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Tuesday, September 1, 2020 | View as Webpage
OC REOPENS SOME SECTORS, LOCAL JOURNALISM GETS A YEAR, CSUF TOP 5% OF COLLEGES, AND MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
WHAT BUSINESSES CAN REOPEN IN OC UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM?: FIND OUT BELOW:*
  • Here is the new state page which is searchable by county and industry on what can reopen.

GREAT PARK BALLOON GETS A NEW FACE:*

OC IN MOST RESTRICTIVE TIER UNDER NEW SYSTEM BUT NOT FOR LONG?*
  • The new tiered system requires further restrictions despite a steady decline in cases. The new rules are "clear as mud" said Lucy Dunn, President and CEO, OCBC. Continue reading. Apparently, Orange County may open up to the “red” tier after Labor Day, allowing some retail to move from 25% of capacity to 50%. Stay tuned.

CASE AGAINST SPLIT TAX ROLL CONTINUES TO GROW—SAVE PROP 13 PROTECTIONS!*
  • This year’s state ballot proposal (Prop 15) to split off commercial and industrial properties from CA’s unified tax roll structure under Prop 13, would be detrimental to small businesses, industry, and consumers alike, which is why OCBC has opposed it from the start. The Reasons why split roll is a bad idea, in general but especially now as businesses are struggling under pandemic conditions, continue to arise. Read more and vote NO on Prop 15 this November!

WELCOME BACK TO SOUTH COAST PLAZA:*

SENATE APPROVES SAVE THE LOCAL JOURNALISM ACT BILL:*
  • AB 323, Save the Local Journalism Act, has been amended with a unanimous 39-0 vote to offer a 1-year grace period to local newspapers’ labor changes. OCBC applauds this effort.

TODAY'S WEBINAR - STATE TREASURER FIONA MA "JUMPSTART BUSINESS OPERATIONS":*
  • Join Treasurer Fiona Ma for the next iteration of the "Jumpstart Business Operations" webinar series, presented by Mike Brown, Founder of the Brainzooming group. Register and learn more!

HOW TO HELP KIDS TRANSITION BACK TO VIRTUAL SCHOOL:*
  • CHOC Children’s offers 10 tips to help children and parents shift from summer mode to virtual learning.

SUPPORT LOCAL RESTAURANTS! SHARE THE SafeDineOC PROGRAM TODAY!:
  • Qualifying restaurants will receive a $1,000 grant after completing a five minute application. Learn more.
OCBC EVENTS YOU CAN'T MISS
TOMORROW'S EVENT - OCBC'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM: ENERGY:*
  • Tomorrow at 9 a.m. join OCBC for the Virtual Economic Development Forum Series: Part 3 - Innovative Technology to Unleash OC’s Energy Evolution. Hear industry experts, Ed Randolph, Director of Energy Division, California Public Utilities Commission; Joseph S. Avila, Senior Director of Energy Policy & Strategy, SoCalGas; Joe Ran, Director of Strategic Planning & Power Supply, Southern California Edison; and moderator Steve Churm, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, FivePoint Holdings, LLC. Thank you, ACC-OC, AT&T, SoCalGas, Southern California Edison, and Verizon for sponsoring this important conversation. This event is complimentary but registration required. Register today!

ADVOCACY UPDATES
OCBC DISAPPOINTED AS LEGISLATURE KILLS MOST SIGNIFICANT HOUSING BILLS:
  • This has been an unprecedented session as COVID-19 shifted focus and forced two prolonged shutdowns at the Capitol. However, the most impactful housing bills—the number one priority before the pandemic—are dead for now due to disagreements between the Assembly and Senate and opposition from environmental and labor groups. Bills like AB 3279, which would have made reasonable fixes to CEQA, and SB 902, which would have allowed cities to streamline zoning allowing more homes near transit and jobs, stalled in Committees. Despite State leadership commitment to meaningfully address the housing crisis, proposals that would a real difference continue to be squashed. Some bills are moving forward. SB 1299, a bill to incentivize more development on commercial areas (an approach OCBC has researched extensively), is on the Assembly floor, though it was recently amended to include prevailing wage requirements that hinder the very developments it seeks to encourage. OCBC will continue to urge legislators to pass serious and impactful laws to spur new workforce housing.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY
ARTS OC AND CULTURE RESILIENCE FUND BOOST LOCAL ARTISTS:*
  • Arts of OC has also partnered with the Orange County Community Foundation and Charitable Ventures to establish the OC Arts & Culture Resilience Fund that will administer $750 grants to 70 individual artists and 19 grants for nonprofit art organizations that vary from $1,000 to $14,000. 

OPEN TABLE- HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT EATING OUT AGAIN:*
  • OpenTable’s July 2020 report shows 25% of people are dining out with table service more than once a week and 48% of diners will tip 5% greater than before COVID-19. View report.

HELP CHILDREN LOCALLY - HERE ARE THE TOP 5 NEEDS AT CHOC CHILDREN'S:
  • Below are the top five items CHOC has identified as the highest priority and shortage needs this week. Contact Rachel Rolnicki for more information.
  1. Surgical Cap (24 inch Primary Blue Large Print)
  2. N95 Regular Masks
  3. N95 Small Masks
  4. Isolation Gown (Universal)
  5. Disinfecting Wipes (Purple Top)

BUSINESS RESOURCES:
WEBINAR- THE ENTREPRENEURS OF THE COVID ERA:*
  • On Wednesday, September 9, join the discussion on how to successfully reopen your business, bring in a new clientele, and evaluate your company's financial status for future growth. Register here.

LOOKING TO HIRE NEW TALENT? JOIN CAL STATE FULLERTON'S INTERNSHIP & CAREER EXPO:*
  • The Cal State Fullerton Career Center's Fall 2020 Virtual Internship & Career Expo is open for employer registration now. They invite you to engage with their students to scout for talent or recruit at this event. The event is Thursday, September 17, 2020. Register here.

VIRTUAL WORLD TRADE WEEK SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:*
  • Attend the Virtual World Trade Week Southern California conference on September 22. Hear from great speakers how you can best grow your business by accessing international markets. Hear from great speakers like Kimberly Reed, President and Chair of EXIM Bank and Mayor Eric Garcetti.  

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES:
COVID-19 NEWS:
LG ANNOUNCES BATTERY-POWERED AIR PURIFIER MASK:*
  • The smart mask, LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier, introduces wearable air purifier technology that is equipped with dual fans and patented respiratory sensor to provide users clean, filtered air for up to 8 hours. 

FEDS REQUIRE COVID-19 TEST FOR ALL NURSING HOME STAFF:*

COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND UPDATES
CITY OF IRVINE OPENS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS:*

MUSIC IN BLOOM: PACIFIC SYMPHONY OPENING NIGHT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH:
  • Save the date for a virtual Opening Night Celebration Honoring the 2020-21 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series. Learn More.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: 
CAL STATE FULLERTON RANKS TOP 5 PERCENT OF ‘BEST COLLEGES IN AMERICA’:*
  • Money Magazine ranks Cal State Fullerton 34th of 739 colleges across the nation. The considerations are evaluated based on the college’s educational quality, six-year graduation rates, financial aid and student debt, along with alumni salary data. CSUF data reports the average alumni receives $47,000 in the first five years of employment and a low student debt average of $15,000. Congratulations CSUF!

THE ANGELS 5K VIRTUAL RACE:*
  • Join the Los Angeles Angels for a virtual 5K through October 31st. Participants will submit their time to a virtual results page and instantly receive a finisher certificate. Post-race, runners will be awarded a medal and commemorative gear in the Angel Stadium parking lot via drive-thru pick up. #Angels5K 

WHERE TO GET TESTING IN OC:

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. But we need YOUR VOICE! For more info, contact  Natalie Rubalcava, OCBC Chief Operating Officer.
RESOURCES
New items are noted with an *
If you have questions on how to get connected with OCBC online,
contact James Alley, at 714.501.9893 or jalley@ocbc.org.
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.