News

SBA’s Emerging Leaders Initiative to Help Growing Entrepreneurs Opens for 2021 Recruitment

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the launch of the 2021 Emerging Leaders initiative for executives of small businesses poised for growth in underserved markets. Local area recruitment for the 2021 training cycle is currently underway at designated SBA District Offices. Interested small business owners can learn more regarding eligibility, how to apply, class schedules and locations at www.sba.gov/emergingleaders, or by contacting their local SBA District Office. “I am proud of Emerging

Cal/OSHA Revises Guidance on COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards

By Matthew Roberts-January 15, 2021 Last year, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) approved emergency COVID-19 temporary standards, which became effective and enforceable on November 30, 2020. Under the standards, employers needed to take certain actions to safeguard the workplace from COVID-19, like creating and implementing a written COVID-19 prevention plan, planning to address and combat outbreaks, and following rules regarding employer-provided housing and

Cap-and-Trade Continues to Achieve Early Carbon Emissions Reductions While Generating Revenues for Climate and Air Quality Programs

As expected, auction results from California’s market-based cap-and-trade program have stabilized, allowing the state to propose an expenditure plan consistent with past years’ levels. Governor Newsom anticipates approximately $1.369 Billion through budget year 2021-22. The cap-and-trade expenditure plan proposes three categories of spending: 1) equity programs; 2) low carbon transportation and zero emission vehicle strategy; and 3) natural and working lands. A breakdown of this proposal is included in the

CalChamber Supports Launch of Irish Guide for Investing in California

By Susanne T. Stirling The California Chamber of Commerce joined a trade and investment roundtable with the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland this week to celebrate the launch of Invest in California: A Guide for Irish Companies. AmCham Ireland launched its guide on January 13 in association with the Consulate General of Ireland in San Francisco, Enterprise Ireland, and the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Roundtable host, AmCham Ireland’s 2021 President,

Who Qualifies for the Employee Retention Tax Credit

When the CARES Act was passed in March 2020, it included the ERTC as an option for financial relief for businesses. But companies could only take a PPP loan or the ERTC in the original bill. Congress has now changed this so companies can take advantage of both ERTC and PPP, and they even expanded the ERTC for 2021. In the first and second quarter of 2021, employers that meet the eligibility can receive a tax credit for up to $14,000 per employee. On top of the new ERTC credits that can be obtained in

SBA Re-Opening Paycheck Protection Program to Small Lenders on Friday, January 15 and All Lenders on

Lenders with $1 Billion or Less in Assets Will be Able to Submit First and Second Draw PPP Applications on Friday – Continuing Dedicated Access for Community-Based Lenders   WASHINGTON– The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. EST. The portal will fully open on

The State of American Business is Resilient

In the annual State of American Business speech today, U.S. Chamber CEO Tom Donohue outlined the path for a widespread economic recovery through a bold agenda of infrastructure investments, workforce reskilling, immigration reforms, and reinvigorating America’s global competitiveness. He also warned that excessive regulations and anti-competitive taxes would undermine the recovery.  “In the face of significant challenges, including a global pandemic and an economic crisis, businesses have adapted to

California Department of Public Health Seeks to Accelerate Vaccine Distribution

ByPreston Young-January 12, 2021 The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued recommendations for accelerating the pace at which COVID-19 vaccines are distributed to Californians. Currently, the state’s population is divided into four prioritization groups which outlines when and who receives the vaccine. The CDPH’s most recent recommendations to local health departments and providers states that COVID-19 vaccines should be immediately administered to individuals in all tiers of Phase 1a. 

Identifying New Export Markets for 2021

Every year, the U.S. Commercial Service helps thousands of U.S. companies export goods and services worth billions of dollars. Achieving your global sales goals is easier when you have current, reliable, actionable market intelligence.  Learn the best way to approach your market intelligence search, using resources created by the export experts at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.  You’ll find out which markets worldwide show the most demand – right now – for your

Wedding Ceremonies, Small Ones, Resume at Historic Orange County Courthouse

By Jeff Gritchen | jgritchen@scng.com | Orange County RegisterPUBLISHED: January 11, 2021 at 5:03 p.m. | UPDATED: January 12, 2021 at 3:25 p.m. For 99 days the Honda Center was the only place the County of Orange was marrying couples. From March 9 to Dec. 31, more than 11,000 couples were married outside the Anaheim venue, and 22,897 licenses were issued. With the start of the hockey season, County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen said his office had to find a new location. The new location ended up being

City of Fullerton Launches Survey on Hunt Library

The City of Fullerton is working with Arts Orange County and Heritage Future to revitalize the Hunt Library in order to provide literacy, arts and culture programming that will bring residents and visitors together in a beautiful place for inspiration, creativity, learning and social gathering.  This survey is intended to help guide our program planning by collecting input from members of the community such as you. Your responses will help shape the plan.   The survey should take a total of 15 minutes to

Several OC Cities Ask to Lower Housing Goals

By Alicia Robinson | arobinson@scng.com | The Orange County RegisterPUBLISHED: January 9, 2021 at 4:59 p.m. | UPDATED: January 11, 2021 at 12:37 p.m. As local governments finalize housing goals for the next eight years, four Orange County cities are trying to not only reduce the state-mandated number of new homes they must plan for, they’re proposing Santa Ana shoulder more of the county’s burden by taking a bigger number. It’s part of the every-eight-years process of the state projecting how many new

2021-2022 Orange County Delegation Committee Assignments Released

The 2021-2022 California Legislative Session launched on December 7th and included the swearing-in of four new members of the Orange County Delegation – Assembly Member Janet Nguyen (AD 72), Assembly Member Laurie Davies (AD 73), Senator Josh Newman (SD 29) and Senator Dave Min (SD 37).   The Assembly and Senate have also released committee assignments.  The Orange County Delegation assignments are included below.  Of note, the Assembly Transportation Committee will see a new Chair in 2021 – Assembly

Governor’s Budget Proposes Economic Relief, No New Taxes

January 11, 2021Loren Kaye Nobody would have been surprised if Governor Newsom had presented his new state budget wearing a neck brace. The whiplash from budget boom to bust to recovery must have been intense. One year ago, while the country, and especially California, were flying high economically, the Governor presented a $222 billion budget with an $18 billion surplus.  Three months later, the pandemic-fueled recession caused unemployment in California to quadruple, and retail sales cratered. The

New Federal COVID Law Includes Option to Offer Paid Sick Leave

By David Leporiere -January 8, 2021   I remember reading that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020. Do I need to pay anything to my employees who get sick with COVID 19 after the first of the year? The Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and the Expanded Family Medical Leave (EFMLA) that were mandated in the FFCRA did expire on December 31, 2020.Employer Choice However, the new COVID-19 relief package that was recently passed by Congress and

COVID-19 Pandemic PTO Trends

Jessica Mulholland January 7, 2021 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into 2021, the importance of paid time off (PTO) for employees remains — despite some mixed feelings about actually using that PTO. The pandemic has changed how both employees and employers feel about benefits, according to benefits and absence management firm The Hartford, whose Future of Benefits Study polled U.S. workers and human resources benefit decision-makers in early March 2020 just before the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S.,

CalChamber Asks Cal/OSHA to Delay Enforcing Emergency COVID-19 Rules

ByRobert Moutrie -January 7, 2021 The California Chamber of Commerce is urging the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to delay enforcement of the emergency COVID-19 rules. The emergency regulations went into effect on November 30, 2020, less than two weeks after the Cal/OSHA  Standards Board voted to adopt them. They apply to all employers with employees working outside the home (except health care employers covered by the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases standard) and were

California Water Outlook Trending Dry; Supply Depends on Rainy Season Outcome

By Valerie Nera It’s trending toward a dry water year. Long-range weather forecasts aren’t pointing to heavy precipitation in the coming months. However, forecasting weather is iffy. It is possible that a series of atmospheric rivers form to bring a deluge like the Miracle March storms in 1991, but it’s just as possible that scant rains fall the next couple of months, perhaps starting another drought cycle. The rainy season is November through March with December, January and February as the wettest

Governor’s Recovery Plan to Add $575 Million to Small Business Grant Program

Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom released a preview of his budget plan to help California businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s Equitable Recovery for California Businesses and Jobs plan contains business and workforce recovery elements, including adding $575 million to the $500 million previously allocated for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant.   CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg welcomed the Governor’s announcement on help for small businesses.

Governor’s Recovery Plan is Clear: Stop Increasing Taxes!

As discussed in my earlier blog this week, in September, Governor Newsom publicly expressed his opposition to new state tax increases. Yesterday, he unveiled his Equitable Recovery for California Businesses and Jobs, that proposes tax relief to small businesses, further emphasizing his message that increasing taxes is not on the agenda. The Equitable Recovery for California Businesses and Jobs plan contains business and workforce recovery elements, including adding $575 million to the $500 million

2021 New Year, New Laws

JAMES W. WARD  Goodbye, 2020, and good riddance! As we enter 2021, the new year brings several new employment-related laws that employers should be prepared for, including:New COVID-19 reporting and safety requirements, including AB 685 and Cal/OSHA’s new COVID-19 emergency regulations;The substantial expansion of the California Family Rights Act to cover all private employers with five or more employees;More changes to California’s worker classification law, AB 5;California’s new pay data

NOCE Launches New Dual-Certificate Personal Care Aide (PCA) Program

New PCA Program Awards both Personal Care Aide and ESL for Workplace Preparation Certificates in Just 18 Weeks to Facilitate Quick Skill and Job Attainment North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) will launch a new dual-certificate Personal Care Aide (PCA) Program for the 2021 Spring Semester. Students enrolled will be awarded two certificates in just 18 weeks: Personal Care Aide Certificate and English as a Second Language (ESL) for Workplace Preparation, Advanced Certificate. Designed for English

Meet the Person Who Transformed Knott’s Berry Farm Into a Food Festival Venue

John Storbeck’s reinvention of the Buena Park theme park as a socially-distanced food festival venue kept thousands of employees working while serving hundreds of thousands of customers.   By Brady MacDonald | bmacdonald@scng.com |PUBLISHED: January 4, 2021 at 6:49 a.m. | UPDATED: January 4, 2021 at 9:39 a.m.   Jon Storbeck launched a series of successful outdoor food festivals that brought thousands of Knott’s Berry Farm employees back to work and safely entertained hundreds of thousands of people

Applications for $500 Million in Grant Funding for Small Businesses Now Available

The first round of applications for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is now open. On November 30, 2020, Governor Newsom and the State Legislature announced the allocation of $500 million available to small businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is administered by California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). “Small business owners and our nonprofits

Stater Bros. Markets Extends Hourly Employees $2/hr. Incentive

As a show of our appreciation for our Stater Bros. Family Members and their dedication to providing solutions for the shopping needs of Southern California families this holiday season, Stater Bros. Markets is pleased to announce a two-week extension of the $2/hr. incentive for every hour worked.  The incentive will run for an additional two (2) weeks, starting on the work period beginning Sunday, December 27, 2020.  This incentive will apply to all of the company’s hourly employees that work in the

State of California COVID-19 Small Business Grant Webinar

The State of California has announced a grant program to help small businesses located in California who have been affected by COVID-19. Join SBDC (Small Business Development Center) for a webinar to learn about the grant program, eligibility, what the funds can be used for, how to apply, and necessary documents. The first webinar will be held today, December 23, 2020 at 11 am. Please register here. SBDC is also offering the webinars in alternative languages. All webinars will be held at 11

Stay Home, Stay Safe, and Happy Holidays

City of La Palma Employees Help To Make The Season Bright

The City of La Palma helped to make the season brighter for those in need this year. La Palma employees raised and donated over $750 to the La Palma Kiwanis Club Holiday Food Basket Program, which helps distribute food to an average of 45 families in need. Additionally, employees sponsored local families to provide holiday gifts, clothing, and toys for twenty children. Combined, La Palma’s small workforce donated over $3,000 this holiday season.  La Palma City Manager Conal McNamara said, “In my short

2021 Corporate Board Diversification Deadlines

ESSICA MULHOLLAND  DECEMBER 17, 2020 This year, California continued its push to increase diversity on corporate boards of directors — a push that began in 2018, when then-Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed SB 826 into law. SB 826 required any publicly held corporation with principal executive offices in California to place at least one female director on its board by December 31, 2019. Further action on the part of corporations may be required this year, depending on their board’s size. More

Small Business Owners Still Feel Pain of Pandemic and Fear More to Come

The U.S. Chamber and MetLife released theQ4 Small Business Index—a survey of 1,000 small businesses to take the temperature of the sector, see where small business owners are confident, and where they are experiencing challenges. The Q4 index in particular focused on small business owners' outlook in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Among other insights, the Q4 Small Business Index finds that: Only 40% of all small business owners believe their business can continue to operate indefinitely

Fullerton School District Open Enrollment

Fullerton School District will hold its Open Enrollment for the 2021/2022 school year from January 11 to February 12, 2021. Open Enrollment provides an opportunity for parents to apply to have their children attend a school other than their school of residence. Interested parties may request an Intradistrict Transfer form at their school of residence. The Fullerton School District is located in northern Orange County, California and serves over 12,000 students in grades TK – 8th. The Fullerton School