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Wednesday, January 6, 2020 | View as Webpage
UPDATED! BIPARTISAN SMALL BIZ RELIEF IN SB74, TCA OSO BRIDGE GRAND OPENING, UCI FINANCIAL RELIEF WORKSHOP, & MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS:
TUNE IN TODAY: OCBC JOINS ASSEMBLYMEMBER PETRIE-NORRIS IN SUPPORT OF BIPARTISAN SB 74:* 
  • Join Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and Lucy Dunn for a press conference on bi-partisan SB 74, the Keep California Working Act, which seeks $2.6 billion in grants to small businesses from a $26 billion state budget surplus. See Lucy and Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris discuss the bill and their support on January 6 at 10:00 a.m. on Facebook Live

DISNEYLAND AVENGERS CAMPUS SET TO DEBUT THIS YEAR:* 
  • In 2021, Disneyland will debut the brand-new Avengers Campus. The new Marvel-themed area will include new attractions, shows and dining options. Read more

CA PROPOSES $4.5 BILLION IN JANUARY BUDGET TO HELP STRENGTHEN ECONOMY:*
  • Funds would provide an additional $575 million for California's small businesses, $777 million for The California Jobs Initiative, and funding for housing, EV adoption, workforce development initiatives, and fee waivers for some small businesses. Read the full plan here.

CORRECTED -
OSO PARKWAY BRIDGE GRAND OPENING WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13 AT 10 A.M.
NEXT WEDNESDAY! JOIN TCA FOR VIRTUAL GRAND OPENING OF OSO PARKWAY BRIDGE:* 
  • Transportation Corridor Agencies, County of Orange and Caltrans are hosting a virtual grand opening for the Oso Parkway Bridge Project. Join local elected officials and stakeholders to celebrate this much needed safety and traffic improvement! Watch on Facebook Live or on YouTube at 10:00 a.m. on January 13. 

JOIN UCI FOR WORKSHOP ON COVID-19 FINANCIAL RELIEF:* 
  • Institute for Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion at UC Irvine will host a discussion on preparing for additional COVID-19 financial relief for individuals and families in Orange County. What lessons have been learned from the first wave of relief funding and what additional needs have surfaced? Learn more on January 11 and 12. Register for the free event here

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JAN 13! GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID:*   
SHARE WITH YOUR SMALL BIZ FRIENDS:
  • A new $500 million Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program for eligible small business owners and nonprofits. Grants up to $25,000 are available. The deadline to apply has been extended to January 13APPLY TODAY! 

WEBINAR ON STATE BUDGET:*    
  • CA’s State Finance Director will review the Governor’s 2021 Budget in a free webinar hosted by CalChamber on January 12, 2021 at 8:30 AM. Click here to register.  
BUSINESS RESOURCES
DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR EIDL EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 31, 2021:* 
  • SBA announced that the deadline to apply for a COVID-19 pandemic Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) has been extended. All eligible small businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to apply for these affordable loans. Learn more and apply by clicking here

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS - APPLY NOW FOR ICEP GRANTS:*   
  • California STEP grant program opened the application window for Individual Company Export Program (ICEP) grants. The ICEP program is designed to reimburse eligible California small businesses up to $5,000 for eligible export promotion-related expenses. Click here for more information.   

CALIFORNIA COMPETES TAX CREDIT APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS:   

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN: 
  • “Safe Schools for All” calls for a transition for students, especially young students, and school staff to in-person instruction starting in February. Safety measures, including testing, PPE and vaccines, will be implemented under the plan. Distance learning will still be available. Evidence shows that children, particularly elementary grade students, carry a lower risk of spreading COVID-19 than adults.  
 
CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCES 221 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS: 
  • OCBC commends Santa Ana’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, which is providing funding for 221 high-quality affordable housing units in the City. Approximately $34 million has already supported the Santa Ana Arts CollectiveLegacy Square and Depot at Santiago projects. The City is also investing in transportation improvements at these sites to ensure healthy, connected neighborhoods. 

CALIFORNIA COMPETES TAX CREDIT APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS:

JOIN THE BE WELL OC ORANGE CAMPUS VIRTUAL RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY:
  • On January 13 at 12:00 p.m., the first Be Well OC campus opening will be celebrated virtually on YouTube and Facebook Live. The new 60,000-square-foot facility will offer mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs to all Orange County residents. Register here.

GET TESTED NOW! WHERE TO GET TESTING IN OC

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
SEE WHAT’S IN STORE FOR OC TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN 2021:* 
  • Orange County Transportation Authority and Transportation Corridor Agencies both have key projects making progress or nearing completion in 2021, including the new Oso Parkway bridge and the I-405 Improvement Project. Read more

BANK OF AMERICA NEARLY DOUBLES GIVING TO OC NONPROFITS:* 
  • To support communities amid the ongoing pandemic, Bank of America has awarded a total of $2,012,000 to 53 local nonprofits across Orange County this year, with a focus on alleviating the unprecedented impacts to health, food insecurity, housing, education, jobs and the arts. In addition to this philanthropic capital, which is nearly double from its giving in 2019, the bank also donated more than 324,000 face masks and 200 gallons of hand sanitizer to help protect the most vulnerable populations hardest hit by COVID-19.

MISSED OCBC'S PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS? View them by clicking here. PLEASE SHARE THESE UPDATES WITH COLLEAGUES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
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.
RESOURCES
Giving Back
American Red Cross & Blood Donations - Donate blood today!
Caterina's Club Feeds Kids in Need - Donate today to help
Chrysalis Working for 100 – Help 100 people get back to work
Donate, Volunteer or Host a Virtual Food Bank 
Cal State Fullerton - Support Higher Education
Cal State Fullerton - It Takes a Titan Campaign
HCA Accepting Medical Donations - Masks, Gloves, Gowns Needed
Basic supplies needed
OC Food Bank- Donations needed. 
Help students with laptops & other financial assistance
Second Harvest Food Bank - Match My Gift- Every $1 DOUBLES to provide SIX nutritious meals!
Help support Vital Link's STEM and career pathways for students
StandUp For Kids Orange County - Help Homeless Youth
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If you have questions on how to get connected with OCBC online,
contact James Alley, at 714.501.9893 or jalley@ocbc.org.
OCBC works to get you the best information in these difficult times fighting COVID-19, its health and economic impacts. Check your email often for important updates AND follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. In addition, check out the COVID-19 Resources page on OCBC.org.