News & Events from the Lafayette Chamber |
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Sara Regan, Executive Director
251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150, Lafayette, CA
Typical Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-1pm
Closed Monday-Thursday 12:30pm-1pm for lunch.
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Did you know?
Do you know about SCORE? SCORE is a non-profit that receives funding from Congress and the SBA to provide assistance and advising to small businesses via mentorship, workshops, and office hours. You can meet in person with a representative from SCORE’s East Bay Chapter every Tuesday afternoon to receive advising on business-related challenges. Sign up here for any upcoming Tuesday afternoon. Open to Chamber members and non-members. |
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Upcoming Chamber Events
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
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Lafayette Business Women
A women-led business group. Shared experiences, contributed knowledge and skills, networking and collaboration opportunities. Empowering female entrepreneurs to build successful businesses.
Meeting once a month, typically the third Wednesday of the month, the group plans to meet at member locations throughout Lafayette at varying times from breakfast, bunch/lunch to happy hour and evening hours. Help us plan future events, take our survey!
And save the date for upcoming events:
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Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals present:
Financial Foundations: Tips for saving, investing, and home buying
Wednesday, March 16, 5pm-7pm
If buying a home in California has seemed intimidating to you, or even out of reach, this panel is for you! From the basics of saving and investing to the first steps of buying a home and getting the right insurance, this panel is geared toward young professionals who are looking for help to navigate big financial decisions that set them up for success. This could be the best hour of your time this week!
Moderator:
Panelists:
Carolyne Charvoz: Financial Planner, Mass Mutual is a second year financial planner and part of a wealth management team at MassMutual Northern CA, working with families who are focused on developing good habits to secure their financial freedom.
Aran Nafisi: Mortgage Lender, US Bank is a local Lafayette resident and an experienced mortgage loan originator with US Bank, serving the Lamorinda community and the greater San Francisco Bay Area with residential mortgage financing.
The Dana Green Team is the number 1 team in Lamorinda and works with more buyers than any other real estate agent in the area.
This event is in person at Compass, 3595 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Suite 200, Lafayette, CA. Online option via Zoom will also be available. Make your selection during the registration process.
Directions: go up the stairs near Philz and cross the bridge. Compass has the whole second floor on the west side. Registration is required.
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TODAY'S EMAIL BLAST IS SPONSORED BY
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Our 1200 square foot space is versatile, intimate, and perfect for workshops/classes, showers, micro wedding receptions, performance shows, corporate events and meetings, dinner parties, pop-up shops, product launches, photography/videography space and more. Reach out today to set up a site visit.
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Welcome to our NEWEST Lafayette Chamber Members!
The following businesses recently joined the Lafayette Chamber! We encourage you to visit their website to learn more.
Lafayette, CA 94549
Vangie Long, 925-872-8177
Elevents Group provides corporate event planning and management services for everything from executive retreats, to client/employee appreciations, to product launch and consumer events, to global sales meetings.
Category: Event Services
1029 Blackwood Lane, Lafayette, CA 94549
Karen Valles, 925-284-7575
At B&D Towing Our Mission Is S.R.P. Safety | Reliability | Performance
B&D Towing takes pride in our work and we continue to strive to be the best in our field. We are proud members of our community Every 15 Minutes program, Chamber of Commerce and The California Tow Truck Association. Please give us a call for all your towing needs. We also proudly offer roadside assistance to help you get back on your way, whenever possible.
Category: Towing & Recovery
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Lafayette Chamber RENEWING Members
A huge thank you to the following members for renewing their membership.
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Nonprofits and our Arts Community
The Lafayette Chamber's Arts Community email blast went out Friday, March 10.
In case you missed it ...
View archive of email blasts HERE>
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2023 Lafayette Citizen of the Year, Mike Anderson
REGISTRATION ENDS THURSDAY, MARCH 16!
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Taste of Lafayette Restaurant Stroll
Tickets on sale now! Over 300 tickets have been sold! Tickets are limited and no tickets will be sold at the door.
Event date: Tuesday, May 16, 5pm-7:30pm, Downtown Lafayette.
Thank you to our Taste of Lafayette sponsors:
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Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings!
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Lafayette Art & Wine Festival 2023
The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is proud to present our 26th annual premier community event showcasing the downtown business corridor. Funds raised from this event enable the Chamber to provide our businesses and community at large with a variety of important services, program offerings, engagement, and resources throughout the year. We are also able to give back to our festival beneficiaries like Lafayette Partners in Education, many of the local school organizations and other participating non-profits. Get involved and be a part of the excitement.
Thank you and welcome back to the following sponsors/vendors who have confirmed their participation March 6-12.
NorSled Dog Rescue - Non-Profit Booth
Interested in opportunities related to the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival? Click here.
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Business Resources & Opportunities |
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2023 Diablo Women
Diablo magazine is proud to once again showcase the professional successes and personal achievements of San Francisco Bay Area Women in the May 2023 issue.
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The 2023 Best of the East Bay Ballot is live!
Each year, Diablo magazine recognizes local businesses and services that make the East Bay the best! Look for the winners in the July 2023 issue and online at diablomag.com.
Voting is open only until March 31st! Cast your vote and be entered to win a $200 gift card! Vote here.
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Small Business Help Office Hours - Hosted by SCORE
SCORE has the largest network of free volunteer small business mentors in the nation. No matter what stage your business is at SCORE can be a valuable resource.
The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce has been partnering with SCORE for over 15 years.
We welcome our chamber members and community members to schedule a complementary meeting with a SCORE representative on Tuesdays between the hours of 1:30pm-4:00pm in our Chamber office at 251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150.
Mike Harris is our in-house SCORE counselor. Mike earned a BS with an emphasis on electronics from Stevens Institute of Technology and an MBA from Santa Clara University. After a few years in engineering, Mike spent most of his career in high tech marketing and operations management. While continuing to work in electronics he helped manage his family retail business. After retiring from his career in electronics, Mike began working with small businesses helping them obtain working capital loans. Besides mentoring, Mike helps present SCORE business plans and financial planning workshops.
To schedule your appointment, please call the Lafayette Chamber at (925) 284-7404 or book your appointment online here. Enter your desired time frame. In person meetings at the Lafayette Chamber office are by appointment only and are scheduled every 30 minutes.
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Call for New Marketing Materials
It's the new year and the Chamber wants to make sure our community is up to date on what your business offers! If you've recently updated your promotional materials or business cards, and would like to provide copies to the Chamber office to display, or to replace/update what we already have, please feel free to stop by with any brochures, flyers, menus, cards, etc. and we are happy to place them on our display wall!
Contact AJ with any questions.
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Local Mixers and Business Opportunities
Lafayette Chamber Ambassador David Benet of Mobility Matters maintains an online calendar of upcoming mixers, ribbon cuttings and events presented by local Chambers of Commerce and other organizations. There are a lot of mixers and events coming up! If you have a networking event that you would like to share or you would like to receive a notification of upcoming events, please email David. Follow this link for the calendar: https://www.mobilitymatterscc.com/upcoming-mixers-and-events/. |
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March Golden Happy Hour
We invite all Lamorinda seniors to join us for an early evening of warm smiles, engaging conversation & mingling in Golden company!? Jim and Nancy Scala will be there to greet everyone.
A few appetizers will be provided. Everyone will be responsible for their own beverages or additional food.? ? Space is limited for this free event, so please visit greetlafayette.com/events to RSVP. Cheers!
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ACALANES HIGH SCHOOL COLOR RUN
The 4th annual Color Run will take place on Sunday, March 26th at 9 AM at Acalanes High School. This fundraiser supports the Classes of 2024 and Class of 2025 and is a 1 or 2 mile loop through the Acalanes campus. It is open to ALL of our local community-elementary, middle & high school students. Each participant receives a white t-shirt to wear through the five color stations where participants will emerge in a rainbow of colors by the end of the run. Get your tickets here: https://gofan.co/app/events/848768?schoolId=CA22846
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2023 Lamorinda Zero Waste Challenge
Lafayette, are you ready for some friendly competition? Let's work together to establish sustainable habits and reduce waste in the 2023 Lamorinda Zero Waste Challenge! Anyone age 13+ can register to join; but only 1 city will be the winner. Who will it be- Lafayette, Moraga or Orinda? REGISTER TODAY!
How to play:
1. REGISTER TODAY! Then, starting April 3rd, you'll get an email/text from Sustainable Contra Costa every Monday with the two "Zero Waste Actions of the Week."
2. Capture a photo of you completing the action(s) of the week.
3. Submit your action photos via email/text by Sunday night with 1 photo attached per action.
All participants who submit photos will be entered in the weekly drawing for local gift cards (ie: Diablo Foods and Resourcefill.) WINNERS will be selected EVERY WEEK! Join our March 28th kickoff event at the Lafayette Library where you will also learn about energy efficiency.
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Now Hiring!
On Wednesday, March 15, Acalanes High School will be hosting a job fair for students. The following Lafayette Chamber members will be onsite!
If you would like us to share your job opening please reach out to AJ today!
Also hiring:
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The Weekly Roundup, March 10, 2023
➡ Bracing for Another Wet & Windy Week
➡ Deadline to Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance is March 16 for Residents Impacted by December/January Storms
➡ We Don’t Trash Food in Lafayette
➡ Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Fee Reduction
➡ Preparing Lafayette’s Local Road Safety Plan
➡ Updating the City’s Safety Element – Community Workshop on March 29
➡ City Council, Commission and Committee Meetings Are Now Held In-Person
➡ Water Drum and Fire Extinguisher Sale
➡ Assistance League’s Baby Bags Program Helps Families
➡ Spring Break Swell
➡ Volunteer to Serve on a Commission or Committee
➡ Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program Applications Due March 16
➡ Consider Renting Our Facilities for Your Upcoming Event
➡ Lafayette Planning Applications and Major Development Projects
➡ Report Public Works Maintenance Concerns and Code Enforcement Complaints Via the “My Lafayette” App
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Supervisor Candace Andersen's March 10 Weekly Update
➡ Prepare for the Storms with Free Sandbags Status of Road Closures in Unincorporated County Areas
➡ Disaster Recovery Center Remains Open Through March 16 for Residents Impacted By December/January Winter Storms
➡ Veterans’ Voices Show to Discuss Post-traumatic Stress Triggers
➡ Sponsorship Opportunities Available for Public Art
➡ Contra Costa County to hold 5 Community Visioning Sessions for Arts and Culture Planning
➡ Measure X Community Advisory Board
➡ County Connection Advisory Committee Seeks Member
➡ Education to Workforce Pathways
➡ Contra Costa Resources for People Experiencing Homelessness
➡ Contra Costa County Looking for New Members for the Civil Grand Jury - Deadline to Apply March 24
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Transit Operator Appreciation Day, Fare-Free March 18
Transit Operator Appreciation Day is Saturday, March 18, 2023, and County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, and WestCAT are offering a day of fare-free rides. No payment will be required on all three agencies' buses for fixed routes and paratransit. Additionally, Tri Delta Transit’s ride-hailing service, Tri MyRide, will not require any payment for the day either. To learn more about these transit agencies, visit TriDeltaTransit.com, CountyConnection.com and WestCATorg. |
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Bus Bridge Alert: Major track work between Rockridge and Orinda on five non-consecutive weekends (first closure weekend 4/1-2)
BART’s next major track improvement project will focus on a portion of the Yellow Line. On five non-consecutive weekends in April, May, and June workers will replace an interlocking between Rockridge and Orinda stations. Interlockings allow BART to safely move trains from line to line and are an essential part of the system. Free buses will replace train service between Rockridge and Orinda stations on all five weekends.
The weekend dates for this project are April 1-2, April 15-16, May 13-14, May 27-29 (Memorial Day weekend), and June 10-11. Riders can expect delays of 30 minutes in the work area on shutdown weekends.
Yellow Line trains will run every 30 minutes on shutdown weekends. On each night of the weekend shutdowns the last scheduled departure from Antioch to Orinda that normally leaves at 11:44pm will be cancelled. Riders traveling westbound from Antioch must catch the earlier train at 11:14pm each night.
The equipment being replaced is decades old and has outlived its design life. Riders will enjoy a smoother, safer, more reliable, and quieter ride once the projects are complete. The Yellow Line is the busiest in the BART system.
This upcoming work is part of BART’s overall effort to improve the safety and reliability of the 131-mile, 50 station system. There are now more rebuilding projects happening across BART than at any point in its 50-year history. You can learn more about the progress of this work by reading the 2022 Measure RR Annual Report published by the independent Measure RR Bond Oversight Committee.
You can keep up with the latest updates for trackway repair projects that impact service by going to our Alerts and Advisories page. BART’s Trip Planner has been improved to show the full customer journey including bus bridges.
Learn more about the work happening between Rockridge and Orinda stations on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page and Fact Sheet for the project.
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Ask the DMV – Don’t count on being lucky, get your REAL ID ahead of time.
If you haven’t already upgraded your driver’s license to a REAL ID don’t count on being lucky, save yourself the stress and get your REAL ID ahead of the enforcement date!
Q1: How is a REAL ID different from my driver’s license?
A1: Good question! Your driver’s license is issued by the DMV; it gives you the ability to operate a motor vehicle and acts as a form of identification. A REAL ID is a federally accepted form of identification that can be used to board domestic flights nationwide and enter secure federal facilities, such as military bases, federal courthouses, and other secure federal locations. If you already have your driver’s license, make sure to upgrade to a REAL ID before the May 2025 enforcement date.
Q2: I’m ready to upgrade my driver’s license to a REAL ID, can I apply online?
A2: You can start the application process online to expedite your DMV office visit at dmv.ca.gov/realid
Getting your REAL ID is as easy as 1,2,3!
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Begin by gathering your documents, one (1) original or certified proof of identity, and two (2) different printed proofs of California residency are required. Check out the DMV’s interactive document checklist to see what qualifies.
- Complete the online application and upload your documents.
- Make an appointment online to visit your local DMV office and complete your application. Be sure to bring printed copies of any documents uploaded online and bring your confirmation code to your DMV appointment.
Q3: What happens if I don’t obtain my REAL ID by the May 2025 enforcement date?
A3: Starting May 7, 2025, if you don’t have a REAL ID you will not be able to board domestic flights using your driver’s license or identification card within the U.S. or enter secure facilities, such as military bases, and federal courthouses. Make your REAL ID your lucky charm and upgrade your license before the rush.
Note: DMV offices are closed on weekends.
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Promotions!
Discounted Tickets for Chamber Members!
As a new member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Chamber Orchestra would like to extend a special promotional offer to all Chamber Members to attend out next concert on March 25th at 7:30 pm at St Stephens Episcopal Church in Orinda. Simply go to our website www.pacificchamberorchestra.org and enter the Promo Code PCOLCC25 for $25 tickets (normal price for Adults is $48).
Other member promotions include:
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Show Your Membership!
Would you like to include a Lafayette Chamber membership emblem on your website or other marketing materials?
The Lafayette Chamber would be happy to provide you with the appropriate logos. Simply email your request to holly@lafayettechamber.org.
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Sign up for Text Notifications!
Please note: to signup via text you will be asked for your birthdate. This information is not stored, it is only used for verify you are over 21 years of age.
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