Business Incentives
Enterprise Zone
The Enterprise Zone is an 18-square-mile, state-designated area including downtown. Enterprise Zone benefits primarily to small- and medium-sized companies include sales and use tax credits, manufacturers’ investment credits, business expense deductions, net interest deductions for lenders, hiring credits, and tax credits for qualified employees. Contact Yolanda Lee, Office of Economic Development, 535-8191.
Parking Incentives for new Businesses
Details include:
- FREE parking in City garages and lots for new businesses that enter into a lease in a downtown office or commercial retail building, for up to two years.
- FREE parking for downtown businesses that are extending leases and planning to relocate cars from a privately owned garage or lot into a City parking facility.
- 50 percent discount for businesses located downtown parking in City facilities and extending their existing leases. Normal $100 rate discounted to $50 per month.
- FREE and discounted parking will be provided for half the term of a new lease or half the extended period of a new lease. A maximum of 50 parking permits per business.
In passing the incentives March 16, 2010, the City Council placed a 500-space total on existing businesses wanting to take advantage of the parking deal, with no limitation to the total number for new businesses and leases.
Here's the application. Interested businesses should contact Elias Khoury with the City’s Department of Transportation at elias.khoury@sanjoseca.gov or 975-3707.
The Downtown Parking Validation Program offers up to two hours of validated parking for customers of downtown retail, night clubs, and bars, plus social service providers. To improve customer service, the City recommends that participating merchants:
- Use
one-hour and two-hour magnetic-stripe validations instead of 20 minute stickers: Magnetic stripe validations save customers
time by allowing them to use validations at pay-on-foot stations and
automated exit gates. They are also easier for businesses to explain and understand.
- Participating public garages include:
- Market and San Pedro Square Garage,
- Third Street Garage,
- Third / Santa Clara Garage,
- Fourth Street Garage,
- Second and San Carlos Street Garage,
- Central Place Garage
- Convention Center Garage.
Other participating garages and surface parking lots accept magnetic-stripe validation tickets. Click here for complete information and forms.
Sidewalk Café Permitting Assistance
SJDA and the San Jose Redevelopment Agency are streamlining the sidewalk café permitting process. Permitting fees will be waived for businesses to go through this process. Contact Gretchen Knight Baisa.
Small Business Loans
Revolving Loan Funds ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 are often leveraged with private capital and can be used for working capital, tenant improvements, equipment and other uses (but not intended to finance mortgage loans). Contact: Office of Economic Development 535-8181.
Opportunity Fund
Opportunity Fund is a non-profit lender that provides small business loans of $1,000-$200,000 to low-moderate income entrepreneurs who do not qualify for traditional bank loans. The repayment process is simple, 1 to 10 year terms and little to no collateral requirements. Business technical advice is also provided. Contact: (866) 299-8173.
Small Business Opportunity Program
City departments use online posting and e-mail notification to inform potential vendors of open bids and contracting opportunities. Contact: Office of Economic Development 535-8181.
Special Tenant Improvement Program
The city’s Special Tenant Improvement Program provides incentives to developers to expedite tenant improvement projects in vacant buildings to make the space ready for quick occupancy for industrial and R&D office uses. Financial incentives include: construction tax suspension, plan check fee deferrals, phased project building permit fee payment plans, one-stop permit process, expedited plan check, and enhanced inspection services.
Santa Clara County’s Green Business Program
Get assistance to become certified as an environmentally friendly business. To be certified, you must be in compliance with all environmental regulations and take measures to reduce waste, conserve energy and water and prevent pollution. Also, find out about rebate programs.
Additional City of San Jose Resources
Financial Assistance
Learn about financial assistance for your business, from low-cost loans to grants.
BidLine provides current contract opportunities and general information on how to do business with the City of San Jose. 535-7018
Classes and Counseling
SBA-Cisco Systems-San Jose Entrepreneur Center provides information and classes on financing programs, technical assistance, training, technology, and procurement that help a company better see its future.
Silicon Valley Economic Development assists small businesses and start-ups through courses, technical assistance, and business counseling. 298-8455.
Small Business Development Center of Silicon Valley is dedicated to assisting with small business opportunities, preventing future problems, improving management skills, helping businesses expand and develop, promoting minority and women-owned businesses, and creating and retaining jobs. 494-0240.
Software Development Forum provides software and Internet professionals with a one-stop location in downtown San Jose for information, connections, and education. 414-5950.
Also, the work2future has ongoing professional development opportunities for business.
Downtown Hotels
Coming downtown for business? Stay downtown. The airport is just minutes away. Here are the hotel choices.
