The vision for economic development in the City of Upland

A well balanced City where business complements and adds to the quality of life for all who live, work, shop and play in Upland.

The mission statement established to achieve this vision

Facilitate the growth, diversification and stability of the Upland economy; create prosperous income opportunities for all citizens of the City; expand the economy; and provide a sustainable future for Upland.

Join Upland Mayor Bill Velto as we delve into the Upland business community and listen to what our businesses are saying about doing business in our City. You’ll see some familiar businesses and some up and coming ones, too. Our City staff has been seeking out new & exciting businesses for our diverse community and we’re passionate advocates for our business owners. When Upland businesses succeed, the entire City succeeds! We’re proud to share with you what we’ve been building here in Upland. Our film features appearances from Barcuso Social Club, Lennar Homes, Back Abbey & Ford of Upland, Pedego Upland, and Chick Fil A at the Upland Mountain Center.  

The City of Upland welcomes you to its business community. Starting a business can be exciting and challenging. We wish you success in your new venture!

The City of Upland requires all businesses operating within the City limits, including property owners and independent contractors, to obtain a business license and to pay the business license tax prior to commencing business operations.

Please click here for more information on obtaining a business license in the City of Upland. If you need further assistance or help applying for a business license, you are welcome to contact the City of Upland Business Support Center at Upland@hdlgov.com or by phone at (909) 348-0460.  You may also reference the Business License Handbook below.

The California Dream Fund is a one-time $35 million grant program to seed entrepreneurship and small business creation in the State of California. New entrepreneurs and small business owners will complete an intensive training program through select participating centers of the Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP). Following successful completion of the training and consulting program, new businesses will be eligible to apply for a microgrant of up to $10,000. The California Dream Fund application will be open until funds are exhausted. 

The OCIE SBDC Network is partnering with CalOSBA to provide eligible small businesses that have started on or after July 1, 2019 with the opportunity to apply for a grant award. 

For information on the California Dream Fund, please click here or you may call 1(800) 616-7232.

New Business Guide - In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom approved a transformative budget, including the largest economic and business recovery package in California state history. The historic budget includes an array of funding opportunities, relief programs, and business incentives to accelerate an innovative and resilient economic recovery.  This guide is intended to help businesses and for-profit entities identify relevant new and existing state funding resources for recovery and success. The guide includes:

• An index of available and forecasted business incentives 
• A Finding Funding Toolkit for identifying State funding resources 
• A listing of all GO-Biz agency email subscriptions 

Site Selection Assistance 

The City of Upland thanks you for your interest in potentially locating your business in the City or for expanding your existing business. The City's Economic Development Division can assist you in finding your future business location in Upland. We can provide assistance with identifying available spaces for lease and properties for sale within the City through our in-house resources. Just let us know your site criteria and we can generate a report of available spaces for lease and properties for sale within the City. The City has partnered with CoStar Group (CoStar) to gain access to their commercial real estate database which has access to the following:

• Property owner, property manager, and realtor contact information
• Property sale and lease information
• Building, lot, and site information
• Interior and exterior photos of building

For site selection assistance, please contact our Economic Development Division at (909) 931-4317.

You may also click on the link here to provide you a summary of available spaces for lease and properties for sale in the City of Upland. 

Governor's Office of Planning and Research - Federal Grants

As California's single point of contact for federal grants, the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) is here to share the latest on federal grant opportunities, workshops, and events. Please click here.

State Grants

State grant funding opportunities can be found on the California Grants Portal here. The California Grants Portal is your one destination to find all grants and loans offered on a competitive or first-come basis by California state agencies.

State Resources

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) administers California's sales and use, fuel, tobacco, and alcohol taxes, as well as a variety of other taxes and fees that fund specific state programs. For more information about the programs administered, how to register for permits and licenses, and how to file and report correctly visit  www.cdtfa.ca.gov or click here CDTFA.

The California Government Online to Desktops (CalGOLD) Website (www.calgold.ca.gov) assists in providing businesses the information they need to comply with environmental and other regulatory and permitting requirements. CalGOLD offers direct Internet links and contact information to state, local, regional, and federal permitting authorities for more information visit CalGOLD.

San Bernardino County Workforce Development - Business Services 

The San Bernardino County Workforce Development's priority is supporting local businesses with resources and tools that support a strong workforce. The Business Services team has access to funding that will help your business save time and money. For more information on these business services, please click here.

For more information about the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, its services, training programs, and other resources, please call (800) 451-JOBS or visit their website at: https://workforce.sbcounty.gov/business-services/   

The San Bernardino County Workforce Development has created a special resource tool kit to assist your business and your employees with up-to-date resources to help you gain the competitive advantage in today's workforce.

Please click here for the San Bernardino County Workforce Employer Resource Toolkit.

San Bernardino County's Free Human Resources Hotline (877) 282-3763. 

Upland Chamber of Commerce

The Upland Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice of the business community, a public relations arm of the City and Upland's "front door" where visitors can come and get information about the City. This information includes not only local sites and areas to visit but also a source of information for business and residential relocation to our City.  For more information click here.

Historic Downtown Upland

Historic Downtown Upland is a group of downtown merchants who work together to promote and enhance the historic business district.  Downtown is made up of nearly 200 businesses providing a diversity of merchandise and services.

Please visit Historic Downtown Upland's website at DowntownUpland.org  

Historic Downtown Upland's Facebook: Historic Downtown Upland, Inc

Historic Downtown Upland's Instagram: historic_downtown_upland

San Bernardino County Economic Development Department

The County of San Bernardino Economic Development Department's Mission is to create, maintain and grow the economic value of the County. The agency focuses on utilizing County resources to spur private investment; assisting companies with site selection, expansion and relocation needs; developing an educated, and high-skilled workforce; and elevating the quality of life for residents.  For more information, you may visit the County's website at www.SelectSBCounty.com and click here or you may call (909) 387-4460.

For the San Bernardino County Business Programs & Incentives Booklet, you may click here.

Upland Heritage

Upland Heritage was originally founded in 1989 as the Upland Historical Preservation Society by a group of citizens concerned with the destruction of Upland’s historic homes and buildings.  The Society has formed historic districts; recognized on the Local and National Registers, brought the Mills Act to Upland, and provide educational materials and workshops to teach about historic preservation.  For more information click here. 

Inland Empire Economic Partnership

The Inland Empire Economic Partnership is dedicated to bringing jobs, economic opportunities and a better quality of life to the residents of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.  For more information click here.

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) will be accepting applications for the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC). A total of $394 million in California Competes Tax Credit is available during this application period for businesses that are expanding and adding full-time jobs in the state. 

Applications for the tax credit will be accepted online at www.calcompetes.ca.gov during the following periods:

July 26, 2021 through August 16, 2021 ($150 Million available)

January 3, 2022 through January 24, 2022 ($140 Million available)

March 7, 2022 through March 28, 2022 ($104.7 Million available)

The online application can be accessed directly by clicking here.  You may find all information on CalCompetes on their page here. 

Businesses interested in learning more about the CCTC can participate in free application webinars as follows:

July 28, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. 

August 5, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

August 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

Click here for the webinar schedule and registration information. 

If you have any questions regarding the CCTC program or application process, please call (916) 322-4051 or email CalCompetes@gobiz.ca.gov.

About the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention, and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, regulatory guidance, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information, visit the State's website by clicking here.