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Message from the President & CEO By Kristen Amyx With the coming of Fall, some things are beginning to feel “back to normal”. There are signs that the economy is picking up, schools and government agencies are in full swing, and your Chamber has a full line-up of business-related programs, services and activities. Speaking of the economy, our Annual Goleta Economic Summit is right around the corner on September 17th in the morning. Back at the Fairview Theater again this year, a new format of information will be presented to help you steer your business through challenging economic times. We’ll offer an economic mid-year overview, a local study on workforce trends and analysis, and a panel of your peers – industry leaders who will share their experiences and predictions for our local economy. We’re also offering a trip to China! Whether you use this opportunity as a family vacation, a once-in-a-lifetime pleasure trip, or a trade mission for your business, our China trip is the best value for luxury and affordability at under $2,000 all-inclusive. See our website or come to an interactive presentation on September 21st. You may also win a trip to China with our group by purchasing a raffle ticket at any upcoming Chamber event. We’ve resumed our Issue and Policy Roundtable meetings where the issues of the day and hot topics in Goleta are discussed in a roundtable dialog with your fellow Goleta business colleagues and a local expert on the topic. National Health Care reform was the topic for September. Watch your email for the topic for October and join us for this informative and timely monthly session. And September marks the beginning of Lemon Season in Goleta! Join us September 23rd at the Glen Annie Golf Club for the annual kick-off event – the Lemon Launch. This 5:30-7:30 pm mixer will showcase the exciting news about this year’s festival held at Girsh Park on October 16th, 17th and 18th. Let us know how your business is faring this fall, and how your Chamber can help |
Goleta Economic Summit - Get the Facts from a Source You Can Trust Each year, the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce brings you a comprehensive presentation on the economy, with a focus on the local economy in Goleta. This year, the event held on September 17th, will offer views of the economy and information to help you make decisions for your business’ future. In years past, we heard economic data from UCSB’s economic forecast department. With this year’s economic challenges and speed with which economic data is changing, we decided to focus instead on three areas that directly effect Goleta business: a mid-year outlook from the banking industry on where investments and capital are moving; an analysis on our local workforce and how changes in local industry effects our ability to have the right workforce; and some “straight talk” from five local businesses in Goleta who will articulate what effect the recession has had on their industry and what they predict. “It’s really important this year that we have reliable, local information to present to our members regarding the economy,” stated Dr. Kathleen Boomer, committee chair for the event. “There’s lots of information available to businesses, but hearing from your local Chamber of Commerce should be an important part of the analysis. “Our Board of Directors represents every industry sector that’s important in Goleta. We are striving to mirror that unique local perspective with the Goleta Economic Summit this year,” said Kristen Amyx, President/CEO of the Chamber. “I’m also pleased to announce a new partnership with the Workforce Investment Board. They have a wealth of information to share and a need to stay closely in touch with every local business with employees. Their presentation will be a great feature of economic event.” Registration is still open for the event on the 17th. Buffet breakfast will be served at 7:30am, followed by the presentation at 8:00. The Fairview Theater has comfortable seats, a great projection screen and sound system. You won’t want to miss this timely and informative event. “Great support from our sponsors, even during a downturn in the economy, shows the importance of this event,” said Amyx. “Business First Bank is back for their 3rd year as the Title Sponsor, joined by Marborg, a large employer on the South Coast and business supporter. Cabrillo Business Park, Venoco and the Towbes group are major sponsors again this year – a testament to their ongoing support of the local business economy.” Corporate sponsors are Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Citrix Online, Community West Bank, Marmalade Café, Media 27 and Santa Barbara Airport. The Supporting Sponsors are Allied Waste, AMS Entertainment, ATK Space, Cox Business, Daily Sound, FLIR Commercial Vision Systems, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, Noozhawk, Pacific Coast Business Times, Penfield & Smith, and Synergy Computing. |
GP4P Launches Goleta Prepare Now By Marjorie Wass The Goleta Partnership for Preparedness (GP4P), an innovative alliance of the City of Goleta, the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter, announced the launch of “Goleta Prepare Now,” a two year initiative that aims to provide important Disaster Preparedness information to every Goleta resident. Through outreach, education, workshops and a strong community presence, GP4P’s “Goleta Prepare Now” is reaching out to every member of the Goleta community to promote Disaster Preparedness. Throughout the month of September, which is National Preparedness Month, GP4P will have volunteers and Preparedness Displays set up at a number of Goleta grocery, drug and hardware store, as part of the “Goleta Prepare Now” “Shop for your Kit” campaign. Displays will feature Emergency Preparedness information, materials, and emergency backpacks for sale and. volunteers will hand out reusable grocery store bags with preprinted information on what should be included in a basic Emergency Kit. Shoppers will be encouraged to purchase Emergency Kit supplies as they do their regular shopping. “Shop For Your Kit” is the first phase of the two-year long initiative. For more information, visit www.GoletaPrepareNow.org. For more information on how businesses can prepare, visit http://www.goletavalleychamber.com/community/gpp. Lemon Season Kicks Off in GoletaThe 18th Annual California Lemon Festival in Goleta kicks off in just about six weeks and we know you'll want to be a part of the fun. Mark your calendars for Friday, October 16th from 5-8 p.m. for carnival rides. The main festival days are Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th. This year’s festival features a new wine tasting – A Taste of Coastal Wines – on Saturday as well as a Green Business Trade Show which will run during the entire festival. Don't miss the Lemon Launch on Wednesday, September 23rd from 5:30-7:30 pm at Glen Annie Golf Course. Glen Annie is the main sponsor and Ventura Limoncello is the supporting sponsor of this kick off to the Lemon Festival. We will be recognizing our sponsors and event committee on this night. RSVP now. It's never too early to sign up to help out or to get your high school or college student interested in fulfilling their volunteer hours. Volunteer applications as well as car show and vendor applications are now available on www.LemonFestival.com. Have other questions about the Lemon Festival? Contact our able Lemon Festival Coordinator, Sylvia Redding, at sylvia@goletavalley.com or 967-2500 ext. 2. |
Chamber Members Become Green Certified MoveGreen, Santa Barbara Airbus, McDonalds (3940 State Street) and Silvergreens will be part of the first group of nearly 50 businesses in the process of being certified. Green Business Santa Barbara County is a multi-jurisdictional effort to encourage businesses within Santa Barbara County to implement actions to protect, preserve, and improve the environment above and beyond what is required by law. The program is free to businesses, voluntary and offers assistance and incentives, including an official Green Business certification upon completion of the recommended actions. RLA Legislative Update By Brendan Huffman, RLA DirectorAs the legislative deadline to approve bills approaches, there are several bills that seem to not recognize that California is in the midst of a severe recession and that unemployment figures are at all-time highs. AB 1405 would give the CA Air Resources Board the authority to enact fees (or taxes as some people call them) in efforts to combat climate change and air pollution. Most of us want to continue California’s progress in improving air quality so that’s not the issue here. Instead, the issue is who is authorized to raise our taxes? Is it the legislature, or is it boards consisting of appointees who are not elected? At least one bill does seek to raise a tax through the legislative process. SB 600 seeks to raise cigarette taxes again to fund state programs, such as Healthy Families, that are sorely in need of new revenues. The evidence is pretty clear that cigarette smoking is bad for you, but the concern with this bill is that as fewer people smoke, revenues from cigarette taxes decline, which puts worthy programs in jeopardy down the road. Furthermore, raising taxes on consumer products increases the popularity of the internet where most people don’t pay sales taxes and rarely—if ever—report them to the CA Board of Equalization. Another bill of note, SB 242, could increase the number of shakedown lawsuits filed against businesses if it is proven they did anything in anyway, even unintentionally, to limit the use of a customer’s language. This bill was inspired by the LPGA’s recent attempt to require all of its golfers to speak English. LPGA quickly backed off this ill-advised plan, but the bill continues to move forward. The RLA has communicated its positions on these bills and many others to our legislative delegation. Please let your chamber know if there are other bills of importance to your business so that RLA can advocate for you. Brendan is the Executive Director of the Regional Legislative Alliance. He can be reached brendan@huffmanpa.com. |
Member NewsSanta Barbara Twestival to Help Direct ReliefTechEase and Citrix Online are proud to be co-sponsoring the Santa BarbaraTwestival on September 11th. A Twestival is a Twitter meet-up held simultaneously around the world to raise money for various charities. Santa Barbara has chosen Direct Relief International and has set a fundraising goal of $5000 to support the organization’s work. The event will be held on the rooftop of the Canary Hotel. Activities will include live music/DJs, contests and prize giveaways, short film screening about the designated charity, 3 plasmas streaming live tweets, sponsor logos and a live photo stream, and more. Visit http://santabarbara.twestival.com/ for more information. MTD Announces Route Update The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) is pleased to announce that even in these difficult economic times there will be no significant service reductions during the current fiscal year. Many of the MTD routes, including Lines 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 22, 23, 24, and 27, will have route and schedule changes. Please go to www.sbmtd.gov or pick-up your new Schedule Guide for more details. End of Summer Concert Series Begins at Girsh Park Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy live local music in a relaxing setting from 4-5:30 p.m. Goleta Valley Beautiful Volunteer OpportunitiesTree care, litter pickup, graffiti removal, and internships are all available through Goleta Valley Beautiful. No experience needed, all tools provided. All volunteer opportunities are supervised by experienced Certified Arborists. Families welcome as long as adults are present to supervise their children. Please RSVP at 685-7910. Community service credits available for all activities bring your forms to the volunteer event. Coastal Clean Up Day is September 19thThe 25th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day is September 19th, 2009 from 9 a.m. until noon at many area beaches and creeks. Visit www.LessisMore.org for more information. United Way’s Annual Day of Caring is September 19th Important Information from the State Board of EqualizationNew legislation, Assembly Bill x4 18 (Stats. 2009, Ch. 16), added section 6225 of the Revenue and Taxation Code which requires a “qualified purchaser” to register with the Board of Equalization and report and pay use tax directly to the Board of Equalization. Under this section, a “qualified purchaser” includes businesses with at least $100,000 in annual gross receipts from business operations. If sales tax would apply when a particular item is purchased in California, use tax applies when a similar purchase is made from a retailer outside the state and no tax is charged. Use tax is not a new tax. It has been part of the Revenue and Taxation Code since the 1930’s. Only the registration requirement is new under AB x4 18. For more information, visit http://www.boe.ca.gov/news/pdf/l232.pdf.
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