Donna Visits the California Welcome Center
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If you have traveled to an unfamiliar destination with the intention of experiencing as much as possible, you know how invaluable the knowledge of a local can be. There is not a better resource, and their suggestions can make the difference between a ho-hum trip and a truly memorable one.
I recently visited the new California Welcome Center located in the Del Amo Fashion Center. Greeted by Debbie Hays, Sales and Community Relations for Discover Torrance, I was provided an in-depth explanation of what the California Welcome Center means to Torrance, as well as a tour of the space. Read more.
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Chamber Opposed Bill Fails First Senate Committee Hearing |
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SB467 (Wiener; D-San Francisco), a bill that the Torrance Chamber Government Affairs Policy group took an opposition vote to, failed in its first committee hearing. If approved, this bill would have required California to import oil from places that are less environmentally friendly and it would make energy more costly and less reliable for consumers. Additionally, thousands of jobs would have been in jeopardy. |
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The Torrance Chamber will host ‘Educate, Celebrate and Elevate Diversity Awards’ on Wednesday, May 19th at 8:30 a.m. Thank you to event sponsors: Presenting Sponsors: American Honda and Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Distinguished Sponsors: AMAG Technology and Torrance Refining Company, and Patrons: Ambassador High School, BACHEM Americas, California State University Dominguez Hills, and El Camino College.
Workplace diversity and inclusion allow businesses to build teams that bring different viewpoints and
talents to the mix, increasing innovation and driving higher revenues. The chamber invites you to nominate an individual or a business in one of five categories: Advocate, Catalyst, Outstanding Diversity Program, Rising Star and Vanguard. Please find the nomination form here.
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Public Advisory from Torrance Police Department |
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The Torrance Police Department would like to assure the community that we are prepared for the potential of civil unrest surrounding the conclusion of the trial in Minnesota.
We have prepared an operational plan to ensure the protection and safety of our residents and visitors. We will add additional officers to the field, activate our Emergency Operations Center, and work with all City resources and critical infrastructures within Torrance to ensure community safety. Additionally, a mutual aid plan has been established to assist our law enforcement partners in the events of any civil unrest or other disruption.
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OPENING SOON! Shuttered Venue Operators Grant |
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The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
Important Information!
Right now, the SBA is requiring applicants to have a DUNS number which is free and to register with SAM.gov. Registration for SAM.gov is an involved process and can take a few weeks for completion and approval so apply now. The SBDC can help you apply; email for an appointment at eccsbdc@elcamino.edu. There is also a video that you can view for more information. The SBA will accept applications tentatively in April. Read more about the program Here.
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Don't Miss the Incredible Chamber Programs This Week |
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South HYPE program is this Thursday April 22nd at 12 noon. Our spotlight speaker is Tamala Lewis, Senior Director, Community Relations & Foundation, Dignity Health Sports Park. The virtual meeting for young professionals to connect, support and network is hosted by TACC Ambassador Jonathan Anderson, VEFA, HYPE Chair. Register Now!
Torrance Chamber is pleased to present April’s Elevate program, “Advocacy: The Importance of Making Your Voice Heard.” Friday, April 23 at 8:30 am. Changes in legislation and regulations affect businesses daily, but many are unaware of such policies until they are required to comply. Advocacy is the platform for businesses to voice their concerns to legislative representatives and elected officials. The California Chamber of Commerce, Business Federation of Los Angeles BizFed, and the South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce are organizations who seek to provide businesses a voice: locally, regionally, and statewide. Commentary provided by Mark Waronek, Small Business Advocate Honoree. Register now!
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Beware: Shortcuts Can Cost You in the Long Run
by Karl A. Schmidt
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Employers of minimum wage employees are reporting difficulty attracting and retaining many such workers. As enhanced by federal supplements, unemployment insurance as a sole means of support has apparently become an attractive alternative to gainful employment for a significant number in this segment of the workforce. Some employers have been so frustrated by the resulting ebb in the labor pool that they have begun to "balance the risks" involved in turning a blind eye to possible/likely I-9 violations, and turn to hiring illegal workers as a means of maintaining their minimum wage work forces.
We would remind employers who are thinking along these lines to think again. Not only are ICE and U.S. attorneys enforcing immigration compliance requirements against employers, they are obtaining jail sentences for responsible managers and owners. Owners who are pressed by the lack of workers should not pressure their managers/HR staff to any kind of negligence in the hiring process as they can be placing those employees at risk of personal prosecution. While not a terribly attractive alternative, temporary agencies may provide temporary relief from what is hoped to be a problem of only temporary further duration. Compliance questions should always be discussed with counsel. Read article online.
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Round 6 of the California Relief Grant begins April 28th – May 4th, 2021 |
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Governor Newsom signed into law a comprehensive package providing urgent relief for the small businesses of CA. There is $2 billion of grants available for distribution up to $25,000! To help you prepare for Round 6, please review the Program and Application Guide for a detailed overview of the program and step by-step instructions for the entire application process. Please go to CaReliefGrant.com.
Economic Resources Corporation will also be hosting webinars to walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have. Click link to sign up:
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April 20, 2021, Tuesday at 12:00 - Step by Step Webinar – bilingual (English & Spanish)
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April 20, 2021, Tuesday at 1:00 - Q&A – bilingual (English & Spanish)
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April 28, 2021, Wednesday at 12:00 - Step by Step Webinar– bilingual (English & Spanish)
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April 28, 2021, Wednesday at 1:00 - Q&A – bilingual (English & Spanish)
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LAST 2021 Deadline Approaching for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program |
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The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program is a FREE program for qualified small business owners who are interested in growing their businesses and adding jobs to their communities. This practical 3-month long ONLINE program examines business fundamentals through the lens of actual business experiences, provides one-on-one business advisory services, and helps business owners develop and implement a business growth plan tailored to the individual business owner's OWN business. An added bonus is that 85% of our graduates do business with each other!
The deadline to apply for the online Fall 2021 program is May 15, 2021. But don't wait until the last minute! The first part of the application only takes a few minutes to fill out, so APPLY NOW at: www.10KSBapply.com
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Updated Protocols For LA Country Businesses |
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CalSavers Deadline Approaching
Eligible Employers with More than 50 employees Must Register by June 30, 2021
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State law now requires all businesses with five or more employees to participate in CalSavers if they do not offer a retirement savings plan from the private market. Eligible employers must register for CalSavers by their state required deadline, which vary by employer size.
The deadline for employers with more than 50 employees is June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2022 for employers with five or more employees. The registration deadline for employers with more than 100 employees passed on September 30, 2020 (extended from June 30, 2020). Eligible employers who have not yet registered should do so as soon as possible to avoid penalties. Eligible employers can register any time before their deadline. For more information on how to get started, learn more at CalSavers.com.
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New Emergency Evacuation Alert System to Be Tested at Torrance Beach |
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If you hear evacuation alerts or see flashing lights at Torrance Beach on Thursday, April 29, 2021, don’t panic—it’s only a test.
In fact, it will be the first official test of the Beach Emergency Evacuation Lights System (BEELS), a new beach evacuation alert system designed for all beachgoers, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. During a beach evacuation, BEELS will flash white LED lights mounted on permanent structures and some lifeguard towers, as well as broadcast an audible siren and an evacuation announcement in both English and Spanish. The announcement message will change depending on the evacuation type, and the lights will flash slowly for a water-only evacuation and quickly for a full beach evacuation.Read more
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Leadership Torrance is a program, founded in 1983, that focuses on developing effective leaders from across the South Bay. Sponsored by the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Torrance provides opportunities for emerging leaders to take an active role towards building a stronger community. The mission of the Leadership Torrance program is to develop effective leaders by encouraging community connections through partnerships with City officials and local businesses.
For the next several months, this column will feature graduates of the program and highlight the positive growth of these individuals.
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Candy Messer
President/CEO & Podcaster
Affordable Bookkeeping and Payroll Services
LT Class of 2016
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Where were you in your career right before joining Leadership Torrance? I had owned my own business since 2002 and had employees since 2006. I'd heard of Leadership Torrance for a few years and had wanted to participate, but with the sessions falling during "busy season," I'd been hesitant to be out of the office. 2016 was the year I finally felt I had the staff I needed to allow me to be out of the office 2 days a month to attend training days. Read More.
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“It’s difficult to choose a favorite program because, without exaggeration, there are so many to choose from. I think lately it’s been the Government Affairs Policy meetings (GAP) because I’ve gotten to see first hand how incredibly hard the Chamber works to advocate for small (and all) business. Business at Noon networking (even in Zoom format!) offers a great way of promoting your business and meeting other local business owners.
And being part of the Ambassadors group for the last 2 years has given me the opportunity to give back by sharing with new members all of what the Chamber has to offer. Membership in the Torrance Chamber has truly been one of the best investments I’ve made for my business!”
Karen Pryor
Broker/Owner
Pryority Lending Group, Inc
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Click On The Event To Register:
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23 Years
19 Years
17 Years
14 Years
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5 Years
2 Years
...Thank You!
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Office Depot Rewards Program
As a member of Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, you are entitled to savings at Office Depot store. Discounts vary on items and services, but they do add up and you can save a significant amount annually on 175 most frequently needed items. Just another benefit of the membership! To enjoy this, Contact Us Here.
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