Updates from the Office of Economic Development (OED)

Basic Steps:
Getting a Berkeley Business License

Starting a new business? Opening a new location? Taking over an existing business? The steps required to get a Berkeley business license just got a lot clearer. The Berkeley Chamber and Office of Economic Development partnered to produce a step-by-step guide.

Find it, along with other business resources, on the New Business Licenses page of the City's website, as well as on the Berkeley Chamber's new Doing Business in Berkeley webpage.

The nightlife scene in Downtown Berkeley

The Berkeleyside article, New cocktail bars and pool hall bring more nightlife to Downtown Berkeley, shares how the entrepreneurs behind the Tip-Sea, Tap In, & East Bay Spice Co. late-night bars and The BreakRoom billiards parlor, are expanding Berkeley’s nightlife scene until the wee hours of the morning. It was sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s #DiscoveredinBerkeley campaign, which highlights local businesses enriching our community and building a better world.

Read the article on the DiscoveredinBerkeley website and check out these Downtown Berkeley establishments while enjoying other events in Downtown Berkeley this summer.

See more about other incredible Berkeley businesses @DiscoveredinBerkeley on Instagram.

Berkeley Ventures, Berkeley Values connects STEM professionals and the next generation

OED partners with the Cal State University-East Bay Institute for STEM Education and Berkeley Unified School District to host “STEM CareerX Days” when Berkeley High School students explore how their education might transpire into real-world careers in the community. An evaluation of Berkeley’s STEM CareerX program from January 2022 to May 2024, relayed that 86% of participating students reported a substantial acquisition of knowledge about different careers in STEM and 77% of students reported an improved understanding of the connection between their academic studies and workplace applications. The program enabled 413 Berkeley High School (BHS) student-visits and 39 educator-visits to 22 Berkeley companies over 5 semesters. Over 90% of the participating students were from underrepresented communities in STEM, with a high participation rate from the BHS National Society of Black Engineers Jr. club, Biotechnology Academy, and Hispanic Engineering and Science club, among others. See more about STEM CareerX, the RePicture STEM Accelerator which inspired Berkeley college students this spring, and the other ways the Berkeley Startup Cluster is contributing to equitable development in our community in this off-agenda memo to Berkeley City Council about the “Berkeley Ventures, Berkeley Values” initiative.

What makes the Berkeley economy tick?

OED staff are out in the community this month, presenting on a variety of topics about the local economy: On June 13, OED Manager Eleanor Hollander was voted to become the next chair of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance’s Economic Development Directors group. Elizabeth Redman Cleveland presented to the group on how R&D and Life Sciences have become a vital component of the Berkeley economy and reminded the group how working with R&D firms offers economic development practitioners an opportunity to support companies developing world-changing solutions to combat climate change, growing income inequality, environmental pollution and more. On June 19,  Elizabeth Redman Cleveland presented alongside Downtown Berkeley Association CEO John Caner to the Rotary Club of Berkeley about the Downtown Berkeley economy and other citywide economic trends  On June 27, Kieron Slaughter and Jennifer Lovvorn will lead a discussion with Downtown Berkeley arts venues to explain the zoning changes to allow later business hours. They will also discuss opportunities to bolster downtown nightlife that could be mutually beneficial for arts organizations, restaurants, & bars. Visit Berkeley's new CEO Jeffrey Church and Downtown Berkeley Association CEO John Caner will join as well.

In case you missed it...

Updated zoning changes benefit restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and more

Berkeley City Council unanimously passed Zoning Amendments for Berkeley Businesses earlier this year to advance 14 changes that make the permit process more streamlined for Berkeley businesses and cultural institutions. The changes to the zoning ordinance are wide ranging, including: permitting group class instruction, the service of distilled spirits, live entertainment, outdoor food service, modifying permitted hours of operation, and the removal of restrictions related to change of use, food service quotas, and rentals of food service establishments to third parties. 

The city's zoning code is now updated with these changes and the City has won an Award of Excellence from the Northern Section of the American Planning Association for this Economic Planning and Development work.

See a summary of these updated city zoning rules for Berkeley eateries and entertainment venues.

South Berkeley's Sconehenge bakery demonstrates the value of worker-ownership and small business creativity

During Small Business Week in May 2024, Berkeleyside shared how Sconehenge offers the traditional tea scone — and a range of twists.  The article, sponsored by the City's #DiscoveredinBerkeley campaign, tells how Sconehenge employees, many who’ve been with the company 10-20 years, have become owners of the 26-year-old Lorin District bakery and cafe that delights our community with its scones, pastries, cookies, and other breakfast and lunch dishes.

Read more here and enjoy a Sconehenge scone with an upcoming breakfast or lunch!

Outdoor Commerce – Pathway to Permanence

May 20, 2024 marked one year since the COVID-19 emergency ended (legislatively) in Berkeley. Existing outdoor commerce operators using a parking space can pay an annual outdoor commerce fee to make their spaces permanent.

For inquiries regarding fee calculations, installations, or if you haven't received your renewal letter, please email rpp@berkeleyca.gov and transportation@berkeleyca.gov.  For guidance on selecting the best option for your business, email OED.

Mildred Howard Sculpture Ribbon Cutting

As part of the 2024 Berkeley Juneteenth Festival, OED's Civic Arts team coordinated a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newest addition to its public art collection — Delivered, Mable’s Promissory Note by artist Mildred Howard. Over 200 people gathered at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Adeline Street (south of the Ashby BART Station) for the unveiling.

Ways to Engage

Berkeley Chamber Networking 'Business After Hours'

TODAY, June 20, 5:00-7:00 PM Minuteman Press
1101 Fifth St., Berkeley

Join the Berkeley Chamber at Minuteman Press for a cool, fun & inspiring event to unwind after your long workday. Mingle with other members of the business community while enjoying refreshing beverages and delicious food.

Register to attend here.

Free Webinar: Learn How Employee Ownership could be a Business Succession Plan

Tuesday, June 25, 11:00 AM, virtual

Creating an exit strategy for a smooth retirement can seem like a daunting task. Join Project Equity and other East Bay business owners on June 25 for a webinar to learn how succession planning and employee ownership can help you preserve your legacy, stabilize your workforce and help you exit on your own terms.

Register now to attend the FREE live webinar.

Provide Input on the Business Impact of the Proposed Large Buildings Fossil Fuel Emissions Tax Ballot Measure

Wednesday, June 26, 10:00 AM, virtual

A coalition of citizens and labor groups have collected signatures for a November 5, 2024 ballot measure that would tax property owners of Berkeley buildings over 15,000 square feet on their natural gas usage, starting January 1, 2025. Last Friday, City Council requested an impact report (per Election Code Section 9212) on the citizen initiative: “Large Buildings Fossil Fuel Emissions Tax”. As such, City of Berkeley staff will prepare a report to analyze the potential economic impacts and benefits, if any, on local businesses and city tax revenues, feasibility of implementing the proposed initiative ordinances, City staffing implications, and other expected costs or benefits of potential interest to the City or the public. 

To help City staff accurately report on the expected impacts to businesses and non-profit organizations, OED seeks input from owners and managers of Berkeley buildings over 15K SF.

If you would like to join the June 26 feedback session on this topic, or provide comments otherwise on this proposed ballot measure, please email OED. 

Weigh in on Proposed Zoning Changes to
Keep Innovation in Berkeley

July 17, 6:00 PM, in-person
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst Ave. Berkeley

City staff have been hard at work incorporating input received from Planning Commissioners and public comment at the May 1, 2024 Planning Commission meeting on ways to update City zoning rules to Keep Innovation in Berkeley. 

The updated staff recommendations will be presented at a Public Hearing at the Planning Commission meeting on July 17 at 6pm and will be presented to City Council this fall.  

To stay informed or give input on this topic, contact OED. (To see the detailed agenda for the July 17 meeting, check the Planning Commission webpage the week before.)

$5,000 Grants for Independent Restaurants

Applicaitons due: Saturday, June 30

The Restaurants Care Resilience Fund is a special initiative to build resilience within independent restaurants. Independent restaurants and commercial caterers are invited to apply to help build resilience – technology upgrades, equipment upgrades, employee training/retention, and unforeseen hardship. They anticipate awarding $5,000 grants to 278 small businesses.

Apply here.

Meet Female Founders:
Tours, Talks & Networking

Tour 1: August 8, 5-7 pm
Fern's Garden
1831 Solano Ave, Berkeley

Tour 2: August 14, 8-9:30am  Sconehenge
2787 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley

Tour 3: August 21, 5-7pm
Laurel Burch Studios
1345 Eighth St, Berkeley

Tour 4: September 16, Time TBD  Novel Farms
2988 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley

Save the dates above for upcoming tours of women-owned businesses in Berkeley. The tours are being organized by the Berkeley Chamber and the Women Entrepreneurs of Berkeley.

Registration links will be released soon, visit here to learn more and sign up for the WEB newsletter.

Quick Links

Commercial Districts

Business Licenses: New Business License

Office of Economic Development

Civic Arts Homepage

Office of Economic Development

2180 Milvia Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
TEL: (510) 981-7530
TDD: (510) 981-6903
FAX: (510) 981-7099
Email: oedmailbox@cityofberkeley.info