Thursday, September 10, 2026

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Calendar at a Glance

9/19 - Taste of Los Gatos - Tickets Selling Fast!

9/29 - All Chamber Mixer - Save the Date

9/30 - Chamber Workshop: Boost Your Sales with AI

10/7 - Town Council Candidate Forum

10/12-10/18 - InduLGe Los Gatos Restaurant Week

View Community & Chamber Calendar Here

Scroll down for more news and events!

Advocacy Alert

Town: Los Gatos Town Council Candidate Forum, October 7

The Chamber will host and moderate a nonpartisan Los Gatos Town Council Candidate Forum on Wednesday, October 7, from 5:30–8:00 p.m. at CineLux Los Gatos Theatre, giving residents and businesses an opportunity to hear directly from candidates ahead of the November 3 election for three Town Council seats.

To date, five of the six qualified candidates have confirmed participation: Mayor Rob Moore, Heidi Owens, Steve Raspe, Rob Stump and Jeff Suzuki. The forum will include individual introductions and priorities from each candidate, questions from a Chamber moderator on issues important to the business community, and a limited number of audience questions. In lieu of a debate format, each candidate will have an equal opportunity to address the audience and respond to questions. To attend please RSVP here.

State: California Creates New Framework for Independent AI Audits

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 813 and AB 1405 on September 9, creating a California framework for independent third-party assessment of AI systems. SB 813 establishes independent organizations to assess AI systems and models, while AB 1405 creates a state registry and standards for AI auditors. The goal is to give California an independent way to evaluate higher-risk AI systems, identify potential risks and verify claims rather than relying solely on companies to assess their own technology. The move comes as OpenAI calls for mandatory national AI safety standards, including independent assessments, and supports the new California laws. There is no immediate compliance action for most businesses, but those using or developing AI should watch for future California requirements, audit obligations and state guidance. Click here and here for more information.

Taste of Los Gatos

Taste of Los Gatos | Saturday, September 19 | 12:00 to 5:00 PM

Taste Your Way Through Downtown Los Gatos

Buy Your Tasting Wristband

One Week to Go | Wristbands Selling Fast!

Experience the Bay Area’s premier culinary festival at Taste of Los Gatos on Saturday, September 19, from 12–5 p.m. Downtown transforms into a vibrant, pedestrian paradise with N. Santa Cruz Avenue closed from Main Street to Bachman Avenue and Village Lane closed to traffic.

Purchase a Tasting Wristband to enjoy signature bites from approximately 30 participating Los Gatos restaurants, with the option to upgrade to Bites & Wine for tastings from approximately 20 local wineries. The Bites & Wine Wristband also includes an exclusive David Bruce Winery vertical barrel tasting of Pinot Noir and one complimentary beverage ticket redeemable at the Chamber Tap Truck or Tap Wall.

NEW this year, Vintage on Village will feature food and wine tastings, live jazz, a curated showcase of vintage and collectible Porsches, and craft beer at the Chamber Tap Wall.

Families can enjoy free carnival games and interactive activities, plus purchase sandwiches and snacks at the NEW Chamber Cafe in the Family Fun Zone, featuring Blvd Coffee. Plus, enjoy live music from The Freshmakers on the Main Stage, Daze on the Green, and other talented acts throughout the afternoon.

Admission to the festival is free, but the Tasting Wristband is the best way to experience Taste of Los Gatos.

Save Now & Secure Your Wristband Before They Sell Out

Wristbands have sold out before festival day in past years, and advance pricing ends Friday, September 18.

Buy Your Tasting Wristband

Volunteers Urgently Needed

Volunteer for the Taste of Los Gatos on Saturday, September 19. We especially need help with late registration and breakdown.

As a thank you, volunteers receive access to a highly discounted wristband.

Click Here for Volunteer Info

NEW: INDULGE RESTAURANT WEEK

MONDAY OCT 12–SUNDAY OCT 18

Calling all Los Gatos Restaurants! The Chamber is launching Los Gatos’ inaugural Restaurant Week! Restaurants may participate however they wish (e.g. a special prix fixe menu, themed menu or featured ingredient menu, a discount, or other special offers).

Deadline: Let the Chamber know what you will be offering by Friday, September 26 so we can help you market.

Click Here to Submit Your Offering

Los Gatos Perks Pass

Second Edition Launching September 19 at Taste of Los Gatos!

Consumer-facing businesses: Submit a special offer for the second edition of the Los Gatos Perks Pass: a free digital collection of offers from local businesses that consumers can access on their phones. Chamber members participate at no cost.

The first edition attracted 1,190 passholders, with complimentary restaurant desserts among the most popular offers.

This new curated collection will launch and be promoted at Taste of Los Gatos on September 19, putting participating businesses and their offers in front of thousands of festival guests, with continued promotion throughout the holiday season.

Previously participated? Simply log in to your merchant portal to upload your latest promo. If your previous offer didn't generate significant engagement, consider a new promotion this time.

New to the Perks Pass? By Friday September 11, email merchants@bandwango.com with “Los Gatos Chamber & [Your Biz Name]” in the subject line. Our partner, Bandwango, will contact you with next steps.

Chamber businesses who activate an offer in the Los Gatos Perks Pass by Wednesday September 16 are entered to win prizes, including local gift cards and the opportunity to have lunch with Chamber CEO Jennifer Lin.

Town Council Candidate Forum

Wednesday, October 7 | 5:30–8:00 p.m

Hear directly from the candidates before Election Day. The Chamber will host a nonpartisan Los Gatos Town Council Candidate Forum on Wednesday, October 7, from 5:30–8:00 p.m. at CineLux Los Gatos Theatre.

The forum will give residents and members of the business community an opportunity to hear candidates share their priorities and respond to questions about issues affecting Los Gatos.

RSVP to attend the forum.

Chamber Member Events

Chamber Workshop: Boost Your Sales Leveraging AI

September 30

Click Here to Register

Chamber Job Shadow Day

We’re looking for local businesses to host 1–5 West Valley College students for a half-day Job Shadow Day during the first week of November.

This is a great opportunity to showcase your industry, introduce students to your workplace, and connect with potential future talent while supporting workforce development in our local economy.

Interested in hosting? Complete the short Business Host Interest Form with your preferred dates.

Business Host Interest Form

Los Gatos Gift Card

One gift card. Countless ways to enjoy Los Gatos.

Purchase a Los Gatos Gift Card

ADA Compliance Guide

ADA Compliance & Uptick in Lawsuits

ADA-related lawsuits against small businesses are increasing across California, with website accessibility now the fastest-growing basis for ADA-related claims. We encourage every member to review accessibility both in person and online before an issue becomes a lawsuit.

Our ADA Compliance Guide includes a getting-started checklist, common trouble spots, and links to CASp inspectors and financing options.

Join us at the Chamber for an ADA compliance seminar with local law firm Sweeney Mason and the Town of Los Gatos in October (date TBD).

ADA Compliance Guide

Business Resources

Grow faster with free advising and workshops in strategy, capital, and workforce from our trusted partners. Learn more here and see workshop highlights below.

Small Business Success: Mastering the Essentials

Running a business requires more than just a great idea—it takes strategy, financial literacy, and operational know-how. This workshop will provide new and existing entrepreneurs with an understanding of what is needed to build a sustainable business. We’ll cover essential topics such as business planning, marketing, and financial management to ensure long-term success.

Key Takeaways:

Learn how to create a business model that works
Understand branding and marketing fundamentals
Discover key financial tools for profitability
Identify common challenges and how to navigate them
Understand how to develop a strategy for long-term business growth

Date & Time: September 15, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Event Registration

Access valuable information at no cost.

Streamlining Everyday Business with AI

You’ll Learn to:

Identify everyday business tasks that are the best for AI.
Understand the strengths of today’s most popular AI tools so you can confidently choose where to start.
Build simple AI workflows that you can use immediately.

Date & Time: September 15, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Event Registration