Merchant Marketing & Support
Helping Downtown Businesses Thrive
From marketing and promotion to business resources and community connections, Downtown Berkeley supports local merchants with tools and opportunities to increase visibility, reach more customers, and strengthen their business.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Downtown Growth and Vibrancy
Our work is laser-focused on delivering excellent, impactful and measurable services to attract, retain, and support locally owned, creative, and innovative businesses and nonprofits.
We focus our programming on bringing residents and visitors to Downtown to patronize businesses, nonprofits, and the arts, working to guide Berkeley into its most vibrant, welcoming, and prosperous chapter yet.
BUILDING VISIBILITY
Marketing and Communications
The DBA promotes Downtown Berkeley as the place to be for arts, culture, innovation, local businesses, and world-class dining and entertainment.
We offer marketing and communications support to our businesses through our website, newsletter, and social media activity.
We also host and partner on events and programming that attract new and returning visitors to Downtown to live, work, eat, drink, play, engage and be inspired.
Ready to collaborate on a promotion? Use the form at the link below!
SUPPORTING SUCCESS
Promotion & Business Support
The DBA provides marketing, promotion and business support services for our district.
New DowntownBerkeley.com website promoting our district, including maps and directories of businesses, entertainments, and dining
Signage, way finding, communication and promotions throughout Downtown to connect residents, workers, and visitors to delightful things to do and places to eat
Twice-monthly enews about happenings in the Downtown to over 5,000 subscribers
LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram postings collaborating with and amplifying our local businesses and exciting news in our community
Media and social media promoting exciting changes in the Downtown
Creating a new Why Berkeley website with City Office of Economic Development to serve businesses looking to locate in Berkeley, offering data, resources, and space matching — launching in 2027
Business support and concierge services including helping businesses navigate and expedite where possible city permitting and approvals, and coordination with the City’s Office of Economic Development for additional support
Other DBA business and community building services include:
Partnering with Berkeley Startup Cluster, City of Berkeley, UC Berkeley, Berkeley City College, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, Discovered in Berkeley, Visit Berkeley, and others to align efforts and resources toward drawing more visitors, residents, and businesses to Berkeley and making downtown a world class destination
Partnering with UC Berkeley and Berkeley City College on events, programming, and partnerships to support student experience in Berkeley
Partnering with our Arts District superstars including the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Freight, The Jazz School, BAMPFA, and others to share their work and celebrate Berkeley’s world class arts scene
Administering the City’s damage mitigation program to reimburse businesses for vandalism-related damage. Contact us for help with this
Advocating for policies that support the health and vibrancy of our entire community and safety ecosystem
Partnering with the City, donors and funders to envision, plan, and execute impactful projects like the Addison Catenary Arts District project that make downtown beautiful, joyful and fun
STRENGTHENING DOWNTOWN
Arts, Culture, and Innovation
Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Berkeley has always been at the forefront of global innovation and invention, from the disability rights and farm-to-table movements to modern medical and technology advancements. UC Berkeley is the #1 public university in the world and did you know it’s also the #1 global leader in startups? The City and Cal are working together in ways that support our whole community in embracing this proud tradition and inviting a new era of prosperity for all our students, residents, and businesses.
Arts, Culture, Entertainment: Downtown Berkeley has established itself as a world class destination for arts, culture and entertainment with a rich and varied collection of arts and cultural venues, including the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Freight, The Jazz School, BAMPFA and others. We consistently rank among the top producers of artists, writers, and performers per capita in the nation.
Start and sustain a successful business in Berkeley.
Operating in Berkeley
The City of Berkeley’s Business Assistance Program offers resources and support for businesses looking to start, grow, or operate in Berkeley. Connect with City staff for guidance, business resources, financing information, site selection assistance, and help navigating the process of doing business in Berkeley.