Economic Development Programs and Incentives
Congratulations and welcome! If you’re doing business in the County of San Bernardino, then you’re part of a dynamic economy. To keep that economy healthy and growing, our Business Services team is here to help. By bringing together business with numerous government resources and the region’s colleges and universities, we can all work together to attract new business and industry to the region while supporting and strengthening existing firms.
It’s all about doing what we can to help your business grow and thrive.
Workforce Development Department Business Assistance Programs
Enterprise Zones
Local Agency Military Base Recovery Area (LAMBRA)
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ)
EB-5 VISA: Attracting Foreign Investments
Southern California Edison Service Programs and Rebates
Southern California Gas Company (So Cal Gas)
Workforce Development Department (WDD) Business Assistance Programs
WDD offer programs to assist with the hiring and training of employees, including customized programs to meet your workforce needs. Our staff will assist your client with advertising for the recruitment of workers, verify which applicants, if hired, would provide your client with a tax credit and provide space in which to conduct interviews.
For more information about these programs, please visit Business Services Workforce Recruitment and Screening or contact:
Brad Gates
Deputy Director
San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department
Tel: 909-387-9841
E-mail: Bradley.Gates@wdd.sbcounty.gov
Enterprise Zones
Within San Bernardino County, there are three Enterprise Zones: San Bernardino Valley Enterprise Zone that encompasses the cities of San Bernardino, Colton and parts of the County; the Barstow Enterprise Zone within the city of Barstow and the Hesperia Enterprise Zone within its namesake city. The Enterprise Zones are a State of California program that offers tax credits. Detailed information on specific tax credits can be found by visiting the websites above for each zone. Please click here for a Google Map of all three Enterprise Zones.
Local Agency Military Base Recovery Area (LAMBRA)
The County of San Bernardino has two LAMBRAs. They are located at the former Norton Air Force Base, now San Bernardino International Airport, in the city of San Bernardino and at the former George Air Force Base in the city of Victorville, now called Southern California Logistic Airport. Within the LAMBRA areas, businesses can apply for incentives. These incentives for LAMBRAs may be beneficial to your business. (San Bernardino International Airport has the same incentives as the Southern California Logistics Airport)
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ)
A Foreign Trade Zone is a secure, access-restricted Customs & Border Protection privileged area in or near a U.S. Port of Entry where merchandise both domestic and foreign may be admitted for storage, manipulation, manufacturing, exhibition, destruction duty-free. For additional information, please review the following two documents: FTZ Summary and Benefits and FTZ Comparison Chart.
There are a few Foreign Trade Zones located in San Bernardino County. Currently, the city of Ontario is designated and licensed by the FTZ Board under the direction of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. To review a map of Ontario’s FTZ, please click here. In addition, Southern California Logistics Airport (www.logisticsairport.com) in the city of Victorville is designated as a U.S. Customs Port of Entry. San Bernardino International Airport in the city of San Bernardino also has a designated Foreign Trade Zone (http://www.sbdairport.com/air_cargo_services/default.htm). San Bernardino County can also work with businesses to obtain a FTZ designation in other areas within the County.
EB-5 VISA: Attracting Foreign Investments
The International trade office aims to promote investment opportunities in the County and bring much needed capital to grow area businesses. The Regional Center pilot program allows a designated entity to offer an EB-5 U.S. Visa as part of an incentive package to attract foreign investors into project areas within the County of San Bernardino. For frequently asked questions, please click here. For a list of Regional Centers with San Bernardino County scope, please click here.
Southern California Edison Service Programs and Rebates
Southern California Edison has a new Economic Development Rate (EDR) Program that offers rate discounts to eligible business customers. The EDR rates are currently found at the following link: SCE EDR Rates.
EDR Program Brochure
There may also be other Edison programs and savings you may be eligible for. For more information, please contact our local Edison representative:
Stephanie Young
Project Manager
Southern California Edison
Tel: 909-357-6536
E-mail: stephanie.young@sce.com
Governor's Office of Economic Development, GoED
The State of California offers many incentives also. For more information, please contact:
David Knudsen
Assistant Deputy Director
CalBIS (CA Business Investment Services), GoED
Tel: 909-383-4657
E-mail: david.knudsen@gov.ca.gov
Southern California Gas Company (So Cal Gas)
So Cal Gas Company is advising customers to take advantage of the utility’s assistance programs that can help reduce utility bills and increase energy efficiency. For more information, please contact:
Kristine Scott
Public Affairs Manager
So Cal Gas Company
Tel: (909) 335-7941
E-mail: kscott@semprautilities.com