The Leading Voice of Business in Orange County
Thursday, June 18, 2020
DENTISTS/CHOC CALL FOR PPE, 241/91 CONNECTOR, SCHOOL REOPENING
HOT OFF THE PRESSES:
YOUR LOCAL DENTIST NEEDS PPE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES : 
  • OC's Dentists and Oral Surgeons are in critical need of PPE. Due to severe shortages, dental offices have been unable to reopen, leaving patients to be seen at hospitals for routine procedures. To donate or identify sources, contact Megan Francis, Executive Director, OC Dental Society.

OCBC MEMBER LSA WINS AWARD FOR 241/91 CONNECTOR:
  • LSA has been recognized with an award from APA Orange Section for its work on the SR-241/SR-91 Tolled Express Lanes Connector Project. Working as a sub-consultants to the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agencies, LSA provided various technical and enviro analyses for this project to alleviate back up on SR-241. Read more.

CHOC NEEDS HELP PROTECTING OC CHILDREN:
  • CHOC Children's Hospital Top 5 PPE needs are listed below. To donate or identify sources, contact Rachel Rolnicki, OCBC VP of Government Affairs. 
  • Toilet Paper (Mini/Jumbo)
  • Paper Towels (Tork Matic WHT 700FTX7)
  • Foam Hand Sanitizing Gel (Wall Mount 750ML)
  • Soap (Wall Mount Medistat PCMX 750ML)
  • Cleaning Wipes (Super Sani Purple)

OC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASES ANTICIPATED START DATES FOR SCHOOL YEAR:
  • Click here to view the list of anticipated start dates for all school districts in Orange County.

#MASKUP! PUT ON YOUR FACE MASK IF YOU ARE IN IRVINE!
  • The City of Irvine requires all residents to wear a face covering while:
  • In public
  • Visiting a retail, commercial, or other places of business
  • At work
  • When unable to maintain at least six feet of physical distancing from another person who is not a family/household, read more.

OCBC PROUD TO PARTNER WITH OC BLACK CHAMBER: 
  • Thank you Orange County Business Journal for providing OCBC and OC Black Chamber an opportunity to showcase black owned businesses, organizations and leaders in Orange County. Learn more here.

DON'T MISS THIS! CHOC CHILDREN'S CALLS FOR GREATER MASK USAGE IN ORANGE COUNTY
  • CHOC Children’s urges Orange County Board of Supervisors to reinstate the mandatory order for wearing cloth face coverings in public. CEO Kim Cripe asks our leaders to advocate: “I wear a mask to protect you, and you wear a mask to protect me,” … We encourage you … to accept minor personal sacrifice to serve the greater good. Read CHOC’s letter here.
GOOD BUSINESS IS GOOD HEALTH: 
WHERE TO GET FREE COVID-19 TESTING IN OC:

ADVOCACY UPDATES:
AB 3216 DRAMATICALLY EXPANDS EMPLOYEE LEAVE AT EMPLOYER’S EXPENSE:  
  • OCBC and other business leaders statewide strongly oppose AB 3216, which would require businesses of all sizes to drastically expand paid sick leave, medical leave and family leave requirements—funded entirely by businesses when many are struggling to keep their doors open. This bill would allow employees to take up to 24 weeks of job protected leave, which many small businesses cannot reasonably accommodate. OCBC issued a floor alert to the State Assembly for this bill. Read HERE.

SMWD APPROVES BUDGET TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP:
  • Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors unanimously approved a revised annual budget to assist customers experiencing financial hardship. The budget includes a longer-term Customer Assistance Program so ratepayers can defer bills, as well as continued investments in the Five Year Capital Replacement Program. Read more.

WEBINAR- "CAPITAL & CONNECTS PART 1- LOANS & RESOURCES REGISTRATION”: 
  • Join the Entrepreneurship Task Force from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Resources, strategies, partnerships and opportunities with a focus on access for diverse founders and small businesses on Friday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. Register here.

HELP HOUSING IN OC – LEND YOUR SUPPORT FOR VMT PLAN DELAY:
  • There is still time for you to help OCBC, BIA and other housing advocates delay the implementation of new Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) regulations. Starting July 1, VMT will drive up the cost of workforce housing by tens of thousands of dollars. Click here to send a quick email to your elected officials!

BUSINESS RESOURCES :
MANAGING THE MOMENT: 
  • Don’t miss OCTANE’s virtual event “Managing the Moment: Leadership in a Time of Crisis,” featuring Emile Haddad, Chairman and CEO, FivePoint, on Thursday, June 18 from 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. This event is free to attend and you’re guaranteed to leave inspired. Click here to register.

PRE-APPLICATION AVAILABLE FOR BUENA PARK’S EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:
  • The COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program will provide emergency rental assistance to Buena Park residents facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible households will receive emergency rental assistance up to $1,000 per month, through December 31, 2020. Learn more here. Thank you NOCCC for sharing this important update.

NEW UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS IN CALIFORNIA POINT TO RECOVERY:
  • An analysis of unemployment insurance claims from the California Policy Lab show some encouraging signs about the economy. A greater percentage of people either did not receive benefits payments or only received partial benefits, a sign that they are returning back to work and making too much to qualify. The analysis can be found here.

COVID-19 WAGE-BASED TAX CREDITS:
  • The IRS issued an infographic detailing COVID-19-related tax credits, including the New Employer Tax Credit. The goal of the infographic is to help employers quickly determine whether they are eligible for one or more of the credits and, if so, the potential financial value of those credits. 

ARE YOU HIRING?
  • OCBC supports the 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 BIZ RESOURCES:

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS:
SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR GIVING CAMPAIGN: 
  • The “Energy For Others” campaign will support communities in need, civic engagement and social justice. SDG&E is committing $500,000 to civic engagement and social justice causes, including an immediate $50,000 contribution to RISE San Diego, whose mission includes elevating and advancing urban leadership through dialogue-based civic engagement, read more.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES HEALTH DECLARATION FOR CUSTOMERS, LOW DOMESTIC FARES & EXTENDS OPEN MIDDLE SEATS:
  • The Southwest Promise outlines new customer safety protocols such as open middle seats through September 30, reinforced face mask policy, and requiring travelers to complete a Health Declaration prior to traveling, read more.

MISSED OCBC'S PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS? View them by clicking here. PLEASE SHARE THESE UPDATES WITH COLLEAGUES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
NOT AN OCBC MEMBER? JOIN TODAY!
Join OCBC and connect with the most influential companies and top executives actively engaged in creating a pro-business environment and prosperous economy. Hundreds of Orange County's leading businesses, cities and non-profit organizations represent an elite group from every industry cluster, collectively employing over 250,000 people in the county and two million globally. Learn More. For more info, contact Natalie Rubalcava, OCBC Chief Operating Officer.
RESOURCES
OCBC Member Resources 
Giving Back
American Red Cross & Blood Donations - Donate blood today!
Caterina's Club Feeds Kids in Need - Donate today to help
Chrysalis COVID-19 Relief Fund - Matching donations up to $25K!
Donate, Volunteer or Host a Virtual Food Bank 
HCA Accepting Medical Donations - Masks, Gloves, Gowns Needed
Basic supplies needed
OC Food Bank - Donations needed. 
Help students with laptops & other financial assistance
Second Harvest Food Bank - Match My Gift - Every $1 DOUBLES to provide SIX nutritious meals!
Help support Vital Link's STEM and career pathways for students
StandUp For Kids Orange County  -  COVID-19 Emergency Response 
If you have questions on how to get connected with OCBC online, contact Catherine Harper, OCBC Communications Manager, at 949.794.7245, or  [email protected] .
OCBC works to get you the best information in these difficult times fighting COVID-19, its health and economic impacts. Check your email often for important updates AND follow us on Facebook , Twitter  and Linkedin . In addition, check out our COVID-19 Resources page  on OCBC.org.