News
Hello 2021!
by Kirk Rossberg, Chairman of the Board
We have all been affected by the pain of 2020. Covid-19 has brought many challenges to our families, businesses, and health. A day does not go by without some unexpected adjustment in our lives. Hopefully, some of this pain can help us grow. In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens wrote, “Suffering has been stronger than all the teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – into better shape.” 

As this year’s Chairman, I am proud of our Chamber staff, board of directors, ambassadors and Chamber associates who have adapted, pivoted, and moved forward in ways that has made us better and more creative in how we problem solve and move into a new era of connecting and being of service to our community. Many of these changes will stay with us long after COVID leaves. 

There is clearly a light at the end of this tunnel. Stay with us. We have many great programs. It is so easy; you can join us at any Zoom session in your pajamas! We are stronger together than apart. View calendar online.
The Chamber to Host Labor Law Update, Wednesday January 13th
Several new laws and policies became effective January 1st. Rely on the Torrance Area Chamber of Chamber's expert to answer your questions and empower you with the knowledge of current labor laws and compliance updates for 2021, Wednesday, January 13th at 8:30 am. A violation of state and federal law can have devastating effects on your company’s finances and future. Register now!
State Finance Director to Review Governor’s 2021 California Budget
in Free Webinar
Finance Director Keely Martin Bosler will be outlining Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2021 budget priorities in an online webinar presented by the California Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.

The virtual format allows this previously exclusive event to be opened to a wider audience so that more attendees can learn how the state plans to deal with and overcome budget challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The webinar is free to attend, but advance registration is requested. Sign up by Friday, January 8.
Due to time constraints, questions must be submitted in advance by mailing events@calchamber.com so that similar questions can be consolidated for the most efficient use of the time available.
Can Employers Make COVID-19 Vaccinations Mandatory?
Can employers make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory? Yes, with some exceptions. Experts say employers can require employees to take safety measures, including vaccination. That doesn’t necessarily mean you would get fired if you refuse, but you might need to sign a waiver or agree to work under specific conditions to limit any risk you might pose to yourself or others. Read more.
Applications for $500 Million in Grant Funding for Small Businesses Now Available!
 The first round of applications for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is now open. On November 30, 2020, Governor Newsom and the State Legislature announced the allocation of $500 million available to small businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is administered by California's Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
 
“Small business owners and our nonprofits serve as the economic heart of every California community,” said Governor Newsom. “This grant program isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. It’s a bridge to help the millions of Californians, whose dreams and livelihoods are now on the line, as we work with the State Legislature to create additional support.”
 
Grants will not be issued on a first-come, first-served basis and will be awarded after the close of each application round. This first round of applications ends January 8, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Details for the second round will be announced shortly.

Mission-based lenders and small business advisory and technical assistance providers can help small businesses with the application process in multiple languages and formats. Many of the State supported small business centers, which prioritize the expansion of technical assistance to underserved business groups, are also available to help. For more information on grant requirements and eligibility, please visit careliefgrant.com.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the 2021 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning January 1, 2021, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
  • 56 cents per mile for business miles driven (down a one-and-a-half cents from the 2020 rate).
  • 16 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes for qualified active duty members of the Armed Forces (down one cent from the 2020 rate).
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations (same as 2020). Read more.
This year, California continued its push to increase diversity on corporate boards of directors — a push that began in 2018, when then-Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed SB 826 into law.

SB 826 required any publicly held corporation with principal executive offices in California to place at least one female director on its board by December 31, 2019. Further action on the part of corporations may be required this year, depending on their board’s size. More specifically, by December 31, 2021, these companies must have at least:
  • Two female directors on their boards if the corporation has five directors; or
  • Three female directors if the corporation has six or more directors.

If a company fails to achieve the required number of female directors, significant financial penalties apply: A company’s first violation will cost $100,000 and each subsequent violation will cost $300,000. And if a company should have two female directors but has zero, that’s two violations.

This year, Governor Gavin Newsom took board diversification a step further by signing into law AB 979, which requires those same corporations to have a minimum of one director from an underrepresented community no later than the close of the 2021 calendar year. Read more.
California’s New Series of COVID-19 Reporting Requirements
During the 2020 California legislative session, COVID-19 forced lawmakers to pivot from their routine business to addressing the growing pandemic.

In response, the Legislature enacted SB 1159 and AB 685 that created certain reporting requirements for employers when learning of a positive case.

Following up, Cal/OSHA recently approved and implemented COVID-19 emergency regulations that also create a set of reporting requirements. Read more.
3 New Labor Laws Employers Should Know
In Episode 101 of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Matthew Roberts and Bianca Saad to highlight three important new labor laws passed fall of 2020: SB 1159, AB 1867, and SB 1383.
  • SB 1159: Workers’ Comp COVID-19 Presumptions
  • AB 1867: Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
  • SB 1383: California Family Rights Act Expansion Read full article.
Business Spotlight
The Center for Learning Unlimited (CLU)
The Center for Learning Unlimited (CLU) was founded on the belief that each student should have hope and a path forward to learning. Since 2002, CLU has evolved into a highly specialized WASC accredited day school located in Torrance, CA that serves both publicly and privately sponsored students with unique, complex learning challenges in grades K - 12. This small therapeutic educational environment is characterized by relationship-based interventions, individualized education plans, an exceptional faculty, year-round programs structured to meet the needs of its students and their families, and a dedication to reconnecting students to hope. Besides creating a space for their students to grow, the Center for Learning Unlimited also seeks to highlight their students’ needs and provide advocacy through education.

Today, we are spotlighting the opening of a new studio implementing a career program. Director Virginia “Ginny” Erxleben explains the CLU Career Training Program three-year program will “provide neurodiverse adult clients with digital arts, interpersonal, and professional conduct skills in preparation for entry level employment within the Animation Industry.” The opening of a digital arts studio in Torrance will allow students to connect with the community for actual employment. Ginny hopes to launch a website in services to promote accessibility. The students will get the opportunity to work at the studio and partner with businesses in need of services such as graphic design, social media enhancements, 3D and 2D digital arts, and much more. This hands-on approach allows clients/students to apply their enthusiasm and skill to making a difference in our community.

The philosophy and program at CLU, together with the dedication and support of all the staff and professionals make it exciting for the eager students gearing up for the challenge. “Watch us grow,” said Ginny. Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce is rooting for you, and if anyone wants more information, check out cflu.org
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