CA

Small Business Majority writes in support of California's FY21-22 proposed budget

On February 11, Small Business Majority submitted a letter to the Chairwoman of Budget & Fiscal Review Committee and the Chairman of the Committee on Budget in support of Governor Newsom's proposed budget, which includes additional funding and support for small businesses. 

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Bay Area business owner has big resolutions for the new year

Ten years ago, Sway Soturi woke up to find that her face had swollen “to the size of a watermelon.” After speaking with doctors and friends, she decided to cut out inflammatory ingredients like gluten and dairy from her diet. 

After 15 years working in the restaurant industry and battling an eating disorder, Sway had to re-define nutrition and her relationship with food. Over the next few years, she shifted to a wellness mindset becoming a personal trainer and cooking with more natural and local ingredients. 

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California small businesses face difficult decisions as pandemic continues and funding freezes

Publisher: 
Small Business Majority
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Date: 
Wednesday, December 16, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic has raged across the country and resurges in California, small business owners continue grappling with the effects of state and local public health orders and a loss in consumer demand. Nine months into this crisis, California’s small business owners say their businesses have been diminished, leaving them with reduced revenue and operating capacity. They’re making difficult decisions that are impacting the workforce through reduced wages, working hours and employee benefits.

Closures have greater impacts than you may think as ecosystems are disrupted

Derreck Johnson is painstakingly aware of how the current global health crisis has impacted not only his small business but the entire small business ecosystem in Oakland, Calif. 

Derreck has been an entrepreneur for the past 30 years and has always had a passion for identifying a community need and filling it with a business. His entrepreneurial journey started with a small car washing business, but now he is a restaurateur and the proud founder of the now employee-owned restaurant Home of Chicken and Waffles.

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Meet our Outreach Team -- Joi

Small Business Majority’s Outreach Team advocates for entrepreneurs on two fronts: It supports policies that would benefit small firms, and it offers workshops and events that help small business owners grow their companies. We have found this work to be even more important during this global health and economic crisis. 

This week we are spotlighting Joi Eubanks, Small Business Majority’s Central California Outreach Manager, to let small business owners know how our team members can assist them.

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Multi-faceted business owner clings to hopes of a new COVID-19 relief package

After working as a public school teacher in Los Angeles during the height of the 2008 recession, Corissa Hernandez was inspired to launch her first mission-driven company to support her local community in Covina, California. Through Legacy Full Circle Financial & Insurance Services, Corissa educates low to middle-income families about financial literacy and planning. But she didn’t stop there.

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Brewmasters ‘re-craft’ their business to weather the crisis

Rob Lightner and his business partner Chris Coomber opened East Brother Beer Company, a brewery and taproom in Richmond, California with the idea that beer can be a democratizing force—by being more accessible to those who wish to try new “potions,” enjoy some downtime and foster relationships in an inclusive community.

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Report: Small business challenges in hiring and training employees in California

Publisher: 
Small Business Majority
English
Date: 
Wednesday, October 21, 2020

On October 21, Small Business Majority released a new report on small business challenges in hiring and training employees in California and their struggles accessing the broader workforce development ecosystem. The report reveals findings from an online survey of small business owners across the state, as well as separate focus group discussions, interviews and other convenings that provide insights into the ways small business owners approach hiring and training. It also provides recommendations for stakeholders to better engage their local small employers.

Los Angeles

: Los Angeles

Our team in the Los Angeles area is focused on supporting and growing the local small business ecosystem by serving the needs of women and Latinx entrepreneurs and connecting them with vetted resources. To this end, in 2018 we launched our Women’s Entrepreneurship Program in Los Angeles to provide guidance on topics like marketing; obtaining certification as a woman-owned business; networking, mentorship and procurement options; accessing responsible capital, including through crowdfunding; accessing resources to meet childcare needs; and more. 

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California musician discovers the true power of music during lockdown

Kiev Morales has been an entrepreneur for most of his life. His product? His music. The 20-year-old violinist has performed all over the world, but these days is having to adapt to virtual audiences and online streaming and only recently began performing outdoors again. 

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