Press Contact: Juliana Bunim, VP Strategic Communications, jbunim@sfchamber.com / 415.352.8839
San Francisco Small Business Week 2017 (#SFSBW2017) kicks off May 15, 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.
“We are proud to co-chair San Francisco Small Business week, celebrating the huge impact small businesses have on our community,” said Tallia Hart, president and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. “Small businesses make up 80 percent of members. They bring vitality, diversity and jobs to our unique neighborhoods, and are driving innovation.”
As the largest local Small Business Week in the country with more than 3,000 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.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods and we must aggressively promote and protect them in our communities,” said Board of Supervisors president London Breed. “San Francisco’s Small Business Week is an opportunity for us to recognize how they make our city distinctive. This is also the time in which we need to preserve those businesses that have historically been a part of our city but are finding it more difficult to stay here. That’s why I have been focused these past years on extending legacy business protections to make sure these pillars of our communities can remain a part of our city.”
Throughout the week, small business owners will connect and learn about resources that are available to them all year, and 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 on May 15 called Flavors, at the beautiful Hilton San Francisco Union Square with a fun-filled celebration meeting and mingling with more than 1,000 small business owners and community leaders, connecting with dozens of business resources and enjoying delicious bites and spirits from local restaurants, catering companies and bars.
Free Weeklong Workshops Include:
- Founders Stories with Kevin McCracken, Social Imprint; Keith Greggor, Anchor Brewing & Rohit Prakash and Nipul Patel, Townsquared.
- The Largest LGBT Business Networking Event in the U.S.
- Small Business & Cannabis
- Empowering Women Business Owners
- Sidewalk sales in neighborhood corridors giving residents a chance to support and celebrate their favorite local businesses. For more information and participating locations, visit: shopdine49.com
For more information and a detailed schedule, visit: https://www.sfsmallbusinessweek.com/
The 13th Annual San Francisco Small Business Week is being hosted by local organizations that support the small business community. It is presented by Bank of America and produced in partnership with the US Small Business Administration, The City and County of San Francisco, the Office of the Mayor, Office of Small Business, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center & San Francisco Economic Development Alliance, San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce, Council of District Merchants Association, San Francisco Small Business Development Center, USF Gellert Family Business Resource Center, the Golden Gate Business Association, sf.citi and Straus Events.