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This is an update from the City of Oakland’s Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) for businesses, nonprofits, independent contractors and our partner organizations who support them. 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. The site is updated regularly as more information becomes available, so please check it often.
As evidence continues to show, vaccinations and boosters remain the best defense against the virus. Alameda County has posted an Employer Vaccination Toolkit for businesses interested in supporting their employees in getting vaccinated.
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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Free Webinars, Workshops, and Resource Fair Planned for Small Business Week
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From May 1 to 7, 2022, Oakland will celebrate Small Business Week with more than a dozen virtual and in-person workshops and other activities for small business owners and entrepreneurs. See the full schedule and registration links at www.oaklandca.gov/SBW. From accessing capital to commercial lease negotiations to online market, the educational webinars and workshops presented by partner organizations are designed to help Oakland businesses to thrive as the economy emerges from the pandemic. Select webinars will be offered in Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese. A resource fair highlighting available support services and a workshop on successful legacy businesses round out the week’s offerings. In addition to the year-round locations, a special pop-up location for the Neighborhood Business Assistance program has been added on Monday, May 2, during the resource fair.
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Alameda County aligns with CDC recommendation on Second Boosters
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Alameda County supports recommendations for a second booster for everyone 50+, severely immune-compromised people 12+, and all
Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients who have already had one booster dose. However, second boosters are not yet authorized for other populations. Contact your health care provider or local chain pharmacy for your booster. Second boosters are available to eligible populations at County-supported sites. We
continue to prioritize the unvaccinated, immunocompromised, and first boosters for appointments. Second booster doses are only available on a walk-up basis.
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Reminder: Oakland’s Proof of Vaccination Ordinance Still in Effect
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People 12 and older continue to be required to show proof that they have been vaccinated to enter many indoor facilities in Oakland. The emergency ordinance adopted by City Council, FAQs, the protocol template for businesses and other details are at: www.oaklandca.gov/VaxOrdinance. The ordinance remains in effect until City Council declares the local emergency over or takes action to rescind the current law.
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CalSavers Retirement Savings Plan
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By June 30, 2022, employers with five or more California-based employees are required to have a retirement plan in place for workers – either through a private-market option, like a 401(k) or Simple IRA retirement plan, or through the state-run CalSavers program. Your employee count is calculated by averaging the number of employees you report to the Employment Development Department on your filings from the previous calendar year. The State law is meant to help more people save more money for retirement with a convenient payroll deduction and includes non-profit organizations with paid employees as well as for-profit businesses.
Employers can register through the CalSavers website or, if they are offering a qualified private-market alternative like a 401(k), file an exemption on the same site. After registering, the employer is required to add employees within 30 days of completing the registration.
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State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
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Governor Newsom signed SB 114, which will provide covered employees up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave related to COVID through September 30, 2022. Retroactive to January 1, 2022, the supplemental paid sick leave is available to
employees:
- who have been advised to quarantine,
- those caring for COVID-impacted family members,
- attending a COVID-19 vaccination or
booster appointment for themselves or a family member,
- experiencing symptoms or caring for a family member experiencing symptoms related to a vaccine or booster
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0% Business Financing Available
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Zero-interest loans for low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs and businesses in low- to moderate-income areas of Oakland are available through Main Street Launch. Loan amounts up to $50,000 with terms up to five years may be used to buy furniture and equipment, to purchase inventory, for working capital, to refinance high-interest business debt and to pay startup expenses. No minimum credit score requirement. Complete the loan inquiry form to get started.
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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
Lessons Learned Starting & Running Restaurant
Saturday, April
23, 9 a.m. – Noon
Score East Bay
$23
Marketing Fundamentals Bootcamp
April 25, 26 & 28, 1 – 3 p.m.
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Free
Owning and Investing in Real Estate for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Tuesday, April 26, 10:30 a.m. – Noon
NorCal SBDC
Free
COVID Impacted Businesses! Still Looking for Money?
Tuesday, April 26, 11 a.m. – Noon
AnewAmerica Women’s Business Center
Free
Fundamentos de un Plan de Negocio y Mercadotecnia
Tuesday, April 26, 6 - 9 p.m.
NorCal
SBDC
Free
Small Business Financial Bootcamp Part 3
Wednesday, April 27, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
COVID Impacted Businesses: Expand Your Target Market and Boost Your Sales
Wednesday, April 27, 3 – 4 p.m.
AnewAmerica Women’s Business Center
Free
Financing Your Business
Thursday, April 28, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
Small Business Week Webinars, Workshops and Events
May 1 – 7, various times
Various Partners
Free
Cómo Financiar su Negocio
Tuesday, May 3, 6 – 9 p.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
Legal Issues for the Small Business Startup
Thursday, May 5, 9 a.m. – Noon
East Bay SCORE
$23
Marketing Your Business
Thursday, May 5, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
First Fridays Preventive Business Law Office Hours for Entrepreneurs
Friday, May 6, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Free
Entendiendo su Reporte de Crédito y Pasos para Reparar su Crédito
Tuesday, May 10, 6 – 9 p.m.
NorCal SBDC
Free
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