Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce congratulates our Mayor Katrina Foley who has won the special election for Orange County’s Second Supervisorial District. Foley defeated a field of four candidates to become the first Democratic woman to ever be elected to the board and the first Democrat to represent District #2 in 127 years!
Message from Supervisor-Elect Katrina Foley:
I am forever grateful for all of you who answered my calls and pitched in time, talent and treasure to power our campaign. Together, we broke fundraising records with thousands of small-dollar donations and engaged voters in what will be the highest special election turnout for an OC Supervisor's Special Election.
While we celebrate our win and the history we made electing the first woman Democrat to the Board of Supervisors, it is now time for me to turn 100% of my energy to the critical job ahead. The challenges we face are serious, but they're no match for the strength and resiliency of Orange County’s residents. I can't wait to get to work in my new role, speeding up an efficient and equitable rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, helping local businesses and workers recover, making county government more transparent, continuing my work on the homelessness crisis, and protecting the things that make Orange County such a special place to live.
Thank you for making this win for the people of Orange County possible. Now, let's get to work!
Sincerely,
Supervisor-Elect Katrina Foley
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The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce welcomed Juliann Harkness to our team last month! She joins our team as the new Membership Development and Event Planning Coordinator.
As a member of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce representing her previous company, she experienced firsthand all the benefits the Chamber of Commerce has to offer. She is excited to use her background in communications, event planning, and sales to promote our mission, support our membership, and cultivate relationships within the community.
We also want to congratulate Gabriela Garcia, the previous Communication Associate, on her new role with the Small Business Association (SBA). Her work while with the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce has been nothing short of outstanding! During such an unprecedented time she worked tirelessly to support the city's businesses and the local community. She will be missed as a regular member of our team but we are so pleased that her new role will continue her mission of supporting local businesses and keep her working closely with our organization!
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Randy's Donuts
Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Recap
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The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the iconic Randy’s Donuts took place on March 9, 2021. According to owner and longtime Orange County resident Mark Kelegian, this is their 6th location and 3rd location with a giant donut on the top of the building. It is also their first location in Orange County. Interesting to note, Randy’s Donut Shop is considered the most recognized donut shop in the world since 1962.
The ribbon cutting event was organized by the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and featured numerous dignitaries from Costa Mesa including Mayor Katrina Foley, Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Marr, Council members Jeffrey Harlan and Loren Gameros and City Manager, Lori Ann Farrell Harrison. There was also representation for State Assemblwoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, U.S. Congressman David Min, and Hugh Nguyen, County Clerk-Recorder, who also made a presentation. President and CEO Carla Valenzuela along with Membership Development and Event Planning Coordinator Juliann Harkness and several Board of Directors and Ambassador Committee members represented the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.
Randy’s Donut Shop is located at 2930 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa and open for business so go treat yourself to a tasty donut today!
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• Round 4 (non-profit cultural institutions only): Tuesday, March 16th through Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021
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Eligible applicants: Only non-profit cultural institutions with any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com
- Eligible grant award: $5,000 - $25,000
- Details: Eligible non-profit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1 and 2; grants will only be available to non-profits cultural institutions that did not receive funding in Rounds 1, 2 or 3; grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019
• Round 5: Thursday, March 25th through Wednesday, March 31st
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Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and non-profits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, or 3 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com
- Eligible grant award: $5,000 - $25,000
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Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, & 3 do not need to reapply as they will be automatically moved into Round 5. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com
• Round 6: Date to be announced soon
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Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and/or non-profits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com
- Eligible grant award: $5,000 - $25,000
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Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, 3 & 5 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 6. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com Visit www.CAReliefGrant.com for more eligibility, criteria, and updates.
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SBA Working Capital Loans Due to Civil Unrest in California March 17th Deadline Approaching!
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California small businesses deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by civil unrest in Alameda and Los Angeles counties that occurred May 26 – Dec. 28, 2020 is on March 17, 2021.
Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage.
These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in Alameda, Contra Costa, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Stanislausand Ventura counties in California.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
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The SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District Office seeks applicants for the 2021 SBA Emerging Leaders program |
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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 Americas 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, participants are given the opportunity to work ONLINE with experienced mentors, join specialized workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders, and the financial community.
The application deadline is March 17, 2021!
WHEN: Participant recruitment begins in February, and classes begin in April.
WHERE: All classes will be virtual.
COST: FREE. The only costs are your time and commitment to complete the curriculum. All other costs are assumed by the U.S. Small Business Administration and local partners.
Impact for Businesses
After completing the StreetWise MBA, businesses in past groups have experienced double-digit growth rates, created jobs faster than the private sector with higher average salary and better benefits. *
- 36% growth rate in revenue
- 4x the job creation rate compared to the private sector
- 60% of new employees hired locally at salaries 3% higher than the national average
- $2,400,000 in new contracts, per firm
*This varies depending on the industry and is based on historical data
What are the key program highlights?
- Customized training for C (CEO, COO, etc.) level executives with demonstrated business sustainability of at least 3 years in business.
- Graduate with a three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks & performance targets that will help accessing the necessary support and resources to move forward.
- Includes 100 + hours of professional specialized training and peer-to-peer counseling delivered over the course of seven months.
- Specialized areas of training include: Growth Strategies Plans, Financing and Access to Capital, Government Contracting, & CEO Mentoring
What types of businesses participate in the program?
There are no restrictions on the type of businesses that can participate. Some examples of participating businesses include manufacturers, retail stores, wholesalers, contractors, professional services, and food service.
The baseline criteria includes:
- $250,000 to $10 million in annual sales
- At least 3 years in business
- At least 1 employee in addition to the owner
- Participant must be a key decision-maker within the company such as the CEO, COO, CFO, Owner, or President
- Can commit to a total of 100 hours, including 40 hours of online classroom training, 7 CEO mentoring meetings, and coursework assignments
Apply now for the FREE 2021 Virtual SBA Emerging Leaders program!
The application deadline is March 17, 2021!
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Let the city know about your parking challenges
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The public is invited to a virtual Zoom meeting discussion about residential parking in Costa Mesa.
A citywide parking study is underway to identify viable solutions to impacted residential neighborhoods.
The results of residential parking data collected in Districts 4 and 5 will be presented during the virtual meetings and used as a baseline for the citywide study that is focused on improving the overall parking experience for residents and their guests, and addressing potential changes to the current residential permit parking program.
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The SBA’s Orange County / Inland Empire District office, in collaboration with SCORE, invites you to join us to learn more about the Economic Aid Act and the PPP Relaunch. In this webinar, we will cover the application process, required forms and guidance, and conduct a Q&A session for attendees.
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Your continued support of the Chamber is greatly appreciated! |
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State expects Orange County to move to Red Tier |
On Tuesday, March 9 the State of California announced the County has achieved one week of improved metrics according to the California Department of Public Health’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy
The state's blueprint takes a County’s seven-day adjusted case rate, the seven-day testing positivity rate and the health equity metric into consideration.
If local metrics hold steady or improve for another week, many local industries and activities will either be allowed to expand capacity or resume operations. The county is expected to move from the Purple to the Red Tier by Wednesday, March 17 or even sooner depending on the numbers of vaccines administered.
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Are you eligible? Find out if it’s your turn by answering a few questions. It only takes a few minutes. If you’re eligible and vaccine appointments are available through My Turn, you can schedule one. If it’s not your turn yet or appointments are not available, you can register to be notified when you’re eligible or when appointments open up. For More Information
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Register on Othena.com and get added to the virtual queue. You’ll be notified when it’s your turn to be vaccinated. Download the Othena app now.
Click Here for More Information
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Testing is currently available by 360 Clinic in partnership with the County of Orange for Orange County residents that meet OC Public Health criteria.
Walk-Up COVID-19 Testing on Weekends at the Costa Mesa Senior Center - FREE!
The City of Costa Mesa is offering free walk-up COVID-19 testing at the Costa Mesa Senior Center. Testing is available by appointment only. The testing kiosk will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, through the end of March. Please visit https://www.360clinic.md/ to make an appointment!
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Order and take a COVID-19 test from the comfort of your home! At-home COVID-19 test kits are available free of charge to Orange County residents, and both saliva-based and nasal swab options are available through the OC Public Health website.
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Costa Mesa’s Business Assistance Collaborative (BAC) |
"Costa Mesa’s BAC is seeking to provide support for businesses through sharing data and resources, mobilizing our local patronage through a Shop Costa Mesa campaign, seeking input from the business community through a proactive call center, and providing a watering hole for all businesses and patrons".
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The California State Library aids businesses with a portal to find all available state grant and loan opportunities. California Grants Portal houses first come, first serve grants for businesses, individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and tribal governments in all sectors of the economy.
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Open Enrollment for Covered California |
If you need health coverage for 2021, Covered California enrollment is open!
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Seminars are offered throughout the year at no or minimal cost across Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Seminar topics include: funding, target marketing, lease negotiation, market research, business planning, financial management, trade and more.
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SDCCU and the San Diego County Library System Present Financial Wellness Wednesdays |
SDCCU representatives will present on a variety of topics aimed at improving the financial health of the community.
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Creating a Culture of Enthusiasm in a Remote Team
Free Online Webinar
March 23, 2021 - 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
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Today, with teams being forced to adjust to working remotely, many organizations are dealing with eroding employee morale and energy levels. This interactive 90-minute webinar will be focused on driving five interrelated areas for your remote team: self-confidence, people skills, communication, leadership, and worry and stress. In today’s remote work environment where risk, challenge, competition, and change go hand-in-hand, we call these fundamentals the Five Drivers of Success.
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