News
Legislators Urge End to Business Tax Increase
Restoration of NOL Deductions and Business Inventive Tax Credits Good for California Economy and Jobs By CalChamber - March 1, 2021 A bi-partisan group of 25 California Legislators led by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) is urging Assembly Budget leadership to immediately end a tax increase enacted on California employers last year and restore the net operating loss (NOL) deduction and business incentive tax credits as part of this year’s budget. In a February 26, 2021 letter to Assembly
Just-Signed Bills Offer Relief from Pandemic Hardship
More Funds for Small Business Grant ProgramBy Preston Young - February 26, 2021 Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation this week to provide relief to Californians experiencing pandemic hardship. Included in the package were bills to allocate another $2.1 billion to the small business grant program and waive license renewal fees for businesses in industries hit hard by the COVID-19 shutdowns. The bills went into effect immediately upon being signed on February 23. The California Chamber of
California Releases Employer COVID-19 Compliance Portal
By James W. Ward - February 26, 2021 As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches the one-year mark, federal, state and local governments have spent the last year continually developing new laws, regulations, ordinances, orders, and countless “guidance” documents and updates. It’s difficult, if not overwhelming at times, for employers to track the sheer number of resources. To assist employers, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)
Employee Quitting Due to COVID May Still Collect Unemployment
By Ellen Savage - February 26, 2021 I have several employees who have quit for COVID-19 related reasons, including lack of child care and fear of being in the workplace. Why are they able to collect unemployment insurance when they were the ones who chose to quit? An employee who quits with good cause is eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) in California. According to the California Code of Regulations, good cause exists when the “motivating factor… is real, substantial, and compelling and would
Participate in the Fullerton Housing Game Plan Survey
You can also continue to stay in touch with all of the City’s development initiatives by visiting the Fullerton Town Square, the intersection of people and place, at cityoffullerton.com/fullertontownsquare. The Housing Game Plan is a comprehensive multi-faceted plan to address Fullerton's housing needs. Get involved by sharing your housing priorities, take the survey today (English/Spanish). To learn more, visit cityoffullerton.com/housinggameplan.
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How to Participate in City of Fullerton Virtual Public Meetings with Zoom
Join your local elected or appointed policymakers in virtual public meetings! To make meetings more accessible to the public, the City of Fullerton has several tools available so that residents may view public meetings and provide public comment on agenda items from the comfort of home. Members of the public may provide public comments live during the virtual Zoom meeting OR in advance. Instructions for providing public comment using these various methods are on how website at
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OC San's State College Sewer Construction Project
In 2017 the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) installed three miles of new regional sewer pipe on State College Blvd. from Yorba Linda Blvd. to just north of the 91 freeway in the City of Fullerton. Recently, four miles of regional sewer pipeline was installed in Anaheim which now allows for the two pipes to be connected creating one newly updated, and reliable sewer system. OC San is now making the final sewer connection on State College Blvd. between Via Burton and Orangethorpe Ave. with
State-of-the-Art Fiber Optic Network
SiFi Networks is currently working on a state-of-the-art fiber-optic network for the City of Fullerton. This network will pass through every home and business within the City and while privately funded, built, and operated by SiFi Networks, it will be an open-access network enabling a choice of internet service providers that could save customer's money. Once this project is completed it will provide a significant upgrade to internet speeds and accommodate a growing demand for data from next-generation
OC Board of Supervisors Launches One-Stop Mobile Job Unit
Unit Will Increase Access to Workforce Services for Businesses and Dislocated Workers The Orange County (OC) Board of Supervisors, in partnership with the Orange County Workforce Development Board, is taking the OC One-Stop Center to the streets. The OC One-Stop Mobile Unit (Mobile Unit) will provide access to education and training services traditionally offered by the OC One-Stop Center for youth, adults, dislocated workers, and businesses while reducing transmission and preparing the workforce for
The SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District Office seeks applicants for the 2021 SBA Emerging Leaders Program
The Emerging Leaders Initiative a.k.a. Streetwise 'MBA', is a FREE intensive executive-level series intended to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses in America’s underserved cities. Developed by SBA and drawing on the experiences of advisors and business leaders in urban communities across the country, this comprehensive curriculum provides the tools to catapult your company to the next level and help it emerge as a force in your community. During the course of seven months,
More California Restaurants, Cinemas, Gyms Could Reopen This Was COVID-19 Cases Drop
By Rong-Gong Lin II, Hayley Smith Feb. 23, 2021 Updated 3:45 PM PT, SAN FRANCISCO — With coronavirus cases continuing to drop, more parts of California are being allowed to reopen in the coming days. Five counties will be eligible to open indoor operations at restaurant dining rooms, gyms, movie theaters, museums, zoos, and aquariums Wednesday amid a dramatic improvement in the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. Among the counties eligible to leave the most restrictive purple tier on
Assemblymember Quirk-Silva Supports Immediate Relief Budget Package
Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D – Fullerton) joined her colleagues to pass a $9.6 billion immediate relief and stimulus budget package for California families and businesses suffering significant hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early Action Budget Package • Golden State Stimulus - provides direct relief to Individuals and Families that have disproportionately been struggling with the economic burden of the COVID-19 recession. • Licensure Fee Waivers - provides
CITY OF FULLERTON AND ST. JUDE HOSPITAL PARTNER IN MOBILE VACCINATION CLINIC FOR VULNERABLE FULLERTON
On Friday, February 19th the City of Fullerton in partnership with St. Jude successfully vaccinated 400 seniors aged 65 and older with the Moderna vaccine at the Fullerton Community Center in a one-day mobile vax clinic. The one-day clinic was put forward in a collaborative effort to provide vaccine accessibility to some of the community’s most vulnerable and hard to reach seniors. The mobile vax clinic was offered to the City of Fullerton by St. Jude to mobilize hospital-allocated vaccine supplies
Bills Offer Business Economic Relief
In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and CalChamber Policy Advocate Preston Young discuss three CalChamber-supported bills moving through the legislature that will provide economic relief to small businesses: SB 87, AB 83 and AB 80. The deadline for new bills to be introduced passed last week and the CalChamber has identified a number of bills that are beneficial to small business, helping them stay afloat during this COVID-19
California Labor Law Predictions
By CalChamber - February 19, 2021 In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, CalChamber Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman, and Legislative Advocate Chris Micheli of Aprea & Micheli discuss what employment law changes employers can expect to occur this year at the state level.Paid Sick Leave Bill proposals this legislative session are off to a slow start, but legislators have until February 19 to introduce new bills, Hoffman tells podcast
NOCC Joins Coalition Support for SB 74, Keep California Working Act
By Preston Young,- February 18, 2021 A coalition of more than 40 business organizations led by the California Chamber of Commerce and including North Orange County Chamber have announced their support for SB 74 (Borgeas; R-Fresno), which establishes a $2.6 billion grant program that offers small businesses a lifeline while they struggle to survive pandemic-induced shutdowns and regulations. The CalChamber and the coalition members are supporting the measure due to the catastrophic impact that COVID-19
Lucky AFCU Saver Wins $50,000 Grand Prize
American First Credit Union (AFCU) awarded Dale M. from Riverside, CA, its second annual grand prize of $50,000 from their savings program called Big Prize Savings.The importance of saving has been amplified since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Luckily, AFCU created their Big Prize Savings program in 2019 to promote and encourage good saving habits by incentivizing account holders a chance to win substantial cash prizes just for saving their money. Big Prize Savings awards prizes of $1,000 each
Covid-19 Grant Relief Programs
Some local Orange County and Inland Empire cities are offering loan and grant programs to help their small businesses experiencing financial losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in partnership with the OCIE SBDC, powered by SBA. Check out which cities are participating, if your business qualifies and the latest information on each program. Seal Beach - Applications February 10, 8AM to February 19 5PM Anaheim - Applications February 10, 9AM until funds exhaustedAnaheim Restaurant Grant - Until
Federal Labor Law Changes to Expect
By CalChamber - February 12, 2021 In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, CalChamber Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman, and Legislative Advocate Chris Micheli of Aprea & Micheli discuss what federal employment law changes employers can expect to occur this year.New President, New Agenda This year kicked off the start of President Joseph Biden’s administration, and as can be expected whenever a new president is sworn in, there has
OC Board of Supervisors Launches OC One-Stop Unit To Increase Acccess To Workforce Services for Businesses and Dislocated Workers
The Orange County (OC) Board of Supervisors, in partnership with the Orange County Workforce Development Board, is taking the OC One-Stop Center to the streets. The OC One-Stop Mobile Unit (Mobile Unit) will provide access to education and training services traditionally offered by the OC One-Stop Center for youth, adults, dislocated workers, and businesses while reducing transmission and preparing the workforce for post-COVID-19 return. “The Garden Grove One-Stop Center offers comprehensive workforce
New Role for HR: Mandatory Reporter
In Episode 105of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law experts Matthew Roberts and Bianca Saad remind employers about meeting California’s harassment prevention training mandate and discuss AB 1963, a new mandatory reporting requirement that applies to employers who employ minors and have five or more employees.Harassment Prevention Training Before delving into the new requirements set forth by AB 1963, Frank reminds podcast
If 65+ Employee Falters, Focus on Job Performance, Not Age
HRWatchdog February 10, 2021 We have an employee who is over the age of 65 and has worked for us for several years, but recently his cognitive skills appear to be diminishing. Can we ask him to take a test for his mental health? With an aging population and workers who continue to work well past retirement age, the issue of mental competence is becoming a daunting issue for employers to deal with. Signs include missing meetings, forgetting how to do certain tasks and generalized forgetfulness. It
CalChamber Releases 2021 Business Issues and Legislative Guide
The CalChamber prepares this guide annually to provide comprehensive overviews of our priorities and the data to support our positions. To make progress on the Agenda for California Recovery, the state should: stop taking California’s success for granted, reduce the day-to-day cost of living for working Californians, update laws to provide flexibility for employers and employees to meet the needs of the modern workforce.Download Guide as a PDF or ePub . Get e-reader: Nook (Windows); iBooks
Directors Representing Fullerton Join Metropolitan Board
Fullerton City Councilmember Fred Jung replaces Adan Ortega, who served on the 38-member board for the last year. Santa Ana City Councilmember Thai Viet Phan succeeds Jose Solorio, who was the city’s representative since February 2019. Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District board member Dr. Anthony Fellow will replace three-year director Charles Treviño.“It is my pleasure to welcome my new colleagues to the Metropolitan board,” said board Chairwoman Gloria D. Gray. “They bring a breadth of
SBA and lenders take more steps to improve Paycheck Protection Program
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration and lenders are taking more strides to improve the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) so that small businesses can access much needed PPP funds to persevere through the pandemic, recover, and build back better. The Administration is working with the Agency to increase equitable access to underserved small businesses, to assure the integrity of the program, and to promote rapid and efficient distribution of funds. This week, the SBA hit a major
Knott’s Berry Farm Announces Dates for their Popular Taste of Boysenberry Festival
Guests can catch a taste of the popular springtime Boysenberry Festival, with the all-new Knott’s Taste of Boysenberry Festival. The retail and food event will offer boysenberry-inspired savory bites, sweet treats, and refreshing drinks that can’t be found anywhere else. While the theme park remains closed, the food and merchandise-focused outdoor event offers over 65 boysenberry-infused food and drink items which are included on the event tasting card. Guests can also shop from a wide variety of
Chamber Member Practice Alliance, Inc. Offers On-Site COVID Testing
Chamber member Practice Alliance, Inc. conveniently brings Rapid COVID-19 testing to your office or facility. Not only will they help to create a private and safe operating plan in the workplace, but it remains complaint with AB 685, which has enhanced Cal/OSHA’s enforcement of COVID-19 infection prevention requirements. “We Come to You”, has been their slogan, their blueprint, and their value proposition to many OC/LA businesses over the last year, offering RAPID Nasal testing and RAPID anti-body testing
Reps. Kim, Spanberger Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Small Businesses, Essential Workers Afford PPE, COVID-19 Testing During Reopening
The Getting Americans Safely Back to Work Act Would Establish a Federal Grant Program for Essential Employers to Purchase Safety Equipment, Help Businesses Restore Consumer Confidence WASHINGTON, D.C. — As businesses and local governments across the country move towards full reopening, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-39) and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) today introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a new grant program that would help small businesses and essential employers acquire personal
State Updates Vaccine Allocation Guidelines
By Preston Young -February 9, 2021 Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continue to work toward allocating COVID-19 vaccines to a broader segment of the state’s population, with the agency recently clarifying what education and child care providers are eligible for the vaccine. The state’s weekly dose allocation from the federal government has also increased slightly with California slated to receive over 3 million vaccine doses by the third week of
Webinar Highlights Common Labor Violations to Avoid
Representatives from the California Labor Commissioner’s Office joined the California Chamber of Commerce in a free live webinar recently to educate employers on common wage-and-hour violations and how to avoid them. The webinar is part of the Employer Outreach Series of live webinars with the Labor Commissioner’s Office that break down some of the state’s most important labor laws and include Q&A sessions with attendees. The January 22 webinar, “Typical Violations to Avoid with Non-Exempt Employees,”
Reps. Kim, Spanberger Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Small Businesses, Essential Workers A
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As businesses and local governments across the country move towards full reopening, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-39) and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) today introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a new grant program that would help small businesses and essential employers acquire personal protective equipment (PPE) and implement other workplace safety measures. Investments in PPE, testing supplies, and workplace COVID-19 safety training can be costly for small businesses,
Long Story Short: OEHHA Proposes Changing Prop 65 Safe Harbor Warning Requirements
That is the likely conclusion if one were to believe every Proposition 65 warning they encounter. So ubiquitous are Prop 65 warnings that they seamlessly blend into the California landscape. From mall entrances to just about every conceivable consumer good, Californians are bombarded with Prop 65 warnings to the point that it is hard to know what is not known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm. Clearly, we have an overwarning problem and the agency responsible for
Fullerton Joint Union High School District Set to Open on February 16th for Hybrid Instruction
The Fullerton Joint Union High School District (FJUHSD) board of trustees voted unanimously on February 2nd to open its high schools for hybrid learning, which include those in Fullerton La Habra, and Buena Park. This decision comes after countless moving testimonies from parents concerned over the mental health of their children and the quality of their education, and in spite of strong opposition from the Teachers’ Union.The Parents’ Voice USA has been a stout proponent of the resumption of in-person
Fourth District Small Business Grant Relief Program
Beginning February 16th at 9:00 AM, eligible small businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19 may apply for the Fourth District Small Business Grant Relief Program at https://charitableventuresoc.org/reliefd4. The Fourth District program includes the cities of Brea, Fullerton, La Habra, portions of Buena Park, and the unincorporated areas. The program excludes the cities of Anaheim and Placentia as those cities are running their own programs. For more information on the City of Anaheim's program, go
CalChamber Emphasizes Need to Listen to Regions in Redrawing Political Districts
ByMartin R. Wilson - February 5, 2021 Comments by representatives of regional groups, including local chambers of commerce, are critical to the process of redrawing political boundaries, the California Chamber of Commerce told the Citizens Redistricting Commission last week. “Where people work and for what types of businesses is a critically important consideration when you get about drawing the lines,” Martin R. Wilson, CalChamber executive vice president, public affairs said at the 14-member
Fullerton Launches New Public Records Center
Technology improves communication and enhances transparency between government agencies and the public. This week, the City of Fullerton took a step to provide the community with easier access to public information by launching an online portal for public records requests. Fullerton residents or anyone with questions related to the City of Fullerton can easily access the online portal from the city’s website www.cityoffullerton.com/PublicRecords to submit a new request or search similar requests that
Citizens Business Bank Again Ranks ‘Best’ In America
By Kevin Smith | kvsmith@scng.com | San Gabriel Valley Tribune The Forbes ranking includes the nation's 100 largest publicly traded banks and thrifts. CVB Financial Corp., the Ontario-based holding company for Citizens Business Bank, has been ranked the “Best Bank in America” for the second year in a row by Forbes magazine. It marks the fifth time the bank made Forbes’ list over the past six years, and the third time it topped the rankings. In establishing its “America’s Best Banks” listing, Forbes
Rep. Young Kim Named Lead Republican on Small Business Subcommittee
U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) will serve as Ranking Member on the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development. Rep. Kim will also serve on the House Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access. Through these subcommittees, Rep. Kim will have a hands-on role in creating policies that help our small businesses facing unprecedented hardships during the COVID-19 and create an economy and workforce for the future. “As a Korean
Language Access for All: OC Hires Veteran Journalist Martin Plascencia to Lead Spanish-Language Outrach
As part of its new language access policy, Orange County has hired Martin Plascencia to lead its Spanish-language communications and outreach efforts. “The pandemic has only deepened language access issues,” said Chairman Andrew Do, who authored the County’s Language Access Policy last April. “Now more than ever, we must reach every community and neighborhood in Orange County.” Nearly half of Orange County adults (46 percent) speak a language other than English at home, according to the 2019-2020 Orange
