Marin County’s Microenterprise Support Program (MSP) started as a pilot from the county’s Race Equity Action Plan. It brings real business education, coaching, and one-on-one advising straight to underserved communities, like San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood and West Marin.
The goal? Help microbusinesses—firms with fewer than five employees and under $2.5 million in annual receipts—move from just being ready to actually becoming viable businesses. This could give a real boost to local economies in towns from San Anselmo to Novato.
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MSP at a glance in Marin County
The County put in $250,000 to kick things off and tracked progress with 248 participants using the services. Out of those, 75 moved on to get individualized advising through the Marin Small Business Development Center, which really marks a deeper level of support.
The program works with trusted local nonprofits like Canal Alliance, the West Marin Fund, and West Marin Community Services. They help connect with entrepreneurs—and often whole families—who want to start or grow microbusinesses in places as different as the Canal neighborhood in San Rafael and rural parts of West Marin.
MSP focuses on practical coursework and real-world guidance for people who might not get access to traditional small-business resources. Thanks to the partnership network, participants get help with licensing, permitting, financing, and technology, so they can actually launch revenue-generating ventures across Marin County.
What the program teaches and who participates
Participants get a broad curriculum that helps turn an idea into a sustainable business. Course topics include:
- business planning and viability analysis
- financing and access to capital
- licensing and permitting requirements
- social media marketing and digital presence
- technology solutions for operations and sales
- scaling strategies for small teams
Who’s showing up? The program sees strong female participation: 60 percent of Canal program completers and 72 percent of West Marin completers are women. Participants come from all over—food and landscaping services, translation work, childcare—reflecting the mix of entrepreneurs in Marin City, Novato, and San Rafael.
Expanding equity and funding in the months ahead
County Equity Director Jamillah Jordan and MSP staff say the program’s early success has the Board of Supervisors looking at expanding it this summer. Part of that plan would turn the remaining $267,000 from the pilot into a dedicated microbusiness grant fund.
Supervisors will decide in June on grant awards between $1,000 and $10,000, aiming to spark immediate startup or growth activity for Marin entrepreneurs. Beyond grants, MSP wants to expand offerings, tackle digital literacy barriers, and build more partnerships.
Officials are working on collaborations with the Marin Community Foundation, the Marin City Community Services District, and the county library system to create curricula that fit communities in Marin City and Novato.
Economic resilience in the face of national policy shifts
MSP leaders admit they’re facing a big challenge: recent federal immigration policy changes have made it harder for small businesses to get resources. The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that its flagship loans are now off-limits to businesses partly owned by foreign nationals.
County officials say these rules hurt local economies and cut down on new tax IDs and licenses for immigrant-owned businesses. That’s especially tough for neighborhoods like Canal in San Rafael and the rural stretches out in West Marin.
So, what now? The MSP is trying to adapt by turning funds into targeted grants and opening up more ways for people to build their business skills.
Marin County wants to keep immigrant and underrepresented entrepreneurs moving forward, even as the rules keep shifting. There’s a sense of urgency, but also a bit of hope in the air.
Marin County’s MSP has its sights set on something bigger. They want to build a wider web of support, reaching towns like Tiburon, Larkspur, and Corte Madera, and making a deeper difference in places like Marin City and Novato.
At the heart of it, their mission is simple but ambitious: give microbusiness owners the know-how, tools, and capital to help shape a fairer, stronger Marin County economy—one storefront, kitchen, or service at a time.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin County supes consider expanding small business program for immigrants
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