San Francisco's plan to open a business development office in China is gaining momentum as supporters have lined up funding and are preparing to hire a representative in Shanghai.

San Francisco officials this week hired an executive who will be the San Francisco counterpart to the Shanghai representative.

Ginny Fang, most recently a consultant to City Hall on economic and workforce issues, will help coordinate visits from Chinese businesses and help clear bureaucratic and other hurdles for Chinese considering investments in San Francisco.

Backers of the "ChinaSF" proposal said they have commitments from a number of companies pledging to spend $400,000 collectively to support its first year of operations. Money will come from businesses like architects Gensler, designers Arup, consultancy Deloitte, real estate broker Jones Lang LaSalle, money manager Barclays Global, McCarthy Construction and law firm K&L Gates LLP, said Michael Cohen, director of San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development.