Tulare County Business Resource Expo Series

SBDC Launches Tulare County Business Resource Expo Series to Support Entrepreneurs Across the Region – First Session in Dinuba


Local entrepreneurs connect with advisors at the Dinuba Business Resource Expo, the first in a countywide series providing free training and resources to support small business growth.

Tulare County, CA – September 17, 2025 – The County of Tulare’s Economic Development Office (EDO) has teamed up with the Valley Community Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and a wide network of local partners to launch a four-part Business Resource Expo series this September. The series is bringing training, resources, and networking opportunities directly to entrepreneurs and small business owners across Tulare County and launched at Dinuba Packing on September 16, 2025, where local entrepreneurs engaged with advisors to receive feedback on business ideas, business plans, and scaling operations. Dinuba Packing then celebrated a Grand Opening for its new facilities on September 17, 2025.

The Dinuba event highlighted strong collaboration among community partners, chambers of commerce, and support organizations, setting the tone for the upcoming expos in Lindsay, Visalia, and Tulare later this month. Business resources were available in both English and Spanish, and all partners are committed to connecting participants with additional language support if other needs arise. The next Business Resource Expo event will take place at Lindsay City Hall on September 18, 2025, at 6 p.m.

The expos will be hosted in partnership with chambers of commerce and community anchors in Dinuba, Lindsay, Tulare, and Visalia. By rooting these events in nearby cities, the County is ensuring that entrepreneurs from unincorporated communities have access to the same level of support and technical assistance as those located within city limits.

“These expos are a powerful way to multiply our impact,” said Michael Washam, ACE, RMA Associate Director. “By teaming up with the SBDC, chambers of commerce, cities, and other partners, we’re creating a stronger business support network and encouraging new business growth where it’s needed most.” Following the conclusion of the four-part series, the County plans to continue collaborating with all Tulare County cities and chambers to find additional business training opportunities for the region.



Local business owner Griselda Ortiz of Bee Happy Flowers stops by the County of Tulare’s GROW Tulare County information table, where she connected with Economic Development Analyst Javier Cisneros during the Dinuba Business Resource Expo.

Event highlights include:

• Free resources to help start or grow a business
• Steps to creating a marketing plan
• How to access capital and financing opportunities
• The importance of building and maintaining good credit

This effort builds on Tulare County’s earlier investments to expand business assistance capacity. In late 2024, the EDO provided American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the Tulare Business Innovation Zone (TBIZ) and the SBDC to strengthen technical support services for local entrepreneurs. Attendees can further connect with resources and new contacts following each event, with the County of Tulare and all partners prepared to conduct additional business resource referrals, as needed.

Business Resource Expo Schedule

• Dinuba – Tuesday, September 16, 5:30–7:00 p.m., Durango Packing House, 6501 Avenue 416, Dinuba, CA 93618
• Lindsay – Thursday, September 18, 6 – 8 p.m., Lindsay Town Hall, 251 E Honolulu St, Lindsay, CA 93247
• Visalia – Tuesday, September 23, 6 – 8 p.m. Able Inc., 2505 N. Shirk Rd., Visalia, CA 93291
• Tulare – Tuesday, September 30, 5 – 7 p.m., Tulare Business Innovation Zone, 425 E Kern Ave, Tulare, CA 93274

The business training series is free and open to the public. To register, please call (559) 324-6403 or email vcsbdc@cloviscollege.edu. For social media updates, interested parties are encouraged to follow the County of Tulare’s GROW Tulare County initiative on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.


Business partners gathered at the Dinuba Business Resource Expo, including the County of Tulare’s Economic Development Office, Access Capital, Valley Strong Credit Union, Valley Community SBDC, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC), joining forces to support Tulare County entrepreneurs.

Click Here
Event flyer for Business Resource Expo sessions.
 
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About the Tulare County Economic Development Office (GROW Tulare County Initiative)
The County of Tulare’s Economic Development Office, part of the Tulare County Resource Management Agency, works to advance economic growth, support business opportunities, and promote the region’s diverse assets. Through its three core initiatives, GROW Tulare County (focused on economic development and business attraction, retention & expansion), Discover Tulare County (regional tourism promotion), and the Tulare County Film Commission (supporting filming and creative content creation), the office is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive local economy. By partnering with local businesses, community organizations, and regional, state, and federal stakeholders, the Tulare County Economic Development Office helps strengthen Tulare County’s position as a dynamic place to live, work, and invest. More information is available by visiting www.growtularecounty.org. To contact the team, please email economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov or call (559) 624-7177.
 
About Valley Community SBDC
The Valley Community Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is dedicated to promoting the development, growth, and success of small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare Counties. As part of the Central California SBDC Network, it delivers confidential, no-cost business advising—including assistance with strategic planning, accessing capital, marketing, manufacturing support, and more—through one-on-one guidance, webinars, trainings, and events. Since 2019, the Center has served over 6,000 clients, helped launch 471 new ventures, and facilitated more than $139 million in capital infusion.

Valley Community SBDC is accredited by America’s SBDC and funded via a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). To learn more, please visit https://valleycommunitysbdc.com/.