• Join OCBC at 9:00 a.m. for a critical update on vaccines in OC. Health care leaders from across OC will talk about lessons learned and what's coming next. Hear from County of Orange, Hoag, Kaiser Permanente, KPC Health, MemorialCare, Providence, and UCI. Thank you title sponsor, Hoag, platinum sponsor MemorialCare, gold sponsors, Kaiser Permanente and Providence. The event is free to attend, register today!  

• More than 70 chalk and other artists will unveil street art expressing themes of hope at Disneyland Resort, Anaheim Convention Center and Soka University Vaccine Super Point of Dispensing (POD) sites, City of Hope locations, John Wayne Airport, Anaheim Packing District, Marina Park in Newport Beach, Orange County Great Park, and other iconic places in Orange County. Learn more and see the art!

• Goodwill of Orange County’s auction website shopgoodwill.com reached a huge milestone: $1 billion in sales. More than 90% of sale prices go back to Goodwill communities to support the needs of local job seekers. Congratulations Goodwill of Orange County for this outstanding accomplishment! Read more. 

• Small business owners with fewer than 20 employees can join a series of webinars hosted by U.S. Small Business Administration. Learn what steps you can take now to take advantage of exclusive access to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The webinar series includes sessions focused on minority businessowners. Register here. 

• The next California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) application period starts March 8, 2021, with $71.1 million in available tax credits. Businesses interested in applying can register to view a live webinar explaining the application process. Learn more. 

• Local restaurants experiencing hardship can now be nominated for a Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant, awarding them $1 million to help improve and upgrade their physical space and business. All nominations are due March 9. Learn more about how to apply. 

• The devastating economic and community impacts of theme park closures remain acutely felt here in OC and across CA. OCBC is pleased to support OC Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva's AB 420 which would enable amusement parks to safely welcome guests back in the Moderate Orange Tier, instead of the Minimal Yellow Tier. This important measure also provides $500,000 for PPE to further enhance the exemplary health and safety protocols exhibited at theme parks. Read OCBC’s letter. 

• OCBC’s Workforce Housing Committee hosted its first meeting of the year yesterday. Tony Petros, President and COO of LSA, provided an overview of recent state law requiring vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as the basis for determining transportation impacts for housing projects. These regulations add costs to developers and are extremely difficult to mitigate. Michael Gunning, SVP of Legislative Affairs for CBIA, expressed cautious optimism for this year’s housing legislation. James Gerrard, Government Relations Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity OC, outlined their model and their recent successes in Orange County. Thank you to all three of these dynamic leaders! 

• Your employees can benefit from state and federal cash-back tax credits that can put several hundred to several thousand dollars back in their pockets. The credits are available through the CA Earned Income Tax Credit. Direct your employees to this website so they can take advantage of free tax prep thanks to the partnership between OC United Way and IRS.

• Join Selvi Stanislaus, the Franchise Tax Board’s Executive Officer, on March 9 for an update on what’s new in 2021, filing statistics, litigation, regulatory development, conformity, and much more. Register here for this webinar and other CalTax Foundation webinars. 

• SCE Small Business Resources
• Small Business Development Center
• SBDC Resources for Small Businesses
• Go-BIZ FAQ for Small Businesses
• UCI Free Small Business Toolkit

• Here's an interesting graphic of vaccine distribution channels. Click here to see where to get your vaccine!

• After weeks of a falling positive case rates and increased ICU capacity, OC is on the cusp of moving into the less restrictive red tier. Read more.

• Registration is now open for MemorialCare's 16th Presidents' Partnership Event: 2021: A Path to Renewal - moving health benefits forward in a world transformed by COVID-19. Hear from Barry S. Arbuckle, Ph.D., President and CEO, MemorialCare and Dr. Lisa Bielamowicz, President and Co-Founder, Gist Healthcare. 

• UCI investigators will present their work in a symposium on the anniversary of the W.H.O. designating COVID-19 a pandemic, March 19, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Attendees can watch the symposium via Zoom Webinar or YouTube and can submit questions in both platforms' Q&A boxes. Registration is required. 

• Orange County United Way is asking for your support. They are helping 100 South Orange County families to get on the path to financial security. The program will provide them a financial specialist, a financial literacy workshop and a laptop for loan. Learn more and get involved. 

• Anaheim Convention Center Test Site: Appointments Required.
• Testing Basics: COVID-19 Test Options.
• Free testing in OC: How to access.
• DO IT! Where to get tested in OC: Find a testing site near you. 
• OC Testing Sites: Appointment & walk-in resources.
• Public & private sector testing: Contact your provider today.
• COVID-19 Hotline: For general questions & information call: (714)-834-2000.
• OC Health Care Agency: Data Dashboard featuring confirmed COVID-19 cases.

• MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center is one of only two hospitals in Orange County, California recognized on Newsweek’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2021 list. This high honor highlights hospitals that provide exceptional care to mothers, newborns and their families.

• Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) CEO Samuel Johnson was recognized with the Transportation Trailblazer award by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials for his outstanding commitment to promoting equity. Read more.