WABA’S PURPOSE
The West Alameda Business Association (WABA) serves as a support network for the businesses located in Alameda's Webster Street Business District, Alameda Landing Shopping Center, Alameda Point, Ballena Bay, and other local businesses located in Alameda west of Grand Street.
WABA is a Business Improvement District (BID), a common model for the management of a municipality’s commercial corridors. It is authorized by state law and provides a mechanism for the businesses and property owners of a community to organize as a single entity to raise funds for activities that enhance or expand upon municipal services. By providing a clean, safe, and attractive district, WABA promotes the West End as a desirable location to live, work, visit, and explore.
New to the district?
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
On a monthly basis, the Economic Development team connects with the listing agent or property owner of each vacancy for updated information. We have been very fortunate the maintain relatively few vacancies and work hard to help attract entrepreneurs from needed industries to our business community.
We actively promote our members to the local community to encourage a positive relationship between merchants, residents, workers, and visitors. Our social media, e-newsletter, and other marketing channels are actively promoting our merchants each week. We recently initiated a Digifli partnership that provides free digital kiosks to all qualified WABA members. These electronic bulletin boards display upcoming events, information on local non-profits, fundraisers, and ads for locally-owned independent businesses. Each kiosk is controlled by the businesses hosting them.
Event marketing, such as those occurring in The Healing Garden, attract people to the West End to shop, dine, and explore before or after the primary event. The West End Mercantile, Magickal Market, Pre-Pride Party, and 60 others events have drawn thousands to our district this past year. Many non-profits used this space for their fundraising events, as well. We also support the twice-weekly Farmers’ Market, a valuable source of local, healthy foods for our community.
PLACEMAKING AND STREETSCAPING
WABA is in constant surveillance of our sidewalks, garbage/recycling, tree and grate maintenance, graffiti, planters, and The Healing Garden lot. We provide input and set priorities for the Landscape & Lighting fund on an annual basis. We also oversee the use of flags and lighting to enhance the district:
Lighting up Webster. December-April
US flags. June–November
Pride. June-October
Holiday Shopping. November-December
MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
e-newsletter inclusion
WABA sends a (near) weekly email newsletter to 1700 locals who opt-in to receive it. This is an excellent opportunity to promote your business or an upcoming event. There are two common fliers we can include in our newsletter:
Your upcoming event (dated)
A flier about your business that is “evergreen” (not dated)
Please submit your flier to us via email to submissions@westalamedabusiness.com. Your flier should meet the following criteria:
Your flier is a JPG graphic and should be a common shape (1:1 square; 2:3 portrait; 3:2 horizontal). Mainly, your graphic should not be overly vertical in proportions... the length should not exceed double the width.
Make sure your flier graphic contains all the relevant details you’re trying to communicate: Who, What, Where, When, Why.
Provide us with a URL that you’d like your flier to link to (if applicable).
Be sure you have subscribed to WABA’s newsletter! The Subscribe form is at the bottom of every page of this website.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow WABA on social media:
Be sure to tag us when you have something to promote. You can also email us here.
WABA endeavors to promote all of our many members so we may not cover all of your events/happenings — thank you for understanding!
BUSINESS MIXERS
JOIN US!
Mixers are held the fourth Wednesdays of February, April, June, August, and October. Our November mixer is both a holiday party and annual board elections. Mixers are an opportunity for members to network and receive district updates. Bring your business card for a chance to win a door prize!
Discover upcoming WABA events here.
WANT TO DISPLAY TEMPORARY SIGNAGE?
Although the City does not require a permit for temporary signs, there are still code enforcement guidelines that need to be followed. The rules are in place to uphold the attractiveness and safety of the district. These are a few of the most common rules:
Portable Freestanding Signs (“A” Frame Signs) must be kept within the first 3 feet of the business’ building face. The maximum size is 4 ft in height and 3 ft in width.
Window Signs cannot be larger than 10 sq ft, and should not occupy more than 25% of the area of any one window.
Sale Signs / Grand Opening Signs are only allowed for a maximum of 30 consecutive days.
Temporary signage regulations can be found in the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) Chapter 30-6 Sign Regulations: municode.com/library/ca/alameda.
RESERVE THE HEALING GARDEN
(AKA The Al Fresco Dining Park)
The Healing Garden is managed by WABA and is open for use to member businesses, nonprofits, school groups, and others for public events and events than enhance the cultural vibrancy of the district.