Services & Incentives


The Economic Development Agency provides a variety of programs and services designed to attract new industry to the County of San Bernardino as well as retain existing businesses. Our objective is to maximize employment opportunities and increase capital investment throughout the region.

If your company is looking to relocate or expand in the County of San Bernardino, we can provide a detailed package of information to assist in your fact gathering. Our region is diverse, with numerous benefits and advantages for business. Whether your priorities are available workforce, available real estate, transportation, or local amenities, we can customize a package based on your specific needs.

Contact us for more information about the following services:

Marketing Analysis Assistance
Fast-Track Permitting Assistance
Workforce Development Department Business Assistance Programs
Redevelopment Project Areas (RDAs)
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)


Marketing Analysis Assistance

Receive free market analysis and demographic information in the form of the following customized reports and maps:
  • Market profile
  • Demographic and income profile
  • Housing profile
  • Retail goods and services expenditures
  • Retail marketplace profile
  • Business summary
  • Standard site map
  • Aerial map
And much more...


Fast-Track Permitting Assistance

For businesses that are creating jobs and private investment in the County of San Bernardino, assistance with obtaining County land use permits is available. This service includes coordinating permits with various development-review departments and providing expedited permit processing and plan check.
Ready to Seize the Advantage?  Please contact us via e-mail at BusinessDevelopment@SBCountyAdvantage.com



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:

Nick DeMartz
Deputy Director
San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department
Tel: 909-387-9841
E-mail: ndemartz@wdd.sbcounty.gov


Redevelopment Project Areas (RDAs)


REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Redevelopment is one of the most important tools a community has to breathe new life into areas experiencing economic decline.  Special legal and financial mechanisms allow redevelopment
agencies greater flexibility in an effort to assist in the removal of impediments to economic development.

The County of San Bernardino Redevelopment Agency (RDA) was established in 1980. Since that time five redevelopment areas have been formed, although only four are managed by the RDA. Through focused public investment, the RDA shapes more prosperous and sustainable communities through economic
revitalization. The four project areas include the:

• San Sevaine Redevelopment Project
• Cedar Glen Disaster Recovery Redevelopment Project
• Mission Boulevard Joint Redevelopment Project
• Victor Valley Economic Development Authority


Redevelopment is a tool that is used to:

• Create Jobs
• Support Schools
• Build Affordable Housing
• Revitalize Neighborhoods
• Build Public Facilities and Community Parks
• Rebuild public infrastructures
• Clean-up Contaminated Properties

For your reference, the contact for the County’s Redevelopment Project Areas is as follows: 

Gary Hallen
Deputy Director
San Bernardino County Redevelopment Agency
Tel: 909-387-4391
E-mail: ghallen@rda.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