Please join us for an informal conversation with the Mayor at 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at PP Pop Restaurant on 127 N. Garfield Avenue.

This is your chance to connect with our Mayor, learn more about Monterey Park, and support this local business. We hope to see you there!  

The City of Monterey Park is creating a five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan to ensure economic growth and a high quality of life for its residents.

To ensure that the plan reflects the aspirations and concerns of the community, the City is inviting residents, business owners, and commercial property owners to participate in one of two public feedback sessions scheduled for Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the Langley Center in Monterey Park.

Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the Langley Center, 400 W. Emerson Ave, Monterey Park

• Session 1: For Business & Commercial Property Owners, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

• Session 2: For Community Residents, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Your voice matters! These sessions will allow you to influence the community's strategies to foster economic growth.

The first session, scheduled from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, is specifically tailored for business and commercial property owners. It aims to gather insights and feedback from entrepreneurs and stakeholders invested in the City's economic vitality.

The second session, scheduled from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, is designed for community residents. It offers an avenue for residents to voice their opinions and suggestions regarding the economic future of Monterey Park.

Help shape Monterey Park's future! Register now for one of the two sessions by Eventbrite or scan the QR code.

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is a free online platform designed to help small businesses navigate the challenges of the digital world. The program provides over 40 online courses covering digital marketing and e-commerce, access to one-on-one personalized coaching from experts, and eligibility for grants of up to $10,000. The deadline for grant applications is April 8, 2024. Apply online here: Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.

The Pacific Consortium in Employment (PACE) is offering a FREE webinar series focused on digital marketing each month from April 11 to August 8, 2024. The webinar will cover topics like email marketing, audience definition, creating graphics with Canva, and more!

Build digital marketing know-how to reach more customers, learn from industry professionals for actionable insights, and implement new strategies to take your business to the next level. Register now by emailing vbryden@pacela.org or call PACE at (213) 353-3982.

The Japan House, a cornerstone of Deerfield Plaza at 752 West Garvey Avenue in Monterey Park, has offered a unique selection of gifts and greetings for over four decades. Established in 1978, the store reflects a love for Japanese culture, the immigrant experience, and the heart of the community.

George and Kumiko who had immigrated from Kobe, Japan just a few years before opening The Japan House, opened the shop during a time of transformation for Monterey Park. Back then, the corner of Atlantic and Garvey was still under development, with a bowling alley and a vinyl record shop keeping company with their new venture.

The owners’ daughter, Kaoru, then a young girl around 11 years old, vividly recalls the family effort that went into building the store. “We built it together,” she says, “pounding nails, laying tiles – the shelves my Dad put up are still there!” With no electricity in the plaza yet, resourcefulness prevailed. “We’d work late by the high beams of Dad’s old Vega station wagon,” Kaoru recalls.

What began as a Hallmark Cards shop soon became a Japanese-themed store offering greeting cards alongside carefully curated Japanese gift items – tea sets, rice bowls, chopsticks, and more. This unique concept flourished, becoming a cherished destination for those seeking a touch of Japan in their celebrations.

Today, The Japan House carries on that tradition with beautiful cards and gifts for special occasions like Japanese Girls’ Day, Boys’ Day, and New Year. The store remains a family affair, keeping the doors open seven days a week.

Generations of customers have walked through those doors. “People tell us they came here with their parents as kids,” says Kaoru. “Now they bring their children.”

The family’s pride in Monterey Park is profound. “This City embraced us,” says Kaoru, “when we were new to everything in America.” The store now attracts visitors from the local community, San Diego, Northern California, and beyond. Patrons often combine their visit to The Japan House with a meal at one of Monterey Park’s renowned Asian restaurants.

The Japan House is a testament to the family spirit and the enduring appeal of Japanese culture. It’s a reminder that a gift shop can be more than a place to shop – it can be a bridge between cultures and a cornerstone of a community. For more information on The Japan House, visit: www.the-japanhouse.com.

Are you looking for ways to promote your business? Be featured in an upcoming edition of Business Connect for your opportunity to share more about your business story, achievements, and new products and services. To put the spotlight on your business, contact the Economic Development team at (626) 307-1385 or econdev@montereypark.ca.gov.

請參與我們於4 月4 日星期四5時在127 N. Garfield Avenue一條龍舉行的閒談活動。

這是您與我們市長接觸，並能瞭解更多關於蒙特利公園的資訊，同時支持這家本地餐館的機會。我們期待您的來臨！

蒙特利公園市正在制定一項為期五年的經濟發展策略計劃 (Economic Development Strategic Plan)，以確保經濟增長和居民的高品量生活。

為確保該計劃反映社區的期望和擔憂，蒙市邀請居民、商家、和商業業主參加定於 2024 年 4 月 25 日星期四在蒙特利公園市Langley中心舉行的兩場公眾諮詢會之一。

2024 年 4 月 25 日星期四，在蒙特利公園市 400 W. Emerson Ave 的 Langley 中心:

·        第一組: 商家和商業物業業主, 下午3點半至5點

·        第二組: 市民大眾, 晚上6點至7點半

你的意見很重要！這些諮詢會將使您能夠影響社區促進經濟增長的策略。 第一場諮詢會定於3點半至5點舉行，專為商家和商業業主而設。它旨在收集投資於城市經濟活力的商家和利益相關者的見解和反饋。

第二場諮詢會定於晚上6點至7點半舉行，專為社區居民而設, 為居民提供了一個表達他們對蒙特利公園市經濟未來的意見和建議的途徑。

協助塑造蒙市未來! 立即在Eventbrite或掃描二維碼登記註冊兩場公眾諮詢會之一。

小企業業主請注意! 美國運通(American Express) 的“支持小企業” 補助金 (Backing Small Business Grant Program) 為資源不足的企業提供一萬元贈款。立即行動, 為社區注入正面影響。申請截止日期為2024年 4 月 7 日, 或收到 5,000 份申請表時。上網在此申請: Backing Small Business Grant

Verizon的“小型企業數碼就緒” (Small Business Digital Ready) 是一個免費的網上平台,旨在幫助小型企業應對數碼世界的挑戰。該平台提供 40 多門網上課程,涵蓋數碼營銷和電子商務，可獲得專家的一對一指導,有資格獲得高達一萬元的贈款。申請截止日期為2024年4月8日。

上網在此申請: Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.

亞太就業聯盟 (Pacific Consortium in Employment, 簡稱PACE） 將於2024年4月11日至8月8日的每個月提供專註於數碼營銷的免費網絡研討會系列。網絡研討會將涵蓋電子郵件營銷、受眾定義、使用 Canva 創建圖形等主題！

建立數碼營銷的專業知識以吸引更多客戶，向行内專業人士學習以獲得實用的見解，並實施新策略以將您的業務提升到一個新的水準。立即通過電郵 vbryden@pacela.org 或致電(213) 353-3982與PACE註冊。

The Japan House (日本之家)是位於蒙特利公園市鹿苑廣場的基石，四十多年來一直提供獨特的精品和心意卡。這家商店成立於 1978 年，反映了對日本文化的愛、移民經歷和社區核心。

於商店成立的幾年前才從日本神戶移民過來的George和Kumiko在蒙特利公園市轉型期間開了這家店。當時，Atlantic大道和Garvey大道的交界還在開發中，在附近陪伴他們新店的有保齡球館和黑膠唱片店。

店主夫婦的女兒Kaoru當時還是一個十一, 二歲的小女孩，她清楚地回憶起全家人為建造這家精品店所做的努力。“我們一起建造了它。敲釘子，鋪設瓷磚,我爸爸架起來的櫃還在!”由於廣場上還沒有電，足智多謀變得重要。Kaoru憶述，“我們靠在爸爸的舊Vega汽車裡面的强光燈照明下工作到很晚。”

該商店最初是一間Hallmark卡店，後來發展成為一間日本主題商店，提供賀卡以及精心策劃的日本禮品例如茶具、飯碗、筷子等等。這個獨特的概念蓬勃發展，成為那些在慶祝活動中尋求日本風情的人的珍貴目的地。

時至今日，The Japan House 繼承了這一傳統，為日本女孩節、男孩節和新年等特殊場合提供精美的卡片和禮物。這家商店仍然是一個家族生意，每周七天都開門營業。

一代又一代的客戶走進了這道門。Kaoru說, “顧客們告訴我們，他們小時候和父母一起來到這裡，現在他們帶着孩子來。

這個家庭對蒙特利公園的自豪感是深遠的。Kaoru說， “這個城市在當我們對美國的一切都很陌生時接受了我們。” 這家商店現在吸引了來自本地社區、聖地亞哥、北加州甚至更遠的遊客。顧客還經常在到訪前後於蒙市享受著名的亞洲美食。

The Japan House是家族精神和日本文化持久魅力的證明。它提醒我們，禮品店不僅僅是一個購物場所，它還可以成為不同文化之間的橋樑和社區的基石。有關The Japan House的更多信息,請瀏覽www.the-japanhouse.com.

正在尋找推廣業務的方法? 在今後出版的Business Connect中刊登專題文章，讓您有機會分享更多關於您的商業故事、成就以及新產品和服務的信息。如果有興趣，請致電626-307-1385或電郵econdev@montereypark.ca.gov 聯絡蒙特利公園市經濟發展團隊