Welcome to the
San Francisco Council of District Merchants Associations!
As our mission statement says, the Council is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and enhancement of San Francisco 's Business Community . Exactly how do we go about achieving that goal?
The Council brings together nearly twenty diverse neighborhood business organizations, giving small business owners a broad base of support. It’s been our experience that when there are issues facing a small business owner in one neighborhood, those issues typically have far reaching impact on business owners all over the City. By combining our resources we create strength through unity and sheer numbers.
The Council also provides for a strong, clear voice at City Hall, where members have been instrumental in helping to create the Small Business Commission, and we regularly provide testimony on behalf of small business. The seven member Chartered Small Business Commission (SBC) was established to respond to and advocate for the needs of small business and by championing "business-friendly" policies, the SBC works to support and enhance an environment where small businesses can succeed and flourish.
The Council is also a member of the Small Business Network and the Small Business Advocates, both groups very active in watching legislation on both a local and statewide basis that will affect small business.
Besides acting on legislative issues - from defeating a proposition for a gross receipts tax to working with the Mayor’s office to create a fair and equitable plan to provide healthcare to San Francisco employees - we also work to promote neighborhood business a number of ways. Our new website, hosted by SFmerchants.com, features business directories for each neighborhood in the City and also provides additional exposure for our neighborhood merchant associations - our members receive free web advertising. We’re also part of a new series of radio and television advertisements promoting neighborhood business. The Council has also worked closely with the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau to provide more exposure for our unique neighborhood districts to the tourism industry.
As a co-sponsor of San Francisco ’s Small Business Week, we help to celebrate the success of small business - the very backbone of San Francisco ’s economy - as well as promote fun events like the “Takin’ It To The Streets” business network parties, sidewalk sales, and “Shop Local” promotions created by the Small Business Commission.
I encourage all small business owners to get involved in their neighborhood merchant associations and to support small business Citywide by being active in the Council. And to our other visitors to this site, remember to “think globally, but shop locally.”
Jim Maxwell
SFCDMA President
