Canal Alliance was proud to host its inaugural Small Business Marketplace this May at our San Rafael headquarters, bringing together local entrepreneurs, families, and supporters for a joyful and vibrant community celebration. We are especially grateful to the many supporters who joined us — your presence made the day feel both festive and deeply meaningful, and it helped ensure the success of this pilot event.
The marketplace showcased Latino-owned small businesses from across Marin County, offering handmade goods, culturally meaningful products, community resources, and a rich variety of food. Throughout the day, neighbors connected directly with local entrepreneurs, strengthening relationships and reaffirming the importance of investing in small businesses close to home. As Omar Carrera, Chief Executive Officer, shared at the event, “Small businesses are the backbone of Marin’s economy, and Latino entrepreneurs play a critical role in that ecosystem.”
The day also featured the unveiling of the final rooftop murals in our Threads of Unity series, created in partnership with Canal Arts. These murals reflected the lived experiences, resilience, and cultural pride of Marin’s Latino community — reinforcing that this event was not only about commerce, but also about visibility, belonging, and shared identity.
This pilot marketplace marked an important step forward in our broader economic mobility work. Small businesses are key drivers of job creation, financial stability, and neighborhood vitality. By creating space for Latino entrepreneurs to grow and thrive, we are helping build a more inclusive and resilient local economy. As Chad Singh, Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship, noted, “Creating this visual and attainable goal for small business owners helps pave a clear pathway within our entrepreneurship programming, allowing community members to see the necessary steps, opportunities, and levels of support available to grow from an idea to a formal sustainable business.”
We are deeply thankful to everyone who showed up, shopped, and supported this first marketplace. Your participation demonstrated the power of community-driven solutions and collective investment. We look forward to building on this success and expanding opportunities for Marin’s entrepreneurs in the years ahead.
Special thanks to the companies that sponsored this event: BioMarin, Equator Coffees, and Bank of Marin, and to all of our incredible volunteers who brought this event to life.