Growing up, David Benton, the owner of Sugarsweet Cookie and Cake Studio, was not exposed to baking. He went on to California Culinary School to become a chef. During his studies there, he took an introductory baking class and immediately fell in love with it. After the 2008 recession, he lost his job and started…
In 2017 Chris and Maurion joined Main Street Launch’s Entrepreneur in Residence program to grow their knowledge and expertise on the business part of their business. “We jumped in head first when we opened the store, learning the ins and outs as we went. Now we have a better understanding about why things work…
Calvin Andrews, owner of Lena’s Soul Food Cafe, opened the restaurant because he wanted to share the cooking that he grew up on. The cafe is named after his mother who taught him and his three siblings how to cook.
In 2016 Main Street Launch and Northern California Community Loan Fund (NCCLF) announced our partnership called PRO Oakland. Together, we are offering expert advising to small businesses (advising through Main Street Launch) and nonprofits (advising through NCCLF), entities poised to be impacted by the construction of the East Bay Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT). This…
In 2015, The City of Oakland and Main Street Launch (formerly OBDC) partnered to launch the Oakland Business Sustainability Program. The Oakland Business Sustainability Program offers a comprehensive, integrated mix of services to support businesses along the East Bay Bus Rapid Transit Route. The technical assistance part of the Oakland Business Sustainability Program is provided…
Main Street Launch’s Oakland Business Sustainability Program offers Central and East Oakland businesses impacted by the upcoming Bus Rapid Transit construction business advising and small business capital to help their businesses develop growth strategies during the construction period and thrive by taking advantage of the new opportunities this project will bring. Artesanias Mexicanas El Sol is…
