• Keep your restaurant open - Register here!

• OCBC opposed SB 1383, a bill that forces businesses with five or more employees to accommodate a 12-week family leave of absence, narrowly passed the CA Senate. Thanks to Senators Chang, Moorlach, and Bates for voting NO on this bill and protecting small employers, and thanks to Senator Umberg for abstaining. Find your Assemblymember here and ask them to oppose SB 1383.

• After a brief closure to help slow the spread of COVID-19 during July 4th celebrations, OC beaches have reopened. Remember to #MaskUp! Read more.

• The FoodBoxx program delivers fresh and organic produce grown in OC to customers for a small charge. Funds collected through the program will go to provide produce to those in need across OC. Order your box today!

• CalTrans provides a complete list of virtual webinars for the month of July. The public works web series includes: Introduction to Public Works, Estimating & Bidding, and Managing Your Public Works Project. Register here.

• Join OCBC and Kimberly A. Reed, President & Chairman of EXIM Bank for a candid discussion on the future of global trade for U.S. companies, EXIM Bank’s response to COVID-19, and EXIM’s top priorities on Wednesday, August 5. To attend, contact Alice Park.

• Join experts, Lucy Dunn, CEO & President of OCBC; Steve Pontell, CEO & President of national CORE; and Jennifer Hernandez, Partner at Holland & Knight LLP in discussion with Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky’s research brief - Beyond Feudalism: A Strategy To Restore CA’s Middle Class on Tuesday, July 14 at 1:00 p.m. Join here.

• Free testing in OC: How to access.
• COVID Testing 101: How is the test administered? Find out here.
• COVID-19 FAQ: Provided by HCA.
• DO IT! Where to get tested in OC: Find a testing site near you. 
• Public & private sector testing: Contact your provider today.
• COVID-19 Hotline: For general questions & information call: (714)-834-2000.
• Could It Be COVID? Social media graphics and copy.
• OC Health Care Agency: Data Dashboard featuring confirmed COVID-19 cases.

• The Governor signed a $202.1 billion state budget on June 29. The state avoided broader cuts initially proposed by the Governor in May.

• Funds for K-12 schools and community colleges remain largely intact.
• OCBC and other business leaders successfully staved off cuts to Career Technical Education to ensure skills-based training continues to be readily available to students.
• Local governments will be allocated nearly $1.8 billion to support homeless individuals, including buying motels and hotels to convert into supportive housing.

• The budget currently reduces funds for the California State University and University of California systems by a combined $1 billion.
• Tax credits have been arbitrarily capped at $5 million annually and net operating loss deductions are suspended through 2022, which limit the economic competitiveness of Orange County businesses.
• Funds for housing programs are cut by $248 million.

• Representatives Gil Cisneros and Mike Levin introduced H.R. 7197, also known as the RESTAURANTS Act of 2020. The bill establishes a $120 billion restaurant stabilization grant program that specifically provides local, independent restaurants with significant relief. The restaurant industry is among those hardest hit by COVID-19. OCBC thanks Reps. Cisneros and Levin for cosponsoring the RESTAURANTS Act of 2020 and urges Orange County’s delegation to also support the bill. Read Congressman Cisneros’ press release HERE

• Orange County Sanitation District will host a virtual walk-through of the wastewater treatment process at Plant No. 1. This immersive tour will be led by Rob Thompson, OCSD Assistant General Manager on July 16 at 10 a.m. and July 21 at 3 p.m. Register here!

• Hear from Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Senator and Chair of the Housing Committee Scott Weiner, California State Transportation Agency Secretary David Kim, and more! Open to OCBC members only, Register today!

• Together OC is a new website presenting the latest information on business sector re-openings, county health orders, unemployment benefits and frequently asked questions.

• OC's District One grant program is now open. $10,000 grants are available to eligible small businesses, nonprofits, and independent contractors impacted by COVID-19. The deadline for applications is Friday, July 31 at 5:00 p.m. Start an application here.

• Join the Orange County Department of Education on July 9 at 9:00 a.m. to learn about how early childhood education providers can create a thorough plan to reopen in order to protect children so families and providers feel assured children are in safe, healthy, and nurturing environments. Register here.

• OCBC supports Orange County Development Board by helping job seekers land jobs. OCBC will create a custom job flyer for your open positions that is then circulated across the county. To view a previous flyer, click here. If your business is hiring, contact Jesse Ben-Ron, OCBC VP of Workforce and Economic Development.

• Small Business Development Center
• SBDC Resources for Small Businesses
• Go-BIZ FAQ for Small Businesses

• CHOC Children's Research and Institute and University Lab Partners have created the Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship High School program, geared to inspire Orange County high school students to pursue careers in biotech innovation. This immersive, hands-on program teams students with industry mentors to identify real-world solutions to clinical needs presented by CHOC Children's clinicians. North Orange County ROP will administer the 2-week program and students will earn 2.5 UC-transferable credits upon completion.

• UCI’s magazine, COVID-19: A Call to Action highlights UCI’s extensive scientific community efforts. These studies include research on how COVID-19 behaves and mutates, diagnostic tools to determine at-risk ICU patients, antibody and surveillance studies to investigate why some COVID-19 positive patients become critically-ill while others don’t. UCI’s newest research development is the CoronaStrip, a self-screening, paper strip that uses saliva to determine possible COVID-19 infection.