• Join OCBC virtually on May 26 for the first Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast of 2021 featuring Lewis (Lou) Cornell, President and Chief Executive Officer, WSP USA, one of the largest engineering and professional services firms in the U.S. Hear how Lou and WSP USA are helping the region prepare for the 2028 Olympics in LA and OC, their dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, and their philosophy for getting back to work post-pandemic. Register here. 

• On May 19, OC transitioned to the yellow tier with record breaking lows for COVID-19 case positivity. State data released Tuesday show the number of cases per 100,000 residents had reached 1.5. Some businesses like museums, zoos and theme parks could increase attendance to 35%. With Governor Newsom’s plan to open CA up June 15, 2021, we expect NEW guidance beyond the old colored tier format. Stay tuned. 

• Learn how Irvine was master-planned to be one of America’s most livable cities in the commemorative article “At 50, New City of Irvine is Evergreen.” James Irvine founded the city over 150 years ago, and through many conscientious stewards, the land has remained a green utopia. Read all about the meticulous planning Irvine went through to secure its one-of-a-kind pristine land and community here.  

• California Cable & Telecommunications Association (CCTA) released Advancing A Sound Broadband Strategy, which aggregates state data to provide an assessment of California’s digital divide. The report shows that the number of broadband grants awarded in 2020 and 2021 granted 369,00 households with service but left a total of 93,592 CA households unserved. Scroll down to see how OCBC members are working to help keep customers connected! Read more.

• The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), the Legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal advisor, released key takeaways from Governor Newsom’s $267.8 billion May Revise budget. LAO determined the surplus is closer to $38 million, not $76 billion as the Governor anticipates. Rather than sprinkling funding across 400 different programs, LAO recommends legislators focus on key areas that can have the most impact and consider delaying some allocations, as state departments lack capacity to distribute the proposed funding effectively. The Legislature will now deliberate on budget bills to finalize spending levels. ICYMI, OCBC released an overview of the Governor’s budget proposal on Tuesday. 

• Join Anaheim Chamber of Commerce at 2 p.m. for the latest updates on COVID-19 workplace safety, including vaccination and testing policies, from Cal/OSHA regulations. Register here.  

• New Employer Portal will serve as a one-stop hub for CA employers to access state and local county COVID-19 guidance by business industry.  

• Join Chapman University's Economic Forecast on June 16 at 3 p.m. for a virtual update on the strong upward trend in real GDP forecasted for 2021. There will also be a live Q&A with the experts at the end. Register here.

• Join BizFed Institute (BFI) for a forum tomorrow on closing the digital divide. Hear expert panelists share what they have learned as they transition to tele-work, tele-health and tele-learning. Learn about progress updates and practical ideas to remove public policy and expense barriers that allow for accelerated broadband development. Register for the forum here. 

• On May 5, Cal/OSHA announced that fully vaccinated employees exposed to a confirmed positive COVID-19 case no longer need to be excluded from the workplace if they are asymptomatic. Read more.

• 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 Youth Earn and Learn Program, offered through the Ready S.E.T. OC WIOA Youth Program, will start on June 14. This program is for students to learn entrepreneurship and build skills for success while earning wages. Information sessions will be held on June 8 and 11 at 4 p.m. Click here to sign up or review eligibility criteria. 

• Join Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and City of Anaheim on June 8 for a free virtual job fair. Every industry is welcome; employers and job seekers are encouraged to virtually meet and explore career opportunities during this difficult economic time. Register here. 

• On May 12, Boeing announced a $1.1 million investment package to help fund Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) support organizations. CA will receive over $300,000 in grants in support of these organizations: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Little Tokyo Service Center and United Cambodian Community. 

• Last week, OCBC hosted nearly 50 members to discuss Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Participants shared current practices and their vision for a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Insights shared include the need to think beyond compositional diversity and utilizing “blind resumes”. Organizations should also ask themselves four key questions: who is your community, are they thriving, how do we know, and how can we improve? For more information on the meeting and future meetings, contact Jesse Ben-Ron.  

• Spectrum, Cox and AT&T offer internet discounts of up to $50 for low-income households and those heavily impacted by COVID-19. These discounts are available through the providers participation in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. Read more.