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This is an update from the City of Oakland’s Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) highlighting available resources for businesses and our partner organizations who support them. For additional information about worker benefits, grants, loans and support services available, please visit our Business & Worker Resource web page. The site is updated regularly as more information becomes available, so please check it often.
If you need individualized business assistance, remember you can book a free, 30-minute appointment at 6 different Neighborhood Business Assistance locations.
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The California Office of the Small Business Advocate has awarded funding to the Chabot - Las Positas Community College District for the Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to provide grants to microbusinesses (the business cannot be the owner's primary source of income) in the counties of Alameda, Amador, Contra Costa, and El Dorado. This program will provide grants of $2,500 to microbusiness (businesses that have fewer than 5 employees and earn less than $50,000 per year) that were in operation in 2019, are still in operation, and were impacted by the COVID-19 public health restrictions. Businesses that received a California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant are not eligible. Applications will be accepted from Tuesday, May 17, to Friday, August 12. Learn more at: https://sites.google.com/swccd.edu/clpccd/home
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Grants for BIPOC-led Music Businesses
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Zoo Labs will award unrestricted grants to Bay Area BIPOC and BIPOC-led artist teams whose music-based business is contributing to the region’s arts and culture environment in positive ways. Awards will range from $5,000 to $50,000. Selected teams will also receive focused mentorship and community support. To be considered for funding, applicants must: - be BIPOC-led and based in the Bay Area
- have a solid team of two or more people, with at least one artist member
- be preparing to launch or have an already established music business
- show that they are at a critical juncture – one where receiving funding could make a big difference in accelerating the growth of their business.
To help applicants, an informational webinar will be held Tuesday, May 10 at Noon, grant guidelines have been
posted, and a video with some tips on applying is available. The deadline to apply is Noon on Wednesday,
June 22, 2022.
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Get a Free Website Redesign for Your Small Business
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Hack the Hood helps future tech workers develop skills by providing small businesses and nonprofits with a free website redesign. With a website, you can establish your online presence, gain new customers and sell services or products. Businesses are responsible for the domain registration and web hosting fees, typically $130 per year. The small business website redesign is offered during Hack the Hood’s upcoming summer program starting July 2022. Apply today at https://www.tfaforms.com/4979728.
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Take the Community Pledge
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As we mark Oakland’s 170th birthday, the City of Oakland encourages residents and workers in Oakland to recommit to the community, reconnect with each other and rediscover what makes Oakland great by taking the Community Pledge. Recommit to spending your dollars locally to support Oakland’s economy and its beloved small businesses. Oaklanders can reconnect and rediscover Oakland through upcoming community events.
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Reminder: Oakland’s Proof of Vaccination Ordinance Still in Effect
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While City Council introduced changes to Oakland’s Proof of Vaccination Ordinance at its meeting on May 3, the changes do not become law until after the second reading on May 17. Until that time, people 12 and older continue to be required to show proof that they have been vaccinated to enter many indoor facilities in Oakland. See the proposed changes at: www.oaklandca.gov/VaxOrdinance
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These are just highlights of available resources. For information about worker benefits, grants, loans and support services available, please visit our Business & Worker Resource web page.
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Upcoming Online Workshops & Webinars
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Virtual Lawyers in the Library Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons Oakland Public Library Free Fundamentos de Mercadotecnia Tuesday, May 17, 6 – 9 p.m. NorCal SBDC Free Business Foundation Training Six Sessions form May 17 to June 9, 6 – 7 p.m. AnewAmerica Women’s Business Center Free
35th Annual Spring Banquet Wednesday, May 18, 5:30 p.m. Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce $125 Expert Insights for Asian American and Pacific Islander Small Business
Owners Thursday, May 19, 10 – 11 a.m. East Bay SCORE Free Marketing for Your Small Business Thursday, May 19, 10:30 a.m. – Noon NorCal SBDC Free Planning for Profit Thursday, May 19, 1 – 4 p.m. East Bay SCORE $23 Virtual Legal Clinic Thursday, May 19, 4 – 6 p.m. Lawyers’ Committee
for Civil Rights Free Starting a Food Truck:
Where the Rubber Meets the Road Monday, May 23, 2 – 4 p.m. NorCal SBDC Free What Do Your Balance Sheet and Income Statement Tell You? Monday, May 23, 6 – 8 p.m. Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Free Resilient Workplace Webinar Tuesday, May 24, 10 a.m. California Office of Emergency Services Earthquake Program Free Owning and Investing in Real Estate for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs Tuesday, May 24, 10:30 a.m. – Noon NorCal SBDC Free Using Crowdfunding to Fund New Innovations or Small Businesses Wednesday, May 25 10 – 11:30 a.m. NorCal SBDC Free What is Calsavers? Wednesday, May 25, Noon — 1 p.m. NorCal SBDC Free Creative Ways to Fund Your Small Business Wednesday, May 25, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Free Comenzar
un Negocio con Confianza Wednesday, June 1, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Free Intellectual Property Basics. Know Your Rights! Thursday, June 2, 10 – 11:30 a.m. East Bay SCORE $23 So you want to start a food
business Wednesday, June 8, 6 – 8 p.m. Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Free Business Accounting Thursday, June 9, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. East Bay SCORE $23
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