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Testimonials: BIPOC-owned Bay Area Businesses Encourage You to Buy Small During This Season

5 months ago

BIPOC-owned small businesses have disproportionally been affected by the pandemic. At the start of the health crisis and despite the uncertainty about the future of their businesses two business owners put their interest aside to help the community and even start a new business.

Over the past 10 years, community members have come together to support their local businesses with Small Business Saturday, a holiday shopping tradition part of the nationwide Shop Small Movement dedicated to uniting communities and supporting all kinds of small businesses. Small Business Saturday is the Saturday after Black Friday and this year it will be on November 28th.

This past October, Comcast donated $350,000 in cash and in-kind support to Opportunity Fund. This donation allows Opportunity Fund to provide microloans for and wraparound services to BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color)-owned small businesses.

Reign Free and Manuel Martinez, are two recipients of Opportunity Fund’s microloans, who were met with hard times during the pandemic and are now paving their way to success.

Reign Free, The Red Door Group

Reign’s catering business stems from her familial connection to food. It has also served as a space to heal and build community. She says that cooking and community are the bedrock of The Red Door Catering.

She started in her own kitchen and eventually moved on to a co-op kitchen where she was able to thrive and grow, eventually landing her in a kitchen to call her own. In her desire to hire more people, she discovered Opportunity Fund and has since employed hundreds of people throughout the years, five of who went on to start their own businesses.

When the pandemic began, Reign felt depressed when realizing the toll it would take on her business and her employees. Since she had built a community around her food, they didn’t let her stay down for long. Her company redirected its efforts to serve people locally and give back to those in need. Reign hopes to use the microloan to turn her 5,000 square foot kitchen into a co-op, to give back in the same way that she had once been helped.

https://california.comcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/11/FINAL-Opportunity-Fund_-Reign-Free-PSA.mp4

Manuel Martinez, La Viga Seafood & Cocina Mexicana, LV Mar and San Agus

Chef Manuel had to lay off 90% of his restaurant’s staff when the pandemic hit in March. He claims it was one of the saddest days of his life. His business, like many others, has had to adapt to the changes the pandemic has forced on their daily practices. From take-out to cashless payment, they are making new plans to serve the community in the safest possible way.

Manuel has been in the restaurant business for over two decades and has two restaurants in Redwood City, La Viga Seafood & Cocina Mexicana and LV Mar. His newest endeavor is San Agus, a new restaurant that will open soon in Palo Alto.

The microloan from Opportunity Fund will help him keep doors open and maintain the new business operations that are needed. He hopes to hire his staff back and continuing to serve his employees and customers.

https://california.comcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/11/FINAL-Opportunity-Fund_-Chef-Manuel-English-PSA.mp4

During this season don’t forget about the small businesses that could use your support. If you’re looking for small businesses to shop check out the businesses supported by Opportunity Fund.

If you are looking for some ideas on how to support local businesses while staying safe, consider these:

  • Online shopping – Want to Shop Small from your couch? Consider etsy.com as one curator of independent businesses or visit the website of a local business near you.
  • Purchase a gift card – Buying gift cards for yourself or friends/family from local businesses is easy, safe, and always in style.
  • Do a virtual work-out, cooking class, etc. – If you’re feeling bold, give a virtual work-out or cooking class a try.
  • Make a donation – Various organizations like parks, conservations, zoos, and animal shelters are always a great place to donate if you can manage it.
  • Get take-out or delivery – I think we are all sick of cooking at this point so get some take-out for dinner OR consider ordering Thanksgiving pie or dessert from a local biz.
  • Write a great review – Small businesses THRIVE on word of mouth! Give them a great review on Yelp!, Facebook or Google. They will appreciate it & it will help their business.

 

Filed Under: California News, Community Investment, Small Business

Public Safety Power Shutoff

Winter Storm Creates Power Outages and Impacts Comcast Services.

Powerful Winter Storm Creates Power Outages and Impacts Comcast Services

An “atmospheric river” winter storm has brought heavy rain, high winds, flash floods, avalanche warnings and extensive power outages to much of Northern California.

The storm has created impacts from the Sierra to Fresno, including the Bay Area and throughout numerous coastal communities. The system is expected to continue bringing heavy rain and wind to the area through Friday.

Numerous communities are experiencing power outages and thousands were told to evacuate in the Santa Cruz, California region.

Comcast services require commercial power to operate. Internet and video, as well as landline and even mobile phone services for homes and businesses, may stop functioning within hours after the commercial power is shut off.

Comcast understands this disruption to services can have a major impact on people’s lives and businesses, especially during the global pandemic.

The safety of our communities and employees is our utmost priority and Comcast takes special care during storms to ensure public safety. Once commercial power is restored, we will restore Comcast services that have been affected as quickly as possible in accordance with public safety and regulatory guidance.

Here are a few things you can do to stay informed:

  • Confirm your contact information at xfinity.com/myaccount—We will use this information to contact you if we expect a service disruption caused by a planned power outage. You can also use My Accountto check if your service has been restored.
  • Comcast Business customers can check their My Accountapp or the Comcast Business Status Center to get information and valuable updates.
  • Download your favorite shows and movies for offline viewing—With the Xfinity Stream app, you can watch shows and movies offline in case you lose power.
  • Download the Xfinity Connect App to receive Xfinity Voice calls via your mobile phone—Xfinity Voice customers can make and receive calls with their Xfinity phone number using their mobile phone.
  • Visit the Comcast California Blogwhere we will post information, updates and answers to commonly asked questions. On the blog, we’ve launched a special PSPS web page where you can get additional information.
  • Follow us on Twitter — our handle is @ComcastCA and we post valuable updates regularly.

Even if power is off, Comcast’s team never stops working for you. From our family to yours, we hope you remain safe.

Comcast Business

Three CA Women and BIPOC-Owned RISE Businesses to Support this Women’s History Month

3 weeks ago

From 2014 to 2019, the number of businesses owned by women of color increased by 43%, doubling the growth rate of women-owned businesses (21%) — but some of these businesses have struggled to get the support they need during the Covid-19 pandemic.   In celebration of Women’s History Month, we want to highlight three California–based Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and women-owned […]

Community Impact

Three CA Women and BIPOC-Owned RISE Businesses to Support this Women’s History Month

3 weeks ago

From 2014 to 2019, the number of businesses owned by women of color increased by 43%, doubling the growth rate of women-owned businesses (21%) — but some of these businesses have struggled to get the support they need during the Covid-19 pandemic.   In celebration of Women’s History Month, we want to highlight three California–based Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and women-owned […]

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