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Monday, May 2, 2022 | View as Webpage
THIS WEEK IN ORANGE COUNTY
CSUF's Spring Economic Forecast Talked Inflation, Supply Chain Issues and Limited Labor Supply
Orange County Business Council CEO Jeff Ball recently moderated the Annual Spring Economic Forecast for the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting at Cal State Fullerton, a Business Council member. With the theme “As The World Turns,” the conference centered on current economic issues in a post-pandemic environment with a focus on inflation, supply chain issues and limited labor supply. Featured presenters included Director of the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting Anil Puri, Ph.D. and Co-Director Mira Farka, Ph.D. Watch for details about The Business Council and CSUF’s Fall Forecast in October featuring key updates.
Orange County Business Council Achieves Key Delay in Concerning Regional Policy
The Business Council has been active in a coalition of industry, transportation and business leaders raising concerns that SCAG's Regional Advanced Mitigation Planning and SoCal Greenprint initiatives pose very real threats to the development of housing and infrastructure by paving an easier path for frivolous California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) litigation. On April 26, the Business Council joined our partners in testimony to SCAG's Advisory Group expressing the need for more time to address these concerns and successfully achieved a two-week delay. Thank you to Orange County's SCAG representatives Hon. Art Brown and Hon. Peggy Huang for their acknowledgement that issues still need to be worked out with the business coalition before advancing SCAG's initiatives. Read our letter here for more info.
Idea Hall Named Marcomm Agency of Record for Goodwill of Orange County
Costa Mesa-based Idea Hall, founded by Business Council Board Member Rebecca Hall, has been named as the Marcomm Agency of Record for Goodwill of Orange County, which is led by Business Council Board Member Nicole Suydam. Idea Hall will be creating an integrated communications and business plan to usher in the nonprofit’s next century of empowering Orange County residents through employment and professional development and celebrate Goodwill's 100th anniversary. The Business Council is proud to see our leaders working together and looks forward to seeing the positive community impact of this dynamic duo! Keep up the great work!
New Investor Alert: Welcome DoorDash!
Please join the Business Council in extending a warm welcome to new investor DoorDash! DoorDash is the largest food delivery company in the U.S., connecting people in Orange County and around the world with local restaurants and businesses. The Business Council and DoorDash are mutually committed to empowering local economies and supporting economic development in communities. The Business Council is excited to have this tech leader join its growing roster of prominent business investors.
ADVOCACY
OC Business Council Secures Key Advocacy Wins
Last week was a very busy week for the Business Council’s Government Affairs team! The business community’s advocacy efforts resulted in several victories for Orange County’s economy and businesses. Good bills still have a long way to go, while many bad bills advanced, so more work to be done. See all bills the Business Council is tracking here.
  • AB 2893 (Daly), SUPPORT, is the Business Council’s sponsor bill. It would implement common-sense updates to how agencies analyze regulations with significant impacts on industries and the economy. AB 2893 was unanimously passed by the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee. Thank you Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, Chair of this Committee, for your YES vote!
  • SB 1276 (Durazo), OPPOSE, was pulled by the bill’s author, meaning it is defeated for the year! The bill would have degraded legal privacy protections for businesses, consumers and employees.
  • AB 2570 (Daly), SUPPORT, passed the Assembly Insurance Committee unanimously. The bill will invest significantly in paying down unemployment insurance fund debt that would otherwise be passed down to businesses.
  • AB 1771 (Ward), OPPOSE, was not voted on this week in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee and is likely dead for the year. The bill would have reduced the number of homes available for sale by punishing property owners with a 25% tax for selling their property.
  • AB 1651 (Kalra), OPPOSE, and designated as a Job Killer by CalChamber, was pulled from the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee and won’t be moving forward this year. The bill would have imposed overbroad, unworkable mandates on employers and reduce worker privacy and tech innovation.
INVESTORS IN THE NEWS
Cox “34 by 2034 Act to Impact” Day of Service Includes Donation
More than 700 Cox Automotive and Cox Communications team members made a stop in Orange County on April 21 as part of Cox Enterprises’ “34 by 2034 Act to Impact Tour,” a comprehensive social service endeavor to empower 34 million people to live more prosperous lives by 2034 by taking action in communities where employees live and work. The Earth Day-themed day of service included assembling 2,000 wildlife education kits, including magnifying glasses, binoculars and notebooks for Inside the Outdoors, a non-profit foundation serving over 120,000 students, administered by the Orange County Department of Education. Cox’s donation included a $15,000 cash donation, a $10,000 in-kind gift to purchase supplies for wildlife education kits, and a $5,000 grant to fund the program’s technology needs.
SoCalGas CEO Scott Drury Joins WSJ CEO Council
SoCalGas’ CEO, Scott Drury, has joined the prestigious Wall Street Journal CEO Council. Made up of influential leaders from 25 different countries, the CEO Council represents companies from a cross-section of industries that collectively employ more than 11 million people and generate more than $3 trillion in annual revenue. Prior to being named CEO of SoCalGas in 2020, Drury was president of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), a sister company of SoCalGas.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Committee meetings are an exclusive benefit offered to The Business Council's investors.
Click the committee meeting link to learn more about the specific topics and issues that will be covered and any special guest speakers.
May 6
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Email Connor Medina for registration details.
May 18
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Join via Zoom or email Jesse Ben-Ron to attend in person.
EVENTS
Chairman's Leadership Breakfast featuring Nicole Suydam
On Tuesday, May 3, The Business Council kicks off its first Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast of the 2022 series featuring Nicole Suydam, President and CEO, Goodwill of Orange County.

Thank you Executive Leadership Sponsor, Amazon and Supporting Sponsors, College and Career Advantage and Goodwill of Orange County.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
  • Need to fill a position at your company? Attend the CSUF Internship & Career Virtual Expo May 5 to connect with talented CSUF students. 
  • Edison International and SCE are committed to creating a diverse workforce. As part of this commitment, Edison International developed a four-year, $1-million pilot scholarship program to provide scholarships and additional support totaling up to $25,000 per recipient. The application deadline is May 6.
  • Join OC San's Wastewater 101 Citizens Academy, a series of free virtual workshops, starting May 12.
  • The Culinary Arts & Hospitality Regional Advisory Board of Vital Link, a nonprofit preparing OC’s future workforce, is looking for employers and employees who work as chefs (personal, caterer, restaurant), or work as managers/operators at hotels, bed and breakfast, theme parks or tour companies to be panelists for its virtual May 13 event.  
NOT AN INVESTOR? JOIN TODAY!
Join Orange County Business Council 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, The Business Council's Chief Operating Officer.