Photo by Dylan Gonzales | Fresno City Councilmembers Nick Richardson (foreground left) and Nelson Esparza (foreground right) introduced an ordinance Wednesday lowering the barriers for veterans starting businesses in Fresno.

With Memorial Day coming up, Fresno City Councilmembers Nick Richardson and Nelson Esparza announced a legislative initiative Wednesday morning at Fresno City Hall that would reduce financial barriers for veteran entrepreneurs.

The proposal, set to go before the full City Council tomorrow, would exempt qualifying veteran-owned businesses from paying the city’s business tax, business license fees and up to $1,000 in startup costs during their first year. Additionally, eligible businesses would receive a lifetime exemption from annual business license renewal fees.

“I am pro-business, pro-veteran and pro-American Dream,” said Richardson, a former Marine who represents District 6.

Esparza, who represents District 7, noted that Fresno County is home to over 33,000 veterans.

He said the proposal lowers barriers that can often discourage veterans transitioning to civilian life.

“In Fresno, we’ve already made some progress by eliminating the business tax application fee for disabled veterans, but today, we’re going just a little bit further, because every veteran deserves a fair shot at success,” Esparza said. Starting a business is tough. It takes grit, resilience and a whole lot of courage, the same qualities that our veterans already possess.”

To qualify, the veteran must live in Fresno and be starting a new business. The proposal excludes businesses involving tobacco, alcohol or cannabis. The $1,000 waiver would be a one-time benefit per person and does not apply to expansions of existing companies.

The ordinance is expected to be introduced for a vote at Thursday’s City Council meeting.

They both expect it to pass with little pushback.

“I don’t expect any pushback on it,” Richardson said. “Nothing is ever 100%, and every council member gets a vote, but I would be hard pressed to find the mental gymnastics to understand why someone would be opposed to making a business easier to start for a veteran.”