Valley Economic Development Center
VEDC’s Vision: To be Southern California’s leading provider of consulting, training, and financing for small businesses, fostering economic and entrepreneurial growth, adding value for our clients, and enriching our community.

Small Business Advancement National Center
The Center’s purpose is to provide small businesses, entrepreneurs, educators, economic development officers, government, associations, and small business counselors with the necessary resources to further their business and economic efforts and goals. The Center’s activities are provided locally, nationally, and internationally for those interested in small business and entrepreneurship through distance learning, seminars, camps, conferences, counseling sessions, newsletters, and electronic linkages. Small business and entrepreneurial related research and information is dispersed through our extensive electronic information link.

Franchise Handbook OnLine
A comprehensive franchise directory devoted to bringing you useful information about franchising opportunities and franchising companies.

Rough & Tumble
A daily digest of California politics. This web site offers stories from news papers all over the country that relate to political issues affecting California. The site is updated daily and is the “insiders” source for information.

Chambers of Commerce & Industry Organizations

Valley Industry & Commerce Association
VICA is a nonprofit public benefit corporation formed in 1949 to advance and promote a positive socio-economic and balanced physical environment in the Northern Los Angeles and Ventura counties and to enhance this area’s attractiveness as a dynamic industrial and commercial region, and a desirable place to work and live.

United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley
Twenty-three member chambers comprise the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley, representing over 8500 member businesses. Represented chambers include Agoura, Arleta, Calabasas, Canoga Park/ West Hills, Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Mid San Fernando Valley, Mission Hills, Northridge, Pacoima, Reseda, San Fernando, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sunland/Tujunga, Sylmar, Tarzana, Toluca Lake, Universal City/North Hollywood, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills. Delegates from each chamber comprise the voting Board of Directors.

California Chamber of Commerce
A broad-based non-profit organization that brings together a diverse range of interests from business, industry and agriculture. Through your support the Chamber acts as a strong influence for positive action on key legislative and regulatory issues affecting California’s economy and our ability to compete in the world market.

United States Chamber of Commerce
The world’s largest federation of businesses, chambers of commerce, American chambers overseas and trade and professional associations, and is America’s principal advocate for the American business community. Its more than 215,000 members represent a broad spectrum of the business community and share the Chamber’s mission to “advance human progress through an economic, political and social system based on individual freedom, incentive, initiative, opportunity and responsibility.”

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
A volunteer, non-profit organization of retired business people. These retired men and women have acquired a wealth of practical experience, in a wide variety of businesses, which they are more than happy to share with the persons whom they counsel. SCORE provides counseling at no cost to the client. SCORE counsels persons who plan to go into business and those already in business – to help them deal with problems, upgrade their management skills and improve their prospect for success.