Connected Commerce

The Connected Commerce program, funded by the Kaiser Permanente Grant, is a program that assists in increasing digital inclusivity so businesses can thrive in the growing digital economy. It is applicable to all industries such as art, food, retail, health, grocery, floral, and personal services. Our priority is to promote Oakland Chinatown businesses through increasing their digital literacy. 

The Connected Commerce program helps merchants create a website, manage their web pages, and track their online traffic for engagement. Building an online presence for our local businesses helps them increase their reach to other communities, bringing more diverse foot traffic into Chinatown. This encourages the continued growth of not only our local businesses, but also the vibrancy of our community. To further help our merchants overcome the digital divide, we are excited to host bilingual workshops to educate businesses on how to use digital tools to promote their commerce.  Additionally, we are in the process of developing a marketing guide that will be distributed through partners outside of Chinatown, such as the Visitors and Conventions Busreau, to help bring new visitors into Chinatown.