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

2 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

An Xfinity technician examines a forest

Preparing for PSPS Events

Many of us are looking forward to a return to some form of normalcy as we work to rebuild and recover from the public health crisis. Californians are clever, resilient and optimistic people and we will find joy in every season no matter what happens.

While this year will probably feel very different, one thing that will, unfortunately, remain consistent is the threat of wildfires. June 1 was the official start of fire season and at Comcast we are working tirelessly to ensure we continue to serve our customers.

Concurrent with fire season, in many parts of California, we anticipate planned power outages – called Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) – during this time, which runs from June through November. When gusty winds and dry conditions are forecasted, combined with a heightened fire risk, electricity providers pre-emptively turn off the power to protect the public.

Comcast’s Internet, TV and landline telephone services for homes and businesses require commercial power to operate. During a PSPS event, these Comcast services may stop functioning within hours after the commercial power is shut off. Mobile phone service may also be affected by a PSPS event.

Comcast understands this disruption to services is frustrating and has a major impact on people’s lives and businesses. The safety of our communities and employees is our utmost priority and Comcast takes care during PSPS events to ensure public safety.

Comcast also takes care during PSPS events to ensure we’re keeping our customers informed. We’ve sent a letter and an email to our customers with important information about how to keep informed during wildfire season.

You may also see public service announcements on your local news channel reminding you how these power outages may affect your services.

Here are a few things you can do now to be prepared:

  • 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 Account to check if your service has been restored.
  • Comcast Business customers can check their My Account app 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 Blog where 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 regularly post valuable updates.

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

PODCAST ALERT: How Technology has and will help Reopen and Transform the Hospitality Industry in California

2 weeks ago

According to Visit California, the state is expected to lose $78.8 billion in travel spending from the highest travel in 2019 and is not expected to go back to those levels until 2024. Hotels and restaurants are facing new challenges as they prepare to reopen, and health and safety measures are under the microscope like […]

Community Impact

A Look Back at 2020: Our Year in Review

3 weeks ago

Photo caption (Left to Right): Chinese New Year Parade in January 2020, Lift Zones announcement at Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County, a Comcast technician examines an area after it had been burned from a wildfire, Comcast Leaders & Achievers scholarship winner, Black Joy Parade attendees in February 2020, Comcast’s accessibility leader joins a virtual LightHouse for the Blind event.  Across the company and […]

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