Welcome!

California Resources and Training (CARAT) is a private non-profit founded in 1994 to integrate and build the capacity of the technical assistance industry in California. As a statewide initiative, CARAT's focus has been on enhancing the quality of technical assistance throughout California. CARAT's intent is to assist in building capacity and encourage and stimulate partnerships between lending institutions and technical assistance providers.

The 15th Annual CARAT Luncheon will be held on October 16, 2012

The luncheon will be held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Details to follow soon!

News Alert

CARAT's Executive Director, Selma Taylor, was featured on the Comcast Spotlight show. View a video of Selma discussing CARAT's technology trainings with Barbara Rodgers here.

CARAT received funding from the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) to provide technology training to small businesses in California. This is stimulus project funding through the US Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA). CARAT is collaborating with partners in 6 regions in California to administer the targeted technology training program. The trainings began in March of 2011 and will end December 31, 2012 and include the following topics:

  • Collaboration Management
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • E-Marketing
  • E-Commerce
  • E-Procurement
  • Online Communications
  • Online Financial Management
  • Purchasing and Inventory Management
  • Website Development
  • Project Management Tools
  • Social Media for Small Business

Check our training calendar here. Click here to identify partners and trainings in your California region. You can also download a copy of the Small Business Technology Training brochure here. Please send an email to training@caratnet.org to request additional information on the technology training program or register for courses.

News Bulletins

CARAT is currently interviewing training consultants who have experience in the technology training topics listed above. Please click here for a PDF of the job description. Electronic submission of your resume/CV will be accepted at . Please include three (3) references with contact information or letters of reference – or a combination thereof, along with one (1) sample, no longer than three (3) pages, of a brief training course outline, PPT presentation, or webinar screenshots of trainings you have presented.

Thank you sponsors and participants of the 2011 Annual Awards Luncheon!
Last year's luncheon honored outstanding California CDFIs and focused on "Bridging the Digital Divide". The Honorable Lloyd Levine, former State of California Assemblymember and member of the Board of Directors for the California Emerging Technology Fund, was the keynote speaker. View a list of 2011 Luncheon sponsors here.

CARAT is offering a series of successful training seminars.

Congratulations to the 2012 Comerica TA  Initiative Awardees:

  • Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) - San Diego
  • Valley Small Business Development Corporation - Fresno
  • Opening Doors - Sacramento
  • California Capital FDC - Sacramento
  • Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) - San Francisco
  • Opportunity Fund - San Jose
  • OBDC Small Business Finance – Oakland

Website Highlights

CARAT's Community Partners
Training Curriculum for TA Organizations
Thank you to the sponsors of the 2011 Annual Awards Luncheon!