Press Contact: Juliana Bunim, VP Strategic Communications, jbunim@sfchamber.com / 415.352.8839
San Francisco Small Business Week 2016 (#SFSBW2016) kicks off May 21, celebrating the more than 85,000 small businesses and entrepreneurs who call San Francisco home. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.
As the largest local Small Business Week in the country with more than 4,000 attendees, San Francisco Small Business Week includes a robust series of education and networking events targeted to the needs and interests of the small business community, as well as sidewalk sales in 11 distinct merchant corridors for the local community to enjoy.
鈥淩esidents across the city should nurture our small business community 鈥� the artisans, restauranteurs, manufacturers and innovators who are bringing vitality, diversity and jobs to the neighborhoods that are uniquely San Francisco,鈥� said Taryn Taddeo-Palumbo, director of Strategic Partnerships for the 乌鸦传媒 and co-chair of San Francisco Small Business Week. 鈥淲e welcome the community to join us to connect, learn, support and be inspired by the huge impact the small business community has on San Francisco.鈥�
Throughout the week, small business owners will have access to events and programs specifically designed to help them thrive as they face a mix of challenges doing business in the city.
The featured event is the gala kick-off called Flavors, bringing together more than 1,200 small business owners and community members at Cityview at the Metreon to connect with business resources and sample foods from San Francisco鈥檚 local restaurants, bars and food entrepreneurs.
Other programming includes:
鈥� Networking events and workshops focusing on Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and LGBT entrepreneurs.
鈥� The Small Business Conference with 64 free workshops on a variety of topics including how to make a living making food, B2B lead generation, digital marketing, what lenders look for, franchising basics, how to access microloans, how to do business in Asia, expanding company benefits and the popular 鈥淔ounders Stories鈥� with lessons from successful small businesses including Equator Coffee & Tea and Three Twins Ice Cream.
鈥� Sidewalk sales in neighborhood corridors giving residents a chance to support and celebrate their favorite local businesses.
For more information and a detailed schedule, visit:
San Francisco Small Business Week 2016 Sponsors include: Bank of America, Comcast Business, Office of Small Business, Wells Fargo, san Francisco Municipal Transit Agency, City View at Metreon, Bay Area Development Company, Capital Access Group, CDC Small Business Finance, TMC Financing, Airbnb, Bank of the West, Endicia, Google, Recology, Sterling Bank, Straus Events, U.S. Bank, VEDC, Visa Inc., YP, Bar Association of San Francisco, Main Street Launch, Staffly, Kabbage, San Francisco International Airport, SF Green Business Program and the San Francisco Business Times.