COVID-19 Small Business Information & Resources
During this challenging time, we need to band together to make sure our local independent businesses can survive the shocks caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. This page has up-to-date information, resources, and ways to tap into the community.
How to get tapped into the Oakland Indie Alliance
DAILY COVID-19 UPDATES
What is OIA doing to help Indie Businesses?
Filling Immediate Needs
Business Directory
We built a business directory with links to make it easier for our community at large can support us (i.e. putting money directly into your businesses in the form of gift cards, online orders, or gofundme). We’re getting support from the BIDs, City, and partners to promote the business directory. Additionally, we’re using any funds that come in from the “donate to OIA” to buy ads that promote the directory website
Technical Help
As we respond to the changing landscape, many of us have had to stand up websites and build digital presence overnight. We’ve had awesome creatives/professionals/specialists volunteer to help our members on a pro bono or heavily discounted rate. We have 20+ skilled people ready to help us with everything from accounting to photography to web design. Visit the spreadsheet below, once you’ve started working with a volunteer please add your business name to column A.
Longer Range Advocacy
Rent Abatement/Deferral
We’re figuring how we navigate rent payments and if we collectively have an ‘ask’ of our landlords or if we seek policy to help us and landlords minimize impacts. If you would like to get involved in this effort, join one of our subcommittees.
Creating a Fund
We’re looking to create a fund with some institutional partners to be able to issue direct funds to our members. Ball park, we on average need $10k per business per month. With 300 members, that’s $3million dollars, which is a large sum to us, but with the number of philanthropic organizations in the Bay we can potentially raise those funds and distribute them to our members.
