top of page

Oceanside Strong

  • Rick Wright
  • Oct 26, 2020
  • 2 min read


To help Oceanside stay strong, we started a community fundraising campaign and microgrant program for local businesses that were nationally recognized by Main Street America.

To help Oceanside small businesses stay strong this spring until they could reopen their physical doors, MainStreet Oceanside launched the Oceanside Strong campaign and established the Keep It Local Oceanside Microgrant Program in May.  

With the goal of uniting the Oceanside community in a visible show of support for local businesses impacted by California’s stay-at-home order, MainStreet Oceanside partnered with Downtown Oceanside screen-printer and retailer Whitlock Ink to create Oceanside Strong merchandise.

“We wanted to stay busy and to be an essential business to continue to support our local economy,” said Cory Whitlock, owner of Whitlock Ink and Whitlock Surf Experience.

During the monthlong campaign, MainStreet asked locals and business donors to make direct donations to the Oceanside Strong Fund or to make apparel purchases to fund the Keep It Local Oceanside Microgrant Program.

Both drawing on and encouraging the Oceanside community’s passionate support of its local businesses and sense of pride, the campaign rewarded donations of $25 or more on the campaign website with a free Oceanside Strong face mask.

Whitlock Ink also designed and printed Oceanside Strong tees, available through Oceansidestrong.com. Profits of the merchandise produced and sold by Whitlock are shared with MainStreet Oceanside and continue to generate revenue to support local businesses.

In all, 100+ donors stood strong with local businesses, contributing $10,500 to the campaign and donating approximately half that total in the first weekend.

With these funds, the Keep It Local Oceanside Microgrant Program awarded microgrants ranging from $375 to $1,000 to 13 Oceanside brick-and-mortar small businesses to help meet their short-term financial needs. 

“These funds mean so much in weathering the ‘storm,’” said John McCoy, president of the Oceanside Theatre Company Board of Directors. “We are truly grateful.” 

To share local COVID-19 stories and personify the campaign, MainStreet Oceanside collaborated with Bliss Tea & Treats owner Rushell Gordon and her brother, Alfonso Gordon, a restaurant efficiency consultant, on an “Oceanside Strong” YouTube series. Al Gordon interviewed a different business owner in each episode of the series, and the Gordons’ good friend and colleague Los Angeles videographer Richard Pluim filmed and edited the series pro bono. The Oceanside Strong video series is posted on the Let’s Get It YouTube Channel, accessible at Oceansidestrong.com.

MainStreet Oceanside leveraged the Oceanside Strong campaign and simultaneously promoted Downtown Oceanside restaurants and retailers through social media and dedicated website pages for our restaurants and retailers, Oceansidetogo.com and Shoplocaloceanside.com.

“Thank you so much for the support these past few months,  said Regie Brown, co-owner of Flourish + Live Well. “Sally [Stirnkorb] and I are truly grateful to be part of this community.”

The Oceanside Strong campaign kept the Oceanside community, which demonstrated resiliency in supporting our businesses, united and strong during these unprecedented times. MainStreet Oceanside would like to thank all of our donors who supported small businesses struggling from the pandemic.




23 comentarios

Obtuvo 0 de 5 estrellas.
Aún no hay calificaciones

Agrega una calificación
Glowing Smiles Dental
01 jul
Obtuvo 5 de 5 estrellas.

Glowing Smiles Dental is the leading dental care provider committed to exceptional patient experiences and stunning results. Renowned as the best choice alongside Narre Warren Clinic Medical Centre, our expert dentists deliver gentle, effective treatments, from routine check-ups to cosmetic enhancements. Trust Glowing Smiles Dental, proudly serving the Narre Warren Clinic Medical Centre community, for a healthy, confident smile.


Me gusta

Territory Training Safety 
25 jun
Obtuvo 5 de 5 estrellas.

Territory Training Safety offers comprehensive and highly professional industry training solutions across the Northern Territory, with a strong presence in Palmerston. We provide a wide range of nationally accredited safety training courses, including forklift training and licensing, load restraint, White Card, heavy vehicle licensing, and four-wheel drive operation. Enroll today and experience the best in NT safety training.


Me gusta

macher jobs
19 jun
Obtuvo 5 de 5 estrellas.

Looking for top macher jobs or hiring a true leader? Yid Jobs connects confident decision-makers with roles across vibrant, Yiddish-speaking communities. Whether you're seeking a position or recruiting in the macher USA network, we help match talent with impact.

Start your journey today at Yiddish Jobs – where machers meet meaningful careers. https://www.yiddishjobs.com/

Me gusta

Forboat
18 jun
Obtuvo 5 de 5 estrellas.

Manual Bilge Pumps are essential for removing unwanted water from boats without relying on electricity. Ideal for emergencies or smaller vessels, these pumps offer reliable, hands-on operation. Built for durability and ease of use, Manual Bilge Pumps ensure your boat stays dry and safe during every trip. Explore high-quality options at ForBoat.

Me gusta

Jim Bim
Jim Bim
02 jun

Sports betting changed for me when I discovered how to strategically leverage promotions. casino real money online offers aren’t just marketing gimmicks – they’re tools for smarter bankroll management. I’ve learned to use these bonuses as test funds for new betting strategies. Instead of risking my own money by trying different approaches, I experiment with promo funds first. This method has helped me develop profitable systems without the usual trial and error costs. The best part? Their regular reload bonuses mean I can continually refine my techniques while maintaining a healthy betting budget.

Me gusta
badge_gold_op-P9vGCe_1690227068.png

Winner of Gold Awards for

Best Downtown

and

Best Downtown for Shopping

701 Mission Avenue

 Oceanside, CA 92054

760-754-4512

CA_MS_LOGO-TAG_RGB.gif
MSALOGO_TAG_RGB.PNG
2022 Reinvestment Stats_FacebookTwitterLinkedIn.png

PRIVACY POLICY

Effective 12-5-2022

© 2024 MainStreet Oceanside

Unless otherwise attributed, photography by Dave Thomas, Lu DeLucy and Road West Photography

All rights reserved.

bottom of page