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State Enterprise and Economic Development Section (SEEDS)

SEEDS administers two economic development programs to encourage business investment (enterprise), job creation/retention, and increased revenues at the community level through funding and/or tax incentives. The Community Development Block Grant Program’s Economic Development component provides funding (i.e., business lending and/or micro enterprise assistance programs) to eligible cities and counties for economic development programs and projects. The Enterprise Programs provide specific tax incentives to 42 geographically-designated economic development areas through an application-award process.

• COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The California Department of Housing and Community Development works with California’s small cities and rural counties to promote economic development. CDBG-ED funding complements other state, federal and private funding sources, and must result in job creation or retention.

To learn about individual funding programs, access a state map of jurisdictions and program representatives, refer to the CDBG-ED Fact Sheet.

• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and ENTERPRISE AREAS (PROGRAMS)

California currently has four types of geographic targeted economic development areas.

Each of these areas has related tax incentive benefits. The purpose of these benefits is to stimulate business investment and job creation for qualified disadvantage individuals in state designated economically distressed areas.

These areas are:

• Enterprise Zones (EZs)
• Local Agency Military Base Recovery Areas (LAMBRAs)
• Manufacturing Enhancement Areas (MEAs)
• Targeted Tax Areas (TTAs)

Designated Enterprise Zones provide tax incentives to businesses and allow private-sector market forces to revive the local economy. A Local Agency Military Base Recovery Area or LAMBRA designations are similar to Enterprise Zones but focus on closed military facilities. The agency has also designated a Targeted Tax Area in Tulare County and two Manufacturing Enhancement Areas in Imperial County which are similar to the Enterprise Zone program.