Resources for Local Businesses

Resources for Local Businesses

Bernal Heights: San Francisco’s Hilltop Haven and Entrepreneurial Hub

Bernal Heights, a charming San Francisco, California neighborhood, has a thriving community of 32,054 residents. Located south of the vibrant Mission District, this hilltop village is acknowledged as one of the finest places to reside in the Golden State.

Bernal Heights is not just a residential paradise; it’s also a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity. With 2,458 entrepreneurs within its boundaries, the neighborhood boasts an entrepreneurial workforce comprising 12.38% of its total working population. This impressive figure highlights the innovative spirit that drives this community and positions Bernal Heights as a significant contributor to California’s dynamic economy.

Bernal Heights embodies the best of what San Francisco has to offer, offering a unique blend of peaceful residential living and bustling business activity. Whether you’re seeking a place to call home or a vibrant community to launch your business, Bernal Heights is an appealing choice.

Resources for Local Businesses

Resources for Local Businesses

Resources to help your small business thrive

  • Bernal Business and Artist Alliance – Encouraging Bernal businesses to work together on special events and projects that benefit Bernal Heights and the mutual interests of businesses and residents.
  • Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center – The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center transforms lives and communities through entrepreneurship. Our mission is to empower and enhance the entrepreneurial capacities of socially and economically diverse populations, thereby strengthening our communities by creating sustainable new businesses, generating jobs, and fostering financial self-sufficiency.
  • San Francisco Small Business Development Center – The San Francisco Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a results-oriented program that provides expert, no-cost advising and workshops in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese to guide small businesses to success.
  • San Francisco Venture Capital Directory – We aim to bring together startups, investors, and innovators to learn about cutting-edge innovations and foster dynamic conversations that address how technology is transforming the Bay Area.
  • SF Business Portal – The San Francisco Business Portal offers online resources and one-on-one assistance for starting, running, and growing a business in San Francisco.
  • SF Green Business Program – The San Francisco Green Business Program recognizes businesses, nonprofit organizations, and City and County of San Francisco institutions that meet high environmental standards. The SF Green Business Program is a member of the California Green Business Network, administered by SF Environment.
  • Small Business Loan Programs – The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and its community partners offer technical assistance and loan products funded by various sources, including community lending circles, crowdsourcing, and contributions from community leaders, to meet the needs of entrepreneurs at different stages of their growth. Loans are available up to $250,000, offering flexible rates and terms to help entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and grow their businesses.
  • Small Business Assistance Center – The Small Business Assistance Center offers one-on-one case management assistance, including information on required licenses and permits, technical support, financing options, and other business resources to help businesses start, grow, and succeed. In addition, SBAC provides multi-lingual client services by phone, email, appointment, and on a drop-in basis.
  • Startup Life San Francisco – Whether you are a member of the gig economy with the freedom to explore or a recent transplant, we will help you explore the San Francisco Startup Ecosystem. From co-working spaces to startup programs to local regulations, we help startups do business in SF.
  • Startup Tools for Founders – A curated directory of tools and resources to build your startup.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Certified Access Specialist (CASp) Small Business Assessment Program – The program educates small businesses Citywide about ADA compliance, provides eligible businesses in Invest in Neighborhood corridors with an ADA assessment report and plan for compliance with ADA law, and provides access to new grant funding and loan programs. The program is free of cost for those meeting the eligibility criteria. To be eligible, businesses must be located within the City of San Francisco and should not have an active lawsuit.
To report a vacant storefront through the Treasurer/Tax Collector, click this link: https://sftreasurer.org/report-vacant-commercial-property.

Loans & Grants

  • Franchise Fund is a multi-year commitment by the Golden State Warriors, United Airlines, and WRMSDC to provide Corporate-readiness training and MBE certification to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned small businesses.
  • SF Shines Construction Grant: $5,000. Applications are accepted as long as funds are available. Grant funds are available for storefront improvements and construction projects, including minor tenant improvements, awnings, and equipment.
  • SF Shines Design Services Grant: Apply for free architectural drawings from a licensed architect (if your project requires multiple drawings, you may have to pay for some of the drawings)
  • Storefront Vandalism Relief Grant: $2,000. Applications are accepted as long as funds are available. The City is offering up to $2,000 for businesses that have experienced vandalism of their storefronts. Incidents must have occurred on or after July 1, 2020.
  • Office of Small Business: $ 10,000 ADA Grant. The $10,000 grant can reimburse the merchant or cover the cost of accessible furniture, fixtures, equipment, or a California Accessible Self-Service Inspection (CASp) inspection.
  • Nonprofit grants and funding – Find funding opportunities for arts, youth, employment, health, housing, and wellness services in San Francisco.

Arts and Culture

    • Arts Commission (SFAC) – Grant opportunities for artists, groups, and organizations.
    • Grants for the Arts – Grants for the Arts, a division of the City Administrator’s Office, provides general operating support for arts and culture organizations and funds re-granting to individual artists and groups.

Children, Youth, and their Families

Civic Engagement, Language Access, Immigrant Services

    • OCEIA grant opportunities – Funding for work that supports immigrants, language access, civic engagement, and more.
    • Status of Women – We promote equitable treatment and foster the advancement of women and girls.

Economic and Workforce Development

    • Bid opportunities – Learn about bid and funding opportunities from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD)
    • Film SF – We champion filming in San Francisco to support a diversity of storytellers and our thriving production community.

Homelessness

Housing and Community Development

    • Affordable Housing – Housing-related funding opportunities for developers and professional service providers.
    • Community Development – Grant opportunities from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

City of San Francisco

    • Find contracting and grant opportunities for businesses and nonprofits at the Office of the City Administrator.
    • San Francisco City Partner – San Francisco City Partner announces bidding and grant opportunities from many city agencies.
    • Community Challenge Grant Program – We provide grants and technical assistance for projects that improve neighborhoods. Our grantees include community groups, merchants’ associations, CBDs, schools, and nonprofit organizations.
    • Get help for your business after a fire or other disaster – Learn what resources are available to businesses and employees, including grants up to $10,000.
    • SF Shines – Get Help with Storefront Improvements.
    • Legacy Business Program – Long-standing small businesses can join the Registry for recognition, marketing, business help, and grants.

State of California

    • California Grants Portal – Find all the grants and loans offered on a competitive or first-come basis by California state agencies.
  • Working Solutions: Small Business Revolving Loan Fund Businesses located in District 9 are qualified for the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund from the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. Apply Here: https://www.workingsolutions.org/loan-program
  • California Rebuilding Fund Loans offer a 4.25% interest rate for small businesses with 2019 revenue of less than $2.5 million that experienced a decrease in business during the pandemic. Learn more: www.CALoanFund.org.
  • Kiva loans – Zero-percent interest loans, up to $15,000.

City Programs

  • Awning Amnesty Program – Creates a temporary amnesty program for existing, unpermitted awnings. All property owners (and business owners) with awnings without a building permit on file are eligible for the program, including those with active Notices of Violation for installing or having an awning without a building permit.
  • JobsNow Program for Employers – The San Francisco Human Service Agency’s JobsNOW program helps employers find employees and reimburse their wages. Apply by calling their hotline at (877) 562- 1669 or emailing HSA.JobsNOW@sfgov.org.
  • Office of Economic & Workforce Development COVID-19 Resources https://oewd.org/covid-19-external-resourcesShared Spaces program: A permit to use the sidewalk, parking lane, or private lots for business operations, like seating, dining, or retail pickup. General liability insurance is required.
  • Pilot Graffiti Abatement Program – Free graffiti removal services from professional SF Public Works crews or City contractors through November 30, 2024.
  • SF GOV COVID-19 Information at https://sf.gov/topics/coronavirus-covid-19

Legal Services

  • Legal Services for Entrepreneurs (LSE): The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF) offers business owners free legal services and representation. Find the application in English and Spanish.

Federal Services

  • The US Small Business Administration is available to help small businesses through these difficult times and accepts applications. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options
  • IRS Employee Retention Credits: The Employee Retention Credit is a fully refundable tax credit for employers equal to 50 percent of qualified wages (including allocable qualified health plan expenses) that Eligible Employers pay their employees. It applies to qualified wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021. The maximum credit is $5,000 per employee. PPP loan recipients are not eligible for this tax credit.

Making a Living in San Francisco: Employment Options and Resources