In case you missed last week's e-blast: April 15 Eblast See more past email blasts here.

All organizations and communities are better because of the volunteers within their area. National Volunteer Week is celebrated from April 17th through April 23rd. We encourage each of you to thank those that give so much to so many organizations and our community. Statistics state that 63 million Americans volunteer which is 25% of the adult population. Volunteers give their time, talent and energy to make a difference and connect people to their community. Volunteers are valued at $27.20 per hour which makes their value to communities and organizations like “gold.” Locally we know that volunteers are priceless. The Chamber has at least 28+ volunteers at any four annual events. They graciously give of their time to be a part of our "Spring Fling" Business Expo, our "Taste of San Diego - East", our "Summer Bash" Business Expo, and our annual Salute to Local Heroes. In addition to helping with those annual events, they can be seen helping at our ribbon cuttings and business mixers. We believe that the strength of an organization is witnessed by the number of volunteers that work and help our organization and because of this special week, we salute them, thank them and honor them for all they do for the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce!

Whissel Realty Group is a family-owned company built on relationships with our clients, colleagues, and co-workers. We're committed to helping you build a secure future in the home of your dreams.

9400 Grossmont Summit Dr., Ste 206, La Mesa, CA 91941 | (619) 639-4012 | info@whisselrealty.com | www.whisselrealty.com | FB: @WhisselRealty | Instagram: @whisselrealty

Tint World is Americas largest and fastest growing automotive styling franchise. Since 1982, our clients have trusted us for all their Automotive styling needs. We specialize in Auto Window Tinting, Auto Protection Film, Vehicle Wraps and Graphics, Nano Ceramic Coating, Marine & Power Sports, Automotive Lighting, Car Audio & Video, Auto Security, Auto Detailing, and much more!

7360 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92115 | (619) 277-9745 | store094@tintworld.com | www.tintworld.com/locations/ca/san-diego-la-mesa-094 | FB: @TintWorldSanDiegoLaMesaCA | Twitter: @TintWorldLaMesa | Instagram: @tintwordlamesa

Join us at the open house on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 that begins at 5:30 p.m. with a ribbon cutting at 6:00 p.m. Tint World is located at 7360 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92115. We look forward to seeing you there.

Join us and welcome Haley Kremensky at Oakwood Escrow and her team to our Chamber. Meet this dynamic team and learn why they are successful and Haley is so involved in our community. Delicious bites will be served and chilled beverages will be available to please your palate. The fun begins at 5:00 p.m. when the open house begins, with “official” ribbon cutting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Don’t miss out this great opportunity to get together with other fun loving business owners and network - don’t forget to bring your business cards!

Time: 5 p.m., Ribbon Cutting: 6 p.m.

Location: 8697 La Mesa Blvd., Ste. D, La Mesa

RSVP online or to: rsvp@lamesachaber.com so Haley can prepare enough refreshments for you.

This family-friendly FREE community event celebrates the strength of our business community! “Shop & Dine La Mesa” was created to shine a spotlight on different businesses in shopping centers in various areas in La Mesa. The Chamber applied for and was granted ARPA funding to promote businesses in La Mesa from the County of San Diego. The first shopping center being highlighted under this pilot program is the Marketplace at Lake Murray Village Shopping Center, at the corner of Lake Murray Boulevard and Baltimore Drive between the hours of 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. This program encourages the public to visit this shopping center and meet the businesses that are located there, as well as businesses within the surrounding area. This fun-filled afternoon will have activities like face painting, balloon artists, bubble blowing and other entertaining games with perks. The La Mesa Chamber will offer prizes to guests that visit a percentage of participating businesses that day via a shopping card or a QR code for each of those businesses that will be designed by our digital Marketing Sponsor HUMBL, Inc. Come see our community safety partners - the La Mesa Police Department, our ambulance service, American Medical Response and our team from Heartland Fire & Rescue.

Dear Temporary Event Organizers and Vendors,

On May 4, 2021, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted a resolution to waive $1.1M in event industry fees during Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 to provide financial relief to the temporary event industry.

The fee waiver applied to all annual and single event health permit fees for both temporary event organizers (FTEO) and temporary event vendors (FTEV) and were distributed on a first come, first served basis.

As of April 19, 2022, the $1.1M in fee waivers was expended and DEHQ will resume collecting fees for temporary event permits. The fee waiver was very successful and provided relief to 2,400 vendors and 283 organizers.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact our Temporary Event Technicians at (858) 505-6809 or by email at FHDTempEvents@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Department of Environmental Health and Quality

Food and Housing Division

Register NOW for the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE.

Attend this free, virtual summit to access critical federal resources, learn new business strategies, meet other business owners and chat with industry experts! This 4-day, action-packed event will include honoring small businesses around the country, educational sessions, online business resources, and exciting speakers.

This is a time to honor and celebrate entrepreneurs and innovative startups. This year’s theme, ‘Building a Better America through Entrepreneurship,’ "celebrates the resiliency of entrepreneurs who are doing their part to power our nation’s historic economic comeback."

To learn more or to register, click here.

La Mesa Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (LEAP) Coming Soon

Great news! We are investing $800,000 to accelerate the launch of businesses in our community through the new La Mesa Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (LEAP). It is our goal to boost the local economy by creating jobs and enabling more goods and services to be offered to our residents. Entrepreneurs may start applying in June.

Last month, the City Council approved the spending plan. While many cities have made economic recovery possible for small businesses disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, the San Diego Union Tribune reports that the City of La Mesa may be the first, in at least Southern California, to direct federal funds toward new businesses. The East County Economic Development Council will oversee LEAP. To read the complete article, please click here.

In a continued collaborative effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, SDG&E® has partnered with the City of La Mesa to bring four (4) EV chargers to our very own MacArthur Park.

To watch the City of La Mesa's Debut YouTube video about these installations, please click here.

For more information on the program, please click here.

Our community partners need your help to better understand the impacts of the pandemic on small business. The Small Business Development Centers of California are collaborating with the State of California Office of the Small Business Advocate and California’s Women’s Business Centers to conduct a survey on these impacts. Your help is needed.

All results are confidential, and reporting is only in the aggregate.

Survey closes April 24: https://ucsdextension.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e2QOTU1EodnfS86.

I really want to hear your opinion on public safety, so please consider taking 60 seconds to fill out this survey. Click here to fill out the survey

Other articles in this newsletter:

The Chamber’s 13th annual popular “foodie” event is set for Monday, July 18, 2022. This special evening where guests can “eat their hearts out” will happen between 5-8 p.m. at the newly renovated Town & Country Hotel in Mission Valley. The popularity and crowd of this annual event has outgrown the La Mesa Community Center, where it was held for the first 10 years. So, make plans to join us and “Taste, Savor and Mingle” in one ballroom, with plenty of room to stroll throughout the food and business vendor tables. Enjoy great food samplings, free prizes from business sponsors/vendors, a silent auction and raffles during this fun-filled evening. Visit taste.lamesachamber.com.

ON-LINE TICKETING: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=127995

Synopsis: At a large, tastefully appointed Sneden’s Landing townhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though only a flesh wound, four couples are about to experience a severe attack of Farce. Gathering for their tenth wedding anniversary, the host lies bleeding in the other room, and his wife is nowhere in sight. His lawyer, Ken, and wife, Chris, must get the “the story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity!

STARRING: Eric Trigg, Andrea Roebuck, Marley Bauer, Kellen Gold, Brendan MacNeil, Anna

Poteet, Steve Jensen, LakesAnne Deal and Joe Zilinski.

www.lamplighterslamesa.com | Box Office Tel: (619) 303-5092 | boxoffice@lamplighterslamesa.com

The SDG&E Community Tree Rebate Program helps qualifying residential customers plant trees and other plant species that provide direct environmental, health and economic benefits throughout the region. This program is designed for customers in SDG&E’s service territory, especially where trees may be needed to help make a positive impact in their community. Qualifying SDG&E customers receive a $35 rebate for planting or potting a 1- or 5-gallon tree/plant species (up to five rebates annually). You do not need a yard to qualify, as trees or other plant species can also be planted in large containers on outdoor balconies or patio areas. Your participation in this program helps our communities by supporting local biodiversity, improving air quality and sequestering carbon. Find out if your zip code qualifies you for the program at sdge.com/Tree-Rebate.

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate has awarded $4,175,000 in funding to the County of San Diego for the Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. This program will provide grants of $2,500 to County of San Diego microbusiness owners who were in operation in 2019, still in operation, and were impacted by the COVID-19 public health restrictions.

Some of the highlights are below:

We suggest that you go to the website sdivsbdc.org/county-of-san-diego-micro-business-grant-program-application/ to review ALL of the particulars of this funding.

Small Business Stimulus Grant Funding is Available from the County of San Diego – We Are District 4

The County of San Diego has received funds from the federal government’s American Recovery Plan Act. This grant is to provide economic assistance to help businesses and non-profit entities impacted by COVID-19. This financial assistance will be allocated to eligible, qualified small businesses and nonprofit entities based on the availability of funds, program guideline, and the submission of all required information and supporting documentation.

Chambers have been asked to assist with the paperwork for small businesses to complete the submission application. The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is happy to help. The La Mesa Chamber has decided to take an extra step in this grant funding process and the recovery of our businesses in La Mesa and announce immediately:

The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce believes that assisting ALL businesses in their recovery from the pandemic and ability to obtain funds from the American Recovery Plan Act should be a priority. We are ALL in this together! Chamber Members and Non-Chamber members, effective immediately, may receive help from Mary England, President & CEO of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce in filling out all paperwork and answering any questions you may have. Mary may be reached 7 days a week –Maryengland@lamesachamber.com or 619-251-7730 to assist you.

Here is the Small Business Stimulus Grant package and the link: tinyurl.com/smallbizstimulusgrant

If you are NOT sure of how to answer questions on the application or need assistance on clarifying what documents you need to submit – contact Mary England at Maryengland@lamesachamber.com or (619) 251-7730, we are happy to help!

NOTE: If you applied for and received county funds under the other Small Business Stimulus Grant, allocated from the CARES Act funding – YES you may apply for these funds, you just need to list the amount you received from the county on the application.

April 27 - Oakwood Escrow Ribbon Cutting : 5pm at 8697 La Mesa Blvd., Ste. D in La Mesa | Details/RSVP

FEATURED! May 21 - "Shop & Dine La Mesa" : 11am-4pm at The Marketplace at Lake Murray Village | 5550-5680 Lake Murray Blvd. | Details

June 8 - Evening Mixer at Anthony’s Fish Grotto : 5:30-7pm on the “Lake” at Anthony’s Fish Grotto | 9530 Murray Drive in La Mesa

June 21 - "Taco Tuesday" Mixer : 5:30-7pm at Thoughtful Creations | 8270 La Mesa Blvd. #101 in La Mesa

FEATURED! July 18 - "Taste of San Diego - East" : 5-8pm at Town and Country San Diego | 500 Hotel Circle North in Mission Valley | Details/Buy Tickets

FEATURED! August 18 - "Summer Bash" Business Expo : 5-8pm at Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon | 141 N Magnolia Ave, El Cajon | Details/Buy Tickets

September 15 - Joint Mixer with La Mesa and Santee Chambers : 5-7pm at Lantern Crest Senior Living | 300 Lantern Crest Way, Santee, CA 92071 | Details/RSVP

September 21 - Annual Evening Mixer at Hooleys Public House : 5:30-7pm at Hooleys Public House | 5500 Grossmont Center Drive #277 in La Mesa | Details/RSVP

FEATURED! October 19 - Salute to Local Heroes & Installation Dinner : 5:30-8:45pm at Sycuan Casino Resort | 5485 Casino Way, El Cajon | Details

December 7 - Toy Drive for La Mesa Military Families & Party at BJ's : 5:30-7pm at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse | 5500 Grossmont Center Dr. in La Mesa | Details/RSVP

Commercial Real Estate

5565 Grossmont Center Dr.

La Mesa, CA 91942

858-549-2874