News & Events from the Lafayette Chamber |
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Tuesday, February 16, 2021 |
Jay Lifson, Executive Director
251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150, Lafayette, CA
Virtual Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-1pm
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Happy Tuesday Lafayette Chamber Member!
Today we are going interactive. Please complete our poll. If you are not familiar with Lafayette's Business Assistance Program, read more about it below. Most likely you are eligible for this FREE consulting service for Covid-19 relief funds.
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Have you participated in the FREE Lafayette Business Assistance Program?
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YES! And thank you for connecting me to Covid-19 relief funds.
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No, I am not familiar with the program.
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I'm going to complete the verification form now!
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Welcome New Members!
Last week we welcomed three new Lafayette Chamber members! We encourage you to learn more about them on their website and social channels!
930 Dewing Ave., Lafayette
Alicia Bonal, 925-284-1800
Primary Care Pediatrics
Categories: Physicians / Surgeons, Health Care / Wellness
Moraga
Liz Coyle, 202-510-2022
With Quiltlove, groups can create custom quilts for shared loved ones. Our quilts feature drawings and messages from the support network and are a loving way to embrace a baby, an illness, a send-off, a marriage, or other special occasion.
Categories: Gifts, Other
300 Lakeside Dr., 18th Floor, Office of External Affairs, Oakland, CA 94604
Ariel Mercado/Yvonne Rusting, 510-913-0585
The Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rail public transportation system serving the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The BART system connects San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland with Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties.
Category: Transportation
Thank You Renewing Members!
The following members renewed their membership February 8-14, 2021.
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Through the Decades – Members of the Lafayette Chamber!
The Lafayette Chamber was started by a group of concerned business persons in 1947. To start off 2021, the Chamber would like to highlight the members who have supported the Lafayette Chamber through these decades.
We have showcased the “Diamond Era,” five Lafayette businesses who have been Chamber members for over 60 years! Now it is time to "meet" our Golden Era! Stay tuned as we reveal the Silver and Bronze Era members over the next few months.
Through the Chamber’s social media and ongoing through the Chamber's News/Blog page, we will re-introduce to you these businesses that have supported and continue to support our City, the community and your Lafayette Chamber.
Golden Era Members (40-59 Years of Membership)
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Show Your Membership!
Would you like to include a Lafayette Chamber membership emblem on your website or other marketing materials?
The Lafayette Chamber would be happy to provide you with the appropriate logos. Simply email your request to holly@lafayettechamber.org. |
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Are you eligible for this FREE assistance? Most likely, YES! If you own a business in the City of Lafayette with less than 300 employees, even if you are self-employed with no employees, you will most likely qualify for this free assistance! Take advantage of it!
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The Lafayette Business Assistance Program is a free service that assists businesses and non-profits access federal and state resources to help mitigate the impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. To date, the Business Assistance Program has helped over 150 businesses in Lafayette obtain over $1.5 million in relief.
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PPP Update from Bank of the West
Starting Feb. 4, 2021, Bank of the West will accept applications for PPP loans from any customer with an active business checking account. If a business does not have an active business checking account with Bank of the West, they can follow existing processes to open a new account. Once the account is open and active, the business can apply for a PPP loan using their new business checking account.
The SBA requires that a business must have been in operation on February 15, 2020 and is not permanently closed. Questions? Contact Chris Lane at (925) 284-7072.
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Employer Resources
➡ Can my boss make me get a COVID-19 vaccine? The answer is complicated – East Bay Times | Feb. 14, 2021, Read article >>
➡ The CDC's new COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit for Essential Workers is designed to help build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. Use these resources to educate your employees about COVID-19 vaccines, raise awareness about the benefits of vaccination, and address common questions and concerns. It will take all of our tools to protect our essential workers against COVID-19.
The Lafayette Chamber has created a blog/news page specific to Employer Resources. View it here >>
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Have a Vision for Lafayette? The City is Updating its Housing Element and We Need to Hear from You
The Housing Element is an opportunity to define Lafayette’s values and establish a vision for the future and you are a critical part in creating that vision. The Housing Element is a key component of the General Plan that will shape how Lafayette looks and feels moving forward. Your participation is essential to create a plan that represents the community’s values and meets the city’s housing goals. The General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) will integrate community feedback into a General Plan document that also satisfies state law requirements.
The Housing Element is one piece of the General Plan, which is the long-term blueprint for the future of Lafayette. To learn more about the General Plan update, use this link to watch a video on what the General Plan is and how it might affect you: www.bit.ly/2O82KOF.
How can you get involved? There are many ways to get involved, including attending public meetings, talking to your neighbors, completing online surveys, and writing in your ideas. Because this is a big undertaking, it requires many steps to get to a final document that reflects the community’s interests. Here are a few ideas:
- Study up: You wouldn’t take a test without studying, right? This is where we lay the groundwork to inform decisions down the road.
- Circle up: You will have opportunities to talk with your neighbors and connect about your ideas. Check the General Plan website for updates on a community workshop the week of March 22nd.
- Speak up: You need to give your two cents to make sure the Housing Element includes everyone’s perspective for a strong plan that translates values into actions. Much of this will be through EngagementHQ, the hub for community input.
Housing Element 101 Meeting Information
Burton Valley - Thursday, February 18th at 6PM
Downtown - Thursday, February 25th at 6PM
Special Session for Community Organizations - Wednesday, March 3rd at 6PM
Special Session for Youth - Thursday, March 4th at 6PM
Acalanes Valley & Happy Valley - Thursday, March 11th at 6PM
Reliez Valley - Thursday, March 18th at 6PM
The General Plan website is regularly updated with meeting information and project updates. Visit PlanLafayette.org to find activities, information on housing, materials from past meetings, and details on future meetings. |
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
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The Importance of Knowing What Your Business is Worth!
TODAY! February 16, 1-2pm, Online
This webinar is designed to help you create your roadmap from today to when you sell your business (at the highest value possible)!
Before selling your business, it's important to create a valuation road map to make the most profit from your hard work. Without a map of where you are going, you put yourself in the passenger seat instead of driving your company growth.
Attendees will learn:
- Why business valuation is important in succession planning.
- How retirement planning coincides with your business.
- How your business value is determined.
- You want to sell your business—Now what?
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Chamber Connectors - the Lafayette Chamber's Networking/Referral Group
We meet twice a month on the first and third Wednesday at 4:30pm. Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 17 from 4:30-5:30pm.
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Small Business Webinar
Friday, February 19, 12 Noon
Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan would like to invite you to attend a special Small Business Webinar on Friday, February 19, noon to 1pm. State Treasurer Fiona Ma and her staff, as well as staff from the Governor’s Business and Economic Development Office will present and answer questions about the programs available to small businesses for pandemic relief and aid during recovery.
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Lafayette Young Professionals - Margarita Monday
Online Happy Hour with the members of the Lafayette, CA Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group.
Come join us for our first Margarita Monday on February 22nd!
We will be having an evening of comradery, fun and great connections! Please join us if you are a young career or business minded individual looking for more connections with people just like you!
You will receive access to the event page and margarita recipes after you register! Register here >>
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"Coffee" with the City of Lafayette Mayor Susan Candell
Mayor Candell's priorities for Lafayette in 2021 include the new General Plan for the City, state housing mandates and public safety. Join us for "coffee" and get a chance to meet and speak with Susan Friday, February 26 at 8am.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Send questions in advance to holly@lafayettechamber.org.
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Instagram Your Brand
Tuesday, March 2, 12noon-1pm, Online
Social media is not canceled. In fact, time on social media is up from recent past as we approach almost a year in lockdown. Now in 2021, engagement rates of Instagram is 10 times more than Facebook. It’s time to leverage social media to build trust and boost your brand.
You’ll discover:
- why Instagram is a MUST for businesses & entrepreneurs,
- the #1 secret to creating compelling content,
- gain basic knowledge about how to frame your shot,
- and how to craft a creative caption for your posts.
Join us at noon using this link:
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Love From Lamorinda Community Service Project
Love from Lamorinda! Three communities coming together to help those in need. Thank you MVPC for showing us the need.
We encourage you to take a large zip lock bag and fill it with items for a homeless person. MVPC will then donate these hygiene kits to the Bay Area Rescue Mission who will distribute them to their clients in Richmond. They are experiencing unprecedented amounts of people needing shelter and support right now. They said these kits are very needed at the moment.
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The hygiene kits are a large zip lock bag with some of the following (suggestion): pair of socks or underwear, mask, snack, hand sanitizer, shampoo/ conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush / paste, soap, tissues, band-aids, lotion. These are suggestions- you do not have to do all. MVPC will also have a drop down on the donations page of MVPC where people can donate $20 a kit if they do not want to make them at home.
Join us, put together a hygiene kit for the Bay Area Rescue Mission and drop it off at one of our conveniently located locations:
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Spread the Love by Participating in the New Day for Children Send a Heart Fundraiser!
Valentine's Day is all about celebrating love. Many of the children we support have been given a false impression of what love is. We know that love is not only a word, but an action, and ultimately the character of God.
"Send-A-Heart" to a New Day supported girl. Remind them what true love and giving looks like from people like YOU who care!
We are not able to hold our Annual Brunch BUT You can Spread the Love with our Send a Heart Fundraiser! Learn more here >>
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Pandemic 10? Creative Alterations is here to help!
Have you been working remote for nearly a year and lost a few pounds? Or perhaps you need a button moved for an expanding waistline? Kids grown a little? As our businesses start opening back up, now may be the time to check your closet. Creative Alterations’ Joseph Jamkochian is right around the corner ready to help tailor your wardrobe. 1048 Brown Avenue, 925-284-5636
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Lafayette Car Wash & Detail Center
31 Years Proudly Serving Lamorinda!
Full service car washing, body & paint repair, small dent repair, windshield chip repair and comprehensive detailing services. www.lafayettecarwash.com
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From the Lafayette Library and Learning Center |
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Sweet Thursdays Presents B.N. Horowitz, MD: Wildhood
NY Times bestselling author Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, MD, discusses her new book Wildhood about the commonalities shared by human and animal adolescents.
With Wildhood, Dr. Horowitz and award-winning science writer Kathryn Bowers have created an entirely new way of thinking about the crucial, vulnerable, and exhilarating phase of life between childhood and adulthood across the animal kingdom.
This program is presented by the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.
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Please note: to signup you will be asked for your birthdate. This information is not stored, it is only used for verify you are over 21 years of age. |
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