July 18, 2023

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Chamber Convenes Members to Discuss Partnership with

Los Angeles Air Force Base

A group of business leaders met today with Colonel Mia Walsh, Commander, Space Base Delta 3, Los Angeles Air Force Base (LA AFB) to discuss ways in which the business community and LA AFB could forge a partnership. Discussion items included housing, childcare, site visits, the Armed Forces Celebration, and a Veteran's Career Fair.



Colonel Walsh leads five squadrons and six staff agencies, supporting over 7,000 personnel with $1 billion in physical plant assets and manages the annual execution of a $61.4 million annual budget. SBD 3 provides medical services, civil engineering, communications, chaplain, security, logistics, personnel, readiness, and quality-of-life services to the co-located Field Command, Space Systems Command, and many other Department of Defense units in the Los Angeles area.

Welcoming Colonel Walsh were Edward Apodaca, Residence Inn Los Angeles Torrance/Redondo Beach; Louis M. Espinal, Virco Manufacturing Corporation; Stan Gray, Fastsigns of Torrance; Keith Hobbs, Torrance Memorial Medical Center; 1st Lt. Katelin Robinson, Los Angeles Air Force Base; Dawn Salvatore, Moog Aircraft Group; Major Brenda Threatt, El Camino College; Captain James Titiriga, Torrance Police Department; Tyquest Vanhook, The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD in Los Angeles; Jonisha Miller, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce; Donna Duperron, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce.

Tax Credit Program for California Businesses

Opens Application Period on July 24

Starting next Monday, July 24, California businesses of any size or industry can apply to receive an income tax credit through the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) program.


This year, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has up to $180 million in tax credits available to award businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in the state. Read More...

Duperron Prepared to Provide Public Comment

Donna Duperron, President & CEO, dialed in and was prepared to offer public comment on AB 1228 during last week’s Senate Judiciary Committee. AB 1228 is a drastic bill that would force national fast-food companies to exert more control over local franchised restaurants, fundamentally destroying the franchise model in California and turning locally owned and operated restaurants into corporate run restaurants and stripping local restaurant owners of their authority as small business owners. 



AB 1228 is a bill that the Torrance Chamber’s Government Affairs Policy (GAP) has opposed. In a session last Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Chair Tom Umberg said the bill had been pulled from the agenda by its proponents. The decision to pull the bill was made to give opponents more time to speak with the authors, according to Service Employees International Union California, a major proponent of the bill. Umberg said he plans to reintroduce it at a hearing in August or September.

SB 770 Paves the Way for Massive Tax Increases

A proposal moving its way through the Legislature seeks to eliminate Medicare in California and pave the way for massive tax increases on California workers and employers.


SB 770 would create a workgroup to petition the federal government to redirect hundreds of billions of dollars in annual Medicare and Medicaid funding that currently flows to California to a new health care system known as “single payer” instead. Read More...

Chamber Welcomes New Co-Chairs to the Ambassador Program

The Torrance Chamber’s Ambassador Program is an exciting way for members to further the value of their membership and connect with business peers on a whole new level. This year’s co-chairs are Gina Lee of American Illumination and Eric Smith of Massagesmith. 

 

Gina Lee states “Being an Ambassador is an amazing way to meet local, like-minded business leaders in the Torrance area and thereby expand one’s network on a personal and professional level. By becoming a co-chair, I hope to continue building upon the legacy of our predecessors in championing local businesses and celebrating their milestones in the Torrance community." Read More...

Gina Lee

American Illumination

Eric Smith

Massagesmith

Two New Proposals Put Forth This Year

Seek to Establish More Patchwork Rules

Across California, more than 35 municipal governments have established their own unique labor laws, creating a confusing patchwork of ordinances that employers must carefully monitor.


The rules are confusing, sometimes applying only to unincorporated areas within counties, and may differ even between cities nearby. For example, Cupertino and East Palo Alto are just 13 miles apart and yet each city has established a different minimum wage. To add to the confusion, some localities start their minimum wage increase at the beginning of the year, while others opt for July 1. Read More...

Business at Noon at Sweetgreen

A monthly networking event, Business at Noon will be held on Tuesday, August 8th at Sweetgreen from 11:45 AM to 1:15 PM. Admission of $28 includes lunch, a beverage, tax, and gratuity. 


For maximized networking, please arrive and check-in at 11:45 AM. During lunch, each attendee will take 30-seconds to introduce themselves and their business to all guests. Don’t forget your business cards, and feel free to bring a raffle item to promote your business.

RSVP Here!

International Surf Festival Event to Honor Six Lifeguards

The executive board of the International Surf Festival is proud to announce the 2023 Lifeguard Medal of Valor dinner on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at the King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. 

 

In addition to recognizing heroic lifeguards, the theme of the dinner will be “Celebrating 50 Years of Women Lifeguards,” which will be marked with recollections of women who have set the gold standard for ocean lifeguarding. Read More...

Rock Around the Block at the Torrance Historical

Society & Museum

The Torrance Historical Society and the Sares Regis Group are hosting the 17th Annual Rock Around the Block event. This event will take place on Thursday, July 20th from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM and will be a 1950s-style family summer theme. This event is open to the public and will be held in front of the Torrance Historical Society & Museum (1345 Post Avenue).


The Barlett Senior (over 50) Center will also be hosting an Open House the same night. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call the musuem at 310-328-5392 or visit www.torrancehistoricalsociety.org.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, August 2nd | 8:30 AM - Chamber 101

Wednesday, August 2nd | 3:30 PM - Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, August 8th | 11:45 AM - Business at Noon

Online Calendar
New Members: Welcome!

Top Treatment, Inc | 3V Signs & Graphics | Good Guy Plumbing | Decibel Studios

Sky Pediatric Dentistry | Euri Lighting

Renewing Members: Thank you!

1 - 10 Years

Harder Mechanical Contractors, Inc

Davenport Engineering, Inc.

SCAN Health Plan

US Bank

3-1 Development, Inc.

Los Angeles Maritime Museum

U-Haul of L.A. - South

Mimyr

Atlantis Physical Therapy

Behavioral Health Services-NCADD


11 - 20 Years

The Center for Learning Unlimited

Americana South Bay

The Crest Sports Bar and Grill

Community's Child

Kiwanis Club of Torrance


21 - 30 Years

Norms Restaurant

All American Trophy and Engraving Company

Virco Manufacturing Corp.


31 - 50 Years

King's Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant

Sunrider International

Torrance Unified School District

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