News

Today, the City of Oakland and multiple community partners marked the second year of implementation of the “Better Neighborhoods, Same Neighbors” (BNSN) Initiative by providing a progress update. Funded by a $28.2 million Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant from the California Strategic Growth Council, the Initiative brought together the City of Oakland, multiple community organizations, residents and business owners to implement five projects across four transformative elements in a five-square-mile area in deep East Oakland.

Today, the City of Oakland announced a new cohort of 10 Cultural Strategists-in-Government (CSIG) that will embed in seven different entities in the City. The program is a partnership between the City’s Cultural Affairs Division and the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation, with funding for 7 of the 10 individuals provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Beginning Monday, May 16, festival organizers may apply for grants from the City of Oakland’s Neighborhood Voices for Festivals program for next year: 2022-23. Applicants must be Oakland-based nonprofits and all festival activities must be presented in Oakland between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

From May 1 to 7, 2022, Oakland will celebrate Small Business Week with more than a dozen virtual and in-person workshops and other activities for small business owners and entrepreneurs. See the full schedule and registration links at www.oaklandca.gov/SBW.

Through April 22, 2022, the Oakland Workforce Development Board (OWDB) is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide adult and/or youth and young adult career services to help individuals gain skills, credentials, and employment while helping businesses connect with a qualified workforce. 

On March 15, the Oakland City Council passed a series of Ordinances to make the Flex Street Initiative a permanent option for businesses to use outdoor public rights-of-way. The existing permit programs will remain mostly unchanged and free through July 2023.

Following a call for qualifications in November, the Cultural Strategists-in-Government (CSIG) Program has announced the initial cohort of artists and cultural practitioners who will bring new perspectives and creative thinking to help City staff address some of Oakland’s greatest problems together with the City’s diverse communities. Four Strategists have been selected, and the application deadline for six additional project slots has been extended to Monday, February 28, at 5 p.m.

Following a four-month pilot program, the City’s Economic & Workforce Development Department has rebranded and is officially launching a permanent business support program in Oakland’s neighborhoods. The newly named Neighborhood Business Assistance program has added a sixth location and opened appointment dates through June 2022.

City partners with Visit Oakland & Oakland Metro Chamber to encourage Shopping Locally this Holiday Season

The Neighborhood Voices for Festivals grant program seeks to bring Oaklanders together to create and support a sense of belonging through festival culture.