To support, strengthen and enrich our community with a business culture that provides for a strong economy. |
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"Your success is our success." |
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SBA Shares Resources for Black-Owned Businesses During National Black History Month
By Victor Parker, Deputy Associate Administrator for the SBA Office of Field Operations
This National Black History Month, we commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the destruction of Black Wall Street where hundreds of small business dreams were deferred in the town of Greenwood, Oklahoma. Today, Greenwood’s 1921 Commission and other small business leaders join forces to help this community rebuild and regain economic equity. SBA also celebrates the immeasurable contributions black business owners have made to entrepreneurship in this country. From key historical figures like Madame CJ Walker to well-known innovators like Oprah Winfrey, black business owners throughout history have shaped U.S. entrepreneurship and paved the way for today’s small business owners.
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Requests for Proposals
The Altadena Library District (ALD) is soliciting proposals from Consultants to provide professional services to manage two capital improvement projects. In general, the work will consist of all work required to successfully manage the renovation of our two library facilities from community engagement and library programming discussion, to preliminary engineering and environmental through construction. The agreement will be for a three-year term, or until the conclusion of both capital projects. Click above to learn more about the scope of work and how to apply.
Below are some related documents for additional background. For access to a recorded Q&A session about the projects and links to any other additional documents, please email District Director Nikki Winslow at nwinslow@altadenalibrary.org.
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BUSINESS/MEMBER OF THE MONTH |
March is National Women’s History Month, and the Altadena Chamber of Commerce is excited to honor Altadena’s women-owned businesses at our virtual mixer, “Women Making a Difference.” As a member of the chamber, you are invited to join us on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 11:00 AM. Our speakers are Ruth Hopkins, Publisher/Managing Editor, Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Journal, and Meredith Miller, Owner, Webster’s Community Pharmacy.
We will be honoring women working together with strength, tenacity and courage while often thinking outside of the lines to balance family, business and self. We will also address issues affecting the growth and development of our communities and businesses during the pandemic crisis, as well as, explore the importance of training and developing the next generation of leaders - all of which demonstrate how women are changing the economic and political landscape.
Altadena Chamber of Commerce is working to develop opportunities to help our members thrive amidst the uncertainty our communities are facing. We are determined to help our local businesses weather this storm.
The March virtual mixer is open to the public. Women Owned Businesses will be acknowledge during the event. If you are attending the mixer and would like to have your business acknowledged, please follow the instructions below:
- Email your logo or name and a photo of your business.
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Send to ccavelier@altadenalibrary.org with the subject line Chamber Women-Owned Business.
- Acceptable file formats for logos and photos are .jpg, .png, and .pdf.
- The deadline to submit photos and logos is Monday, February 22, 2021.
- Assistance sending your logo and photo, contact Chloe Cavelier at (626) 316-0625.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Judy Matthews, Chair, Chamber Special Events at djmatthews@att.net. We sincerely appreciate your support and hope you join us as we celebrate Altadena’s women-owned businesses.
Doug Colliflower, President
Altadena Chamber of Commerce
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Support our Altadena Businesses
Businesses are open
Shop local - online and use drive-up whenever possible
Supporting small and local businesses is more important than ever.
Shopping locally is investing in our community.
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Five Actions Successful Business Owners Take (and Why)
Success is subjective, but every business owner wants to earn a living, develop relationships with consumers, and keep their company growing. And whether you’re an entrepreneur going it alone or are growing a team to handle the administrative back end, business ownership isn’t an adjective — it’s a verb. Taking action is necessary, and these five habits are essential for a lucrative (and rewarding) organizational future. Read on for tips on how to start these good habits and why you should, courtesy of Altadena Chamber of Commerce.
1. Track Finances are likely on the top of your list as you plot your company’s future. Keeping close tabs on your bank accounts and business spending is vital for success, however you measure it. Some company owners are known for being penny-pinchers, especially when it comes to on-the-job expenses. But there’s a good reason why some CEOs track every cent: Watching where the money goes and how it moves can help you pare down expenses and increase profits.
Keeping a close eye on your financial standing can be challenging, but it’s made easier through accounting software that tracks every aspect of your business’s financial data. Consider an automatically-generated profit loss statementfor an effortless way to scan your company’s financial performance at a moment’s notice. Having everything from revenue to expenses, profits, and losses — in set periods — laid out in a consumable format means you can see where you stand with just a glance.
2. Collaborate. - You might be a go-getter who goes for it alone, but there is something to be said for community and professional support. Look for opportunities to collaborate with others, and you might find that you have more in common with your competitors than plain, old competition. From professional associations to online groups for entrepreneurs, find your tribe and then cozy up.
Joining your local Chamber of Commerce is an excellent way to see what’s happening in the local economy. Even direct competitors can collaborate when it comes to finding ways to encourage the economy and make the business climate better for everyone.
3. Learn- Most entrepreneurs aren’t content with maintaining the status quo. Instead, they want to keep making progress and building up and out. Still, many business leaders may think they know it all in their industries, but that attitude only leaves potential opportunities on the table. Learning — on your own and from others — is vital for true growth, both business and personal.
Returning to school for a degree is one surefire (and common) way to expand your horizons. But you can also learn from self-study with books, online courses, and just reading quality content from people in your field. Whatever your industry or niche, you can seek out experts to follow and learn from — and maybe even connect with on social media or in person.
4. Scale - Your company is probably all about growth. Growth means success, right? Whether it’s financial growth or merely growing your audience or product offerings to change things up, getting bigger and broader is part of business.
Adopting a scaling strategy is smart for ramping up your outreach, sales, and customer service offerings. Scalingmeans prepping for growth that is yet to come, setting up processes to accommodate faster flow, and yes, investing funds in the area you want to expand. Still, putting in the effort and cash now will pay off later.
5. Automate - Even if you favor the DIY approach in your business building, you can’t do everything. While you likely have a team — or at least, an assistant — to help carry out essential tasks, consider automation a supplementary strategy. When appropriately executed, automating processes saves you and your employees or contractors tons of time.
Everything from document creation to customer service can be automated, though you might encounter upfront costs when setting off this chain reaction. From order processing to collecting sales data and customer behavior stats, automation can run tasks in the background while you take care of other aspects of the operation. The payoff is more free time, plus higher efficiency in necessary (read: money-making) tasks.
Business ownership can be challenging, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Ready to elevate your business even higher? Visit Altadena Chamber of Commerce to learn more about business ownership in the Altadena community. - Elena Stewart
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Incorporated in 1924, The Altadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association was formed to promote the commercial, industrial, civic and general interests of the Altadena community and its trade area.
The Altadena Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization and relies upon membership dues and volunteer labor to staff an office and provide services to the community.
The Altadena Chamber of Commerce is an equal opportunity organization which strives to reflect the positive and extensive diversity of the community. Membership is open to any person, association, corporation, partnership, estate or other business entity sharing the goals and objectives of the Chamber for the betterment of the entire community of Altadena.
The Chamber of Commerce produces special events, hosts periodic mixers, maintains a web site and provides information about Altadena to visitors, residents and businesses.
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Chamber of Commerce meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 9am
Meetings are virtual until further notice
Please check web-site for details
Please email us at:
If you would like to be added to the agenda.
The next meeting:
March 2, 2021
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Do you have any events, promotions or sales coming up? Let the Chamber of Commerce know!
We'd be happy to include it in the monthly Newsletter or send out a special announcement to the 600+ members we have on our mailing list. Feel free to contact the Chamber for any information, requests or concerns.
Sincerely,
The Altadena Chamber of Commerce
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Give us your email address to add on our listing.
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The Altadena Town Council meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Meetings currently virtual. The next meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Check web-site for details and find out what's going on in the community:
altadenatowncouncil.org
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CHAMBER EVENTS
Stay tuned for upcoming event in March
celebrating
"Women in Business"
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PPE for small businesses may include:
- Face masks
- Hand sanitizers
- Face shields
www/PPEunite.org
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NEW MEMBERS
Karen Guinn, DDS, Inc.
The Smile Agency
1175 E. Green Street
Altadena, CA. 91101
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"A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all."
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Contact Us
Altadena Chamber of Commerce
730 E. Altadena Dr.
626-794-3988
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CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Doug Colliflower, President
Dr. Sandra Thomas, Vice President
Craig Sloan, Treasurer
Judy Matthews, Secretary
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Vincent Barriors
Melanie Caldwell-Holden
Michell Guajardo
Larry Hammond
Bill Malone
Diane Marcussen
Ed Myers
Barbara Richard King
Maricela Viramontes
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