Enterprise Fund, no-cost consulting, and international investment attraction — the primary head-to-head competitor to GO-Biz for U.S. corporate relocation projects.
• Business Oregon: Oregon's state economic development agency, administering Business Oregon Incentive Programs, infrastructure financing, and small business support functions analogous to GO-Biz's CalCompetes, IBank, and CalOSBA programs.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA): Federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce providing infrastructure grants and economic development planning assistance. Comparable to GO-Biz at the federal level — broader in scope but overlapping on grant administration and distressed community investment (e.g., Opportunity Zones 2.0).

Others

• SelectUSA (U.S. Department of Commerce): Federal investment attraction program within the International Trade Administration that organizes the annual SelectUSA Investment Summit where GO-Biz leads California's delegation. Directly partnering ecosystem entity rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAGoBiz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CAGOBiz
• Facebookfacebook.com/CAGOBiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/governor-s-office-of-business-and-economic-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development