Issue #6

Global ambition. San Francisco address.

🌐 60+ Consulates & Government Representatives

🗺️ 30+ Cultural & International Communities

🏛️ 25+ Ethnic/Bilateral Chambers

✈️ 20+ Major Global Conferences



S.F. Port plans lease discounts of up to 50% to lure more to the waterfront

S.F. tourism expected to grow in 2026

'This is the new San Francisco'

SFCED supports the city and companies at every stage of growth—from startup to expansion across the San Francisco Bay Area.



Local Business Support

• Vacant to Vibrant: Low-interest loan program to fill commercial vacancies and foster business activity in downtown San Francisco.

State Business Support

• CPCFA Tax Exempt Bond Financing Program: Lower-cost tax-exempt bond financing for projects in solid waste, water treatment, or carbon capture.
• CEC Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program: Up to $79M available for public DC fast-charging stations along major travel corridors.
• Accelerate California: Over $16 million in capital support and other resources to uplift small businesses.

International Business Support:

• State Trade Expansion Program (STEP): The STEP Grant program provides funding to help small businesses expand into global markets by offsetting the costs of exporting, including trade missions, international marketing, and participation in overseas trade shows.

Signature Event

San Francisco International Week is HERE!

August 10-14

What a way to kick things off! Over 500 guests (with 65 consulates and international govt groups, 13 cultural organizations, and 8 ethnic chambers of commerce and accelerators) joined us for Opening Night making it our biggest turnout yet.

Guests savored rich flavors from 34 merchants representing 23 countries, sipped specialty cocktails by The Occasions and squared off in open-play tables led by Mr. Mahjong's. Signal x LOVB (League One Volleyball) and the LPGA joined in too, spotlighting where international community meets sports.

A heartfelt thank you to the partners who brought the evening to life:

• Title Sponsor: Turkish Airlines
• Community Partner: Justworks
• Design & Production Partners: Last Wave Production, Singapore Global Network, Standard Event Rentals, Truly Loved Events, and Hudson Pacific Properties

The celebration isn't over yet!

Specialized sessions run August 11–14, built for professionals in international trade and global business, alongside ecosystem partner events happening all week.

• Building California–Japan Business Connections - sold out

• Why, Where, and How Small Businesses Are Building Global Teams in 2026 - sold out

• From SF to the Philippines: AI, Trusted Technology, and the Next Innovation Bridge



• Photo Documentary Exhibition: “Candombe: El Llamado del Tambor” (The Call of the Drum), by photographer Carlos Pazos

Dont miss out on whats next →

Celebrating San Francisco's Global Soul | (August 2026)

Check out all the cultural events happening throughout the month of August!

Learn more here.

Trades in Action Job Fair | (September 25)

We invite job seekers to join this unique opportunity with EBMUD. Participants will gain firsthand insight into careers in the trades, explore the work environment, and learn more about available career pathways.

Learn more here.

Innovators On a Plane: Silicon Valley | (October 13 - 15)

From immersive tours of cutting-edge tech spaces to fireside chats with Silicon Valley’s boldest visionaries, IOAP Silicon Valley welcomes you on a journey to the heart of innovation. Don’t miss Day 1 featuring the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Foundation, YES SF, and Startup Stories.

Learn more here.

The San Francisco Center for Economic Development (SFCED) is a program within the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Foundation (SFCcF).

Learn more about SFCc Foundation programs:

• SFCED
• Yes SF
• UniteSF
• The Job Forum
• Leadership San Francisco (LSF)
• Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE)