This post was originally written on May 3, 2017. May is the month where we celebrate the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the U.S. and who are critically important to the our country’s future success. Asian American and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders have a large business ownership footprint in…
Click here to download the press release. MAIN STREET LAUNCH Selected by Citi Foundation’s Community Progress Makers Fund to Accelerate Economic Opportunity in THE BAY aREA $500,000 Investment in core operating support will enable Main Street Launch to address the racial wealth gap through launching an African American Entrepreneurship Institute. April 26, 2018,…
Freedom Makers provides virtual assistant services to small business owners, with the services performed by military spouses. Freedom Makers is providing exceptional service to two audiences: business owners who need help managing their bookkeeping, marketing, and client communications (and more!) and military spouses who lack other work opportunities that are as mobile as they are.…
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) support local economies by investing in under-invested areas. Main Street Launch is proud to be a CDFI serving low-to-moderate income communities in Oakland and San Francisco. The CDFI Fund identifies counties across the country that experience “persistent poverty” (defined as any county that has had 20% or more of…
Main Street Launch is proud to introduce Shop Oakland Now, an online directory of Oakland small businesses. The site is still in development, and we invite you to use it, share it, and send us your feedback. Our goal is to ensure that all operating Oakland small businesses have an online presence to help new customers…
For Parle Innovation, innovation drives them and is at the core of their company . In 2013, Mary Parle Shulenberger and her husband Art sought out a loan from Main Street Launch to support and grow their business. “Technology is a way to advance people’s lives, and while sometimes it has the potential to…
In this newsletter: Letter from Our CEO Introducing Shop Oakland Now Credit Tip Small Business Week(s) are coming! Thank You to our Funders Advising Corner: Succession Planning for my Family Business Meet our Clients: Freedom Makers Resource for your Business: Oakland Grown Get to Know Debra Peace Upcoming Events for Your Small Business Get Connected…
Chris Pastena, owner, always knew he would own restaurants: “This is my destiny. I can’t remember not thinking about owning my own restaurant. I wanted the freedom of expression to do what I wanted to do where I didn’t have to play by other people’s rules.” Calavera has been open since 2015, and they…
Oakland Grown’s 2018 Good Money Guide is available! This year, the guide is digital as well as print, enabling you to evaluate funding options wherever you are. The Good Money Guide reviews types of funding available for your small business, the benefits and drawbacks of each type, and sources to contact to get access…
At Montesacro they make Pinsa, an ancestor of pizza. Their modern take on pinsa transforms the tradition of using leftover grains into their specially-blended flour that makes a dish that is low in calories and easy to eat. The first Pinseria in the United States, Montesacro also offers a selection of international wine and beer…
