Oakand, CA - The City of Oakland will celebrate Small Business Week from April 28 to May 3, 2024 with in-person and virtual panels, workshops, and resource fairs for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Events will be located throughout Oakland. Admission is free!
From financial strategies, taxes and accounting, safety and security, building a digital presence, commercial lease negotiations, access to capital, and transitioning from home-based or mobile business to a brick-and-mortar space, the 2024 Oakland Small Business Week Schedule offers six days of free educational workshops, plus:
• City Services Small Business Resource Fair featuring representatives from more than a dozen City Departments on Tuesday, April 30th, 2-4pm at Oakland City Hall. City staff will provide information and answer questions about business license registration, planning and building permits, special event permits, free Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Assessments for businesses, help with hiring staff, and more.
• Multi-Cultural Chamber Mixer on Wednesday, May 1st, 5-7pm
Join the five Chambers of Oakland for an evening devoted to networking and celebrating Oakland's diverse business community and its contributions to The Town. Hear from Chamber and local leaders, enjoy food and drink, catch up with old connections, and make new ones!
• 2024 Celebration of Oakland Small Businesses, an in-person reception and mixer for small businesses and our business support partners on Friday, May 3rd, 4:30-6:30pm at Geoffrey's Inner Circle in Downtown Oakland. The Mayor and City Councilmembers will also announce their business honorees for the 2024 Small Business Awards at the Awards Ceremony during this event.
See the full schedule of events and registration details, including event locations and online links at www.OaklandCa.gov/SBW. All workshops and events are free and open to any small business or business support organization.
“Small businesses are the heart and soul of Oakland and an essential part of our economy, providing goods, services, and gathering spaces for residents and visitors,” said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Small Business Week celebrates their economic, cultural, and civic importance and supports them with educational and networking opportunities to help them thrive.”
"Oakland Small Business Week provides information, actionable strategies, resources, and valuable connections to help Oakland businesses survive and thrive," said Ashleigh Kanat, Oakland's Director of Economic and Workforce Development. "We are grateful to our many partner organizations and local experts who have come together to offer a wide range of informative events to support Oakland's valuable small business community."
Partnering organizations include: Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Laurel District Association / Montclair Village Association, Oakland-East Bay Local Business Alliance, Mainstreet Launch, Oakland Don't Play Inc, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, and The Unity Council.
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About the City of Oakland Neighborhood Business Assistance Program
Small Business Week is produced and organized by The City of Oakland Economic and Workforce Development Department's Neighborhood Business Assistance Program. The Neighborhood Business Assistance Program provides small business owners and those interested in starting a business in Oakland with culturally and linguistically competent business assistance through a website, and individualized support via phone, email and in-person one-on-one consultations at six different locations throughout Oakland.
