Small Business / Economic Development

The Small Business/Economic Development Team, part of the Employment Training and Economic Development Department at Self-Help for the Elderly, compassionately offers professional and technical support to local small business owners to nurture regional economic development in the San Francisco neighborhood.

We are thrilled to collaborate with city government agencies and community partners to support our clients. Our team excels at connecting clients with available city resources, assisting with business operations, and boosting foot traffic and visibility for local businesses through community festival events. Our mission is to empower our clients to champion local small businesses and achieve remarkable success together!

Technical Assistance:

Share city resources with small businesses, assisting them in understanding and effectively utilizing available support.
Support businesses in applying for city grants, such as:

SF Shine Grant: Provides funding to enhance small business equipment.
Vandalism Grant: Offers compensation for unexpected damages.
ADA-related Grant: Helps improve business accessibility.

Deliver general technical assistance, including obtaining business licenses, addressing permit violations, and renewing licenses. Additionally, we provide referrals for professional services related to lease agreements, loans, and legal disputes.

Community Engagement

Outreach: Engage with small businesses and connect them with relevant city resources.
Community Events: We coordinate events to promote and support local small businesses.

The following projects or grants are currently available for small business owners in San Francisco:

Project/Grant	Time	Application Link
Chinatown Tasty Award Passport Day In partnership with Self-Help for the Elderly, OEWD will host a Chinatown Tasty Tour on May 11. This guided, 45-minute walking tour will bring participants to the first and second-place winners of the three community-voted categories: Pineapple Buns, Siu Mai, and Boba. Throughout six stops in Chinatown, guests can enjoy tastings at the award-winning locations while experiencing the vibrant neighborhood. Tours will take place at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. in groups of up to 20 people. Tickets are available for $15 and include a voucher redeemable for one pineapple bun, one siu mai, and one boba drink.	May 9, 2025	Registration Link
AAPI Storefront Opportunity Grant The program aims to activate vacant storefronts and provide AAPI entrepreneurs with knowledge and skills through an intensive training program that focuses on business operations, including business planning, financial management, marketing, business regulations and permitting, and operational efficiency.	September 2024	Submit An Application
Beautify Storefront Project A partnership with OEWD and Supervisor Gordon Mar's Office, this project unites the artists and the merchants in Sunset District to make the community stronger and more beautiful.	November 2022	This application is currently closed

To learn more, schedule an appointment with Self-Help for the Elderly’s Small Business / Economic Development Team. We speak multiple languages and dialects.
Tel: 415-677-7600 / 415-699-1350
Email : smallbiz@selfhelpelderly.org
Address: 601 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

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