The Leading Voice of Business
|
|
|
COMEBACK OR STAY HOME?, JOBS ELIMINATED, PFIZER AUTHORIZED FOR AGES 12 TO 15, U.S. CHAMBER GLOBAL FORUM AND MORE! |
|
HOT OFF THE PRESS
STATE SENDS MORE STIMULUS FUNDS WHILE EMPLOYERS CLAMOR FOR WORKERS:*
-
On May 10, Governor Newsom announced the CA Comeback Plan, $100 billion in combined state budget surplus and federal funds for additional COVID-19 relief. The largest recovery package in CA history, it will provide $600 stimulus checks for two-thirds of middle- and low-income residents, and allocates billions for rental assistance, utility payments, and drought response. This announcement comes as re-opening Southern CA theme parks, restaurants and other retailers are struggling to fill jobs—even with higher wages and incentives to motivate new hires. Research links this issue to the real possibility that people are making more in unemployment benefits than actually working.
100,000 JOBS TO BE ELIMINATED BY LOCAL AIR BOARD:*
-
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) voted to enact PR 2305 - an onerous regulation that will impose a $1 billion tax on the warehouse industry, every year, on thousands of warehouses. A SCAQMD analysis shows this will cost 100,000 jobs over the next ten years. Read OCBC’s letter of opposition here and the BizFed-led coalition letter of nearly 50 industry partners here.
FDA AUTHORIZES PFIZER VACCINE FOR KIDS AGES 12 TO 15:*
-
On May 10 the FDA authorized use of Pfizer vaccine for children ages 12 to 15. A clinical trial that involved 2,260 12-to-15-year-olds showed the vaccine's efficacy is 100%. With a final CDC recommendation, the authorization will give a vaccination opportunity to nearly 17 million more people. Read more.
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE: FEDERAL AID SHOULD PAY DOWN UI FUND DEBT:*
-
California Business Roundtable is calling on the Governor and Legislature to focus on the state’s $20 billion Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fund debt with money from the U.S. Treasury. The UI debt is growing approximately $1.2 billion per month. This debt could result in higher employment taxes if unaddressed. "Businesses did not cause this recession and should not bear the burden of paying off this debt" says CBRT President Rob Lapsley. Read more.
BILL GATES ANNOUNCED AS SPEAKER FOR U.S. CHAMBER GLOBAL FORUM:*
-
U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Forum on Economic Recovery on May 18-19 will feature Bill Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a wide-ranging discussion with the Chamber's President and CEO Suzanne Clark. The virtual event will focus on economic recovery and ways to create healthier communities, support entrepreneurship and expand access to innovative technologies. Register today!
EMPLOYERS STRUGGLE TO FIND WORKERS:*
-
Southern CA theme parks, restaurants and other retailers have had trouble filling positions even as COVID-19 restrictions loosen. Many employers have offered higher wages and incentives in attempts to motivate new hires. Research suggests this may be due to people making more money through federal and state unemployment benefits than while they were working. Read more.
ANNETTE WALKER ON ‘WHY MOTHERS MAKE GREAT LEADERS’:*
-
Don’t miss insight from Annette Walker, City of Hope OC President, as she thoughtfully articulates how moms strategize, plan, anticipate, innovate and juggle – all skills that are assets in the workplace. Click here for the full story.
UNION BANK FINDS SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN POSITIVE OUTLOOK AMONG BUSINESSES:*
-
Last October, the Union Bank Small Business Mindshift 2020 Survey showed that only 23 percent of business owners nationally – and only 13 percent in California – could see a path to survival for their businesses, but now 61 percent have a positive outlook. The roll out of the vaccine was the main reason for optimism. Click here to read the full Mid-Year Mindshift 2021 Survey.
|
|
ADVOCACY UPDATE
SUPERVISOR FOLEY MEETS WITH GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:*
-
Newly-elected Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley met with OCBC’s Government Affairs Committee to discuss the county’s vaccination progress, how to increase civic participation and ways to support the business community. Supervisor Foley’s office wants to hear from businesses—how can the County help retain and attract business? Contact her office to lend your ideas.
BUSINESS RESOURCES
CALTAX 95TH ANNUAL MEETING:*
-
Join the California Taxpayers Association virtually on May 17 – 19 for the 95th Annual Meeting to hear from some of the biggest names in California tax policy. Register today!
OC VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT-RELATED ASSISTANCE:*
-
County of Orange was awarded a $500,000 grant for programs that provide OC veterans with career opportunities, training, supportive services and job placement. Employers that sign up and hire a veteran can get reimbursed up to 50% towards new hire costs. For more information, click here.
VIRTUAL OC WORLD TRADE WEEK FORUM:
-
District Export Council of Southern California will host the OC World Trade Week Forum designed to help SoCal firms get the insights and tools needed to move their business forward. For more information on the different sessions over May 18-20, click here.
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 RELIEF FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES:
- On April 21, President Biden announced a new paid leave tax credit that will offset the cost for employers with less than 500 employees to provide full pay when their employees get a COVID-19 vaccination or recover from that vaccination. For more information, click here.
RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND:
-
The U.S. Restaurant Revitalization Fund aims to provide restaurants with funds equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss. Recipients are not required to repay anything as long as funds are used no later than March 11, 2023. The U.S. Small Business Administration will administer funds to small restaurants that the pandemic has hit the hardest. For more information or details on eligibility requirements, click here. To register for an upcoming webinar by the OC/IE SBDC, click here.
|
|
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
30 YEARS OF OC TOGETHER:*
-
OC Human Relations welcomes everyone to join their virtual 30-year anniversary celebration on May 21 at 12 p.m. OC Together will celebrate the many steps taken for continuous growth towards open dialogue and the creation of an equitable community. Register for the free event!
OC GREAT PARK VACCINATION CLINIC:*
-
OC Great Park’s COVID-19 drive-thru vaccination clinic is open Monday – Friday. Vaccines are free and by appointment only. Schedule an appointment today. For more information, available in different languages, click here.
VACCINES NOW AVAILABLE BY WALK-IN:*
-
The County of Orange is closing its largest vaccination sites, including sites at Anaheim Convention Center and OC Fair & Event Center. However, it’s easy to get your vaccine for both walk-in individuals without appointments! A list of sites is available here.
OC COMMUNITY COLLEGES WORKFORCE NEEDS ASSESSMENT:
-
OC Community Colleges invites the Retail/Hospitality and Tourism industry to take a brief 5-question Workforce Needs Assessment. Feedback will help OC colleges gauge how to better serve local industries/employees/future workforce with conventional career education programs or more nimble short-term training options.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION:
TOMORROW-- OCDE VIRTUAL FORUM IN HONOR OF AAPI HERITAGE MONTH:*
-
Join Orange County Department of Education on Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. to hear a diverse panel of Asian American voices share their stories and insights into issues of representation, inclusion and anti-Asian incidents across the country. Register now!
TOMORROW-- OCBC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING:
-
Join OCBC in the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion tomorrow from 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. DE&I officers or other executives focused in this space are welcome to participate. Register with Jesse Ben-Ron, OCBC V.P. of Workforce and Economic Development.
U.S. BANK’S ACCESS COMMITMENT:*
-
U.S. Bank aims to address the racial and wealth gap with Access Commitment. The program will support businesses owned by people of color, assist individuals and communities of color to advance economically and enhance career opportunities for employees and prospective employees.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
CSU FULLERTON ANNOUNCES NEW COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DEAN:*
- Sridhar Sundaram will join California State University, Fullerton as the new dean of the College of Business and Economics, effective July 15. Sundaram looks forward to emphasizing academic innovation, high-impact research and strong connections to the business community in his role. Read more.
DR. VINCE RODRIGUEZ NAMED AS NEXT PRESIDENT OF COASTLINE COLLEGE:*
CUI MASTER OF HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS COMPETE IN STATEWIDE COMPETITION:*
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS |
|
OCBC EVENTS
Economic Development Forum Series: Part 1 - Safe Travels
May 20 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Join OCBC’s Economic Development Forum Series: Part 1 to hear from industry experts on the return of tourism, travel, leisure and transportation industries in OC. This event is sponsor supported and complimentary. Thank you sponsors: Amazon, Cal State Fullerton, and John Wayne Airport.
Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast Series featuring Lewis Cornell
May 26 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Grab your coffee and bagel and join OCBC virtually for the first Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast of 2021 featuring Lewis (Lou) Cornell, President and Chief Executive Officer, WSP USA, once of the largest engineering and professional services firms in the U.S.
Economic Development Forum Series: Part 2 – What the Biden Administration Means for the Economy
June 8 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Join OCBC’s Economic Development Forum Series: Part 2 to hear from a panel of industry experts on how the Biden Administration will affect taxes, regulation, global trade and investment, recent and upcoming legislation, bipartisanship, and more. This event is sponsor supported and complimentary. Thank you sponsors: Amazon, Cal State Fullerton, and John Wayne Airport.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
May 12 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Join OCBC in the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion. DE&I officers or other executives focused in this space are welcome to participate.
Register with Jesse Ben-Ron, OCBC V.P. of Workforce and Economic Development.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
