Rosa Martin fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning her own restaurant in 2013 when she purchased 3731 International Boulevard in Oakland. When she wanted to update the inside of her business and figure out how to pay down the credit card debt she accrued to launch her business, she came to OBDC. Here’s an excerpt from our interview with Rosa:
Most lenders require updated business financials when an application is submitted, but your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement offer an insight into your business performance that may allow you to more quickly adapt to potential challenges and leverage new opportunities.
In 2014, long-time client Laurel Book Store moved to downtown Oakland. We’re thrilled that this business found a great location just across from City Hall in Frank Ogawa Plaza.
NerdWallet (@smallbiznerds on Twitter), recently posted an article describing important differences between community lenders like OBDC and traditional lenders, like commercial banks. This great post features OBDC’s Scott Lewis, and makes important distinctions that small businesses seeking capital should be aware of. Click here to read the full article.
On June 11, 2015 OBDC released our new organizational report, sharing our impacts in Oakland, San Francisco, and with veteran-owned businesses. To request a physical copy, please email updates@mainstreetlaunch.org.
Luan Stauss, the owner of Laurel Book Store, started her business to build community. She said, “We truly want to be ‘Your Neighborhood Bookstore in Downtown Oakland.’”
On Friday, June 19, 2015, Oakland business owners joined in the hometown celebrations for the Warriors’ parade. It was amazing to see the amount of #dubnation being celebrated by our clients on Twitter and at their businesses.
We were proud to host 100 staff, clients, partners, and friends of OBDC, featuring food from a few of our clients. During a brief program, we highlighted our new partnerships and programs, celebrating the work we’ve done for the past 36 years and the work coming up this year.
Pampalasa, a new San Francisco restaurant and OBDC client, celebrates Filipino heritage and cultural pride by supporting and ensuring sustainably sound business practices and products for a responsible, cultural dining experience. The newest element of this dining experience is their upcoming pop-up dinner series, featuring several guest chefs.
Our team at OBDC was thrilled to read a recent article in San Francisco Business Times about our borrower, Noble Brewer. OBDC’s loan to Claude Burns, CEO of Noble Brewer, closed in December 2014, and since then, his business has taken off, creating an artisan beer tasting community that brings homebrews to life.
