Small business newsletter for October 2025

October in San Francisco features Filipino Heritage Month, Italian American Heritage Month, Manufacturing Week, Fleet Week, and more – all great opportunities to celebrate and visit San Francisco’s small businesses! 

Announcements

Sign up for opportunities to contract with the City & County of San Francisco

The Office of Small Business and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) regularly release opportunities for businesses and nonprofits to bid on contracts. 

Learn about bid and funding opportunities with OEWD

Sign up to an email list announcing new OEWD Requests for Proposals (RFPs)

Vacant Commercial Spaces Funding Program

The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development released a “Notice of Funding Availability” (NOFA) for non-profits. This funding opportunity supports long-vacant commercial spaces that remain unoccupied due to financial barriers to completing tenant build out and code compliance.

Sign up for 3 months of free membership to the Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA)

3 for Free is a promotional campaign hosted by the GGRA to encourage participation in the 10th anniversary of Fall SF Restaurant Week, this November 1st - 9th. This offer expires on October 24th and membership is good through December 31st, 2025.

Email sean@ggra.org to sign up for the free 3 month membership.

Take a survey about hiring employees

The Office of Economic & Workforce Development Employer Services team is seeking feedback on how to improve processes for connecting local businesses with skilled talent. Your input will help shape future workforce training programs and ensure they align with the needs of local small businesses. This is a 10-minute survey about:

• The skills and roles you need most
• The challenges you face in finding talent
• How public programs can better support your hiring needs

Take the survey. All responses are voluntary and confidential. 

Free programs for food service businesses

The SF Environment Department has programs help restaurants and cafes. Here is how they work:

1. Restaurants and Cafes: If you own a restaurant or cafe, you can get up to $700 to switch from disposable to reusable foodware for dine-in services. You will also receive free advice and help to make the change easier. Over 200 businesses in San Francisco are already part of this program, saving between $3,000 to $20,000 annually. Schedule your free consultation today by filling out the form at SFReuse.org. 
2. Dishwashers: Get up to $2,500 toward leasing or buying an automatic dishwasher, to help you build reusable foodware infrastructure for on-site dining. Businesses that have an existing automatic dishwasher on site are not eligible for funding. Submit an interest form. 

General questions? Please email environment@sfgov.org or call 415-355-3700.

Get connected to the SF ReServe Employment Program

This program aims to increase employment opportunities for seniors and people with disabilities by connecting them with local jobs.

Office of Small Business in the Community 

Let us know if you would like the Office of Small Business to visit your corridor and share resources for small businesses. Please send requests to: sfosb@sfgov.org.     

Upcoming

Community Open House for 16th & Mission BART plazas

Nov 5, 2025, 6:00-8:00 PM, 1950 Mission St.

BART is redesigning the 16th & Mission plazas and seeking community feedback. Provide yours at the upcoming in-person meeting. They will have Spanish and Chinese interpreters there. Email tchan1@bart.gov with questions.

Sneak peek into SF Music Week 2026

Oct 21, 2025, 5:30-7:30 PM

Join SF Live for a special Happy Hour Meet-up at Kilowatt Bar to get an inside look at what’s in store for SF Music Week 2026. They will share the vision for next year’s festival, preview highlights, and talk about how SF Music Week will continue to shine a spotlight on San Francisco’s music and arts community. RSVP for the Happy Hour

Made in SF – Nooworks and the Creative Power of Local Manufacturing

Oct 28, 2025, 6:00–7:30 PM, Main Library, Koret Auditorium

Celebrate San Francisco’s creative economy with Jennifer D’Angelo of Nooworks in conversation with Isobel Schofield of Bryr Clogs, exploring the power of local manufacturing and community. Learn more about this event from the SF Public Library.

Built to Last: Five Years of Disability-Led Business

Nov 5, 2025, 5:00-8:00 PM

Celebrate the strength, sustainability, and care that entrepreneurs with disabilities bring to San Francisco with the Disability Business Alliance. The event features networking, a marketplace of handcrafted products, speakers, and awards.

Apply for the Boost Award by October 15

Register for Built to Last

Legacy Business Spotlight

Heritage Happy Hour at Suppenküche

Oct 9, 5:00-7:00 PM

Heritage Happy Hours offers a casual “no-host” gathering of heritage professionals, young preservationists, aficionados, friends, and Legacy Business cohorts interested in safeguarding San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity.

Suppenküche was founded by Fabricius Wiest and Thomas Klausmann to share their experience of Bavarian life in a small village where the food is simple, the beer is flowing, and the conversation is jovial and sincere. 

Webinars & Events

Wednesdays

Small Business and Entrepreneur Mentoring with SCORE

SCORE mentors will be at the Main Library weekly, each Wednesday from 10am-2pm. Sign up for free 1:1 appointments.  

Oct 7

Meet the Lender: Accessing Capital for Your Small Business

Learn how to prepare for funding and connect with lenders who can help your business thrive. Presented by the SF Public Library with the SF LGBT Center. 

Oct 9

Small Business Office Hours with an Advisor

Bring your questions to a Small Business Development Center advisor for personalized, one-on-one guidance at the SF Public Library. 

Oct 16

Emergency Preparedness: Integrating Access into Business Resiliency and Adaption Plans

The CA Commission on Disability Access and the Pacific ADA Center will provide information to help businesses learn how to maintain operational resilience while upholding accessibility during emergencies.

Oct 20

The Owner's Playbook: How to Build Your Business to Sell

Join Main Street Launch for a virtual workshop designed to help you understand the critical steps involved in preparing your business for a successful transition, whether it’s for retirement or a new venture. 

Oct 21

Fear-Free Taxes for Artists, Freelancers and Small Businesses

Learn stress-free tax strategies tailored for creatives, freelancers, and small business owners. Presented by the SF Public Library In partnership with CA Lawyers for the Arts. 

Soma Pilipinas’ Tasty Tours for Filipino Heritage Month

Take a self guided tour through the 3rd x South Park emerging corridor in SOMA Pilipinas, the City and State recognized Filipino Cultural Heritage District in San Francisco.

Get tasty food from eateries The Sarap Shop, Mestiza, Little Skillet, South Beach Food Collective (Love Burn, Ocean Malasada, more), and Victory Hall and Parlor— each with their own unique takes on food and drinks with a Filipino twist. 

Enjoy the South Park playground, one of the oldest parks in San Francisco, then walk over to Filipino American historical sites the Gran Oriente Filipino Masonic Temple and the Gran Oriente Filipino Hotel. From there, head over for libations and vibes at Victory Hall and Parlor, where a regular calendar of live music and DJs can be found. 

Connect with the murals and cultural markers you find along the way, and most importantly, the people in the neighborhood. 

Learn more about the tour