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California is often celebrated as home to many large, global industries, but the heartbeat of our state’s $4 trillion economy is found in the 4.2 million small businesses that employ nearly half of our workforce and breathe energy and opportunity into every corner of our communities.
Behind each storefront and family enterprise is a story of grit and possibility. It is their resilience, creativity and determination that continues to propel the Golden State’s economy.
Within this ecosystem is one of California’s most powerful economic forces, the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) business community. The AAPI business community is not only one of the nation’s largest and fastest‑growing, but also part of the reason why California has the fourth largest economy in the world. The state’s 722,000 AAPI‑owned businesses employ more than 910,000 people and generate $181 billion in annual revenue.
Yet even as these entrepreneurs fuel growth, they continue to encounter systemic barriers that stifle potential. Persistent challenges in accessing capital, mentorship and business networks— combined with regulatory and administrative hurdles—make it harder for AAPI small‑business owners to start, scale and sustain their enterprises. This is where the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (CalAsian Chamber) comes in.
Founded in 2010, the CalAsian Chamber is a vital advocate and resource for small businesses across the state, strengthening California’s economy by expanding opportunity for entrepreneurs through leadership development, training and advocacy
Through a range of innovative programs, we are strengthening California’s small business ecosystem and delivering tangible results. The Chamber’s Small Business Utilization Center connects entrepreneurs to national, state and local resources, providing hands-on support to help small businesses overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth.
None of this work happens without resources; it requires stable funding and partnerships to keep programs thriving 365 days a year. We’re working hard to meet this moment and are grateful for partners who help make that possible. Individual and corporate support–including a recent $150,000 contribution from Philip Morris International’s U.S. businesses (PMI U.S.) as part of its innovative Invested in Communities initiative–allows us to make a lasting impact.
Sustained donations from companies like PMI U.S. allow the CalAsian Chamber to expand access to capital for AAPI entrepreneurs, connecting them to the resources they need to grow, hire and thrive. For the nearly 3,000 AAPI residents and 10,000 small businesses that call Mendocino County home, that can help remove the structural barriers that too often stand between great ideas and success.
These vital services unlock high-impact opportunities for women-owned businesses. In San Marcos, for example, AMS Consulting and Design, Inc. owner Ileana Evans embraced the CalAsian Chamber’s technical assistance. This support helped AMS secure a $10 million U.S. National Parks design-build contract and transformed IIeana’s firm from a small consulting business into a credible federal contractor.
With support from the CalAsian’s small business team, the founders of Cowabunga Ice Cream Truck, Juline and Brian Hobbs, transformed their passion into a professionally operated enterprise. Assistance with website development, accounting systems, HR compliance and marketing enabled Cowabunga to expand from one truck to two. The Hobbs family is now preparing to launch a third truck for their son Brandon to run on his own, and they continue to transform their small business into a model of inclusion, dignity and possibility for rural California.
When we invest in small businesses in places like Mendocino County, we invest in families, neighborhoods and the long-term strength of our economy. By expanding opportunities for AAPI business owners, we are providing them with the tools to succeed.
A more vibrant, more connected California will not happen on its own. Supporting the CalAsian Chamber is one way to make that dream real – and to help ensure California continues to thrive for generations to come.
Pat Fong Kushida is President and CEO of the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce.