EBALDC Commercial Leaseholders to Receive Donated Point of Sale Hardware and Tech Assistance from Square
For Immediate Release: November 8, 2022
Top row (l-r): Vicki Shu (EBALDC), Reyna Maldonado (La Guerrera’s Kitchen), Romney Steele (The Cook and Her Farmer), Leilani Baugh (Magnolia Street Wine Lounge & Kitchen) Rob Curl and Chris Wolf (Museum of Art & Digital Entertainment), Annapurana, Katrina Watts-McFarland (EBALDC), Ahmed Ali Bob (Square, Block)
Bottom row (l-r): May Mui (EBALDC), Martin Guerrero (Square, Block), Kemish Rosales and Samuel Aristondo (Tech Exchange), Showers of Flowers, Lena Swann (All about the DOGue Salon & Spa), Tony Martinez (Shower of Flowers), Sammy Gutierrez (Filipino Advocates for Justice), Sean Sullivan (EBALDC), Raj Gotame (Annapurna Restaurant)
Oakland, CA – Today, the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) announced that technology company Square will give EBALDC’s small business commercial tenants Square hardware, along with training on how to use its software and hardware offerings.
“We work with trusted and committed community organizations like EBALDC to reduce barriers for individuals to participate in the economy,” said Ahmed Ali Bob, Global Social Impact Lead at Square. “Additionally, through our community efforts, we help local entrepreneurs access the tools and resources they need to start, run, and grow their businesses. Square is proud to support EBALDC’s work to build healthy, vibrant, and safe neighborhoods for all the diverse populations of the East Bay.”
Ahmed Ali Bob, Global Social Impact Lead, Square, Block
At an event to take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at the Square Oakland Community Space within Uptown Station, Square will donate Point-of-Sale equipment and provide small business owners with training to fully utilize Square’s ecosystem of commerce solutions. Square will be donating nearly 40 devices to 18 small businesses – located throughout EBALDC’s commercial properties throughout the East Bay.
“We thank Square for this donation as our business was a victim of a burglary and all of our point of sale equipment was stolen,” commented Raj Gotame, the owner of Annapurna Restaurant. “Not having to purchase new hardware means I can invest in other areas of the restaurant as we continue to recover from the pandemic and high inflation.”
EBALDC is the largest nonprofit commercial landlord in the East Bay with 114 small business and nonprofit tenants at our over 300,000 square feet of commercial space. EBALDC is committed to developing the neighborhood by providing affordable commercial spaces as homes for community-serving nonprofit organizations, retail businesses, and service providers that hire from and serve local residents. During the pandemic, EBALDC provided over 3000 hours of technical assistance and over $200,000 grants to commercial tenants to help them survive the pandemic.
Martin Guerrero, Global Policy Partnerships and Community Education Specialist for Block, hands out Square Point-of-Sales equipment to Raj Gotame of Annapurna Restaurant located at Swan’s Market in Oakland.
“As a Black small business owner, I value EBALDC being intentional landlords to support us,” said Lena Swan, owner of All About the DOGue Salon & Spa. “For EBALDC to extend their relationship with Square to us so we can run our businesses more efficiently is greatly appreciated.”
Added Chikara Ono, owner of B-Dama, Inc, “EBALDC is being more than a landlord to us. You are our business partner, and we are lucky to have a business partner who supports the community and small businesses.”
Indeed, EBALDC’s partnership with our tenants is tied to our relationship with our funders who share our vision of a thriving small business community and building Healthy Neighborhoods in the East Bay.
Martin discusses Square products with Lena Swann, owner of All about the DOGue Salon & Spa, and Tony Martinez, owner of Shower of Flowers. Both businesses are located at Avalon Senior Housing in Emeryville.
“Partnering with tech innovator Square, the donation of their Point of Sale devices and tech workshops gives our business owners the hardware and software needed to succeed in today’s marketplace, both on-site and online,” said Elle Fersan, Executive Vice President of Resource Development & Communications. “With 47 years of community building, and as the largest nonprofit commercial landlord in the East Bay,” Fersan continued, “we are committed to securing resources to support our entrepreneurs with their day-to-day transactions that in turn contribute to the well-being of our local community.”