Access to Capital: Business Lender Panel & Resource Fair

This free business financing workshop will cover lender requirements as well as various financing options including conventional loans, SBA Loan Programs, crowd funding and other alternative financing to help businesses launch or expand. Small business lenders and alternative capital lenders will be onsite. Resource fair participants will have information in English, Spanish and Mandarin. The resource fair will feature over 20 lenders and business technical assistance providers to assist Oakland businesses to succeed. Presented in partnership with the Alameda County SBDC. For more information, contact the Alameda County SBDC at (510) 208-0410. To register, visit http://nc.ecenterdirect.com/ConferenceDetail.action?ID=25459.

Access to Capital: Business Lender Panel & Resource Fair

This free business financing workshop will cover lender requirements as well as various financing options including conventional loans, SBA Loan Programs, crowd funding and other alternative financing to help businesses launch or expand. Small business lenders and alternative capital lenders will be onsite. Resource fair participants will have information in English, Spanish and Mandarin. The resource fair will feature over 20 lenders and business technical assistance providers to assist Oakland businesses to succeed. Presented in partnership with the Alameda County SBDC. For more information, contact the Alameda County SBDC at (510) 208-0410. To register, visit http://nc.ecenterdirect.com/ConferenceDetail.action?ID=25459.

Oakland Retail Development Breakfast

This breakfast meeting will promote retail development in Oakland, focusing on recent or upcoming national or local retailer developments. Come learn about retail investment and development opportunities. Presented in partnership with the Airport Area Business Association. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/oakland-retail-forum-2015-tickets-16189018791.

Oakland Maker Day

The day-long event will consist of a series of workshops and classes for Makers ranging from marketing to financing. The focus will be on manufacturers that need assistance with building or expanding their business operations. Presented in partnership with the Oakland Makers Group, a consortium of Oakland businesses and key technical assistance groups. R.S.V.P. to Margot Prado at mprado@oaklandnet.com.

The Basics of Social Media

Have you been thinking about using social media but you are not sure how to get started, or not convinced that it works? This workshop shows you how social media can lead to new customers and drive repeat business from current customers.

Celebrating Women’s History Month with Entrepreneurs

Main Street Launch News, Oakland, Small Business News

In the United States, women own 10.6 million businesses that produce approximately $2.5 trillion in sales every year. These women-owned companies employ 19.1 million workers, or one in every seven employees. Even though women own approximately 30 percent of small businesses, women-owned companies make up just 16 percent of bank loans and 17 percent of SBA loans. You can find more statistics about women entrepreneurs in this great fact sheet.