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Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | View as Webpage
CA BUDGET UPDATES, SAFE TRAVELS, DISNEY ON NEW CDC MASK GUIDANCE, AT&T EXPANDS BROADBAND AND MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
GOVERNOR RELEASES MAY REVISION – WHAT’S IN THE BUDGET?:  
Governor Newsom revealed his “May Revision” to the 2021-22 budget, a whopping $267.8 billion proposal incorporating the state’s $75.7 billion surplus. See below for a partial list of spending proposals: 
  • $12 billion for a “Golden State Stimulus” provided to 2/3 of state residents; Business relief including a new Main Street hiring credit and expansion of the California Competes Tax Credit; 
  • $1 billion to increase the pace and scale of electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling stations;
  • $12 billion for ending homelessness—but comparatively little for supporting the creation of new workforce housing units. Homelessness cannot be solved through funding alone, as the State Auditor determined. Instead, the State must make it easier to increase overall housing supply;
  • $20 billion for schools including continued investments in universal transitional kindergarten by 2024. 
  • $276.4 million to address the massive backlog of EDD claims and improve access to EDD services, as well as $11.8 million to modernize EDD information technology systems. Modernizing EDD to avoid future backlogs should be a high priority;
  • $7 billion over three years to expand broadband infrastructure, but more must be done to actually address affordability, which is crucial for closing the digital divide.

Despite the surplus, the Legislature is still considering numerous proposals to raise taxes tremendously on CA businesses and families. OCBC urges the State to utilize the surplus before looking at tax increases that drive businesses out of state. The surplus should be leveraged to help build more workforce housing, increase homeownership and address the $24 billion UI Fund debt

THIS WEEK! OCBC’S EVENT ON SAFE TRAVELS:* 
  • Join OCBC this Thursday, May 20 for the first event in the Economic Development Forum Series: Safe Travels. Hear from John Wayne Airport, Southwest Airlines, OC Fair, Boeing, and Anaheim/OC Hotel and Lodging Association on the steps taken so you can make safe travel plans this summer, how the pandemic has made the tourism and hospitality industries evolve, and much more! Register for free here. Thank you to our sponsors, Amazon, Cal State Fullerton, and John Wayne Airport.
 
DISNEY TO ENACT NEW CDC MASK GUIDANCE WHEN POSSIBLE:*  
  • A Disney spokesperson said the “guidance from the CDC allowing fully vaccinated individuals to remove masks and the removal of physical distancing requirements is extremely positive news and as soon as is practical we will implement updated guidelines across our businesses.” CA Public Health officials announced the State will keep mask mandates in place until the Governor's June 15 re-opening date, so theme parks, retailers and other businesses are yet again navigating a confusing web of federal regulations and state guidance.  Read more.

 SURVEY SHOWS MOST OC RESIDENTS SUPPORT MASKS AND VACCINES:*  
 
OC COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE CONTINUES TO DECLINE:* 
  • On May 13, OC's COVID-19 positivity rate for neighborhoods hardest hit by the pandemic was lower than the county's overall positivity, for the first time ever. Overall, the county's case rate has also fallen to 1.7 per 100,000 as of May 13. Read more. 
 
SO CAL TRANSFORMATION’S DIGITAL DIVIDE FORUM:* 
  • Join BizFed Institute (BFI) for a forum this Friday, May 21, on closing the digital divide. Hear expert panelists share what they have learned as they transition to tele-work, tele-health and tele-learning. Learn about progress updates and practical ideas to remove public policy and expense barriers that allow for accelerated broadband development. Register for the forum here. 
ADVOCACY UPDATE
OCBC SUPPORTS BILL EXPANDING BROADBAND ACCESS:*
  • Access to high-speed internet is essential for families and the workforce. To help address this, OCBC is in support of AB 537, a bill that requires local governments to approve or deny broadband permits within federally mandated timelines. Removing bureaucratic barriers helps bridge the digital divide. Read OCBC’s letter of support.

SESSION 3 OF OCCOG’S HOUSING 101 WEBINAR SERIES: 
  • Join OCCOG and OCBC on May 26 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. for The Roadmap to Success. Speakers representing cities, developers, and researchers will address how, in the face of a CA housing crisis, state-mandated housing element goals can be implemented in a way that is acceptable to local communities and neighborhoods. Register here.  

BUSINESS RESOURCES
CAL/OSHA GUIDANCES ON FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES:*  
  • On May 5, Cal/OSHA announced that fully vaccinated employees exposed to a confirmed positive COVID-19 case no longer need to be excluded from the workplace if they are asymptomatic. Read more.

BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE: FEDERAL AID SHOULD PAY DOWN UI FUND DEBT:
  • California Business Roundtable is calling on the Governor and Legislature to focus on the state’s $20 billion Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fund debt with money from the U.S. Treasury. The UI debt is growing approximately $1.2 billion per month, which could result in higher employment taxes if unaddressed. "Businesses did not cause this recession and should not bear the burden of paying off this debt" says CBRT President Rob Lapsley. Read more.

OC VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT-RELATED ASSISTANCE:
  • County of Orange was awarded a $500,000 grant for programs that provide OC veterans with career opportunities, training, supportive services and job placement. Employers that sign up and hire a veteran can get reimbursed up to 50% towards new hire costs. For more information, click here.  

RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND:
  • The U.S. Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides restaurants with funds equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss. Recipients are not required to repay anything as long as funds are used no later than March 11, 2023. The U.S. Small Business Administration will administer funds to small restaurants that the pandemic has hit the hardest. For more information or details on eligibility requirements, click here. To register for an upcoming webinar by OC/IE SBDC, click here.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
OC YOUTH EARN AND LEARN PROGRAM: 
  • OC Youth Earn and Learn Program, offered through the Ready S.E.T. OC WIOA Youth Program, will start on June 14. This program is for students to learn entrepreneurship and build skills for success while earning wages. Information sessions will be held on June 8 and 11 at 4 p.m. Click here to sign up or review eligibility criteria. 

ANAHEIM/OC JOB FAIR:* 
  • Join Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and City of Anaheim on June 8 for a free virtual job fair. Every industry is welcome; employers and job seekers are encouraged to virtually meet and explore career opportunities during this difficult economic time. Register here. 

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO AVOID POWER SHUTOFFS:*    
  • SCE is fast-tracking infrastructure upgrades in certain high-fire risk areas to reduce Public Safety Power Shutoffs. SCE’s grid hardening involves updates like insulating power lines, adding more precise circuit controls and installing new weather monitoring stations. Making these critical power grid upgrades sooner will reduce the number of customers who have their power temporarily turned off due to fire-prevention precautions. Click here to view a list of OC areas scheduled for improvements.   

CLAY LACY AVIATION SCHOLARSHIPS:* 

HOAG FLY WELL CLINIC OPENS AT JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT:* 
  • Hoag Fly Well Clinic is an innovative facility at John Wayne Airport that offers urgent care services and COVID-19 vaccines. Onsite urgent care, telehealth consultations, vital screenings and more will be open to all airport visitors.  

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION:
OCBC DISCUSSES DEI INITIATIVES AT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:* 
  • Last week, OCBC hosted nearly 50 members to discuss Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Participants shared current practices and their vision for a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Insights shared include the need to think beyond compositional diversity and utilizing “blind resumes”. Organizations should also ask themselves four key questions: who is your community, are they thriving, how do we know, and how can we improve? For more information on the meeting and future meetings, contact Jesse Ben-Ron 

AT&T EXPANDS BROADBAND TO CLOSE DIGITAL DIVIDE FURTHER:* 

COX PERMANENTLY INCREASES SPEED FOR LOW-COST INTERNET AND DISCOUNT OFFERS: 
  • On May 12, Cox Communications announced that Connect2Compete, a low-cost internet package designed to create digital equity for students and families is permanent. Families can qualify for Connect2Compete by visiting here. Discounts will also be available through the Emergency Broadband Benefit program administered by the FCC.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
BOEING ANNOUNCES $1.1M IN AAPI SUPPORT:*  

CLAY LACY TO ACHIEVE CARBON NEUTRALITY THIS YEAR:* 

MESA WATER TO ENHANCE LOCAL GROUNDWATER PRODUCTION CAPACITY THROUGH GRANT:* 
  • Mesa Water District will receive a $1.6M grant to help improve water supply reliability in the region. The funds come from the CA Department of Water Resources $55M multi-year grant and will go towards the construction of Croddy Well 14, one of the two new wells that will increase local groundwater production capacity.  
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
OCBC EVENTS
Economic Development Forum Series: Part 1 - Safe Travels 
May 20 | 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.
Join OCBC’s Economic Development Forum Series: Part 1 to hear from industry experts on the return of tourism, travel, leisure and transportation industries in OC. This event is sponsor supported and complimentary. Thank you sponsors: Amazon, Cal State Fullerton, and John Wayne Airport.
Register here. For more information contact Lauren Martin, OCBC Events Manager. 

Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast Series featuring Lewis Cornell
May 26 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Grab your coffee and bagel and join OCBC virtually for the first Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast of 2021 featuring Lewis (Lou) Cornell, President and Chief Executive Officer, WSP USA, one of the largest engineering and professional services firms in the U.S.
Register here. For more information contact Lauren Martin, OCBC Events Manager.

Economic Development Forum Series: Part 2 – What the Biden Administration Means for the Economy
June 8 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Join OCBC’s Economic Development Forum Series: Part 2 to hear from a panel of industry experts on how the Biden Administration will affect taxes, regulation, global trade and investment, recent and upcoming legislation, bipartisanship, and more. This event is sponsor supported and complimentary. Thank you sponsors: Amazon, Cal State Fullerton, and John Wayne Airport.
Register here. For more information contact Lauren Martin, OCBC Events Manager.  
 
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
June 4 | 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
For more information, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager.

June 8 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
For more information, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager.
NOT AN OCBC MEMBER? JOIN TODAY!
Join OCBC and connect with the most influential companies and top executives actively engaged in creating a pro-business environment and prosperous economy. Hundreds of Orange County's leading businesses, cities and non-profit organizations represent an elite group from every industry cluster. But we need YOUR VOICE! For more info, contact Natalie Rubalcava, OCBC Chief Operating Officer.