San Francisco Small Business Week 2009 May 16-23 http://www.sfsmallbusinessweek.com/

1. Small Business Week comes to San Francisco May 16 - 23
The U.S. celebrates the contribution of entrepreneurs to America’s economy each year with National
Small Business Week. From May 16 through 23, SBA’s San Francisco District Office will partner with the
San Francisco Mayor’s Office, the San Francisco Small Business Commission, Wells Fargo, PG&E,
Comcast, FirstStep marketing, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and the San Francisco Small
Business Development Center to present events around the Bay Area to celebrate the week.
“We know this year has been a difficult one for many businesses. What’s impressive to me are the
entrepreneurs who have been able to survive through their own hard work and determination, so we’re
glad we have this chance to recognize the tenacity they’ve shown and to celebrate their successes,” said
Mark Quinn, SBA District Director.
“San Francisco takes great pride in being home to over 95,000 small and new startup businesses - the
dreamers and doers who really add such richness to our city. Despite facing economic challenges, San
Francisco with its metropolitan setting and world-class culture continues to be an ideal location for startup
business ventures because we recognize the small business sector as being the backbone of San
Francisco’s economic landscape,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Small businesses can start the week with the annual Flavors of San Francisco Event in City Hall on
Monday, May 18, 6:00 PM for networking with other entrepreneurs, corporations and organizations. “You
can come meet new customers and find plenty of leads. We'll also be featuring tastings from outstanding
local restaurants. If you're in business, this is an evening you shouldn’t miss,” said Gary Marshall, Public
Information Officer for SBA in San Francisco.
Wells Fargo will host or co-sponsor a number of events focusing on financing for small businesses.
Topics include How to Start a Small Business at the Bayanihan Community Center; 1010 Mission Street,
Suite B on May 19, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM; How to Start and Finance a Small Business, along with SBA and
the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber, 235 Montgomery Street. 12th floor on May 20,
6:00 PM– 8:00 PM; How to Navigate the Foreign Exchange Markets in a Turbulent Global Economy at
the SBA Entrepreneur Center, May 21, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM; and, in partnership with VISA, Small
Business Cash Flow Management at the SBA Entrepreneur Center Training Room, May 20, 8:30 AM -
9:30 AM. The corporation has also slated a full day event titled Where’s the Money? Access to Capital
Business Expo at the Hyatt Regency, Five Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, on May 23, 8:00 AM -
2:30 PM.
A high point of the week will be the Introduction to Sustainable Business Management presented by
PG&E on May 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM at the SBA Entrepreneur Center, 455 Market St. The seminar will
focus on sustainable business practices and provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to speak with
leaders in “greening” businesses, business owners sharing their first hand experiences, local and state
leaders sharing insights and hear about grants to help businesses go green.
Organizers understand the importance of marketing for companies seeking to expand their base and
several events throughout the week will focus on that. Wells Fargo and the LGBT Community Center will
present Low Cost, Big Return Marketing for Your Small Business, a series of six short workshops May 19,
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM at the Center, 1800 Market Street.
FirstStep Marketing hosts Brand Building 101 May 20, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM at the SBA Entrepreneur
Center; and the San Francisco Business Times has scheduled Mine Your Own Business: Generating
Leads from Bay Area Business News May 19 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM also at the SBA Entrepreneur Center.

2. Utilizing the internet effectively as a marketing tool will be covered in Online Marketing & Social Media for
Small Businesses at San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St., May 19, 10:00 am –
12:00 pm, presented by Twitter and Yelp; and Marketing Your Business by Hewlitt Packard, laos in the
library’s Koret Auditorium, May 19, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Several business networking events will be included in the week’s festivities. Tuesday evening, May 19,
SBA and Wells Fargo, along with the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro, will co-host the Golden
Gate Business Association’s monthly Make Contact networking event at the LGBT Center on Market St.
GGBA is America’s oldest gay and lesbian chamber of commerce.
The evening of May 21, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce will hold their Business After Hours
Grand Expo held this year in AT&T Park, Club Level, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, 5:30 PM– 8:30 PM featuring a
reception with more than 100 exhibitors which will include Chamber members, caterers, wineries and
local non-profits.
Finally, come out and shop. Area businesses will be setting up sidewalk sales all over San Francisco as
part of the celebration, thanks to the organizational support of the San Francisco Small Business
Commission on May 16.
Registration and more information is available at http://www.sfsmallbusinessweek.com/calendar-of-
events/ or call Gary Marshall at (415) 744 6771.
###