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Small-business leaders urge expanded technical assistance, regional COLA and targeted affordability zones to stem relocations
Summary
Entrepreneurs and small-business advocates told the Assembly committee that language‑appropriate technical assistance, access to affordable capital and targeted local relief are necessary to stop businesses from relocating and to help owners survive rising costs.
Panelists at the Assembly Committee hearing urged the Legislature to expand technical assistance and make regional adjustments to eligibility for relief programs to retain small firms.
"My name is Dr. Debbie Chen, and I'm the founder and CEO of HydroStasis," Dr. Chen told the committee, describing her San Diego‑area hydration‑monitoring wearable company and the network of local accelerators and mentors that supported product development. Chen said HydroStasis has three issued U.S. patents, completed clinical and freedom‑to‑operate work, sold out an initial consumer product (the Gekko watch) in 2024, and received about $500,000 in non‑dilutive funding from NIH, the U.S. Air Force and university grants. She urged more capital and support for women founders, noting that "only about 2% of venture capital goes to…
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