Business
ByBlack Platform Designed to Network Black Businesses
Black business owners often struggle to find one another and miss out on many opportunities to work together. Other times business owners have trouble finding their target market.
A new platform, www.ByBlack.us is designed to alleviate the obstacles, allowing business owners to join for free. Lead developer, Ron Busby, Jr. of Oakland says he and a few colleagues from Facebook and Google came together to find a solution.
“Our platform is powered by data and linked to Black Chambers of Commerce nationwide making businesses more visible to other businesses and consumers,” he said.
Busby, Jr. says another issue Black business owners face is a lack of city, state, and federal contracts due to complex requirements and certification processes. “Another component of our platform will be a premium service that assists companies in this process and streamlines a pathway to be qualified to compete for these government contracts.”
Cathy Adams, the new president and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC), is excited about Busby, Jr.’s project and encourages Black businesses to sign up on the platform. “There are too many missed opportunities that can be bridged by being on this platform together, she said.
In the coming months, Busby, Jr. and his team will continue to develop the platform’s marketing plan to get the word out while scaling additional features and resources useful to Black business owners. For more information, visit www.ByBlack.us
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland’s Black Chamber of Commerce Awards 63 Businesses $1,000 Micro Grants
“Our members are essential to Oakland’s economic and cultural fabric,” said Cathy Adams, president of the OAACC. “These grants are a testament to our dedication to fostering business growth and sustainability within our community.” The microgrants are designed to provide vital support for members to strengthen their operations, invest in growth opportunities, or meet pressing needs, Adams added.
By Oakland Post Staff
Last week, the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC) announced the distribution of $63,000 in microgrants to 63 member businesses. These $1,000 grants, generously sponsored by Supervisor Nate Miley, Amazon, and the Tides Foundation, reflect the organization’s goals and unwavering commitment to empowering Black-owned businesses in Oakland.
“Our members are essential to Oakland’s economic and cultural fabric,” said Cathy Adams, president of the OAACC. “These grants are a testament to our dedication to fostering business growth and sustainability within our community.”
The microgrants are designed to provide vital support for members to strengthen their operations, invest in growth opportunities, or meet pressing needs, Adams added.
As part of this initiative, OAACC leaders are encouraging all grant recipients to inspire their communities to support Oakland-based businesses by shopping locally, sharing referrals, and following their social media pages.
For more information about the OAACC and the organization’s initiatives, please visit www.oaacc.org.
Activism
Port of Oakland to Host January Meeting for Interfaith Council of Alameda County
State, county, and city officials have been invited to join ICAC board members and the community to explore effective strategies for addressing these interconnected challenges across Alameda County, including ICAC’s Safe Car Park program expansion and efforts to convert trailers into shelter for the unhoused.
Special to The Post
The Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) will hold its first meeting of 2025 on Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Port of Oakland, located at 530 Water St. Hosted by the president of the Port of Oakland, the meeting will run from 1-2:30 p.m. and will focus on pressing community issues including environmental justice, housing solutions, and crime and safety.
State, county, and city officials have been invited to join ICAC board members and the community to explore effective strategies for addressing these interconnected challenges across Alameda County, including ICAC’s Safe Car Park program expansion and efforts to convert trailers into shelter for the unhoused.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend and contribute to this important discussion. For more information, visit interfaithAC.org.
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