lives on a daily basis , but even consumers can step up to be leaders during this time to help small-business owners . Here are some ways you can make a positive impact on the region .
Buy local
Almost anything you need can be purchased locally at a small business . It may not always be as convenient as shopping online or at a big-box store , but it has a much more significant effect for the community . When looking to buy tile , for example , the Franklin Boulevard and Power Inn corridors in southeastern Sacramento have many locally owned home-improvement stores .
Instead of purchasing gifts on Amazon , try shops such as the African Market Place , ShopSmart and Kulture in Sacramento , which are home to dozens of microbusinesses and artisans offering unique items . And you get to support an entrepreneur ’ s dream .
Get involved in a chamber
Join a minority chamber of commerce , such as the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce , Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce , Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce or Slavic American Chamber of Commerce , just to name a few . These organizations work to help as many small-business owners as they can . Even a small investment allows them to continue to do this work of providing much-needed assistance .
Donate time or money
Underwrite a minority-focused event through sponsorship and attendance . For example , the Sacramento Black Book Fair is an excellent event to support and attend in September .
Contribute to a local nonprofit supporting our underinvested corridors such as the ReImagine Mack Road Foundation , which has served more than 25,000 children through its homework lab , chess club , dance class and mobile bicycle repair program . Its program , Sacramento Saturday Night Lights , has touched more than 50,000 residents by providing a safe place for families to gather Thursday through Saturday nights during the summer . Families receive free dinners , activities , and gang intervention information . Another option is the Florin Road Partnership Foundation , which supports local K-12 enrichment programs and distributes a scholarship program that has donated over $ 140,000 to graduating seniors from Luther Burbank High School .
Volunteer for a nonprofit such as Hacker Lab , which works with minority small-business owners to pivot their businesses to an online presence , a skill desperately needed by many of our minority small-business owners .
Make a call to action
Ask your jurisdiction how it is supporting small businesses during the pandemic . Is it investing its Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act or American Rescue Plan funds into the business sector ? If not , make a call to action to your mayor , city council members , board of supervisors or all of the above . It is the time when many jurisdictions are now making decisions on where to invest the federal economic stimulus money , so educate yourself by better understanding what resources are being allocated to help small-business owners , ensuring they are a priority .
If we allow our minority small businesses to fail , we all fail . They are an integral part in what makes the Capital Region a diverse , cultural hub . Their success is the region ’ s success .
Tracey Schaal is principal of Intrépide Enterprises , an economic development and community relations strategy firm based in Sacramento . She leads the Sacramento Inclusive Economic Development Collaborative , a 15-member partnership organization with the property and business improvement districts supporting Sacramento ’ s aging commercial corridors .
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