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Business Assistance

The City of Covina is ready to assist businesses. Staff is available to meet with you to should you have questions on starting a business, the permit process, or any other questions that you have related to the City or our processes. We want to help your business to thrive in Covina.

Economic Development Job Creation Program:
The Covina Economic Development Job Creation program is designed to create permanent jobs where at least 51% of which, computed on a full-time equivalent basis, involve the employment of low- and moderate-income persons.

A maximum of $100,000 is available to each participant, depending on project viability and available funds, and one low- to moderate-income full-time equivalent employee is to be hired for each $25,000 loaned/granted. Over $300,000 is currnetly available in this program. Click here to see what types of businesses are eligible.

Applications are reviewed for completion, considered by the Financial Committee, and submitted for City Council consideration.

Please contact the Agency for more information at (626) 384-5440.

Shop Covina program and the www.shopcovina.org website

The Shop Covina Program is designed to create awareness of, garner support for, and promote the benefits of shopping locally in Covina. Shop Covina program is more than just a buy local campaign. The Redevelopment Agency working with the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Committee, the Covina Downtown Association and other local groups will strive to:

Strengthen our local community
Increase awareness and educate consumers and businesses about the need to shop local for the longevity and sustainability of our community
Increase consumer and business spending in Covina
Increase competitiveness of local businesses through;

Education and Training
Business development

Attract customers from other areas to spend in Covina
Attract businesses to Covina
Create a buoyant and sustainable local economy

We are working to accomplish these goals through: advertising (newspaper, web, chamber e-mails, in-store, word of mouth, etc…), web site promotion, e-mail campaigns, and direct mail; providing training opportunities and business related informational brochures for businesses; reviews, newsletters and coupons to drive participants back to the site and onto the local stores; and providing information on City and utility company programs available to businesses, and other business retention and expansion programs available.

The first step is our kick-off campaign featuring the www.ShopCovina.org web site. The web site features a shopping spree contest ($500), a giveaway (Aluminum water bottles) to encourage people to shop in Covina and the ability to sign-up for current and future coupons, newsletters and reviews of Covina businesses. The web site is also the starting point for providing information on why it is important to shop locally. The web site also contains a comprehensive local Dining and Entertainment Guide and information on shopping areas. We will be getting out more information through the Chamber and the CDA about the Shop Covina Program and participating on the site with coupons.

The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, created by Civic Economics, showed that for every $100 in consumer spending at a local independent businesses, $73 stays in the local economy, and that for every $100 in consumer spending at a local national store $43 stays in the local economy. Whether you shop at a local independent business or a local national chain, shopping locally benefits you and your community. With the assistance of the Chamber of Commerce and groups like the Covina Downtown Association the Redevelopment Agency will work to inform our citizens of the importance of shopping locally and encourage others to shop in Covina.

Business Retention and Expansion Program

The Business Retention and Expansion Program(BRE) is a multi-faceted approach designed to preserve and enhance the City's business environment. The City recognizes the value and importance of a strong and varied business community. We appreciate our businesses as corporate partners with long-term investments in our community. The following statements reflect the specific goals of the BRE.

The City will maintain and enhance the positive entrepreneurial pro-business approach of City staff as it assists current businesses and new businesses seeking to locate or relocate in Covina.

The City will seek to enhance communication with the business community regarding areas of interest and concern to their ongoing operations.

The City will assist and encourage the relocation of strong positive new businesses and retain existing businesses.

The City will work with the SGV Council of Governments, the SGV Economic Partnership, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, LA Works, and other regional associations to further the economic development of Covina and the San Gabriel Valley.

The City will assist businesses in efforts to influence legislation and other factors to make Covina, Los Angeles County and California a more attractive place to do business.

The City will strengthen our competitive economic environment by developing programs and providing financial assistance for new construction and rehabilitation of a range of housing opportunities in the City.

Small Business Assistance Programs

The U.S. Chamber's Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) offers Together For Recovery – an initiative that features business offerings available to help cushion the recession and accelerate the recovery for individuals and communities.