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Thursday, December 16, 2021 | View as Webpage
MASK UP IN PUBLIC, IRVINE COMMENDS LUCY DUNN, REGIONAL COLLABORATION WITH INLAND EMPIRE, SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS AND MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
DUNN & DONE - MASK UP IN PUBLIC:
“I know. I know. It’s annoying and we just want to get back to normal, but here’s my thinking,”
says Lucy Dunn, OCBC CEO:
CITY OF IRVINE RECOGNIZES LUCY DUNN:
  • Mayor Farrah Khan and the Irvine City Council presented OCBC's President and CEO, Lucy Dunn, with a heartfelt commendation during its Dec. 14 meeting. The Council recognized Lucy's tireless efforts to improve Irvine's business climate and make OC a better place to live, work and play. The work OCBC does depends greatly on its successful collaborative relationships with local government. Thank you, City of Irvine, for being a strong partner to business! 
OCBC DISCUSSES REGIONAL COLLABORATION WITH INLAND EMPIRE:
  • OCBC’s Lucy Dunn, Dr. Walrod, and Jennifer Ward met with the Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP) Regional Leadership Academy to discuss OC’s role in the broader SoCal economy. There are many interconnections between OC and IE from globally significant goods movement corridors to our shared workforce development and housing goals. Watch the video of OCBC’s presentation. *The video passcode is .M&C44A1
REGISTER FOR 2022 OCBC ANNUAL DINNER:
  • Registration is now open for the 2022 OCBC Annual Dinner on Feb. 10, presented by The Orange County Register! Join us at Disneyland Resort to welcome OCBC's new President and CEO, Jeff Ball, recognize the leadership of 2021 Board Chair, Jena Jensen, install 2022 Board Chair, Dave Bartlett, and wish Lucy Dunn well in her retirement! You won’t want to miss it! Register today!
OCBC COMMITTEE MEETING RECAP:
OCBC'S WORKFORCE HOUSING COMMITTEE DISCUSSES INNOVATIVE FINANCING MECHANISMS:
  • On Dec. 15, OCBC’s Workforce Housing Committee featured a panel of engaging speakers informing housing and business leaders of bond financing programs that convert market rate housing into workforce housing affordable to the “missing middle.” John Stoecker, Financial Advisor for the CA Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA), explained how CMFA’s program works, while Kathleen Brown, Partner with Manatt and former State Treasurer, elaborated on how firms like Manatt can sponsor these investments. Trevor O’Neil, Anaheim Councilmember described Anaheim’s success utilizing these programs. Stay tuned for more information on this creative workforce housing tool!
MULTIMODAL IMPACTS OF CA SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS:
  • OCBC’s Infrastructure Committee met on Dec. 14 with three leaders representing different mobility sectors to discuss how CA’s supply chain crisis is impacting business operations. Martha Miller, CA Port Authorities Association, highlighted how years of underinvestment in CA ports has exacerbated today’s challenges and how the State needs a dedicated supply chain investment stream and official within the administration. CA Transportation Commissioner Fran Inman explained the supply chain as a “system of systems,” with a need for improvements at all levels from workforce training, regulatory relief, to addressing the latest cargo theft rampancy. Kyle Kotchou, John Wayne Airport, provided his on-the-ground perspective of how port congestion is impacting construction and technology upgrades and creative ideas for how JWA is working with its contractors to get the job done while adapting for changing conditions.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
SOCALGAS AND BLOOM ENERGY SHOWCASE FUTURE FORWARD TECHNOLOGY:
  • OCBC members, SoCalGas and Bloom Energy recently announced a joint project to showcase the future of the hydrogen economy and the technologies needed to help CA reach carbon neutrality. The companies will collaborate to generate and then blend hydrogen into a university customer's existing natural gas network to demonstrate how the natural gas infrastructure can be decarbonized, while balancing future energy supply and demand. The project is set to launch next year! Learn more.
BOFA’S GIFT TO CSUF SUPPORTS WOMEN IN STEM:
  • Bank of America recently gifted $325,000 designated for CSUF’s Women in Computer Science and Engineering (WiSCE) program within the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The WiCSE program aims to support female freshmen and new transfer students pursuing engineering and computer science degrees by providing opportunities such as industry professionals events, site visits to local companies and academic support. Keep up the great work! Learn more.
JAMBOREE’S MOTEL CONVERSIONS AND SIERRA FOUNTAINS GRAND OPENING:
  • Jamboree Housing has been actively working to convert more motels into homeless housing. Learn more about how the Roomkey grants could lead to three more motel conversions. Additionally, Jamboree Housing’s, Sierra Fountains, a new $23M development in Fontana opened on Dec. 14. Sierra Fountains is expected to help 60 working families attain housing.
BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
LATEST “FLASH MOB” RETAIL THEFT UPDATES:
  • Overview Law enforcement agencies in major cities across the country have reported “flash mob” thefts targeting businesses. Groups of criminal actors engage in coordinated planning on social media sites, arrive at the target location on foot or in vehicle caravans when the store is open or closed, and are often armed with burglary tools to break into the location and into product displays. Heightened awareness is encouraged. Learn more. It should also be noted that to date, OC has not experienced any of these “Flash Mob” thefts.

CA BUSINESS COMEBACK GUIDE:
  • The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development just posted the California Business Comeback Guide an index of all current and forecasted state incentive programs for businesses both for recovery and for success. This guide is intended to help businesses and for-profit entities identify relevant new and existing state funding resources for recovery and success.
OCBC'S UPCOMING EVENTS
EVENTS
2022 OCBC Annual Dinner and Installation of Board of Directors
February 10, 2022 | 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Register here!
A special thank you title sponsor, The Orange County Register. Thank you VIP reception sponsor, UCI; gold sponsors, Disneyland Resort and Experian; silver sponsors, AAA, The Boeing Company, BIA-SC, City of Hope Orange County and HNTB; and bronze sponsors, Anaheim Public Utilities, California State University, Fullerton, Concordia University Irvine, Girl Scouts of Orange County, MemorialCare, SDG&E, SoCalGas, South Orange County Community College District and Transportation Corridor Agencies.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS*
January 12 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The meeting will be held in a hybrid format.
OCBC will be hosting the Orange County Workforce Development Board to discuss the no cost services they can provide to the business community, including recruitment services, workplace compliance and workforce training funds. The Workforce Board has the authority to reimburse up to 75% of an employee’s wages while they are receiving On-the-Job Training. These services are available to for-profit businesses, private non-profit organizations, and public sector employers.
OCBC members, to attend in person, please notify, Jesse Ben-Ron, OCBC VP Workforce and Economic Development OR register here to attend via Zoom.

February 4 | 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
The meeting will be held in a hybrid format.
OCBC will host State Senator Pat Bates for a discussion with members. OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to attend in person or register for via Zoom.
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.