Cities Index.
Agenda packet

Economic Development and Revitalization Committee
October 14, 2025

Document
Agenda packet
Meeting
October 14, 2025
Body
Economic Development and Revitalization Committee
Pages
7
Original file
1.3 MB
Text extracted from the city's file for reading and search. Open the original on www.cityofgoleta.org. That file is the official record.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION

STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
October 14, 2025
2:30-3:30 PM
City Hall – Conference Room 1
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, California
Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín
Councilmember James Kyriaco
Robert Nisbet, City Manager
Jaime Valdez, Assistant City Manager
Shannon Kirn, Assistant to the City Manager
Blake Markum, Management Analyst

OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WILL BE IN PERSON OR ONLINE VIA ZOOM If you wish to make a general public comment or to comment on a specific agenda item, the following methods are available:

Distribution to the Economic Development and Revitalization Standing Committee - Submit your comment via email prior to the Economic Development and Revitalization Standing Committee meeting. Please submit your comment to Shannon Kirn at:
[email protected]. Your comment will be placed into the record and distributed appropriately.

Please register for the Economic Development and Revitalization Committee Meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 2:30 PM. PDT at:

For Electronic Participation:

Zoom Registration Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__9-_MycaTDysWU7wkZ9sig Zoom Webinar ID: 827 4244 4496
Passcode: 018362
1 For Audio Participation:

One Tap Mobile:
+14086380968,,82742444496#,,,,*018362# US (San Jose)
+16694449171,,82742444496#,,,,*018362# US
Join via audio: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose) or +1 669 444 9171 US or +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) or +1 253 205 0468 US or +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) or +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) or +1 719 359 4580 US or +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) or +1 360 209 5623 US or +1 386 347 5053 US or +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US or +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) or +1 646 931 3860 US or +1 689 278 1000 US or +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) or +1 305 224 1968 US or +1 309 205 3325 US After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. You will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended.

AGENDA
I. Public Comment (5 Minutes)
II. Economic Development Draft Expenditure Plan (45 Minutes) III. Old Town Economic Development Initiatives Update (10 Minutes)

Americans with Disabilities Act: In compliance with the ADA, if assistance is needed to participate in a City Council meeting (including assisted listening devices), please contact the City Clerk's office at (805) 961-7505. Notification at least 72 hours prior to the meeting helps to ensure that reasonable arrangements can be made to provide accessibility to the meeting.
2

Page 1 of 7 ends

MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 14, 2025
TO: Economic Development & Revitalization Standing Committee FROM: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
CONTACT: Shannon Kirn, Assistant to the City Manager
Blake Markum, Management Analyst

SUBJECT: October 14, 2025, Economic Development & Revitalization Standing Committee Meeting
ITEM I. Public Comment (5 Minutes)
ITEM II. FY 2025-26 Economic Development Draft Expenditure Plan (45 Minutes)

RECOMMENDATION
Receive a progress report on FY 2025-26 initiatives and provide further direction to staff on the initiatives.

BACKGROUND
In June 2023, the City Council adopted the five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan (Plan) to serve as a roadmap for implementing the City’s economic development initiatives through 2028. At the heart of the Plan are six Imperatives—broad focus areas that are essential to the Plan’s success. Each Imperative is supported by a set of Strategies, which outline specific initiatives or actions designed to advance the broad focus areas, and Objectives, which provide metrics to track progress and measure success. These Strategies are not intended to function as a rigid to-do list, but rather as a flexible guide to be reviewed annually to prioritize workload and ensure alignment with the Objectives tied to each Imperative.

The Two-Year Budget adopted on June 17, 2025, included $150,000 for economic development initiatives, with $100,000 allocated for economic development initiatives and $50,000 designated for support to the Goleta Entrepreneurial Magnet (GEM). At the July 8, 2025, meeting, the Economic Development & Revitalization Standing Committee (Committee) reviewed proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 funding allocations for the priority focus areas and provided the following direction to staff:
3

Page 2 of 7 ends

• Goleta Entrepreneurial Magnet (GEM): The Committee directed staff to not proceed with $50,000 in budgeted funding for GEM, citing that GEM does not currently have a demonstrated need and has not received contributions from either the City or University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) over the past two years. GEM currently has an approximate balance of $130,000 which will be utilized towards the new pilot grant program referenced in Attachment 1. The Committee recommended that the $50,000 be reallocated to support other active initiatives. • Old Town Pride of Place (POP) Grant: One recipient, Starfish Connection, declined the $1,250 award for their project. The Committee directed staff to reallocate this funding to the City Manager’s professional services budget for implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan. Per the Committee’s direction, staff carried these FY 2024-25 monies over to the FY 2025-26 professional services budget.

DISCUSSION
Staff has reallocated the combined $51,250 in funding across the Plan’s various imperatives and initiatives, as shown in Table 1. The table outlines the allocations to each Imperative as of the July 8, 2025, Committee meeting, along with the revised figures reflecting the Committee’s recommendations. Imperatives and initiatives highlighted in bold are further described in the narrative progress report below, where work is underway. The remaining initiatives are in the early brainstorming phases and will be developed later in the fiscal year. A comprehensive status update for each Imperative and initiative is available in the Sequencing Spreadsheet (Attachment 1).

Table 1. FY 2025-26 Summary of Focus Areas
Imperative $ Estimate
7/8/2025
$ Estimate
Current Initiative Potential Partner(s)

1. Amplify the reputation of
Goleta as a world-class
center of innovation and
technology.
$50,000 $15,000
Tech industryoriented job fairs,
outreach, Publicly
Backed Equity
Fund, GEM pilot
funding program
Santa Barbara
South Coast
Chamber of
Commerce,

UCSB, SBCC

2. Improve access to economic
opportunity by increasing the
availability of livable-wage jobs
and enhancing support for
local BIPOC and womenowned small businesses and
entrepreneurs.
$20,000 $50,000
Pilot workforce
development
program (sectorspecific upskilling,
apprenticeship,
internships, etc.)

SBCC, SBCEO,
REACH
4

Page 3 of 7 ends

3. Enhance the experience of
Goleta for both residents
and visitors by leveraging
Old Town’s unique
historical and cultural
identity and investing in
district placemaking.
$20,000 $30,000
Refreshed Meet Me
in Old Town, other
events in Old Town,
POP Grant
Implementation
Santa Barbar
South Coast
Chamber of
Commerce, UCSB
Arts and Lectures

4. Improve City
Government support of
local businesses and
relationships with
economic development
stakeholders.
$50,000 $26,250 Business Guide,
and other resources
Economic
Development
Collaborative

5. Other – Quantitative
Measures/Software $10,000 $30,000
GoodLand
GoodShopping,
economic analytics
software
BluDot, Buxton
Total $150,000 $151,250

1. Amplify the reputation of Goleta as a world-class center of innovation and technology.
a. Initiative: In FY 2024–25, the City supported the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce’s (Chamber) Techtopia campaign to promote Goleta as a tech and innovation hub through marketing videos and a business tour for City Council. In FY 2025–26, staff propose continuing outreach efforts and partnering with the Chamber to boost local tech company presence and awareness in our local elementary and high schools, and to expand their presence at UCSB and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) job fairs, highlighting well-paid tech jobs and reinforcing the campaign’s workforce development goals.
• Partner(s): Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, UCSB, SBCC • Proposed Funding: $15,000
b. Initiative: At its July meeting, the Committee gave direction to staff to start exploring ways to increase the number and dollar amount of local financing deals (angel, seed, venture capital, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR). One strategy identified in the Plan for accomplishing this goal is launching a publicly backed equity investment fund to address the lack of capital for high-growth startups. Unlike traditional City grants, the equity investment fund would provide seed funding in exchange for an equity stake, structured divestment timelines, and an evergreen model allowing for periodic redemptions and reinvestments – freeing the City from the obligation to provide ongoing funding.

There are several options for potential fund governance structures with varying levels of City involvement/control and corresponding risk:
• Independent Nonprofit Management: Low City involvement and risk. • Limited Partnership: Moderate involvement and limited risk • City-led Investment Fund: High Involvement and risk
5

Page 4 of 7 ends

Key challenges to address include conflicts of interest, defining staff and Council roles, and recognizing the City’s limited resources. Further research is needed to determine startup fund requirements, ongoing funding sources, potential partners and the City’s level of involvement in the funding, governance, and administration.

Staff is seeking the Committee’s direction to proceed with further analysis. If the Committee supports moving forward now, staff may need to defer one of the other planned FY 2025-26 initiatives. Staff will seek the Committee’s input at the meeting on which initiative should be deferred.
• Potential Partner(s): UCSB, REACH, Ventech, SBF, WEV, EDC, other local angel and seed funds/investors, entrepreneurs, startups, and non-profits • Proposed Funding: TBD

4. Improve City Government support of local businesses and relationships with economic development stakeholders.
a. Initiative: The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) is currently offering a series of “Ready • Set • Grow” workshops in Ventura County focused on providing business owners with essential tools to take their small business to the next level. Topics include marketing strategies and content planning; legal structure, licensing, and business planning; financial planning, loans, and budgeting for growth. To support Goleta’s small business community, staff proposes partnering with EDC to deliver three to five hybrid virtual and in-person workshops in both Spanish and English serving local businesses, subject to final scope with EDC.

In addition, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) recently hosted two one-hour Green Business Program info sessions in Spanish and English aimed at informing business owners about the California Green Business Network (CAGBN) and its local programs along the Central Coast. The Green Business Certification Program helps businesses adopt sustainable practices while saving money, improving employee wellness, and gaining marketing visibility. Staff proposes partnering with WEV and CAGBN to deliver similar hybrid virtual and in-person workshops in both Spanish and English for Goleta businesses.
• Potential Partner(s): EDC, WEV, CAGBN
• Proposed Funding: $26,250
b. Initiative: Staff is currently developing new resources to support existing and aspiring business owners in navigating the process of starting a business and fulfilling registration and permitting requirements at the local, state, and federal levels. • Business Guide: A comprehensive Business Guide is underway to walk users through the steps of launching a new business. Once finalized, the guide will be posted on the City’s website and will be made available in pamphlet format in both English and Spanish. See Attachment 2 for the draft Business Guide. Staff is currently circulating the draft to the City’s Planning and Finance Departments for additional review and feedback. Staff is also seeking feedback from the Committee to ensure the guide is user-friendly and responsive to the business community needs.
6

Page 5 of 7 ends

• Economic Development Website Refresh: Staff is also reviewing and updating the City’s existing economic development web pages to enhance usability and provide expanded tools and resources for businesses. Other related webpages will also be updated to point back to additional economic development resources. The refreshed site is expected to launch by Winter 2025.
• Partner(s): City Manager’s Office, Finance Department, Planning Department • Proposed Funding: Already accounted for in FY 2025-26 budgets under Salaries & Wages

5. Other – Quantitative Measures/Software
a. Initiative: Collecting economic data is essential for evaluating the success of the economic development strategic plan and guiding staff efforts towards the goals of the Plan. To support this work, staff researched several software services that provide insight into consumer activity, visitor spending, and commercial space utilization. Based on this review, staff identified Buxton Company, LLC (Buxton) as the best fit for the City’s needs. Buxton provides a Public Sector Package which includes:
• SCOUT: A mapping tool that visualizes economic activity including a leakage analysis which shows the goods and services that residents purchase outside of the City because they cannot be found in Goleta.
• Mobilytics: A tool for tracking, visualizing, and analyzing visitor and spending data. • Match: A market match tool helps determine the types of businesses best suited to fill vacant spaces to serve the needs of Goleta residents and visitors.

These analytic tools will be instrumental to staff’s efforts to implement the Plan and engage more effectively with business owners, prospective new retailers/service providers, and other economic development stakeholders. Staff has finalized a one-year contract with Buxton, and implementation is anticipated to begin in Fall 2025, with staff training and access to initial dashboards in mid- to late October. • Partner: Buxton
• Funding: $27,000/year
b. Initiative: The City continues to provide the GoodLandGoodShopping online business directory powered by Bludot. This interactive tool is meant to encourage residents to shop, dine, and spend locally, while also helping businesses strengthen their online presence and visibility in the community. The GoodLandGoodShopping publicity campaign will resume in November for the holiday shopping season. • Partner: Bludot
• Funding: $3,000
c. Initiative: Several Imperatives include Objectives that require the development and tracking of internal performance metrics—such as increasing business retention rates and attracting new businesses to Goleta. One method staff has identified for collecting and monitoring these metrics is through the City’s Business License Program. To begin establishing a baseline, staff used the permitting software to analyze active General Businesses Licenses within City limits. To support this effort, the City Manager’s Office 7

Page 6 of 7 ends

hired a Summer Intern II who successfully generated a preliminary data set, cleaned and analyzed the data, and calculated both the annual business retention rate and the number of new businesses established in Goleta over the past two fiscal years. The annual business retention rate is reported in the aggregate, reflecting overall business continuity within the community. In addition, initial efforts were made to map all businesses to visually illustrate the diversity of industry sectors and identify potential clusters of economic activity. See Attachment 3 for the preliminary data.

Note: The data provided are preliminary and represent only general business licenses currently marked as “Active” in the City’s permitting system. The numbers may not be representative of the total number of businesses operating within the City and is provided for informational purposes only. Which means the dataset does not capture all businesses operating in Goleta. Staff will continue work efforts, refinements and further enhancements on the data and establish consistent reporting standards to be used for policy or performance measurement purposes.

Staff welcome the Committee’s feedback on the proposed FY 2025-26 economic development focus areas and invite additional suggestions, priorities, or changes to the budget allocations.

Staff plan to return to the Committee’s next scheduled meeting at the beginning of 2026 with an update on the development of the proposed work efforts and more details on any new initiatives at the Committee’s direction.

ITEM III. Old Town Economic Development Initiatives Update (10 Minutes)

RECOMMENDATION
Receive an update on the Old Town initiatives, including the Pride of Place (POP) Grant and the Old Town Business License Fee Waiver Program.

BACKGROUND
On October 1, 2024, the City Council approved several Old Town initiatives, including a general business license fee waiver program for Old Town and the development of a grant program to provide support to Old Town businesses. On May 6, 2025, the City Council approved funding awards totaling $120,000 for the Old Town Pride of Place (POP) Grant Program, which supports community-driven placemaking, beautification, and business activation projects in Old Town Goleta to attract more customers to Old Town.

DISCUSSION
Old Town Initiatives Fee Waiver Program Update
The City’s Finance Department and other key staff developed a new mechanism within the City’s business license application system to trigger an automatic fee waiver during the application process for eligible businesses within the Old Town neighborhood. The Old Town Initiatives Fee Waiver Program was launched on March 1, 2025, and will run for one year until February 28, 2026. As of September 30, 2025, there are 119 active/pending general business licenses that have qualified for the license fee waiver. Staff plan to conduct additional outreach to Old Town businesses to inform them about the fee waiver towards the end of the calendar year, when most businesses renew their licenses.
8

Page 7 of 7 ends

Old Town POP Grant Program Update
Staff continues to provide support to all POP Grant recipients. To date, all 21 of the grant awards have been successfully administered, with the exception of Starfish Connection, which declined the funding as noted earlier in this Memo. Staff has maintained varying levels of ongoing communications with recipients, depending on the complexity of each grant’s purpose and the City’s role in the approval process. Staff continues to work with each grant recipient as needed and, in accordance with the grant requirements, will collect End-of-Program Reports in June 2026. These reports will provide greater insight into program outcomes, and staff intends to evaluate and present the findings to the Committee in Summer 2026.

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Economic Development Strategic Plan Sequencing Spreadsheet

2. Draft Business Guide

3. Preliminary Business Retention Data and Business License GIS Database 9 ATTACHMENT 1
Economic Development Strategic Plan Sequencing Spreadsheet 10 Imperative Objectives FY 23-24 (Year 1) FY 24-25 (Year 2) FY 25-26 (Year 3) FY 26-27 (Year 4 +) Status Status Notes Increased brand recall/awareness for Goleta as a center of innovation and technology Support marketing and branding campaigns designed to position Goleta as a technology and innovation hub.

Support marketing and branding campaigns designed to position Goleta as a technology and innovation hub.

In Progress - On Going
Increased number of jobs in technology-based and innovationled sectors Re-envision and expand the GEM program to better support high-growth startups.

Re-envision and expand the GEM program to better support high-growth startups.

In Progress - On Going
After collecting information from past grant recipients, the GEM Board developed a new pilot program to provide flexible funding to emerging ventures in the Goleta/Santa Barbara region that have completed their discovery phase with the goal of encouraging startups to stay in the region and move the needle Increased number of jobs in technology-based and innovationled sectors Update local zoning to encourage the development of light industrial space.

Not Yet Started
Increased number and dollar amount of local financing deals (angel, seed, venture capital, SBIR/STTR) Study and launch a publicly backed equity investment fund. Initital Research Phase See Memo 10/14/25 Increased number of BIPOCowned and women-owned small businesses Invest in relationship development with and support
of culturally focused organizations to better support women-owned and BIPOCowned small businesses.

Invest in relationship development with and support of culturally focused organizations to better support women-owned and BIPOCowned small businesses.

Invest in relationship development with and support of culturally focused organizations to better support women-owned and BIPOCowned small businesses.

In Progress - On Going
Various events and programs such as Mexican Independence Day, Business recognition program, Digital Equity Grant Program, WEV Business of Care Program, etc.

Increased number and size of grants, loans, and investments from City supported programs to minority-owned small businesses Establish a micro-enterprise loan fund to help close capital access gaps for local small businesses.

In Progress - On Going Existing WEV streamlined business loan program Decreased underemployment of historically marginalized populations in the city Partner with local workforce development stakeholders to support career pathway opportunities for historically marginalized populations.

Plan to start Year 3 See Memo 10/14/25
Decreased deficit of affordable childcare slots by 2028 Partner regionally to identify actionable strategies to improve access to affordable childcare.

Partner regionally to identify actionable strategies to improve access to affordable childcare.

Partner regionally to identify actionable strategies to improve access to affordable childcare.

In Progress - On Going
Human Services Committee - FY 24-25 Childcare initiatives implementation with Children's Resource & Referral, Santa Barbara Foundation, and United Way, & upcoming FY 25-26 programs Increased number of housing units accessible to residents with Area Medium Income (AMI) or less for a family of four Evaluate and streamline local zoning and permitting processes to increase the diversity and availability of housing.

Evaluate and streamline local zoning and permitting processes to increase the diversity and availability of housing.

Evaluate and streamline local zoning and permitting processes to increase the diversity and availability of housing.

In Progress - On Going
PER Work Program- Implement Housing Element Programs such as Local Housing Preference Policy and affordable housing design standards, Tenant Protections Ordinance.

Increased number of housing units accessible to residents with Area Medium Income (AMI) or less for a family of four Partner with local employers to identify innovative solutions and funding opportunities to increase the availability of workforce housing.

Not Yet Started
Decreased deficit of affordable childcare slots by 2028 Partner with local organizations with the shared mission to incentivize employers to invest in childcare options, particularly for lower-income residents.

Partner with local organizations with the shared mission to incentivize employers to invest in childcare options, particularly for lower-income residents.

In Progress - On Going
Human Services Committee - FY 24-25 Childcare initiatives implementation with Children's Resource & Referral, Santa Barbara Foundation, and United Way, & upcoming FY 25-26 programs Decreased deficit of affordable childcare slots by 2028 Explore innovative solutions, best practices, and legal pathways to reserve affordable housing for Goleta’s childcare workforce.

Not Yet Started
Position Goleta as a local
leader of high-quality,
innovative affordable childcare and housing
solutions.

Amplify the reputation of
Goleta as a world-class
center of innovation and
technology.

Improve access to
economic opportunity by
increasing the availability
of livable-wage jobs and
enhancing support for
local BIPOC and womenowned small businesses
and entrepreneurs.
2023-2028 Economic Development Strategic Plan Sequencing Spreadsheet 11 Imperative Objectives FY 23-24 (Year 1) FY 24-25 (Year 2) FY 25-26 (Year 3) FY 26-27 (Year 4 +) Status Status Notes Increased positive neighborhood perception of businesses in Old Town as measured by an annual business survey Invest in infrastructure and streetscape amenities in Old Town.

Invest in infrastructure and streetscape amenities in Old Town.

Invest in infrastructure and streetscape amenities in Old Town.

In Progress - On Going Streetscape amenities such as bike racks, Meet Me In Old Town events, implementation of Pride of Place Grant Program 5-year increase in the number of visitors to Old Town as measured by cell phone location data Explore the feasibility of a Business Improvement District (BID) through the Old Town Visioning Process.

Not Yet Started Plan to explore after the completion of Project Connect Annual increase in service and retail sales in Old Town Identify incentives to encourage property owners and businesses to activate underutilized properties in Old Town.

Plan to start Year 3 See Memo 10/14/25
Increased positive neighborhood perception of businesses in Old Town as measured by an annual business survey Activate the implementation of existing Old Town visions and plans.

Activate the implementation of existing Old Town visions and plans.

Activate the implementation of existing Old Town visions and plans.

In Progress - On Going Project Connect, Interim Striping Project Increased positive neighborhood perception of businesses in Old Town as measured by an annual business survey Study, identify, and implement anti-displacement tools and strategies for Old Town businesses and residents.

Study, identify, and implement anti-displacement tools and strategies for Old Town businesses and residents.

In Progress - On Going Implementation of the Pride of Place Grant Program Annual increase in service and retail sales in Old Town Activate Old Town by studying the feasibility of relocating City services to the district and/or investing in community infrastructure.

Not Yet Started
Increased capacity to accommodate higher resident use and hosting of youth sports tournaments at Goleta’s parks and sports-related facilities Prioritize the implementation of existing City of Goleta Parks and Recreation plans to maximize the use of recreation and sports facilities.

Prioritize the implementation of existing City of Goleta Parks and Recreation plans to maximize the use of recreation and sports facilities.

Prioritize the implementation of existing City of Goleta Parks and Recreation plans to maximize the use of recreation and sports facilities.

In Progress - On Going
Stow Grove Park Master Plan, Jonny D. Wallis Park, Armitos Community Garden, Goleta Community Center, Strategic Plan, Evergreen Park Master Plan Increased ridership of public transit options and use of active transportation such as bicycles, scooters, walking, etc.

Prioritize investments in transit, bicycling, and pedestrian infrastructure city-wide.

Prioritize investments in transit, bicycling, and pedestrian infrastructure city-wide.

Prioritize investments in transit, bicycling, and pedestrian infrastructure city-wide.

In Progress - On Going Goleta Train Depot, Interim Striping Project, Vision Zero, San Jose Creek Multi-Purpose Path Decreased number of blackouts and maintenance outages of the electricity supply Increase incentives and streamline the process for green alternative energy projects that improve the stability of electricity supply.

Not Yet Started
Promote stronger collaboration with the Santa Barbara Airport to foster industrial land opportunities Not Yet Started
Increased percentage of residents who access high-speed internet (data disaggregated by demographics) Partner with broadband providers to support access to high-speed internet for small businesses and low-income residents Not Yet Started
Increased resident and business community sentiment of Goleta as a place to do business Dedicate an economic development staff position within the City Manager’s Office.

Not Yet Started
Increased resident and business community sentiment of Goleta as a place to do business Analyze the City permitting process to identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency and ensure appropriate staffing levels.

Not Yet Started
Increased business retention rates
Collect and direct business license regulatory fees to support local businesses.

Not Yet Started
Increased number of new
businesses locating in Goleta
Partner with a third party to
create an assistance program for businesses navigating City and other government entity processes.

Propose to start Year 3 See Memo 10/14/25
Increased business retention rates
Sign an intergovernmental agreement to fund regional tourism Not Yet Started
Improve City Government
support of local
businesses and
relationships with
economic development
stakeholders.

Enhance the experience of
Goleta for both residents
and visitors by leveraging
Old Town’s unique
historical and cultural
identity and investing in
district placemaking.

Promote and advocate for
smart investments in
essential community
infrastructure.
2023-2028 Economic Development Strategic Plan Sequencing Spreadsheet 12 ATTACHMENT 2
Draft Business Guide
13 City of Goleta Business Guide
Thinking of starting a business in the City of Goleta? Use this helpful guide to help with making your vision a reality! Choose Business
Structure and Name
Register a “dba”
or Fictitious
Business Name
01 02 03 04 05
Business Guide Step-by-Step

1. Prepare and Plan
Research your market and write a detailed business plan.

2. Choose Business Structure and Name
Select a legal structure and name with guidance from the California Secretary of State.

3. Register with the Secretary of State
File registration documents and pay fees via
bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov.

4. Register a “dba” or Fictitious Business Name
File and publish your fictitious business name through the County Clerk-Recorder if operating under a name other
than your own.

5. Get a Tax Identification Number (TIN)
If necessary, register for a TIN with the IRS, and an
Employee Identification Number (EIN) with the State.

6. Open a Business Bank Account

7. Find a Potential Location
Use the City’s interactive property locator tool to find a location, and contact the Planning Department for zoning info.

8. Apply for Licenses and Permits
Visit the City’s website to apply for a business license and any building permits for your business, and use our links to find out how to apply for any other specialty permits.

9. Purchase Business Insurance
Open Your Doors!
Thank you for being part of what makes Goleta a great
place to live, work, and play!
Prepare and Plan Get Your TIN Register with the
Secretary of State
Open a Bank
Account
Open Your Doors! Find a Location Apply for Licenses
and Permits
Get Insured
DRAFT
06 07 08 09
14 ATTACHMENT 3
Preliminary Business Retention Data and Business License GIS Database 15 Preliminary Business Retention Data
Please note, the numbers provided on this attachment are preliminary data representing only general business licenses currently marked as “Active” in the City’s permitting system.

The number may not be representative of the total number of businesses operating within the City and is provided for informational purposes only.

Fiscal
Year
Total
Active1
New Business
License
Existing Business
License (Renewal)
Business Retention
Rate2
2022-23 1397 260 1108 -3
2023-24 1264 274 973 69.6%
2024-25 1359 338 992 78.5%
1 The “Total Active” column does not match the combined total of “New Business License” and “Exiting Business License (Renewal)” columns because of an initial data-entry inconsistency. 2 The annual business retention rate was calculated by dividing the number of “Existing Business License (Renewal)” by the number of “Total Active” general business licenses from the prior fiscal year. This provides an aggregate indicator of overall business continuity within the City. 3 FY 2022-23 is included as a baseline.
260 274 338
1108 973
992
0 200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25
Number of Active General Business Licenses
(FY 2022-23 - 2024-25)
New Business Existing Business
16 Business License GIS Database
17

← All documents from this meeting