News

California Bars, Restaurants Could Renegotiate Rent or Quit Leases in Coronavirus Relief Bill

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

(Sacramento Bee) California restaurants and nonprofits financially devastated by the Coronavirus outbreak could gain a safeguard from eviction and rent relief in a proposal approved by state senators. Senate Bill 939 would prevent commercial landlords from evicting certain small businesses and nonprofits during the pandemic. The proposal would also allow bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues to renegotiate rent prices with their landlords if they’ve experienced a 40% drop in revenue or have limited their capacity by at least 25% to safely reopen their doors. Tenants and landlords would have the flexibility to cut their own rent deal, and should negotiations turn sour, ...

Greater Irvine Chamber Awards John Colvin Memorial Scholarships for the Sixth Year

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

For the sixth year, the Greater Irvine Chamber awarded John Colvin Memorial Scholarships, this year totaling $11,500, to students who have been accepted to or are currently enrolled in a four-year degree program at a university or college in Irvine. Eligible students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, a demonstrated commitment to a fitness lifestyle, and an objective of contributing to the health and economic vitality of Irvine and California in the future. The 2020 scholarship recipients were announced during the Chamber’s digitally presented Orange County World Trade Week. They are UC Irvine students Anganette Emily Cisneros, Jada Perez, and Isabela Zavalos...

Live Webinar on Exporting: USMCA Implementation and Execution as North America Reopens

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Tailored for exporters—and those who are considering business expansion through exporting—the Greater Irvine Chamber, in partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles, will present a panel discussion on the implementation and execution of United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA). Tune into this free, live-stream webinar Wednesday, June 10, 10 – 11 a.m., just in time as North America prepares for the July 1 launch of the USMCA. Panel experts Zaib Shaikh, Canadian Consul General, Kenneth Wengrod, founder, FTC Commercial Corp., and a Mexican commerce representative, will provide the latest information on the USMCA and help equip companies with next steps t...

Stephen Armstrong Named Greater Irvine Chamber 2020 Partner of the Year

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Stephen Armstrong, president and co-founder of MAPLE Business Council and principal of 360 Marketer, was named the Greater Irvine Chamber 2020 Partner of the Year for his support and volunteer leadership of the Chamber’s international development initiatives. For a number of years, Armstrong has helped grow the Chamber’s international presence, promote trade between Canada and Orange County, and tout Irvine for trade and investment. As a co-founder of MAPLE Business Council, Armstrong has forged a solid bridge between Canada and California. He is a champion of trade and investment, having executed several successful missions to Vancouver and Toronto to promote Irvin...

Suavecito Named Greater Irvine Chamber 2020 Exporter of the Year

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Santa Ana-based cosmetic product company Suavecito was named the Greater Irvine Chamber 2020 Exporter of the Year for its successful export strategies. This annual award, this year presented digitally during the Chamber’s Orange County World Trade Week Forum, showcases an Orange County-based business that has expanded its markets through successful export strategies. Launching the company in 2010, Suavecito’s founders began distributing their original product to friends and family. They have since scaled the company, successfully growing their markets, and now export their products to more than 55 countries around the world including Canada, Mexico, and Russia. The Suavecito brand now boasts mor...

CA Hair Salons, Barbershops Can Open With Modifications, Gov Says

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

(Patch) Though the state remains in stage 2 of California's reopening plan, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that hair salons and barbershops may now open back up in those counties already approved for "accelerated reopening." Those facilities had previously been classified as a stage 3 step. Accelerated reopening refers to those counties that have provided attestations that they are ready to move beyond stage 2 by meeting specific criteria previously laid out by the state. As of May 26, 47 of 58 counties had met that criteria to receive a regional variance, Newsom said at a media briefing. After mentioning that there have been more tha...

City of Irvine Ranked No. 1 in California, Top 10 in Nation for Public Park Access

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The City of Irvine has been ranked No. 1 in California and No. 7 in the nation for public park access by the Trust for Public Land annual ParkScore Index. The index ranks the nation’s 100 largest cities based on factors including park access, acreage, investment, and amenities. This is the third consecutive year the city’s parks have ranked in the top 10 nationally. Irvine earned perfect scores in park spending per resident and basketball hoops per 10,000 residents; the city also earned high marks in community centers and playgrounds. The ParkScore Index noted that 82% of Irvine parks are within ...

County of Orange Launches Back2business Initiative to Help Small Businesses Meet Social Distancing Guidelines

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

In partnership with 3D Event Designer, the County of Orange is launching the Back2Business Initiative program to help local small businesses impacted by COVID-19 safely reopen by meeting local, state, and federal social distancing guidelines. The Back2Business Initiative will provide up to 1,000 Orange County small businesses with access to free floor plan software to quickly create, configure, or update their space(s). This software allows businesses, such as restaurants and retail shops, to view their current layout and adjust their floor plan to meet the latest social distancing requirements, giving them the confidence to bring their employees back to work safel...

OC Joins Other Regions to Report Coronavirus Recovery Numbers

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

(Orange County Register) Under pressure from the Board of Supervisors, Orange County’s Health Care Agency will begin posting estimates of how many county residents have recovered from the coronavirus as of May 26. County health officials will join their counterparts in Riverside County, Ventura County, and the city of Long Beach in reporting that number daily. Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, and the city of Pasadena do not offer that information, although San Bernardino County may do so in the future. Southern California health departments have been split over whether to track recoveries and how to do it. There is n...

Orange County is Built for Resilience

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

By Bryan Starr, President & CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber | Published in the May 25 issue of the Orange County Business Journal By many estimates, California is better positioned for economic recovery as we emerge from the Coronavirus crisis than any other state in the nation. While the state isn’t quite yet out of the woods, Orange County itself is ready to open. Monitoring trend lines of the disease to determine when and how to reopen business is a smart strategy. How we will fare is not purely a numbers game, however. Where the Golden State really shines—always, but particularly in times of crisis—i...

You Can Shop Anywhere in California, State Officials Relax Coronavirus Restrictions

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

(Sacramento Bee) The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that retail stores statewide can now open for in-store shopping as long as they follow state guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection for workers and customers. State health officials also announced guidelines for in-person protests and events designed for political expression. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office has faced protests regarding the stay-at-home order, which has been in place since March 19. The vast majority of large gatherings remain prohibited under the state’s stay-at-home order. The guidance for protests limits attendance to 25% of an area’s maximum occupancy, or up to 100 attendees, accordin...

Orange County Approved for Early Stage Reopening of Restaurants, Malls, More

Sunday, May 24, 2020

(Orange County Register) Dining in restaurants and shopping inside malls and stores were given a green light in Orange County on Saturday, May 23, marking a major shift to normalcy after two months of staying at home to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration approved the county’s plan to expedite the latter phase of the state’s Stage 2 of reopening, the Orange County Board of Supervisors announced. The supervisors also announced that everyone now is required to wear masks or face coverings in public places, while shopping or while at work. Masks must be worn whe...

Energy Bill Assistance Programs

Saturday, May 23, 2020

If your income has recently changed due to hardships caused by COVID-19, you may qualify for a reduced energy rate. If you have recently lost your job, even if you are receiving unemployment benefits, you may qualify for a reduced energy rate through our CARE or FERA programs. Southern California Edison will not disconnect power for those having trouble making payments during the Coronavirus crisis. Service disconnections for nonpayment are temporarily suspended and late fees are being waived, by request. SCE also has money-saving programs for income-qualified customers, aligned with customer protections from the California Public Utilities Commission. Details on these programs are available at sce.com/billhelp...

Factors to Keep in Mind When Rehiring Furloughed Employees

Saturday, May 23, 2020

(Cal Chamber) As small businesses gear up to reopen, many may have concerns about rehiring furloughed employees. Many small businesses took advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, put into place by the Small Business Administration, to stay “afloat.” These loans will be forgiven if the borrower follows all the rules. One requirement of that program is that the borrower (employer) must offer to rehire (for the same salary/wages and the same number of hours) laid-off employees. For purposes of loan forgiveness, the borrower must have made a good faith, written offer of rehire. However, if the employee rejects that offer, it must be documente...

Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application Available

Saturday, May 23, 2020

(CalChamber) The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, released on May 15 the application for seeking forgiveness of loans granted under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Download the application form here. The PPP was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) enacted at the end of March to help small businesses weather the economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The news release announcing availability of the loan forgiveness application stated that the SBA would soon issue regulations and guidance to provide further help to borrowers in completing their applications an...

City of Irvine Roadmap to Recovery

Friday, May 22, 2020

COVID-19 Workers’ Comp Order Explained

Friday, May 22, 2020

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and workers’ compensation attorney Tiffany Boyland of Michael Sullivan & Associates LLP discuss Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order that created a rebuttable presumption for workers claiming to have contracted COVID-19 in the workplace and seeking workers’ compensation benefits. What Is Workers’ Compensation? Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system that provides medical and wage benefits to employees who are injured at work. For example, Boyland says, if an employee has a stroke at work, falls down and breaks an arm, the stroke might not be covere...

Google, Apple Collaborate on Pandemic Tracking Apps

Friday, May 22, 2020

(Associated Press) Apple and Google on Wednesday released long-awaited smartphone technology to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus. The companies said 22 countries and several U.S. states are already planning to build voluntary phone apps using their software. It relies on Bluetooth wireless technology to detect when someone who downloaded the app has spent time near another app user who later tests positive for the virus. Many governments have already tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to roll out their own phone apps to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those apps have encountered technical problems on Appl...

Hospitals Reopening for Non-COVID-19 Work

Friday, May 22, 2020

(OC Business Journal) Orange County’s hospitals are returning to normal, in phases, as a feared surge of Coronavirus patients has not occurred. “UCI Health is fully operational and providing all levels of care in a safe environment for patients and staff,” Chad Lefteris, CEO, UCI Health, told the Business Journal. OC hospitals are a huge industry unto themselves. According to the Business Journal’s annual list, 31 facilities reported $9.1 billion in net patient revenue for the 12 months ended Sept. 30. That amounted to about $758 million a month. Last year, they handled 1.37 million patient days and 3.7 million outpatient visits. The hospitals, which hav...

How to Rebuild Your Small Business After COVID-19

Friday, May 22, 2020

In this webinar, Linda DiMario, executive vice president, Greater Irvine Chamber, talks with commercial real estate experts Gary Abraham, Max Sabino, and Nick Whitelaw, from Aspect Realty, on how businesses can move forward in the COVID-19 era and beyond. DiMario recommends that business owners consider several questions to ensure survivability: Will they be able to adapt their business to the current environment? Will their current business model and plan be sustainable in the post-pandemic period? Can they adapt to compliance and the rigors of what’s likely to be social distancing for some time into the future? Business owners should learn everything they can, apply it, an...

In Appeal to the State: County Officials Cite Met Criteria for Reopening More OC Businesses

Friday, May 22, 2020

(Orange County Register) Orange County will likely know within days whether the state will allow the county to reopen in-person dining and shopping and destination retail such as malls. On late Thursday, May 21, Orange County officials sent their finalized request to the state for permission expand further into Stage 2 of reopening more businesses in the county, saying it meets Gov. Gavin Newsom’s criteria announced Monday, May 18. “We believe we have met all the criteria,” County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said Thursday, May 21. But the county on Wednesday, May 20, reported its highest daily total of positive coronavirus tests at 249...

The New Office Layout, For New Office Reality

Friday, May 22, 2020

(OC Business Journal) As companies in Orange County prepare to go back to the office, employers are rethinking their space. Short-term changes made as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will incorporate new county requirements that factor in increased cleaning and social distancing efforts. Expect to see more touchless faucets, automatic door openers, sanitizer stations, taller desk partitions, and dedicated package drop-off areas, for a start. Lasting impacts on office space could turn out to be much more pervasive. The good news is that many forward-thinking companies were already heading in that direction pre-pandemic, say some of the area’s top architecture and design firms. “Thes...

County of Orange Awarded $700,000 to Support Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

Thursday, May 21, 2020

In partnership with the Orange County Workforce Development Board (OCWDB), the County of Orange will be launching the OCWDB COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Support Program. OCWDB received $700,000 in Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds from the California Employment Development Division (EDD) to support local small businesses impacted by COVID-19. “This program allows the County to offer another vital opportunity to local small businesses struggling to continue their operations,” said Chairwoman Michelle Steel, Second District Supervisor. “We are grateful to the State for awarding this funding.” Through the OCWDB COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Support Program, eligible businesses can receive up to $10,000 in grant funds...

Taco Bell to Add 30K Workers in Response to New COVID Safety Guidelines

Thursday, May 21, 2020

(Orange County Business Journal) Expect to see big hiring by Irvine-based Taco Bell Corp. this summer. The chain said its corporate HQ in the Irvine Spectrum area, along with its franchisees and licensees, aim to hire about 30,000 workers, in a move responding to the various guidelines and safety measures restaurants must adhere to in a post-pandemic world. The hires will fill new and existing positions at Taco Bell restaurants, including drive-thru, curbside pick-up and mobile orders and ensuring restaurants remain properly sanitized. “Since COVID-19 became a reality, we have continued our commitment to putting our people first,” Taco Bell Chief People Officer Kell...

COVID-19: What Employers Ask Part 2

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and Labor Law Adviser Ellen Savage discuss the most common coronavirus-related questions employers and human resources professionals have been asking the CalChamber’s Labor Law Helpline as they prepare to reopen their workplaces. Below is a condensed summary of today’s podcast. Reducing Hours One of the most common questions Savage hears on the Labor Law Helpline is whether employees can be “furloughed” for only a day or two a week in order to cut payroll costs. She explains that such a scenario should be referred to as ...

May 2020 Market & Economic Update with Christopher Schwarz

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Catch up on the May economic update from Christopher Schwarz of UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Stay informed about the current state of the economy and what to expect as we emerge from the Coronavirus crisis. This update was hosted in partnership with the UCI Center for Investment and Wealth Management, the Paul Merage School of Business, UC Irvine, the Greater Irvine Chamber, and the Newport Chamber of Commerce. The next economic update will be available to live stream June 9 at 11:30 a.m. Schwarz will be joined by Bill Mcbride of calculatedriskblog.com. Stay tuned for the registration link.

Orange County World Trade Week Captures Global Audience

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

In its sixth year, the Greater Irvine Chamber’s annual Orange County Work Trade Week Forum (OCWTW) captured a global audience with attendees tuning in to the digitized event from countries including Canada, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and various states in the U.S. A lineup of speakers and panelists from across the globe delivered information on the current state of international trade as it relates to the economic disruptions caused by the Coronavirus. Mark O’Connell, CEO, OCO Global, calling in from Belfast, Ireland, in his keynote discussed Globalization: Pandemic, Populism, and Power, bringing attention to sectors hit hardest by the pandemic including travel and hospitality, aerospace, and transportation, and energy and infrastructure. O’Connell als...

ReOpen OC Safely

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Requirements and Best Practices for Reopening Your Business Safely and Within Current Guidelines GENERAL GUIDELINES ReOpen OC Safely was developed by the Greater Irvine Chamber in collaboration with Orange County Business Council, North Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Anaheim as a resource to prepare to safely reopen for business as the county continues to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The State of California has issued stay-at-home orders to combat the spread of the Coronavirus, but is slowly reopening business segments, subject to restrictions, with modified operations. Learn more here. Regardless of your industry sector...

California, Western State Allies Forging Their Own Paths in Coronavirus Crisis

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

(San Francisco Chronicle) When Gov. Gavin Newsom laid out ground rules that would allow counties with few coronavirus cases to move faster than the state to reopen their economies, he credited Colorado and Oregon with the idea. “They quite literally — that’s a proof point of the work they were doing in this space — helped guide and advance our work that we are putting out,” Newsom said during a May 4 news conference. The plan was the product of conversations between five Western states’ governors who formed one of several interstate pacts that are coordinating regional responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Bu...

Here’s How $2.3 Trillion In Stimulus Money Was Doled Out and What Could Be Next

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

(Orange County Register) As Congress argues about a second stimulus package, here’s a look at how the $2.3 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act was divided up. The CARES Act became the largest economic stimulus bill in modern history, more than doubling the stimulus act passed in 2009 during the financial crisis. The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27. Now Congress is considering another stimulus package that could be even bigger. According to this CNBC/Change Research poll, 94% of Americans support sending recurring direct monthly payments, specifically to those who have lost jobs or wages. Respondents support sending the monthly check...

More Important Than Ever: Maintaining and Improving Free Trade, Investment

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

(CalChamber) The world has quickly changed over the last few months and during these strange and uncertain times, the importance of international trade has been on display across the world. Supply chains have been put to the test and global connectivity has proven vital in quickly securing much-needed supplies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. The World Trade Organization (WTO) stated in an April 2020 report that it expects world trade to fall drastically by between 13% and 32% in 2020 as normal economic activity and everyday life has been disrupted by the pandemic. The WTO expects a recovery i...

Newsom Eases California Reopening Rules, Allowing More Counties to Restart Their Economies

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

(Los Angeles Times) Acknowledging that more California communities are in a position to slowly reopen businesses, Gov. Gavin Newsom loosened rules linking coronavirus infection rates to allowed activities — a change that could release most parts of the state from the tightest restrictions of his stay-at-home order. “We recognize the conditions across the state are unique and distinctive depending where you are,” Newsom said. “The bottom line is people can go at their own pace and we are empowering our local health directors and county officials that understand their local communities and conditions better than any of us.” The decision by Newsom come...

California Eases Reopening Criteria; Stage 3 May Be Weeks Away

Monday, May 18, 2020

(The Patch) Hair salons, in-store retail, houses of worship and professional sports venues across California could reopen within weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced, saying the entire state may soon be ready to move into Stage 3 of its four-part reopening plan if current coronavirus trends hold. The possibility of easing the statewide stay-home order comes amid declining hospitalizations and intensive care admissions from COVID-19. Statewide, California has seen a 7.5% decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last two weeks, and an 8.7% decline in ICU admissions, Newsom said, speaking via livestream last week from a restaurant in Napa County. "We are seeing ...

Developed at UCI, New Tool Helps Predict Patients’ Risk of Coronavirus Complications

Monday, May 18, 2020

(Orange County Register) While most people who develop complications or require intensive care due to COVID-19 tend to be older or have other conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, that’s not the case for every patient. Now UC Irvine scientists have created a tool that uses artificial intelligence to help predict which patients may need that higher level of care. Already in use at UCI Medical Center and soon to be launched at five other UC campuses with affiliated hospitals, the risk prediction tool was created by a collaboration of 10 doctors and researchers at the Irvine campus. A single patient can generat...

SBA and Treasury Release Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, has released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities. The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including: Options for borrower...

Kaiser Permanente Orange County Earns 'A" Rating in Safety

Sunday, May 17, 2020

(Patch) Kaiser Permanente Orange County hospitals were awarded an 'A' in the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Anaheim and Irvine Medical Center's achievements providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade is a letter grade assigned to all general hospitals across the country and updated every six months, assessing how well the hospital prevents medical errors and other harms to patients. "We are very proud of this recognition, as it further exemplifies our continuous commitment to prioritize patient safety," said Mark Costa, senior vice presiden...

Contact Tracing Already Underway in OC

Saturday, May 16, 2020

(Orange County Register) Once somebody in Orange County tests positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, two things happen. First, depending on how the person feels, he or she is told to seek medical help or go into self-quarantine at home. Second, behind the scenes, each positive test triggers the start of so-called “contact tracing,” a decades-old practice that health experts have used to reduce the spread of communicable diseases as varied as smallpox, the flu, and HIV. Such tracing already is happening in Orange County to slow the spread of coronavirus. And its expansion is considered by health experts to be one ke...

Irvine Valley College Student Provides Musical Respite During Social Distancing

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Music comforts the soul, and it has the power to bring people together. Nicholas Mao, a civil engineering student at Irvine Valley College, is doing his best to provide the opportunity for both. For the past several weeks, Mao has been giving 30-60 minutes-long Friday evening piano concerts from the driveway of his family’s home in Irvine. He says it’s a way to do some social outreach during the COVID-19 shutdown. “I thought it’d be fun to play for the neighborhood. Everyone is cooped up,” Mao said. “I had just been practicing from my bedroom with the window open. A few week...

Irvine-Based Manufacturer’s Product is Well-Suited for Monitoring COVID-19 Patients

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Irvine-based NousLogic Telehealth developed a product that has been in use for two years at hospitals and patient homes in Irvine, and Houston where one of the product’s co-creator resides. NousRPM, an “intelligent” Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) platform uses NousLogic Smart Hub, a Medicare-reimbursable system of wireless health devices and sensors, to collect patient-generated health data that is sent to healthcare providers for analysis and care intervention. NousLogic Telehealth CEO Hoang Nhu said the goal of RPM is to improve medical care and health outcomes for patients with chronic medical conditions who benefit from closer monitoring in between clinic visits, which is particularly useful a...

Thunderbirds Fly F-16 Fighter Jets in Formation Over Southern California in Salute to Healthcare Workers

Saturday, May 16, 2020

(Orange County Register) It was a quick tribute, over in just a few moments. But it was a loud and powerful statement of support for medical staff at the area’s hospitals on the frontlines caring for patients sick with the coronavirus. Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds planned low-flying flight paths over Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire on Friday afternoon, May 15, as their flashy way of saying thanks. Earlier in the day they buzzed the San Diego area. Six F-16 Fighting Falcons flew in tight formation, leaving racing hearts and wide smiles in their wake below. At Kaiser Permanent...

UCI to Launch Fuller Testing for Antibodies to Coronavirus

Saturday, May 16, 2020

(Orange County Register) The County of Orange has tapped UC Irvine to answer the burning question: How many people here have been infected with COVID-19? In perhaps the most comprehensive effort to date in California, researchers will examine the blood of 5,000 people for antibodies to the virus to better understand how widespread the disease has become in Orange County. Starting this month, researchers will examine a representative sample of the county’s population, set up eight to 10 drive-through sites, administer pin-prick tests to collect blood, then send the samples to UCI for analysis. Similar efforts in Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties foun...

City of Hope Researchers Mine Database for COVID Clues

Friday, May 15, 2020

Researchers looking to control the spread of COVID-19 are working with City of Hope scientists who manage a 25-year-old landmark study originally developed to track breast cancer. “With a new and rapidly evolving situation like COVID-19, there’s an urgent need for more data on all aspects of this pandemic. This information could be used to develop treatments and create good policy,” said James Lacey Jr., Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the Division of Health Analytics at City of Hope and one of the principal investigators of the ongoing California Teachers Study that began in 1995. Since then, scientists have expanded the study to examine a wide rang...

Electric Auto Maker Rivian Charges Up Irvine Presence

Friday, May 15, 2020

(Orange County Business Journal) Electric vehicle startup Rivian Automotive LLC plans to significantly boost its Irvine operations, with a pair of new leases totaling more than 250,000 square feet in the area, the Orange County Business Journal has learned. The Michigan-based firm—which has raised more than $3 billion in funding since its 2009 founding, with financial backers including Ford, Amazon, T. Rowe Price, and Cox Automotive—is expected to consolidate and expand its Southern California base at a pair of sites in the city, as it gets closer to releasing its first all-electric pickup truck and SUV for sale. Its main Irvine site no...

Irvine City Council Reverts to Great Park Site for Veteran Cemetery

Friday, May 15, 2020

(Orange County Register) After more than five years, a bitter initiative campaign and three alternate site proposals, the Irvine City Council has finally stopped fighting and embraced the location originally suggested for Orange County’s first state-run veterans cemetery. In an unexpected reversal, the council voted on May 12, to adopt a citizens’ initiative that zones a 125.5-acre property on the northern edge of the Orange County Great Park (known as ARDA) so it could be used as a cemetery. The measure also forbids cemeteries, funeral homes or any related uses in the Great Park and on some adjacent land. The decision means voters won’t have t...

Orange County's Reopening May Be Just Days Away

Friday, May 15, 2020

(Los Angeles Times) Orange County is just days away from unveiling a possible road map for lifting some coronavirus-related restrictions, a top health official said on May 12. Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency, told the Board of Supervisors that he would “submit to you a comprehensive plan on reopening and how to do that” on May 14. Those guidelines, which Chau did not detail, would be presented to the board “so you can make your decision” as to whether to adopt them, he added. Chau’s pledge comes as county supervisors, and dozens of residents who turned out to lobby them, are itchin...

Two Groundbreaking Drugs Tested to Combat COVID-19 and its Deadliest Symptoms

Friday, May 15, 2020

Two existing drugs, created by a City of Hope scientist using advanced genomic technology, are being tested for their potential to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. One could be used to prevent the novel coronavirus infection, the other to stop the “cytokine storm,” an immune system overreaction that causes most COVID deaths. Both drugs were developed by John J. Rossi, Ph. D., Lidow Family Research Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at City of Hope, and his longtime collaborator Nagy A. Habib, M.D., of Imperial College, London. These drugs are at the forefront of an exciting new class of medications called small activating RNAs, which transmi...

UCI Professor Launches 6-Month Study of Rapidly Testing for COVID-19 Antibodies

Friday, May 15, 2020

The UC Irvine Vaccine R&D Center at UCI’s School of Medicine’s Institute for Immunology developed a way to test COVID-19 immunity against 34 coronavirus antigens, or 33 antigens from six other harmful viruses that cause respiratory infections, from a finger stick blood test using the COVID-19 Coronavirus Antigen Microarray technology developed by Dr. Felgner, director of the UCI Vaccine Research and Development Center and the Protein Microarray Laboratory and Training Facility. All within 10 minutes. The center will be conducting the six-month study using this method on UCI healthcare workers. This test provides more accurate information about anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity than most tests currently available...

UCI Receives $2.5 Million to Support COVID-19 Patient Care, Research

Friday, May 15, 2020

A $2.5 million gift from the John and Mary Tu Foundation to the University of California, Irvine is supporting COVID-19-associated patient care at UCI Health and advance clinical and translational research across campus focused on new ways to test for and treat the viral infection. As the region’s only combined academic health system and public research university, UCI is at the forefront in galvanizing an active response to the pandemic. UCI Health – the university’s clinical enterprise – and the Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences have infectious disease experts, public health researchers and world-class clinicians dedicated to mitigatin...

UCs, CSUs to Close Campuses for In-Person Instruction This Fall

Friday, May 15, 2020

UC Irvine is preparing for a hybrid instruction situation this fall to combat the spread of coronavirus, with a mixture of online and in-person classes, and a attempt to house as many students in dorms as safely possible, according to its chancellor Howard Gillman. “Most classes will be offered remotely, either as the only option or a complement to in-person instruction. We are doing everything possible to prepare classrooms for in-person instruction, but it’s too early to determine which courses will be ready for traditional on-site learning,” Gillman said in an announcement. It is likely that small graduate seminars, and undergraduate lab an...

Venture Capitalists See OC's Strong Ophthalmology Sector

Friday, May 15, 2020

(Orange County Business Journal) Despite concerns the coronavirus will bring a slowdown or halt to venture funding, the largest ophthalmic-focused venture capital firms and funds in Orange County are moving ahead with investments. Bill Link, who runs Flying L Partners’ Newport Beach outpost, and Aliso Viejo-based Visionary Ventures Managing Director Jeff Weinhuff, recently caught up with the Business Journal. Both investors expressed optimism about their recent investments, not only because of the quality of the companies, but because, they say, their focus on early-stage and generally pre-commercial companies assumes less risk than those in commercial stages. Last month, Visionary Ventures led and Flying ...

City of Irvine to Open Tennis, Pickleball Courts for Modified Play

Thursday, May 14, 2020

At its meeting on May 12, Irvine City Council approved the reopening of City tennis and pickleball courts, following guidelines established by the State’s Resilience Roadmap. Tennis and pickleball courts will be open during regular operating hours beginning Friday, May 15. Courts will be open for singles play and one-on-one City-led instruction with safety guidelines in place. The City has adopted guidelines suggested by the United States Tennis Association and USA Pickleball Association for safe play to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Guidelines include: Practice social distancing measures, including standing 6 feet from court entrances and exits while waiting to play and not congregatin...

Burnt Crumbs and Burntzilla In Irvine Have Reopened for Takeout

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

(Orange County Register) Soufflé pancakes and the Spaghetti Grilled Cheese Sandwich are back. Chef-owner Paul Cao has decided to reopen Burnt Crumbs and its sister restaurant Burntzilla for takeout after a temporary closure which began in April. Last weekend, Burnt Crumbs Irvine began serving weekend brunch, and on May 11, the restaurant began serving an all-day menu including Spaghetti Grilled Cheese, Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich, Nashville Hot Chicken, Smashed Onion Burger, Carne Asada Salad, fries and chips. Soufflé pancakes will only be served on the weekends. The restaurant will also offer “Grab & Go Frozen Meal Toppers” such as Chicken Pot Pie Chowda...

Gov. Newsom Releases Guidelines to Reopen Dine-In Restaurants, Malls, Offices And More In California

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

(ABC News) Gov. Gavin Newsom announced modifications to the statewide stay-at-home order to allow more businesses in California to reopen, including dine-in restaurants, shopping malls, and offices. In order to open for sit-down or dine-in service, restaurants must: Have disposable menus or post menus online so diners can view them on their own devices Cutlery, napkins, and cups should not be "pre-set" on the table before diners sit down Avoid use of shared condiments (salt shakers, ketchup, etc.) Pre-roll utensils in napkins before giving them to customers Takeout containers for leftovers must be filled by customers (not kitchen or wait staff) Thoroughly clean tables, chairs, etc. after eac...

Irvine City Council Approves Four-Phase Reopening Plan and Drive-Through Testing Program

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

At its meeting on May 12, the Irvine City Council approved a four-phase plan for reopening city facilities, services, and programs that is guided by the State’s Resilience Roadmap. The plan allows for tennis and pickleball courts to reopen now as the state moves into Stage 2 of its roadmap. Courts will be open for singles play and one-on-one city-led instruction with safety guidelines in place. When the state moves into Stage 3, city playgrounds can reopen. City athletic fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and stadiums can also reopen for practices and games in Stage 3. Facilities, including Senior Centers will open wit...

NAFTA Ends June 30, USMCA to Start July 1

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer recently issued a press release indicating that the United States will implement the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) starting July 1. As a consequence, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will effectively end June 30. While importers who have not claimed NAFTA on their July 2019 through June 2020 shipments will remain able to file post-entry claims for refunds based on NAFTA until June 30, 2021, the announcement means that starting July 1, 2020, importers must be ready to claim USMCA by using the newly created "S" special program indicator (SPI) on their U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 7501 form...

Orange County Meets Some State Criteria for Reopening Faster, Falls Short On Others, Officials Say

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

(Orange County Register) As Orange County prepares for a partial return to public life and activities, county officials say they’re already meeting some state benchmarks that would allow them to accelerate the reopening of businesses and resuming public gatherings. But the county falls short in other areas, and officials said some criteria that may work for smaller, rural counties are unrealistic for denser, more urban ones like theirs as the coronavirus outbreak continues. County supervisors got a full rundown on Tuesday, May 12, on where they stand with respect to the markers Gov. Gavin Newsom announced recently, and they talked about seeking change...

California Becomes First State to Switch November Election to All-Mail Balloting

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

(POLITICO) California Gov. Gavin Newsom on May 8 made California the first state to switch its November election to all-mail balloting due to concerns over physical participation during the coronavirus pandemic. Most Californians already live in counties that have opted into a new universal vote-by-mail law. But state leaders and elections officials have increasingly sounded the alarm about what happened in Wisconsin’s primary, where polling places saw long lines and crowds and many voters were fearful of the health risks of having to vote in person. Citing that “concern and anxiety around this November's election,” Newsom signed an executive order requiring counties t...

California Department of Health, OSHA Issue Guidelines for Reopening Dine-In Restaurants, Shopping Centers

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

As stay-at-home orders across the state, put in place to slow the spread of Coronavirus, are being modified, the California Department of Public Health and the California Devision of Occupational Safety and Health recently issued new guidlines for the reopening of dine-in restaurants and shopping centers. The documents provide guidance for dine-in restaurants, brewpubs, craft distilleries, breweries, bars, pubs, wineries, shopping malls, destination shopping centers, strip and outlet malls, and swap meets to support a safe, clean environment for workers, customers, and the public. View the Dine-In Restaurant Guidance document here. View the Shopping Center Guidance document here.

County of Orange Receives $900,000 for Dislocated Workers

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The County of Orange has received a $900,000 grant from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to provide economic support for dislocated workers. Orange County residents whose employment recently ended as a result of COVID-19 are eligible for the Orange County Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) program. The program is designed to meet employer needs by helping job seekers upgrade skills, obtain employment, gain credential, and improve job retention and increase earnings. The grant will support approximately 1,500 Orange County residents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and need assistance. Orange County WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker program participants are eligible t...

Newsom Joins Four Governors In Seeking $1 Trillion In Federal Relief For All States

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

(LA Times) California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his counterparts in four Western states asked Congress for $1 trillion in COVID-19 pandemic relief for all states and local governments. Newsom joined with the governors of Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Colorado, as well as legislative leaders from the five states, in asking the House and Senate for the aid. The governors said the funds would be critical for public health programs, law enforcement and schools. “Without federal support, states and cities will be forced to make impossible decisions — like whether to fund critical public healthcare that will help us recover, or prevent layoffs o...

For Malls and Others, Reopenings in Limbo

Monday, May 11, 2020

(Orange County Register) Macy’s, Kohls, and Nordstrom are sanitizing their stores and getting ready for customers as some of the nation’s businesses start to thaw after two months in a coronavirus deep freeze. And new rules Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled May 7 outline parameters for how California businesses like restaurants, tanning salons, and stores may soon be joining them. But don’t make plans to visit Southern California’s shopping malls anytime soon. There’s a long laundry list of benchmarks California counties must meet to reopen ahead of a yet-to-be-announced statewide schedule. And, so far, Southern California counties fail to meet the two biggest criteria righ...

IVC Paralegal Instructor Hard at Work at the OC Court Self-Help Center

Monday, May 11, 2020

Irvine Valley College (IVC) paralegal studies instructor Renato Izquieta is busy on the front line of the local justice system, supervising the Orange County Superior Court Self-Help Center. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Izquieta continues to assist individuals with emergency civil and probate services, such as protecting those facing elder abuse. At the onset of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, experts cautioned there was a risk of an increase in cases such as domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse. Izquieta realized there was a greater need than ever for staff at the OC Court Self-Help Center wh...

Orange County Great Plates Delivered Program Provides Economic Stimulus to Local Restaurants

Monday, May 11, 2020

In response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s April 24 announcement of the California Emergency Feeding Program, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalEOS) and City of Irvine staff have participated in a number of conference calls with representatives from the County of Orange regarding the logistics of a new program branded Great Plates Delivered. Great Plates Delivered is designed to provide meals to adults 65 and older and adults 60-64 who are at high-risk and are unable to access meals while staying at home and are ineligible for other nutrition programs, and to support local restaurants and other food providers and t...

Reopen your Building Safely: Refresh the Water First

Monday, May 11, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many businesses, schools, homes, and other buildings unused for weeks. Before people return to these structures, the water needs to be refreshed. Under normal use, water pipes maintain a chlorine residual that protects public health and aesthetic water quality. Water that sits for a few weeks becomes stagnant. If you are reopening a closed building, Irvine Ranch Water District recommends you take the following steps: Identify all water taps, toilets, shower and bathtub fixtures, refrigerator/freezers with an ice maker or water supply, drinking fountains, and any other source of potable water. Turn on all the water taps with drains simultaneousl...

The Toll Roads Extend Time to Pay Tolls, Make Other Adjustments in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Monday, May 11, 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic impacts, The Toll Roads have made temporary adjustments to business processes to accommodate drivers and FasTrak® accountholders. “These are unprecedented times and The Toll Roads are adjusting and adapting daily to meet the needs of our drivers,” said Samuel Johnson, Interim CEO of the Transportation Corridor Agencies, the two joint powers authorities responsible for operations of The Toll Roads. “We’ve taken steps to help our customers through this challenging time and provide some relief. We aim to ease burdens where and when we can, while continuing to be fiscally responsible.” The Toll Road...

UCI Researchers Create Tech That Could Help with COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Monday, May 11, 2020

(Spectrum News 1) California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said one of the parameters of getting back to some sort of normal is having a system that can help track where people who’ve been infected with COVID-19 have been. One tool is in the works in Southern California that is using the power of technology to help with contact tracing, while protecting privacy. A software engineer at UC Irvine has helped develop the foundation for something that could eventually help with that contact tracing. And all it takes is using the camera to scan a QR code. And it will take you to sit...

Dr. Robinson is a Leading Authority on Infection Prevention and a Calming Force for Frontline Health Care Providers at Hoag

Saturday, May 09, 2020

As Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology at Hoag, Philip Robinson, MD, FIDSA, has led the COVID-19 efforts for Hoag. In January, the Orange County Health Care Agency selected Hoag to care for California’s first COVID-19 patient, who has since fully recovered. In March, he provided advice on COVID-19 to the community during the City of Irvine’s COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall in March. Dr. Robinson is the principal investigator at Hoag for the Gilead COVID-19 Remdesivir Clinical Trial and sub-investigator for Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Dr. Robinson has played a crucial rol...

Governor Newsom Releases Updated Industry Guidance

Saturday, May 09, 2020

Following up on the state’s announcement that it will begin modifying the stay at home order on Friday, May 8, Governor Gavin Newsom today released updated industry guidance – including for retail, manufacturing, and logistics – to begin reopening with modifications that reduce risk and establish a safer environment for workers and customers. Click here to see the new guidance. “Californians, working together, have flattened the curve. Because of that work, our health data tells us that California can enter the next stage of this pandemic and gradually begin to restart portions of our economy,” said Governor Newsom. “It’s critical that businesses an...

UC Irvine’s Chris Schwarz to Provide Economic Update as States Begin to Reopen

Saturday, May 09, 2020

Chris Schwarz, associate professor of finance and faculty director of the Center for Investment and Wealth Management (CIWM) at University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, will present a live market and economic update webinar, Thursday, May 14, at 10 a.m. As states begin ease stay-in-place restrictions and businesses begin to reopen, Schwarz will cover timely information on: The latest economic data on the GDP and unemployment, What the recovery is looking like in places that have reopened, and Financial markets. The 30-minute webinar will include a Q&A session. register here This update is hosted in partnership with CIWM, the Paul Merage School of Business, UC Irvine, Greater Irvine Chamber, an...

California’s Phase 2 Coronavirus Restart: Here’s What Can and Can’t Open This Week

Friday, May 08, 2020

(San Francisco Chronicle) Gov. Gavin Newsom says some retail stores will be able to reopen for curbside service Friday and that in some areas, officials will soon be able to seek state approval to go further. Details on reopening guidelines will be released Thursday. Opening: Businesses that will be able to open include clothing stores, bookstores, sporting good stores, and florists. Manufacturers and suppliers of those goods can also resume with modifications to their operations. But: Places with stricter stay-at-home orders, such as the Bay Area, can keep their rules in place. If they do, stores will remain closed, even if other region...

Cox Named No. 17 on Top 50 Companies’ List

Friday, May 08, 2020

Cox Communications, has earned the No. 17 spot on the 2020 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. This marks the 15th time the company has been recognized among the nation’s top corporations for its diversity practices, reinforcing Cox’s longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Cox was also recognized as the No. 6 company for LGBTQ employees and ranked 11th for supplier diversity. “Inclusion is at the forefront of everything we do at Cox Communications,” said Sam Attisha, senior vice president and region manager for Cox’s California markets. “Broad diversity is evident from our workforce to our suppliers and the wide programming option...

Families Forward Serves Exponentially More Families in Need Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Friday, May 08, 2020

Families Forward has seen an exponential increase in requests for service since social distancing measures went into place. Families the organization serves are those that are most likely to be negatively impacted by the economic downturn due to the COVID-19 outbreak. From March 16 to May 1, Families Forward provided food assistance to 3,865 families—more than 18,000 individuals. To put this number into perspective, for the entire month of February, Families Forward provided food assistance to a total of 241 families. Additionally, Families Forward has received nearly 200 requests for emergency housing and employment assistance due to either job loss or decreas...

MemorialCare Opens COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Center to Serve OC Community

Friday, May 08, 2020

With reliable testing of COVID-19 so important to controlling its spread throughout local communities, MemorialCare has opened an Orange County drive-thru testing center in San Clemente. The testing center will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. To participate in the testing, community members who show symptoms of the virus must first contact their physicians and secure a physician’s order or prescription before scheduling an appointment. Appointments are required in order to be tested at the MemorialCare testing site by calling (877) MYMEMCARE (696-3622). Once appointments are confirmed, patients can then participate in the drive-thru testing site located at 654 Camino de Lo...

Tips for Reopening Your Workplace

Friday, May 08, 2020

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw offer tips and insights on how employers can prepare to bring teleworkers back into the office once COVID-19 stay-at-home orders are lifted. Set Expectations for Returning to Work Some employees who are working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic may assume that since they have been performing their duties from home to the satisfaction of their employer, they may continue to work from home once the office reopens and may ask if they can continue to telework, Frank says. Employers ar...

Are California Businesses Getting a Fair Share of Coronavirus Loans?

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

(Fox & Hounds) California businesses have received $66.6 billion in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans so far, about 13% of the nation’s total, according to federal loan data. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state’s businesses didn’t receive a proportional share of the federal money in the first round, but that it is now “punching above its weight” in the second round, so it’s starting to balance out. The federal loan program is administered by the Small Business Administration to help cover payroll and expenses during the Coronavirus pandemic. Businesses and nonprofits with up to 500 employees are eligible for loans up to 2.5 time...

Trade Expert Jim Mayfield to Deliver California Export Overview at Orange County World Trade Week

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

The 2020 Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Forum, delivered digitally Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14, will include an overview of California trade and practical advice on navigating the current export environment from Jim Mayfield, director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center, Irvine, the commercial service of the International Trade Administration with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mayfield will also provide a brief update on operations and available resources from the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Irvine. Mayfield began his assignment with the Irvine Export Assistance Center in 2012, moving on to become director two years later, and most recently, their Acting Pacifi...

Travel and Tourism, a Vital Economic Driver to the Irvine Economy

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

In 2019, traveler expenditures for Irvine came to an estimated $781 million, an increase of 3.9% over 2018, according to the 2019 Visitor Impact report conducted specifically for Irvine by Dean Runyan Associates, on behalf of Destination Irvine. The Irvine travel industry contributed $49.6 million in local and state taxes. Without visitor spending, it is estimated, that resident households in Irvine would each pay $560 more a year in state and local taxes. “Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) pay for local services, said President and CEO of Greater Irvine Chamber Bryan Starr. “In Irvine, the 8% TOT, which is paid by hotel guests, account...

EV Charging Company Moves US Headquarters to Irvine

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

(Orange County Register) Noodoe EV, a Taiwanese maker of electric vehicle charging systems, has moved its U.S. headquarters to Irvine from Walnut. Company CEO Jennifer Chang said the move to a bigger facility was fueled by a growing demand for the company’s products in North America. Last year, Noodoe installed nearly 1,000 EV charging stations at U.S. casinos, hotels, parking lots and shopping malls. The company entered the U.S. market three years ago but has been servicing Europe and Asia for about eight years. Chang said Noodoe chose Irvine based on its “incredible talent base in all things tech.” “Like Noodoe, Irvine is growing fast,&rdquo...

Great Park Projects Shift to Next Phase

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

(Orange County Register) With many of the sports and nature amenities completed at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, development is shifting to several new buildings, including a firefighting museum and a public safety training center. The city also was expected to finalize a lease for the new Wild Rivers water park, after signing one in December for a relocated Pretend City Children’s Museum. In the northwest corner of the park, the planned Fire Museum and Safety Learning Center will include interactive exhibits, displays and information about the history of firefighting and fire prevention education. Its estimated $25 million cost will b...

Jorge Mora Named Greater Irvine Chamber May 2020 Member of the Month

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

Jorge Mora, business development consultant, KTimeHR, has been named the Greater Irvine Chamber May 2020 Member of the Month. “Hands down, the most significant benefit that I’ve received as a member of the Greater Irvine Chamber are the relationships I’ve made. I have had the pleasure of meeting some phenomenal individuals across a wide variety of professions and have the privilege of now calling many of them friends,” said Mora. “I’ve also been very successful converting some leads into new business. I highly recommend the Chamber to anyone looking to meet top-notch professionals.” A member since 2019, Mora has regularly attended Networker...

Small Employers and New Emergency FMLA

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the responsibilities small employers have under the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLA), and how the new leave differs from the regular Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). EFMLA Applies to Small Employers Part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act provides paid protected leave to employees who cannot work due to having to care for a child who cannot attend school or daycar...

Telework During Pandemic Could Affect Future Remote Work Requests

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

(CalChamber) If an employer allows employees to telework during the COVID-19 pandemic, will the employer have to allow them to continue teleworking after the California shelter-in-place order is lifted? For disabled employees, would an employer have to automatically grant telework as a reasonable accommodation if the employees wish to continue the arrangement after the pandemic is over? Unless there is a disability-related limitation that may require teleworking, an employer has no legal obligation to allow employees to continue teleworking once the California shelter-in-place order is lifted. If there is a disability-related limitation, but the employer can effectively address the need with another for...

West Coast Organizations Promote Trade to Fuel Economic Recovery

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

(CalChamber) The California Chamber of Commerce, the Pacific Northwest International Trade Association, and the Washington Council on International Trade shared their support and principles for trade rebound this week in Pacific Northwest International Trade Associationa joint letter to President Donald J. Trump with copies to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, and the congressional delegations of California, Oregon, and Washington. As the U.S. economy slows, it is critical that international trade and investment opportunities are expanded, market access for domestic products abroad are promoted, and disincentives that impede the global competitiveness of U.S businesses and farmers are eliminated. California, Oregon, and Washington ar...

Irvine Named a Best City to Stay-in-Place in the United States

Monday, May 04, 2020

With every major U.S. city under stay-in-place orders, a popular radio station issued a list of American cities from best to worst when it comes to living under social distancing mandates. Irvine made the #2 spot on the list. (Although, we strongly argue it should be #1!) The criteria used for the ranking include average apartment size, the amount of parkland per person, percentage of residents with broadband internet, and the number of restaurant takeout options. Master-planned features of Irvine make complying to stay-at-home orders more comfortable. An extensive network of beautifully-appointed villages that have always connected us, now helps us adhere to social distancing. Irvine resident...

Linda DiMario, Lucy Dunn, Others on UCI Forum Panelists Discussing COVID-19, Where Business is Now, What to Expect Next

Monday, May 04, 2020

What are the ramifications of this new reality brought on by the Coronavirus crisis for the business community? Technology and innovation have been important factors for some businesses to continue operating, but Orange County is a dynamic ecosystem also comprising of biotech, healthcare, tourism, higher education, and manufacturing; how will they factor into the region’s recovery? Orange County business leaders shared their insights during a May 1 webinar on reopening the economy and what’s being done to combat the challenges facing the OC business community as a result of business closures, stay-in-place orders, and precautions taken to stave off a spike in COVID-19 cases. Following ...

OmniPrint International Pivots to Produce Needed Products During COVID-19 Crisis

Monday, May 04, 2020

OmniPrint International Inc., a print technology company specializing in designing and manufacturing direct-to-garment (DTG) printers and accessories, has pivoted in response to the Coronavirus crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic started as OmniPrint was experiencing growth in hiring more staff, making more products, and moving the company to its new headquarters in Irvine—a building six times larger than they previously occupied. But with the decline of sales by 80% just two weeks into the pandemic, OmniPrint owners felt compelled to redirect their manufacturing efforts to make products that were needed by the community. “We are blessed to have the facility, staff, and machinery to b...

UCI and Local Businesses Team Up to Produce New Type of Mask

Monday, May 04, 2020

(Los Angeles Times) UC Irvine physicians, Dr. Melissa Chang and Dr. Aditi Sharma, have teamed up with OC Cutworks, a local fabric cutting business, to produce thousands of face masks for hospital workers. The new type of protective masks are made from recycled material once used to sterilize surgical equipment. Dr. Aditi Sharma, a resident physician in the UC Irvine Health dermatology department, said the sterilization wraps can be used in masks that filter up to 87% of particles, which is almost as effective as N95 masks, which have a filtration efficiency of 95%. Sharma believes the masks can be produced in abundance, helping solve th...

City of Hope Receives $750,000 in Funding from California’s Stem Cell Agency for Clinical Trial

Sunday, May 03, 2020

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $750,000 to City of Hope’s John Zaia, M.D., on for his first clinical study on COVID-19 after approving emergency funding last month. Zaia, program director of City of Hope’s CIRM-funded Alpha Stem Cell Clinic, will be conducting a study to administer blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients to treat those with the virus. (The mission of the City of Hope Alpha Stem Cell Clinic, part of the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinic Network, is to accelerate stem cell-based clinical therapies in regenerative medicine.) Plasma is a component of blood that carries proteins called antibodies tha...

Dean of UCI’s School of Population Health, Bernadette Boden-Albala Provides Expert Council on COVID-19

Sunday, May 03, 2020

The Dean of UCI’s School of Population Health, Bernadette Boden-Albala, Dr.P.H.—a renowned researcher and administrator whose efforts to reduce health disparities for America’s disadvantaged became a blueprint for community-based stroke and heart disease prevention—is at the forefront of the region’s response to COVID-19 on several fronts, drawing upon her experience of working to provide solutions in response to other major diseases. She is a member of a statewide panel of experts that inform California’s public health response on the pandemic. At the university level, Dean Boden-Albala provides counsel to UCI leadership on best practices to help ensure the health and safety of th...

Edwards Lifesciences Repurposes Kitchen to Prepare Meals for the Needy Amid COVID-19 Stay-in-Place Orders

Sunday, May 03, 2020

(Orange County Register) Scott Ullem was trying to come up with ways to raise money for an Orange County Coronavirus fund when a novel idea struck him. Rather than just raising cash, how about using his company’s underutilized kitchen to turn out meals for the homeless, the Edwards Lifesciences chief financial officer thought. After all, the Irvine-based medical device manufacturer — on partial lockdown since the COVID-19 outbreak shuttered a major portion of the U.S. economy — has a 7,000-square-foot commercial kitchen at its LINC Café. The cafe is working at just 60% of its capacity with a portion of its 50-member catering staf...

OneOC Announces Spirit of Volunteerism Honorees

Sunday, May 03, 2020

(Orange County Register) OneOC held its annual Spirit of Volunteerism event virtually on April 30. In the spirit of its mission to accelerate nonprofit success, OneOC is committed to making nonprofits in Orange County as efficient and effective as they are passionate about their own missions. OneOC provides solutions and support services to nonprofits and companies, helping them reach their goals, make a greater impact, and engage with their communities, bridging Orange County public and private sectors. Here is the full list of honorees: Simon Alison, Philista Almquist, Dave Atkinson, Aulani Reservation Sales Team, Autumn Trail, Connie Baca, Pat Bacerra, Cheryl Bartetzko, Kathy Bastas, John Begg, Dawn Bingaman...

T is for Travel: Irvine Hotels Celebrate National Tourism & Travel Week

Sunday, May 03, 2020

This week is National Travel and Tourism Week and Irvine hotels are lighting up their windows dusk to dawn with the letter “T” for Travel and Tourism and to celebrate the strength, selflessness, and resiliency of the industry. Hotels, one component of a much wider network of service providers, having physical visibility are displaying their continued presence serving communities and their confidence to bounce back once the economy reopens. Participating Irvine hotels are Embassy Suites Irvine - Orange County Airport, Hyatt House Irvine/John Wayne Airport, Irvine Marriott, Marriott Irvine Spectrum, and Staybridge Suites Irvine. Established in 1983 by a congressional resolution, National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is a...

Does the California Consumer Privacy Act Prevent Me from Checking Employees’ Temperatures?

Saturday, May 02, 2020

(CalChamber) As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our economy, business owners are trying their best to ensure that employees returning to the workplace are safe to resume their duties, particularly when those duties involve interactions with other people. For this reason, many businesses are implementing safety procedures that often include temperature checks for employees resuming their work. One issue that may not be top of mind for an employer with regard to temperature checks is California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). How does a law that was supposed to be targeted at big tech companies who collected a consumer’s data online apply t...

Irvine Plans to Offer Coronavirus Testing to Residents

Saturday, May 02, 2020

(Orange County Register) In the next few weeks, Irvine officials hope to be able to tell every resident they can be tested for infection with the coronavirus by making an online appointment and showing up at a drive-through test site. At the request of Councilman Michael Carroll, the Irvine City Council voted on April 28, to create a testing program for city employees and residents. Carroll said officials are talking to labs to find a partner to process the tests and he would like to launch the program in a few weeks. The impetus to have the city offer tests was “the understandabl...

OC Leaders Set Guidelines to Safely Reopen Business When Time Arrives

Saturday, May 02, 2020

(Orange County Register) Taking the temperature of employees arriving for work and making sure face masks are widely worn are among guidelines Orange County Supervisors approved April 28, for safely reopening businesses once state closure orders are rescinded. Over the past couple weeks, board Chairwoman Michelle Steel and Supervisor Don Wagner conferred with a handful of representatives of industries, including restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and healthcare providers, to draw up a list of seven rules that businesses will be expected to follow upon reopening to protect the health of employees, customers, vendors, and the general public. Some are in line with guidance th...

UCI Medical Center’s Dr. Sebastian Schubl Volunteers at New York Hospital

Friday, May 01, 2020

(Orange County Register) The man had already spent two weeks on a ventilator at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, critically ill from COVID-19 and in a medically induced coma when he and Dr. Sebastian Schubl met. Schubl, 43, a trauma and critical care surgeon at UCI Medical Center, saw a lot of patients during his recent week-long stint volunteering at the New York hospital — the same hospital where he started his career 15 years ago. But that one man on the ventilator made an impression. Maybe it was because Schubl and the man were about the same age. Maybe it was because they both hav...

James M. Cox Foundation Donates $25,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Cox Communications and Cox Automotive are working together to help feed families in Orange County through Second Harvest Food Bank with a $25,000 donation from The James M. Cox Foundation. The grant will support local families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are very grateful to the James M. Cox Foundation's support in this time of critical need," said Harald Herrmann, chief executive officer, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. "This generous donation will provide food for the equivalent of 75,000 meals for children, families and seniors who have been economically impacted by COVID-19. Partnerships like these will help our community pull through this difficult time." Th...

Working Wardrobes Rebuilds Itself and Careers

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Working Wardrobes, Orange County’s foremost career development nonprofit, announced the launch of its Rebuilding Careers initiative to help people hone their skills and find jobs in these challenging times. Rebuilding Careers is a series of video workshops covering a wide range of informative career development topics, including important job search strategies, helpful resources to develop a winning resume and skillset, techniques to nail that job interview, tips for creating a personal brand, professional networking instruction, employer panels, and more. Rebuilding Careers workshops are free to the public and are conducted online each Tuesday and Thursday to help job seekers land their nex...

2020 Exporter of the Year Award Nominees Announced

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Each year, the Greater Irvine Chamber takes the opportunity to showcase an Orange County-based business that has expanded its markets through successful export strategies by recognizing as an Exporter of the Year. The 2020 Exporter of the Year award nominees are Benchmark FR, BIOLASE Inc., BruxMix, and Suavecito. The Exporter of the Year award will be presented during a virtual session of the Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Forum, delivered digitally Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14. Since its inception in 2002, Benchmark FR has been focused on making high-quality flame-resistant clothing that is safe and comfortable to wea...

Colorado, Nevada Join California, Oregon, Washington in Western States Pact

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak today announced their respective states are joining California, Oregon, and Washington in the Western States Pact – a working group of Western state governors with a shared vision for modifying stay at home orders and fighting COVID-19. “I want to thank Colorado and Nevada for joining the Western States Pact,” said Governor Newsom. “COVID-19 doesn’t follow state or national boundaries, and it will take every level of government, working together to get the upper hand on this virus.” “Coloradans are working together to slow the spread of COVID-19 and have important information t...

OneOC Celebrates Spirit of Volunteerism

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

(Orange County Register) Most years, OneOC’s Spirit of Volunteerism event is a lunch at the Disneyland Hotel. Typically about 1,000 people show up, chow down, clap, and leave. This year, with no gatherings allowed, LaVal Brewer, OneOC’s director of business development, said OneOC plans post six videos between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on four platforms — Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Each video will focus on a cluster of nonprofits and companies that provide volunteers, and feature the volunteers nominated by those organizations. The tricky part is viewership. Organizations are telling their nominees to be online when the videos drop, and ever...

Orange County Mostly Ready for Next Steps Toward Reopening, Health Officials Say

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

(Orange County Register) Orange County is well on the way to meeting guidelines to prepare for the gradual reopening of businesses, schools, and public facilities once the threat of the Coronavirus begins to wane, county health officials said. Hospital capacity is adequate, testing is being ramped up, special provisions are underway for nursing homes and an existing program to trace the contacts of people with infectious diseases is ready to go, Orange County Health Care Agency Assistant Director Lilly Simmering and County Public Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick told county supervisors on April 28. But some things beyond the county’s control, such a...

Gov. Newsom Announces Four Phases to Reopen California Businesses, Schools

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

(Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom on April 28 laid out a vision of how California's businesses, schools, and childcare facilities may be allowed to slowly reopen amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The state plans to reopen those sectors in four stages, as described by Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sonia Angell: Stage 1: Everyone is either staying at home or a member of the essential workforce. This is the stage we are in now and will stay in until a modification to the statewide stay-at-home order. Stage 2: Reopening lower risk workplaces, including: Non-essential manufacturing (toys, furniture, clothing, etc.) Schools Childcare facilities Retail businesses for curbsid...

Gov. Newsom: Changes to Virus Order May Come Within Weeks

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

(Associated Press) California may be only a few weeks away from making “meaningful changes” to its stay-at-home order, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, but he warned progress will be jeopardized if people do things like crowd beaches, which occurred over the warm spring weekend. “This virus doesn’t take the weekends off, this virus doesn’t go home because it’s a beautiful sunny day around our coasts,” he said. The Democratic governor targeted beachgoers in Orange and Ventura counties, calling them an example of “what not to do” if the state wants to continue its progress fighting the coronavirus. But Orange County officials pushed back agains...

Irvine Tapped Once More for Tech Testing Grounds

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

(OC Business Journal) The city of Irvine has again been selected as the go-to for another technology test. This time it’s autonomous delivery by Fremont-based tech firm Pony.ai, which is using a fleet of autonomous vehicles for grocery and other product delivery in the city of more than 280,000 people. It’s a fitting time. The company – which focuses on autonomous driving technology – said with the state’s shelter-in-place order in effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a subsequent ramp in online ordering. The vehicle fleet of 10 all-electric Hyundai Konas are being beta tested to provide the last leg of th...

Orange County Names New Health Care Agency Head

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

(Orange County Register) Dr. Clayton Chau, who previously spent more than a decade in the Orange County Health Care Agency’s behavioral health division, has been named the agency’s new director. The county announced the selection of Chau on Monday, April 27 – about a month after the position opened up when Richard Sanchez left it to head CalOptima, which provides health insurance to the county’s low-income residents. “Dr. Chau brings a wealth of experience to HCA, particularly within the realm of behavioral health. I look forward to working with him on tackling our greatest healthcare issues,” county CEO Frank Kim said in ...

Remote Work: Gauging Job Performance

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss what employers should consider when monitoring employees working remotely and provide key takeaways for evaluating the performance of remote workers. While telework is not a new concept, Frank says, it is new to many employers. And even for employers who previously allowed telecommuting, it’s new to have so many employees working remotely. Many employers may now be asking themselves: how can we evaluate job performance? Considerations Shaw remarks that while there are many temptations in the home setting, some peopl...

When Stay-At-Home Orders Are Expiring in Each of California’s 58 Counties

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

(Los Angeles Times) While all Californians are currently living under a statewide stay-at-home order implemented in response to the coronavirus outbreak, some counties have also crafted additional or more-targeted local regulations aimed at stemming the disease’s spread. Orange County is following the state for easing stay-at-home order. California does not have a set end date. The county-level orders vary, as do their expiration dates. Some of the measures are in place until a specified date, others until further notice. Generally, local health officials can issue guidance that’s stricter, but not more lenient, than the state’s. As COVID-19 continues to spread in California, some communities are itching to open things back up and allow resident...

An Irvine Business Testing of its Workforce for Coronavirus Antibodies Reveals Startling Results

Monday, April 27, 2020

(Orange County Register) Everyone’s wondering. That cold I had a month or two ago. The dry cough. The fatigue. Was that COVID-19? Have I already been infected? Executives at Kareo, an Irvine company that develops software for doctors and medical practices, didn’t want their workers to wonder anymore. Since wide-scale testing for coronavirus remains unavailable through traditional channels — such as public health departments and hospitals — Kareo CEO Dan Rodrigues decided to just do it, offering antibody tests to any curious employees on his workforce who wanted one. He found a doctor to partner with — Jennifer Armstrong of Newport Beach. They talked t...

California to Borrow Federal Money to Cover Soaring Jobless Claims

Monday, April 27, 2020

(Los Angeles Times) California has been approved to borrow what is expected to be billions of dollars from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits to those left jobless by the coronavirus pandemic, raising concerns about the cost of repaying the debt. The state made the request as its reserves for paying unemployment benefits are being quickly depleted, requiring California to begin borrowing in just a few weeks, officials said. “We have protocols in place for difficult moments such as this to ensure critical safety nets remain in place,” California Labor Secretary Julie Su said. With more than 2.7 million Californians filing ne...

County Officials Set Up Reopening Task Force

Monday, April 27, 2020

(Orange County Register) As local, state, and federal officials debate the appropriate time to lift coronavirus- related closures, Orange County leaders have convened a task force to examine how to safely reopen businesses. Directed by Orange County Supervisors Board Chairwoman Michelle Steel and including Supervisor Don Wagner, the group of local business and health care leaders held a first conference call Tuesday, and it could bring some preliminary recommendations to the board as soon as this week, Wagner said. While business representatives don’t want to endanger public health, they’re eager for a target date and feel “it is time to figure ou...

COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

Monday, April 27, 2020

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss key details of California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave, including gig workers, eligibility requirements, verbal requests, avoiding a “gotcha moment,” and employer recommendations. Standout Details California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave announced in Executive Order N-51-20 by Governor Newsom on April 16 applies to large employers with more than 500 employees in food sector industries. One of the interesting aspects of this supplemental paid sick leave is that gig economy workers are also covered by the order, Shaw tell...

Orange County United Way Helps Families During COVID-19 Crisis

Monday, April 27, 2020

The Orange County United Way is helping to mitigate the impact of Coronavirus on employment and income for many families across Orange County. OC United Way reported that requests for help with food and housing keep climbing, week by week. In March, there were 57,800 claims for unemployment insurance filed in Orange County, according to a report from the California Employment Development Department. Meanwhile, data from 211 Orange County shows there have been 11,124 requests for assistance with Food/Meals and 8,640 for help with housing. These two categories remain as the most significant categories for caller needs. Through its Homelessness Prevention Pilot Program, in a single week, OC Unite...

Coronavirus Trackers

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Tracking by County State’s Daily Actions Everything You Need to Know About California’s Response to Coronavirus Daily Coronavirus Tracker Coronavirus State by State

Post-Coronavirus Business Operations May Look Different in California Versus Florida

Friday, April 24, 2020

(Politico) Retailers are considering “sneeze guards” and ways to quarantine fitting room items. Restaurant owners are imagining a future with masked servers and temperature checks. Industries built on the personal touch are looking to eliminate physical contact. Businesses may be appealing to Congress for more aid, but they know key details about the economy’s reawakening won’t be hammered out in Washington. The states, counties, and even cities are widely expected to decide when each business can open its doors and under what conditions. Industry groups are pleading for coordination as they brace for a jumble of evolving state and local orders tha...

Reminder: Properly Document FFCRA Leave to Claim Tax Credits

Friday, April 24, 2020

(CalChamber) Employers are becoming familiar with the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which provides new COVID-19-related federal emergency paid sick leave and emergency family and medical leave. As employees start using the new leave, it’s important for employers to collect and maintain proper documentation, not only for their own records, but also to claim the new tax credits available to them. The FFCRA provides fully refundable tax credits to cover the cost of the required leave. According to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance, employers can begin taking advantage of the credits by withholding federal employment taxes equal to th...

Column: Give Newsom Credit. He’s Trying It All to Fight Coronavirus and California’s Economic

Thursday, April 23, 2020

(Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom has been throwing lots of stuff on the wall and hoping it sticks — sort of like FDR during the Great Depression. No, I’m not really equating Newsom with Franklin D. Roosevelt, the greatest president of the 20th century. For one thing, Roosevelt was one of history’s most inspiring and comforting orators. Newsom tries, but he’s long-winded, repetitive and jargon-prone: “Meet this moment.” “In real time.” But California’s governor deserves lots of credit for — like Roosevelt — trying many things as the state staggers through a health pandemic and economic collapse. Newsom is announcing a new projec...

Cox Communications Uses Virtual Assistance to Support Customers While Social Distancing during Coronavirus Crisis

Thursday, April 23, 2020

From helping customers self-install their cable modem to checking their internet and wifi connections, Cox technicians are serving customers in a new way with the launch of On-site with Virtual Assist, a tool to enhance customer service while better protecting customers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Piloted in California, Cox partnered with Help Lightning, a leading supplier in remote expertise technology, to bring this new service to market nationwide. Now, instead of entering a customer’s home to troubleshoot, Cox technicians can handle service requests from outside. To access On-site with Virtual Assist support, Cox customers simply request help as they normall...

DOL Helps Employers Calculate FFCRA Leave Hours, Rates

Thursday, April 23, 2020

(CalChamber) The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its most recent guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The DOL is working hard to address employers’ lingering questions about the law’s requirements, including how to calculate an eligible employee’s hours of leave and their average regular rate for both emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for COVID-19-related reasons. Emergency Paid Sick Leave Hours Calculating leave hours for employees with regular schedules is straightforward. The FFCRA provides eligible full-time employees with 80 hours of emergency paid sick leave, and employees are considered full time if they’re schedule...

Face Coverings Required for Public Workers

Thursday, April 23, 2020

(OC Business Journal) The Orange County Board of Supervisors said on April 21 that cloth face coverings will be mandatory for all workers in contact with the public. The directive, passed at a special meeting, is effective Friday, April 24. The rule applies to grocery and convenience stores, pharmacies, gas stations, restaurants, food prep outlets, and retailers. Vice Chairman and First District Supervisor Andrew Do proposed the rule earlier this month as face coverings were recommended by OC health officials. A similar order was issued on April 13 in Irvine.

Legalities of Rehiring Employees After COVID-19 Layoffs

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Since the Coronavirus pandemic has taken hold, many employers have been in the unfortunate position of having to either reduce their employees’ hours or lay off their employees. Although the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — which offers loans designed to help small businesses with fewer than 500 employees stay afloat and keep workers employed during these trying times — ran out of money 13 days after its launch, the Senate on April 21 passed another bill that allocates $310 billion more into the program and an additional $60 billion to a separate small business emergency grant and loan program. The House expects t...

More Coronavirus Testing Coming as Orange County Expands Access

Thursday, April 23, 2020

(OC Register) With Coronavirus testing in Orange County still woefully short for a county of 3.2 million people, health officials are launching the OC COVID-19 Testing Network, which is expected to reach residents who might be experiencing symptoms of infection but don’t have insurance, lack a health care provider, or can’t get tested through their provider. The Orange County Health Care Agency said on April 21, that the network initially will have six health care clinics, with each able to conduct up to 100 tests a day. The clinics will use what is currently the most common diagnostic procedure, known as polymerase chain-reactio...

Pandemic Throws Global Economy Into Deeper Decline

Thursday, April 23, 2020

(Reuters) Global economic activity all but ground to a halt this month as government-imposed lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic took a particularly heavy toll on the world’s service industry, surveys showed. The outbreak, which has infected more than 2.6 million people and killed more than 180,000 globally, has also crippled manufacturing, shutting factories and upending supply chains. Meanwhile, with restaurants, bars, and other leisure options closed, holidays canceled and travel restricted, the situation in the services industry was dire. To try and support economies reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, governments and central banks around the world have unleashed unprecedented amounts of fisca...

Science Provides Hope for COVID-19

Thursday, April 23, 2020

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg, and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Science and Regulatory Advocacy Richard Moscicki, M.D., discuss how increased testing, medical treatments and vaccines can provide short-, middle- and long-term solutions to battling the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and reopening the economy. Below is a condensed summary of the podcast. To hear the full discussion of each topic, visit the time stamps noted in the article below. Short-Term Solution: Testing (Time Discussed: 03:30) The answer to the question of how the economy can effectivel...

Taco Bell Truck-Thru at HQ Makes Room for Large Essential Service Vehicles

Thursday, April 23, 2020

As the team at Taco Bell continues to provide support for essential and frontline workers, they realized there were some they hadn’t made room for. Literally. Large essential service vehicles that cannot fit in restaurant drive-thrus—including truckers, firefighters, EMTs, the police force, media news vans, etc. So, Taco Bell transformed its headquarters in Irvine into its first-ever truck-thru, serving heroes on the highway as they haul goods from long distances and others who continue to serve their local community. The Taco Bell kitchen is serving a custom on-the-go meal featuring a Crunchwrap Supreme®, bean burrito, cinnamon twists, and a Baja Blast® beverage, complimentary for those on the frontlines of th...

Unemployment Insurance: A Guide for Employers with Newly Displaced Workers

Thursday, April 23, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has displaced millions of California workers in a startlingly brief period — and it’s expected to get worse. According to a recent Economic Roundtable report, 43 percent of Californians are at high risk of unemployment. As millions of displaced workers seek economic relief in the form of California’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, the federal government has stepped in to supplement it (and each state’s UI program) with funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through no fault of their own, many employers have been forced to cut their workforces, and they want to help their displaced worker...

David Feldberg Earns Q2 2020 Rainmaker Title with $2 Million in Closed Business Referrals

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

David Feldberg has earned the Greater Irvine Chamber’s title of Rainmaker for the second quarter in 2020 with $2,221,500 in closed business referrals. His performance in the Wednesday Leads Group contributed to the group’s total of $4,344,427, making it the top-earning Leads Groups for total closed business from referrals during the period. “The Greater Irvine Chamber continues to be a great source of business for me year after year. Joining the Chamber is, without a doubt, the single best business decision I have ever made for my business,” said Feldberg. “Each year that I am involved, I further cement the friendship...

District Export Council is Presenting Sponsor for Orange County World Trade Week

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

The District Export Council (DEC) of Southern California is the Presenting Sponsor for the Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Forum, delivered digitally Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14, 2020. The DEC of Southern California is an organization of leaders from the local business community, appointed by successive U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, whose knowledge of international business provides a source of professional advice for local firms. For 30 years, DECs have served the United States by assisting companies in their local community’s export, thus promoting economic growth and creating new and high-paying jobs. Closely affiliated with the U.S. Commerce Department'...

Senate Approves $480 Billion More in Aid for Small Businesses, Hospitals, COVID-19 Testing

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

The Senate has passed an estimated $484 billion infusion of funds for small businesses, hospitals, and COVID-19 testing as the economy continues to reel from the pandemic. The chamber on Tuesday afternoon passed the Paycheck Protection Program Increase Act on a voice vote, sending the bill to the House for approval. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer indicated that a vote could take place as early as Thursday morning. Democrats finally reached a deal with Republicans and the White House after days of intense negotiations. On the Senate floor ahead of the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Democrats stymied the process...

Avoid Liability: On-Call Rules to Know

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the difference between “restricted” and “unrestricted” on-call shifts, and what issues may arise with the Paycheck Protection Program if employers place workers on on-call shifts. Restricted vs. Unrestricted As more employees are allowed to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place county ordinances, employers may find that not all positions have enough work to complete full-time hours, Frank says. To balance company needs, some employees are being shifted to on-call status, working only if the compan...

California Export Connect Provides Services, Financing Tools for Businesses to Go Global

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The California International Trade Center and other leading trade organizations are part of California Export Connect, a Canadian-built platform that connects California exporters with key trade resources, consolidating information and stakeholders online together. What is California Export Connect? California Export Connect is a new state-centric platform created in partnership with The State International Development Organizations and Getting to Global. It brings together all the resources and experts California businesses need to export smarter. California Export Connect is a consolidated online toolbox for California companies to connect them with local experts, tools, financing, and government resources they need to go global. Why join California Export Connect? California Expor...

White House, US Customs and Border Protection Allow 90-Day Normal Trade Relation Duty Deferral for Certain Importers

Monday, April 20, 2020

The White House on April 19 released the text of an Executive Order allowing the temporary extension of deadlines for importers suffering significant financial hardship because of COVID-19 to pay certain types of duties. On the same day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a temporary final rule to implement the Executive Order and to create a new section to 19 CFR 24.1 (the new section will be designated as 19 CFR 24.1a). CBP also released two CSMS messages: 42421561 and 42423171. Under the Temporary Final Rule, CBP is amending the CBP regulations to temporarily postpone the deadline for importers o...

$350B in COVID-19 Relief Funds for Small Business Depleted

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans have been exhausted. While Congress is working on a second round of small-business funding, the SBA is not accepting new EIDL applications, and banks are not accepting new PPP applications. If you have an EIDL application in the SBA queue already, it will be reviewed. If you have a PPP application pending with a bank, check with your bank regarding how they are managing their queue. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, signed into law last month, rolled out the SBA’...

California Orders Insurers to Refund Premiums to Drivers, Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Saturday, April 18, 2020

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on April 13 ordered insurance companies to return insurance premiums to consumers and businesses and provide financial relief during the COVID-19 emergency. The commissioner’s bulletin covers premiums paid for at least the months of March and April—including May if shelter-in-place restrictions continue—in at least six different insurance lines: private passenger automobile, commercial automobile; workers’ compensation; commercial multi-peril; commercial liability; medical malpractice; and any other insurance line where the risk of loss has fallen substantially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “With Californians driving fewer miles and many businesses closed due to the COVID-19 emergency, consumers need relief from premium...

Governor Newsom Taps California Business, Labor, Health Care, Community Leaders for New Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Bringing together leaders across California’s diverse, innovative economic and social sectors to chart a path forward on recovery in the wake of COVID-19, Governor Gavin Newsom on April 17 announced the formation of a state Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery. The Task Force will be co-chaired by Governor Newsom’s Chief of Staff Ann O’Leary and philanthropist, environmentalist and businessman Tom Steyer, who was also appointed Chief Advisor to the Governor on Business and Jobs Recovery. He will receive no compensation for his service. Members of the Task Force include Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senat...

Six Criteria Will Determine When Gov. Newsom Lifts State's Lockdown

Saturday, April 18, 2020

The California Governor Gavin Newsom in April announced six requirements his administration will need to meet before he begins easing statewide shelter-in-place restrictions. Questions loom. 1.) Testing and tracking The state will need to develop the ability to test and track those who are sick. Are there enough tests to test everyone with symptoms? Are there enough public health workers to investigate every last possible case? 2.) Containment strategies The state will need to be able to isolate those who are sick. Is the state ready to contain fresh outbreaks, particularly in high-risk locations like prisons or senior housing facilities? 3.) Health care capacity The state will nee...

Cox Communications Extends Free Service for Students Nationwide

Friday, April 17, 2020

Recognizing that students will remain home to finish out the school year, Cox has extended free Connect2Compete service, the company’s low-cost internet offer for families with a K-12 student at home until July 15. Remote service support is also extended to ensure ease of implementation while students continue to learn at home during the Coronavirus pandemic. Customers that sign up between March 13 and May 15 are eligible for this offer and will receive free service until July 15. “As schools across our California markets are operating Emergency Distance Learning (EDL) programs, Cox wants to ensure digital equity so that al...

First responders, Taco Bell, Anaheim Ducks Give Back to UCI Medical Center

Friday, April 17, 2020

Police and fire agencies from across Orange County held a special drive-by parade at UCI Medical Center on Tuesday to show unity and support for the medical staff. Even though the salute was from a distance, they were able to touch hearts and lift spirits for those who are working long hours to get patients healthy. Meanwhile, Taco Bell's taco truck made a stop at the hospital to provide workers free lunch. The truck is primarily used to serve first responders during major emergencies like a tornado or fire. "I think we underestimate the power of food. I think during these uncertai...

MemorialCare's Dr. Taub Finds Creative Way to Inspire Frontline Caregivers

Friday, April 17, 2020

As Medical Director of Emergency Services at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, Dr. Marc Taub was instrumental in ensuring MemorialCare’s readiness for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, the Medical Center’s Emergency Department created specialized procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the continued safety, exceptional care, and well-being of patients, physicians, and staff—the kind of work he leads his team to do every day. “What makes Dr. Taub stand out during this challenging time is the way he leads his team with love and compassion,” said Marcia Manker, CEO, MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center. “He never stops his pursuit of finding way...

Reopen California? That’s the Toughest Phase Yet, Newsom Says

Thursday, April 16, 2020

When will Californians emerge from house confinement? What will life look like? In a roadmap unveiled on April 14 with top public health officials, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would not lift his shelter-in-place order until adequate suppression and mitigation measures are in place to prevent future flare-ups. That means tracking down the sick and isolating clusters of new infections, arming hospitals with adequate equipment, and setting new guidelines for schools and businesses to reopen. In short, it might be a while. The governor told reporters not to even ask him about the timeline until hospitalizations and intensive care caseloads begin t...

US Chamber Accepts Nominations for Small Business Awards, $25,000 Top Prize

Thursday, April 16, 2020

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Chase for Business, is accepting nominations for the Dream Big Awards, an annual awards program that honors the achievements of small businesses and highlights their contributions to America’s economic growth. The Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award recognizes a small business that exemplifies the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and individual initiative. Additionally, eligible small businesses may apply for one of six Business Achievement Awards: Emerging Business Green/Sustainable Business Minority-Owned Business Veteran-Owned Business Woman-Owned Business Young Entrepreneur Business Finalists for each of the six Business Achievement and Dream Big Small Business of the Year awards are eligible for the Communit...

US Chamber unveils Save Small Business Initiative Aimed at Economic Recovery from COVID-19 Crisis

Thursday, April 16, 2020

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on April 15 unveiled its Save Small Business Initiative to address the immediate needs of the small business community, mitigate closures and job losses, and mobilize support for long-term recovery in the wake of the economic destruction of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to a call to action for the broader business community and government to help small businesses, the four-part campaign includes supplemental financial assistance, advocacy, resources, webinars and guides, and research. The U.S. Chamber Foundation is supporting the supplemental financial assistance by launching its Save Small Business Fund. Funded by contributions from corporate and philanthropic partners, the U.S. Chamber Foundatio...

COVID-19 Loans and the New Economy

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg and Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, discuss the variety of federal COVID-19 loan programs available for businesses of all sizes, and provide tips on how businesses can prepare for the new economic landscape that awaits. Cushioning the Blow It appears as though the country is seeing the peak in the growth rate of confirmed cases of COVID-19, and once the country is past the peak, the conversation will likely move from how to combat the virus to how we are going t...

Online Processing of Export Documentation Now Available Through Greater Irvine Chamber

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

The Greater Irvine Chamber has always been a valued resource for Irvine and Orange County exporting businesses for the processing of export documentation, among many other areas of business growth support. Now, for added convenience, especially during these times of social distancing and remote working, the Chamber offers exporters an online solution. Digital export documentation of Certificates of Origin, Free Sale, and Good Manufacturing Practices, are available through the Greater Irvine Chamber’s online processing service. Beginning April 16, companies can upload documents to the site for review and approval. Processing fees will be waived for the first Certificate of Origin uploaded (one per company...

Six Factors Will Determine When California’s Economy Can Begin to Reopen

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom outlined the six key indicators that will guide California’s decision on when to modify stay-at-home orders and slowly begin reopening the state’s economy. The Governor noted that the progress in flattening the curve, increased preparedness of the state’s health care delivery system and the effects of other COVID-19 interventions have yielded positive results. These actions, however, have also affected the economy and poverty in California, with 2.3 million unemployment claims filed in the last four weeks alone. Any consideration of modifying the stay-at-home order must be done using a gradual, science-based and data-driven framework, Newsom said. California Chamber of Commerc...

This Is Where All 50 States Stand on Reopening

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Editor's note: Due to an error in another story, here is information on digital export documentation of Certificates of Origin, Free Sale, and Good Manufacturing Practices, that are now available through the Greater Irvine Chamber’s online processing service. Create an account here. Full story here. This Is Where All 50 States Stand on Reopening the Shelter-in-Place Order: More than 90% of the U.S. population is currently under a stay-at-home or shelter-in-place order as the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend life as we know it. But worries for the economy -- and people's mental health -- are raising the question: When will things go back t...

UCI Students, Faculty Design and Build Medical Face Shields at UCI Beall Applied Innovation

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

As medical providers and hospital administrations grow increasingly desperate for personal protective equipment, the UCI Medical Center in Orange is receiving a shipment of 5,000 face shields from an unlikely source—the very medical students it works to educate. Though the Irvine campus was closed in March in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, medical students and faculty from five departments used 3-D printers and teamwork to create thousands of masks for the center. The first shipment of 2,500 face shields was sent Tuesday and an additional 2,500 will be sent Thursday. Face shield frames are produced with a 3-D printer at the UCI Beal...

Wage and Hour Considerations for Remote Workers

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

How do an employer’s pay obligations differ when an hourly/nonexempt employee is working remotely from home? It’s important for employers to keep in mind that when having a nonexempt employee work remotely, obligations under California’s wage and hour laws remain the same, and employers need to ensure measures are in place to maintain accurate records of the employees’ hours worked. In addition to accurately tracking all hours worked by nonexempt remote employees, it’s critical for employers to ensure their employees take required meal and rest breaks, get paid for any overtime hours, and are not engaging in “off-the-clock” work (there is n...

California Colleges and Universities Share In $1.7 Billion In Emergency Stimulus Funds

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

California’s colleges and universities will see more than $1.7 billion from the new federal stimulus law to help stave off the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, but they say more is needed. At least half of that money will go directly to students, many of whom have watched their campuses close, their jobs disappear, and their schools shift in-person classes online in the past few weeks. Three California State University campuses are in the top 10 nationally in stimulus dollars awarded, which is mostly based on a campus’s number of low-income students receiving federal Pell Grants. The current maximum Pell Grant i...

Irvine Mayor Christina Shea, Members of City Council Deliver Thousands of Face Masks to Local Markets

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

To help equip essential frontline retail workers with protective face coverings as they continue to serve the public during the COVID-19 crisis, Irvine Mayor Christina Shea and members of the Irvine City Council delivered 7,000 masks to 57 Irvine businesses, beginning with pharmacies and grocery stores. The face masks, which have been donated by local and international sources, are being delivered by members of the Irvine City Council to the Irvine Police Department’s (IPD) Emergency Operations Center or shipped directly to that location. IPD has partnered with Allied Universal Security Services to facilitate the process. An additional 20,000 masks are expected t...

Kathy Lamm Earns Q3 2020 Rainmaker Title With More Than $1 Million in Closed Business Referrals

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Kathy Lamm has earned the Greater Irvine Chamber’s title of Rainmaker for the third quarter of the 2020 fiscal year with $1,288,250 in closed business. Her performance in the Wednesday Leads Group contributed to the group’s total of $2,096,632, making it the top-earning Leads Groups for total closed business during the period. "I have been a Chamber member for eight years and a member of the Wednesday Leads Group for seven years. The Leads Group has played a pivotal role in the growth of my business, the development of my professional network, and hands down, has provided the best ROI of any othe...

OC World Trade Week 2020 Features Trade Experts in Program’s Panel Discussion

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Leading global trade and export specialists will share their expertise in international trade and foreign direct investment during the Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Forum, delivered digitally Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14. Barry Cosgrave of K&L Gates LLP, John Evans of Tractus Asia Ltd., and Ken Wengrod of FTC Commercial Corp. will lead the panel discussion, Navigating the New Trade Landscape - China, BREXIT, USMCA. Barry Cosgrave is a partner in the Banking & Asset Finance practice group of K&L Gates LLP, dividing his time between the firm’s London and Dubai offices. Cosgrave concentrates hi...

Samuel Johnson Appointed Interim CEO of Transportation Corridor Agencies

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) Boards of Directors have unanimously appointed Samuel Johnson to the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer. Since joining TCA in 2015 as Chief Toll Operations Officer, Johnson has had responsibility and oversight for the Agencies’ tolling systems, customer service, revenue management, violation processing, toll compliance, customer experience communications, and information technology functions. He championed the statewide effort to adopt sticker transponders and implemented strategic contracting approaches for systems and services that have enhanced customer service and improved the Agencies’ fiscal position, saving millions of dollars per year. Johnson serves as president of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpik...

What California Is Doing to Prepare for Elections During the Pandemic

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

It’s not enough to declare a trend, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a daily news briefing. Don’t make it your headline, he cautioned. The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units across the state had decreased to 1,132 from 1,154 the day before, he said — a 1.9% decline. Slight, to be sure. “Nonetheless,” he said, “it is encouraging.” After sharing that news, the governor sought to allay concerns from officials in some counties, including Riverside, that the state’s move to loan ventilators to other states left California’s own hospitals in a precarious spot. “It was the right thing to do and i...

Ampronix Donates Medical Face Shields to St. Joseph Orange

Monday, April 13, 2020

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many Ampronix customers and local hospitals have inquired about the company’s ability to source face masks and face shields. One need that stood out most to executives at Ampronix was the need for medical face shields at St. Joseph Orange hospital. Although there have been global shortages of this necessity, Ampronix had the ability to utilize its resources and successfully purchased 1,000 medical face shields. In March, a team of Ampronix employees made the delivery to the hospital. Example of how Face Shields are being used to Fight COVID-19 via drive up testing. St. Joseph’s Orange Medical Staff show...

Irvine Mandate for Essential Businesses to use Personnel Face Coverings, Noncompliance Comes with Potential Fines

Monday, April 13, 2020

Several counties have strongly recommended the use of face coverings, based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) recent recommendation, and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance. However, in Irvine and other cities, those recommendations have become requirements as the number of COVID-19 cases has continued to increase. Violation of these practices can result in a $500 fine, daily beginning April 13. The Irvine City Council held a special meeting on April 10, to confirm the decision of Irvine City Manager John Russo, in his role as Director of Emergency Services, to mandate face coverings and social distancing practices fo...

Irvine Restaurants Show Support for Community Among COVID-19 Crisis

Monday, April 13, 2020

With many struggling to make ends meet amid the health crisis, Irvine restaurants are showing their support through free meals, fundraiser campaigns, and donations. Panini Kabob Grill, a Greater Irvine Chamber restaurant member, recently donated meals to the doctors, nurses, techs, and support staff on the front lines at CHOC Children's Hospital. The Melt is offering a free to-go meal to all hospital and medical staff that show their hospital badge/ID. Each week, Greater Irvine Chamber restaurant member Twenty Eight is donating 200 meals to hospitals and first responders as part of “Thankful Thursday.” To see what some other Irvine restaurants are doing to support th...

Irvine Teen Creates COVID-19 Donation Clearinghouse Website

Monday, April 13, 2020

Like a lot of seniors in Irvine high schools, Jackie Ni should be looking forward to prom and graduation right now, but because of stay-in-place orders, that's not happening. Instead, he's using his time for homeschooling and combating COVID-19, “one crate at a time.” In just a few short weeks, the Sage Hill High School senior has developed a website, supplycrate.org, that offers a transparent and efficient way for individuals and organizations to make medical supply donations. So far, through his website, more than 136,000 masks, from medical-grade N95's to fabric face coverings, have been collected. While there are websites that match donor...

IVC Foundation Establishes Emergency Fund for Students, Staff Impacted by COVID-19

Monday, April 13, 2020

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Irvine Valley College Foundation has established an Emergency Fund to provide immediate emergency bridge funding to impacted students and employees of the college. Click here for more information or to donate to the fund. The Irvine Valley College Foundation provides support to enhance teaching and learning at Irvine Valley College, cultivating resources for students including access to an exceptional education and a caring campus community.

Unemployed Californians to Get an Extra $600 in Weekly Benefits Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Monday, April 13, 2020

Californians struggling to find work will receive an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits from a federal stimulus package starting, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, as a deluge of 2.3 million new claims in the last month has the state struggling to get payments to those who have just lost their jobs. The additional relief money approved by Congress means California’s average weekly benefit of $340 will be boosted to $940, while those who get the maximum weekly state benefit will see checks increased to $1,050. The higher benefits will last for four months. The first payment is going out Sunday to thos...

Concordia University Biology Majors at Epicenter of Coronavirus Testing Lab

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Two biology majors from Concordia University in Irvine are now at the epicenter of coronavirus testing, working inside one of the first labs in the nation to develop the test. They are using their skills as scientists but with compassion. Hannah Hopkins and Anna Chao were roommates at Concordia when their campus closed. They realized they wanted to finish out the school year together. Now they are working side by side in a lab at the University of Washington. It's where they spend their nights, 40 hours a week consolidating COVID-19 specimens. Lab officials say they arrive in so many different types o...

COVID-19: Telework Best Practices

Friday, April 10, 2020

As employers shift to a work-from-home workplace model, many are finding that managing telework has its own set of challenges. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss remote work best practices, such as ways to ensure workers are taking mandated rest breaks, reimbursing expenses, establishing COVID-19-specific policies, and maintaining a harassment-free environment. Time Management Remote work is not a new concept, and for those who have been working from home before the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, it’s business as usual, Shaw tells Frank. Exempt employees are easier t...

Record 16.8 Million Have Sought US Jobless Aid Since Virus

Friday, April 10, 2020

With a startling 6.6 million people seeking unemployment benefits last week, the United States has reached a grim landmark: More than one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in just the past three weeks to the coronavirus outbreak. The figures collectively constitute the largest and fastest string of job losses in records dating to 1948. By contrast, during the Great Recession it took 44 weeks — roughly 10 months — for unemployment claims to go as high as they now have in less than a month. The damage to job markets is extending across the world. The equivalent of 195 millio...

World Trade Organization Annual Report: Trade Numbers Fall

Friday, April 10, 2020

From the April 8 release of the annual World Trade Organization (WTO) report from Geneva, the key message is: “This crisis is first and foremost a health crisis which has forced governments to take unprecedented measures to protect people’s lives,” WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said. “The unavoidable declines in trade and output will have painful consequences for households and businesses, on top of the human suffering caused by the disease itself. “The immediate goal is to bring the pandemic under control and mitigate the economic damage to people, companies and countries. But policymakers must start planning for the aftermath of the pandemic,&rdquo...

Irvine Business Assistance Survey

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

The City of Irvine and the Greater Irvine Chamber are surveying Irvine businesses in an effort to provide relevant resources for businesses impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. The four-question survey should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. Take the survey.

Irvine Disaster Council Releases Executive Order on Face Masks for Retail Workers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

The Irvine Disaster Council on April 6 discussed the critical need to implement stronger measures to protect employees and customers of retail businesses. As a result of this discussion, the Disaster Council directed that the City Attorney prepare an executive order to be issued by the City Manager on April 8, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services. This executive order requires all retail personnel in the City of Irvine to wear face coverings. On March 24, the Irvine City Council passed a resolution strongly recommending that all retail sales businesses and service businesses provide protective supplies to their employees. “Thi...

Irvine Disaster Council Releases Executive Order Requiring Retail Personnel to Wear Face Coverings

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

Today, Irvine City Manager John Russo, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, released an Executive Order requiring all retail personnel in the City of Irvine to wear face coverings. Effective today, Wednesday, April 8, 2020, the Order states that essential businesses within the City that provide sales of retail goods and/or food and/or banking services, and remain in operation during this time, shall require their employees to wear face coverings such as scarves, bandanas, neck gaiters, or other fabric face coverings. “This Order is for the overall protection of our community. The health and well-being of our residents, families, an...

Jennifer Annes Named Greater Irvine Chamber April 2020 Member of the Month

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

Jennifer Annes, director of business development, Enterprise Data Solutions, has been named the Greater Irvine Chamber April 2020 Member of the Month. “In my time as a member of the Greater Irvine Chamber, I have learned the value, integrity, heart, and mind of the many people who work and live in this community each and every day. They are true collaborators and mentors, and together we are making a difference,” said Annes. “When you have this type of impact, your business is better, your communities are better, and there is more to go around for everyone.” Since joining the Chamber in 2018...

SBA Special Edition Interactive Webinar for Irvine Businesses, April 10

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) District Office and CSUF Small Business Development Center, in partnership with the City of Irvine and the Greater Irvine Chamber, will host a Special Edition Interactive Webinar exclusively for the Irvine businesses community, on Friday, April 10, 9 a.m. REGISTER to join the Zoom webinar. The webinar will include a discussion and Q&A session with SBA experts on the organization’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), specifically designed to help small businesses keep their workforce employed, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), designed to provide working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19, as well as the Disaster Bridg...

California Among the States Least Economically Vulnerable to Coronavirus

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

California is more prepared to weather an economic storm than nearly any other state in the nation. According to a new report from Wallet Hub, California is the second least exposed state in the U.S. to the economic impacts of coronavirus. “California’s increase in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims is among the lowest in the country,” Jill Gonzalez of Wallet Hub, tells GlobeSt.com. “The state also has the fifth largest share of workers with access to paid sick leave, 91%. Another factor that contributed to California’s economy being the second least exposed to the coronavirus is the state’s rainy-da...

Fed Preparing to Finance New Small-Business Payroll Loans

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

The Federal Reserve announced it would create a new program to finance loans that banks and other lenders make through the government’s emergency small-business lending program. The move will free up financial firms to make more loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP), part of a $2.2 trillion economic relief package President Trump signed last month to help individuals and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement the Fed said that to facilitate more lending to small businesses, it would establish a facility that offers term financing backed by PPP loans. It said additional details woul...

Make the Most of Home Tech Time, IT CEO Says

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

You and your home computer are going to be spending plenty of time together these next few weeks or months. Tech-wise, put those long hours to good use. Here is a game plan very kindly put together for the Business Journal by Sebastian Igreti, chief executive of IT services, consulting and cybersecurity company TechMD. IoT: Take inventory of your in-home IT and IoT devices and check whether they are still operating on default passwords and settings. Investigate if your Alexa is snooping in your conversations—change the privacy and permissions settings and be happy about that. If your internet router still has the defaul...

Passage of $2 Trillion Stimulus Package Will Help Wide Variety of Businesses and Workers

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

Small businesses are a bedrock of American life, employing friends, neighbors, and nearly half of California’s workforce. They aren’t just companies, they are cornerstones of our communities. And with the significant public health and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, California’s four million small businesses are being forced to make difficult decisions about how to keep their businesses afloat, their staff employed, and their rents or mortgages covered. As communities work to combat this public health threat together, it’s more evident than ever that the viability of small businesses is critical to America’s families. Last week, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief...

Required FFCRA Documentation, Recordkeeping for New Federal Paid Leave (COVID-19)

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

The new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) has dominated employers’ attention with its provisions for emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for reasons related to COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has been trying to answer employers’ questions leading up to April 1, but one issue that remained unclear was the documentation employers should obtain from employees taking leave under the new law. On April 1, 2020, the same day the FFCRA took effect, the DOL issued regulations that specifically addressed the issue. The new FFCRA regulations require employees to provid...

Senate Aims to Approve More Small-Business Aid on Thursday

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

Senate leadership is moving quickly to approve additional aid for small businesses, which have been hard-hit by the coronavirus outbreak, after a rocky rollout last week of the program aimed at helping them. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that he is working with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to approve additional funding later this week. "Congress needs to act with speed and total focus to provide more money for this uncontroversial bipartisan program. I will work with Secretary Mnuchin and Leader Schumer and hope to approve further funding for the Paycheck Protection Program b...

SoCalGas Launches Assistance Program for Customers Facing Financial Hardship due to COVID-19

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has launched a campaign, SoCalGas CAREs, for customers whose income may have recently changed due to COVID-19 or other reasons. The campaign aims to let customers know of their eligibility to qualify for SoCalGas' assistance program, California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE), saving them 20 percent on their monthly natural gas bills. "SoCalGas is committed to assisting the communities we serve during this challenging period," said Jeff Walker, vice president of Customer Solutions at SoCalGas. "We recognize that many families are facing unexpected hardships such as job and income loss right now and we want to remind them that SoCalGas' assistance program...

Video Message on COVID-19 from Irvine Mayor and Community Leaders

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

City of Irvine Mayor Christina Shea, Vice Mayor Mike Carroll, Irvine Police Chief Hamel, and UCI Director and Founding Dean of Public Health, Dr. Boden-Albala provide city updates on COVID-19.

Irvine Co. Provides Rent Flexibility

Monday, April 06, 2020

Orange County’s largest real estate owner adjusted its business model for residential and commercial properties in response to coronavirus concerns. In addition to upping cleaning efforts like other local landlords, Irvine Co. has offered rent payment flexibility for retail and apartment tenants. “We understand these are unprecedented times for our country and the world,” Butch Knerr, president of Irvine Company Retail Properties, said in a letter to retail tenants. “Working together, we will move forward and emerge stronger than ever.” It counts a commercial portfolio of nearly 35 million square feet in Orange County and nearly 60 million square feet companywide; and ha...

Larger Businesses Share in CARES Provisions

Monday, April 06, 2020

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by President Donald Trump has provisions to help larger businesses navigate the COVID-19 crisis. Under the CARES Act, the Coronavirus Economic Stabilization Act of 2020 Fund is created for larger businesses, nonprofit companies, states, and municipalities. The $500 billion package includes the following loan and loan guarantee provisions: $25 billion for passenger planes; $4 billion for cargo planes; $17 billion for businesses critical to maintaining national security; and $454 billion for distressed businesses meeting specified criteria, determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Terms and Conditions No stock or equity buybacks or dividends and other capital distribution...

Octane Announces Second Non-Profit Accelerator Cohort

Monday, April 06, 2020

Octane recently announced the second cohort of its Non-Profit Accelerator program, which is modeled after its LaunchPad SBDC accelerator for business and life science companies. The pro bono service is made possible through a partnership with the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation. The new cohort includes: Achievement Institute of Scientific Studies, a nonprofit that guides disadvantaged students interested in STEM careers; Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, which offers free college-access programs to first-generation students, from middle school to college graduation. The organization received a $28,000 gift from Kingston Technology earlier this month; Patient Safety Movement Foundation in Irvine, a Joe Kiani-created group focuses on eliminating preventable harm...

Quick Tips from Cox to Improve Home Internet

Monday, April 06, 2020

Tough Times: Real Help Right Now Episode 1 - HR

Monday, April 06, 2020

The Greater Irvine Chamber's new video series, Tough Times: Real Help Right Now, features industry experts in the greater Irvine business community providing a deep dive into real-time, relevant, and essential information for businesses as they respond to the current global health crisis. This episode features human resources expert Brian Montes of Scaleocity Works as he provides tips and tools to navigate daily business changes. Stay tuned for future episodes of the Crisis Management & Recovery Strategies for Small Business series. Resources provided by speaker: Company Property Policy Template Forgiveable Small Business Loan Information Sheet Sample Furlough Letter Content provided by volunteer presenters for this video series doe...

UCI Beall Applied Innovation Invites Community to Share COVID-19 Response Ideas

Monday, April 06, 2020

UCI Beall Applied Innovation has issued an invitation to the UCI community to share their ideas for the fight against COVID-19. “We are in the midst of a pandemic and we know that there is an entrepreneur, industry collaborator, faculty researcher, student innovator, or funding partner that has developed an idea or prototype or concept that might play a role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 or curing those ailing because of it,” said Executive Officer Richard Sudek. Contact one of UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s experts below with your startup, product idea, or resource need related to COVID-19. Whether you’re an individual...

UCI Health Names Chad Lefteris as New CEO

Monday, April 06, 2020

The UC Irvine health system has named Chad Lefteris as its new chief executive. Lefteris will oversee the overall UCI Health operation, which includes UCI Medical Center in Orange and more than a dozen outpatient research and specialty care centers throughout Orange County and parts of Riverside County. He has been UCI Health’s chief operating officer since December 2018. His appointment as CEO comes amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. UCI announced that it is participating in a clinical trial to test the antiviral drug remdesivir as a potential treatment for COVID-19. “After a nationwide search, the search committee identified the ideal candidate within ou...

City of Hope Researchers Developing a COVID-19 Vaccine

Sunday, April 05, 2020

As City of Hope develops a world-class cancer center and network of care in Orange County, it is making the breakthrough research of its outstanding scientists and clinicians more accessible to the local community. This work entails discoveries in the complex realm of cancer and beyond, including COVID-19. City of Hope is addressing the novel coronavirus threat on a number of fronts, including the preclinical development of a coronavirus vaccine. “Given the urgency of this pandemic, City of Hope is employing its vast expertise using the immune system to fight viral infections,” said Don Diamond, Ph.D., a viral immunologist with City o...

New California Health Corps Enlists Health Professionals

Sunday, April 05, 2020

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called on recently retired doctors and soon-to-be-graduated medical and nursing students to join the California Health Corps to help care for COVID-19 patients. Over recent four days, the number of Californians being treated for the virus in ICUs tripled and the number of hospitalizations doubled. Not only will the state need an extra 50,000 hospital beds by mid-May, it will also need a “human capital surge,” the governor said. “If you’re a nursing school student or medical school student, we need you. If you just retired in the last few years, we need you. If you are looking to expan...

California Businesses Retool and Donate to Help Fight Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Saturday, April 04, 2020

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented difficulties to California and the nation—but chief among them is highlighting a shortage of health care-critical supplies. The nation’s hospitals and supply chains were simply not prepared with the volume of personal protective equipment (PPE) that COVID-19 has made necessary. As Governor Gavin Newsom laid out at a March 23 press conference, California’s doctors and nurses need more materials in order to be safe while they save lives—specifically, 1 billion gloves, 500 million respirators, and 200 million face shields. Businesses Step Up Many businesses are already stepping up to help fill this void. U.S. manufacturers have shifted to produce mor...

Masimo's Wearable Monitoring Device Gets Retooled for COVID-19

Saturday, April 04, 2020

As confirmed cases in the U.S. continue to rise, some hospitals are establishing field hospitals in convention centers, while others are turning wings of their facility into dedicated quarantine or Covid-19 treatment areas. They hope the additional space will help prevent burdened health care systems from being overwhelmed. But the space problem is partially an information problem, too. Sick patients need their vitals recorded and their symptoms monitored, and staff needs to get updates if someone’s condition starts to worsen (from fever and cough to shortness of breath as blood oxygen levels fall). Not every bed is equipped for monitoring, particularly field beds in temporar...

Big Picture Changes to Unemployment Insurance, Related Benefits under CARES Act

Friday, April 03, 2020

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and, Economic Security Act (CARES Act) made sweeping changes and added new benefits to the program, so during the near-term the state Employment Development Department (EDD) will interpret these changes and implement them to provide the new benefits. New Benefit Amount In addition to the normal unemployment insurance (UI) payments (up to $450/week, depending on salary), applicants may receive up to an additional $600/week until July 31, 2020—meaning that workers may receive up to 100% wage replacement. However, EDD’s outdated internal data processing system may hinder its ability to timely change the benefits calculations. As a result, i...

City of Irvine to Follow California State Guidelines Regarding Face Coverings

Friday, April 03, 2020

California’s public health officials released guidance on the use of cloth face coverings to protect against COVID-19 for those who must leave their homes to conduct essential activities. The guidance does not require people to wear face coverings – and is not a substitute for the state’s current guidance regarding social distancing and hand washing. On March 24, the Irvine City Council passed a resolution strongly recommending that all retail sales businesses and service businesses provide protective supplies to their employees. This past weekend more than 9,000 masks were distributed throughout the Irvine community including, Kaiser Permanente, Hoag Hospital, and Irvine’...

Haddad’s Pivot: From Land Sales to Face Mask Donations

Friday, April 03, 2020

Emile Haddad runs California’s largest land development company. Last week, the chief executive of Irvine’s FivePoint and one of Orange County’s most prominent business leaders had another line of work: doing business deals out of the trunk of his car. The product? High-quality and hard-to-find face masks. The 5,000 masks he was buying—one of the smaller deals he was to eventually make over the course of the week—typically run $2 apiece. It’s not typical times, though. Haddad said the negotiated fee was a marked-up price of $6.50 a mask. In the end, the “price doesn’t matter,” he told the Orange County Business Journal, whic...

UCI Law Increases Pro Bono Work Amid Coronavirus

Friday, April 03, 2020

UC Irvine Law School students are doing more pro bono work amid the coronavirus crisis. About 30 have taken on new projects involving humanitarian parole requests; tracking city and county activity on homelessness and housing insecurity; and delivering legal documents to seniors, among other work, according to Anna Davis, director of Pro Bono Programs at UCI Law. A focus of the law school has always been such groups—students have logged more than 100,000 hours of pro bono work over the past decade—and new approaches are emerging amid social distancing and other restrictions. “We’re continuing to do it … during these uncertain times,” Davis said. Th...

UCI Tech Can Provide Better Understanding of COVID-19 and Vaccine Possibilities Making Waves

Thursday, April 02, 2020

In the last several weeks, California has become one of the top U.S. states to be affected by COVID-19. The infectious disease has plagued not only the state population’s physical health, but also the economy, jobs and the social life of millions. The lack of diagnostics has been cited as one of the main reasons for the spread of the virus. In UC Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine’s Institute for Immunology, Phil Felgner, director of the Vaccine R&D Center, and his Protein Microarray Laboratory team work tirelessly to develop their COVID-19 Coronavirus Antigen Microarray that detects antibodies against coronavirus-infected people. H...

Federal COVID-19 Leaves: Key Points

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert James Ward discuss key points and guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FCCRA), which takes effect today, April 1. Frank points out that the guidelines and requirements surrounding the FCCRA have been changed recently and can be changed at any moment by the DOL. She recommends that listeners regularly visit the DOL website to ensure they have the most up-to-date information. Listeners also can visit calchamber.com/Coronavirus for updates on federal an...

Greater Irvine Chamber’s OC World Trade Week Forum Goes Global with Digital Format

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

The Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) forum will be live streamed to a global audience on Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14. Information and advice delivered digitally by a global lineup of speakers and panelists is even more relevant now as the world deals with disruptions caused by the health crisis of the Coronavirus pandemic. The program will feature a keynote from Mark O’Connell, CEO, OCO Global, who will discuss Globalization: Pandemic, Populism, and Power. OCWTW forum will include an Orange County trade and export overview from a representative of the U.S. Commercial Service, an...

Irvine Hotels Offer Private Workspace for Professionals During COVID-19 Crisis Office Closures

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

A number of Irvine hotels have implemented special day rates to provide professionals a quiet, private work space free of distraction. The special day rates are available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Complimentary WiFi and parking are included. Participating hotels currently include: DoubleTree Irvine Spectrum $65+ tax. Includes lunch for one. (949) 471-8888 Hampton Inn & Suites Irvine-Orange County Airport $60+ tax. Includes $5 pantry bucks to purchase food or beverage items. (949) 748-1060 Hilton Garden Inn Irvine/Orange County Airport $60+ tax. Includes $5 pantry bucks to purchase food or beverage items. (949) 224-39000 Homewood Suites John Wayne Airport $59+ tax. Includes office desk, full kitchen, living room lounge area...

Alteryx to Help Government, Healthcare Agencies Curb Coronavirus Pandemic

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Irvine-based data analytics software maker Alteryx will help government and healthcare agencies who are their clients analyze data to help curb the coronavirus pandemic, said Alan Jacobson, chief data and analytics officer. “We’re in the early days, but we’ll see where some of those conversations go,” Jacobson said. The said common customer interactions can lead to specific requests on thornier issues. “When they have an analytic challenge … If they need assistance, we stand ready,” Jacobson told the Business Journal. Source: Orange County Business Journal

Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order to Help Small Business During Crisis

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that will provide some relief for small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 crisis. The Executive Order is linked here. The Governor’s executive order allows the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to offer a 90-day extension for tax returns and tax payments for all businesses filing a return for less than $1 million in taxes. That means small businesses will have until the end of July to file their first-quarter returns. Additionally, the order extends by 60 days the statute of limitations to file a claim for refund to accommodate tax and fee payers. Th...

Irvine Barclay Theatre Announces Four New Board Members

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Irvine Barclay Theatre announced that Orange County executives Carla Furuno, Shaun Skeris, Bob Romney, and Christopher Ramsey were elected to its Board of Directors. “We are excited to welcome these respected and accomplished business leaders to the Barclay as we continue to grow our presence in the community," said Irvine Barclay Theatre President Jerry Mandel. “As we approach our 30th season, we are strengthening our community ties and corporate partnerships, expanding our programming and solidifying the Barclay as one of the area’s top arts venues.” Furuno is regional president of BNY Mellon Wealth Management’s Newport Beach office and has more than 3...

Medtronic Shares Ventilation Design Specifications to Accelerate Efforts to Increase Global Ventilator Production

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology, announced on March 30 it is publicly sharing the design specifications for the Puritan Bennett™ 560 (PB 560) to enable participants across industries to evaluate options for rapid ventilator manufacturing to help doctors and patients dealing with COVID-19. This decision is consistent with the recent FDA Guidance and in accordance with the public health and medical response of governmental agencies globally. Introduced in 2010, the PB 560 is sold in 35 countries around the world. The ventilator’s ability to be used in a range of care settings, as well as its technology and design, make it a solid ventilatio...

Octane Has Released its 2019 Impact Report

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Octane has released its 2019 Impact Report. Orange County has become nationally recognized or creating high-quality ideas, entrepreneurs, and a lifestyle to build sustainable growing businesses. Octane portfolio companies raised a record $337M in 2019, up 57% from 2018. Today, Octane stands at a positive inflection point and is a powerful catalyst to position Southern California for sustained growth of companies, to create high-paying jobs, and to deliver successful financial returns for investors. Additionally, InSoCal, an organization that includes Octane, Connect/SDVG, LAVA, and Alliance for SoCal Innovation, has held multiple events and programs that have pushed innovation further for Southern California, drawing more than 6,000 people from acros...

Octane's LaunchPad Alumni Provide Tech Response for COVID-19 Pandemic

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Octane and the LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator's LaunchPad Alumni through their technologies are impacting the community as it deals with the Coronavirus pandemic. The Alumni companies that are aiding the public through technology, medical advances or donations include: Aescula Tech CEO: Niki Bayat We are currently gearing up in response to the hand sanitizer shortage and will be putting our chemistry skills to work to manufacture and distribute to the LA community. We have already gone through the necessary regulatory and prep work and are excited to help de-throne coronavirus. We will be distributing to high-density and at risk communities so that we can help flatten th...

With $349 Billion in Emergency Small Business Capital Cleared, SBA and Treasury Begin Unprecedented Public-Private Mobilization Effort to Distribute Funds

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Following President Trump’s signing of the historic Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin announced that the SBA and Treasury Department have initiated a robust mobilization effort of banks and other lending institutions to provide small businesses with the capital they need. The CARES Act establishes a new $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program. The Program will provide much-needed relief to millions of small businesses so they can sustain their businesses and keep their workers employed. Banks will likely be ready to receive and process applications by Friday, April 3, but anyone interested in applyin...

Adopt a Doc or Nurse Catering Service

Monday, March 30, 2020

A California restaurant has found a compassionate way of keeping their business open while simultaneously caring for hospital staffers fighting the novel coronavirus outbreaks. In addition to continuing their takeout and delivery services, the Tootsie’s restaurant at the Stanford Mall in Palo Alto has been using their catering services to feed doctors and nurses at their local hospitals. Since Tootsie’s owner Rocco Scordella launched his ingenious “Adopt a Doctor or Nurse” program earlier this month, community members have commissioned his restaurant to prepare and serve more than 2,000 meals to various hospital departments in the Bay Area. “Even the first day was 750 requests. ...

Getting Cash For Your Small Business Through The CARES Act

Monday, March 30, 2020

The median business holds cash reserves to cover 27 days of expenses, according to Chase. But even if you’re well-prepared with a three- to six-month buffer for your business, you still need to plan for what happens if that runs out. No one knows how long the effects of the Coronavirus crisis will last. What you need right now is cash. The government has stepped up to help. There are main two ways your business can get cash now that the CARES Act is law. Economic Injury Disaster Loans The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are the first line of support. These loan...

SBDC Offers Free Daily Webinar Series

Monday, March 30, 2020

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is assisting businesses in identifying the best avenue for sustaining the current global health crisis by hosting a series of free, daily webinars. Available to all small businesses, the webinar series will feature information on the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Payroll Protection Program, Disaster Bridge Loan, 7a Forgiveness Program, and other funding opportunities for businesses. Click here to register for the daily webinars.

Senate Passes the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

Monday, March 30, 2020

With more than half of the country under stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government on Friday passed a historic $2.2 trillion package that will provide economic relief for Americans, businesses and the health care industry. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg discusses the newly passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act with economist Christopher Thornberg, going over what it means for businesses, employees and the broader economy. Short-Term Disruption The country is facing a truly historic economic lockdown due to public health government mandates that will have consequences, Thornberg...

Coronavirus Housing Help: 60-day Moratorium on Rent Evictions

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Gov. Gavin Newsom gave cash-strapped California renters 60 days to figure out how to pay the rent while facing work slowdowns or loss of income during the current pandemic. Newsom signed an executive order Friday, March 27, banning all evictions through May 31 if a tenant is unable to pay his or her rent due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The order requires tenants to declare in writing to the landlord within seven days of the rental due date that they cannot pay all or part of their rent due to COVID-19. Tenants are required to retain documentation showing they have suffered economic hardshi...

UCI Medical Center PPE Donation Drive to support COVID-19 Crisis Response

Sunday, March 29, 2020

UCI Medical Center is in urgent need of supplies for frontline care providers and staff. To help, UCI School of Medicine students are hosting a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) drive from Monday, March 30 to Saturday, April 4. Donations are needed to help protect healthcare providers who are working tirelessly during this unprecedented time. UCI Medical Center is accepting the following supplies in unopened and unused condition: N95 Respirators Surgical Masks Face Shields Protective Goggles Disposable Gloves Hand Sanitizer Isolation Gowns Drop-Off Locations and Dates: 3/30, 3/31, 4/1, 4/2, 4/4 @ 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Parking Lot 850 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA 92697 3/30, 3/31, 4/1 ...

California’s Strong Pre COVID-19 Job Growth Better Positions State for Recovery

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Pre Coronavirus: CA Unemployment Rate Maintains its Record Low The latest employment figures released by the California EDD reiterate one piece of good news: California entered the COVID-19 crisis from a strong position. Together with the federal stimulus, and a return to some degree of normalcy within a couple of months, the economic hardship could be somewhat temporary, with consumption deferred to a later period, according to an analysis released jointly by Beacon Economics and the UCR School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development. However, there could be longer-term hardship if this unprecedented drawdown in consumption endures into the summer. “W...

Google Commits $800+ Million to Support Small Businesses and COVD-19 Crisis Response

Friday, March 27, 2020

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen around the world, it’s taking a devastating toll on lives and communities. To help address some of these challenges, Google has announced a new $800+ million commitment to support small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), health organizations and governments, and health workers on the frontline of this global pandemic. Our commitment includes: $250 million in ad grants to help the World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other measures to help local communities. This is an increase from an initia...

2020 Market & Economic Update with Christopher Schwarz

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Tune in for an economic update from Christopher Schwarz of UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Stay informed about the current state of the economy and what to expect as we emerge from the Coronavirus crisis.

COVID-19: What Employers Are Asking

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Bianca Saad and Matthew Roberts to discuss the most common coronavirus-related questions employers and human resources professionals have been asking the CalChamber’s Labor Law Helpline this past week. The answers to the following questions have been shortened. To hear the in-depth answer, visit the time stamps attached to each question. FAQs Q: What is the difference between a layoff and a furlough? [Time Discussed: 02:35] This question is likely the most common being asked at the Helpline—so much so, Roberts says, that h...

Furloughs Versus Layoffs: Is There a Difference in California?

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Many Californian businesses are facing difficult choices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Confronting losses in revenue and uncertainty in the future, businesses are evaluating their options for preserving their companies while maintaining their workforce. CalChamber members are asking, “What is the difference between furloughing and laying off employees?” Essentially, a furloughed employee remains an employee but with reduced or eliminated work hours, while a layoff generally means a complete employment severance. (Many may remember “furlough” when it was commonly used a decade ago during Governor Schwarzenegger’s administration when he furloughed state workers to address budgetary concern.) However, under the current circumstances, the Californi...

SoCalGas Donates $1 Million to Help Those in Need During Coronavirus Pandemic

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced it will donate $1 million to nonprofit organizations throughout its service area to support the region’s workforce, feed the hungry, and provide bill assistance to customers most affected by the coronavirus. “All of us at SoCalGas want to do everything we can to support our community during this crisis—especially workers who might be laid off, people going hungry, and those who just won’t be able to pay their gas bills without help,” said Bret Lane, SoCalGas chairman and chief executive officer. “By providing funding to several outstanding nonprofit organizations, we’re helping deliver critical services t...

CalChamber Statement on Governor’s New Essential Business Directives

Monday, March 23, 2020

The California Chamber of Commerce has issued the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom’s essential business directives: “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of Governor Newsom and his staff for providing directives that will clarify and give certainty on essential business operations so employers and employees can continue to operate and be productive,” said Allan Zaremberg, president and CEO of the CalChamber. “We urge all local officials to follow the lead of the Newsom Administration by conforming their directives to these guidelines. A large number of California businesses operate in many different counties or span the entire state so the nee...

Californians Ordered to Stay at Home

Monday, March 23, 2020

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Thursday evening that keeps Californians in their homes and shutters businesses deemed non-essential in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19. The order went into effect Thursday with no end date provided. Businesses considered essential will continue to operate and include restaurants offering take-out and delivery, grocery stores, food banks, banks, pharmacies, gas stations, laundromats, and media and news outlets. The Governor also asked President Trump on Thursday to send United States Naval Ship Mercy Hospital to the Port of Los Angeles to provide some relief to the state’s healthcare system. The Business Journal remain...

COVID-19 Federal Paid Leaves Explained

Monday, March 23, 2020

The federal government passed a coronavirus emergency relief package on March 18 that provides protected paid leave to workers impacted by COVID-19. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg is joined by employment law expert Benjamin Ebbink and CalChamber Executive Vice President Jennifer Barrera to discuss what employers should know about the new Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLA). Criteria The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act are temporary measures that will take effect on April 2 and will sunse...

Existing SBA Disaster Loans to Automatically Defer Through End of 2020

Monday, March 23, 2020

U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced changes to help borrowers still paying back SBA loans from previous disasters. By making this change, deferments through Dec. 31, 2020, will be automatic. Now, borrowers of home and business disaster loans do not have to contact SBA to request deferment. “The SBA is looking at every option and taking every action to cut red tape to make it easier for small businesses to stay in business. Automatically deferring existing SBA disaster loans through the end of the year will help borrowers during this unprecedented time,” said Administrator Carranza. “Today’s announcement adds ...

Factories Pivot to Fight Coronavirus, But Challenges Abound

Monday, March 23, 2020

Factories that crank out cars and trucks looking into making much-needed ventilators. Distilleries intended for whiskey and rum to instead turn out hand sanitizers and disinfectants. And an electronics maker that builds display screens repurposed for surgical masks. All are answering the call of duty amid a pandemic that has so far claimed more than 11,000 lives and sickened 260,000 people globally. But redirecting plants to make completely different products will take a long time and a huge effort — possibly too long for some companies to help with medical gear shortages that are becoming more acute every day. “When you are repurposin...

Fed to Buy as Much Government Debt as Needed to Aid Economy

Monday, March 23, 2020

The Federal Reserve is unleashing its boldest effort yet to protect the U.S. economy from the coronavirus by helping companies and governments pay their bills and survive a devastating crisis. With lending in Treasury and mortgage markets threatening to shut down, the Fed announced an aggressive set of programs Monday to try to smooth out those markets. To do so, it committed to buy as much government-backed debt as it deems necessary. And for the first time ever, the Fed said it plans to buy corporate debt, too. Its intervention is intended to ensure that households, companies, banks, and governments can ge...

Trump Issues Major Disaster Declaration for California as Coronavirus Pandemic Intensifies

Monday, March 23, 2020

President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration for California on Sunday to help the state handle the economic and health consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. The declaration will provide additional aid to the state, including food assistance and more financial help for people who have lost work or faced business losses because of the outbreak. It came hours after Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to Trump requesting the action. Among other provisions, the declaration will allow people like business owners who do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance to apply for disaster unemployment insurance. Trump also approved Newsom’s earlier reques...

UCI Researchers Will Test Former Ebola Drug as Part of Coronavirus Clinical Trial

Monday, March 23, 2020

Everybody is hoping for a miracle drug to treat COVID-19, the disease caused by the infectious novel coronavirus. Now, researchers at UC Irvine have a shot at helping to find it. As part of a national clinical trial, the Orange County team of medical scientists are authorized to use the anti-viral drug remdesivir — once developed to treat the Ebola virus — on certain COVID-19 patients hospitalized at UCI Medical Center in Orange. The study’s goal, over an unspecified period of time, will be to determine the drug’s effectiveness against a disease that has already killed more than 11,000 people. The research i...

2020 Census Extends Response Timeline

Friday, March 20, 2020

The U.S. Census Bureau has extended the 2020 Census response timeline and suspended all employee field operations because of the coronavirus outbreak. The decision came only one week after Census documents were just delivered to households, and it means workers will halt person-to-person efforts to ensure that residents participate in the count that determines political representation in Congress and guides federal spending. “Beginning today, in support of guidance on what we can all do to help slow the spread of coronavirus, 2020 Census field operations will be suspended for two weeks until April 1, 2020,” U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham said in a...

Exemption Allows Farmwork Despite Lockdown

Friday, March 20, 2020

The new coronavirus is expected to cause less damage to Kern County agriculture than had been feared, thanks largely to "critical infrastructure" exemptions built into Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order. But the pandemic is nevertheless complicating local farm production and highlighting health-care problems experienced by California farmworkers. The executive order Newsom issued included agriculture among 16 industry sectors deemed too important to be constrained by a broad requirement that most workers hunker down at their residences. It follows a directive by President Donald Trump calling on food suppliers to maintain their normal work schedules. The exemptions, which are generally interpreted as applyin...

Fed Ramps Up Bond Buying, Indicating Much Larger Purchases Are Likely

Friday, March 20, 2020

The Federal Reserve is likely to significantly boost its government-bond purchases beyond the $500 billion minimum it committed Sunday to buy amid market strains that sent interest rates higher in recent days. The Fed took a significant step in that direction Thursday, announcing it would purchase $150 billion in securities on Thursday and Friday—on top of $125 billion in purchases earlier this week. This means the Fed will have bought more than half of the $500 billion in Treasury securities in one week with little sign of restored market functioning, pointing to a growing likelihood for a much more aggressive round o...

Governor Issues Order to Help Meet Deliveries, Suspends Some Layoff Notice Requirements

Friday, March 20, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to ease restrictions on commercial drivers supporting emergency relief efforts, and suspend certain existing laws for employers directly affected by COVID-19. The order aims to address dwindling supplies of essential medical and sanitary items, and sudden changes in workforce needs that are affecting businesses across all industries. Labor Laws The Sacramento Bee reports that a quarter of California counties have issued mandatory shelter-in-place orders, asking residents to stay at home and run only essential errands, like trips to the grocery store or pharmacy. Employers throughout the state have had to close rapidly without providing their workers th...

Masimo to Acquire German Device Maker

Friday, March 20, 2020

Masimo Corp., an Irvine-based medical device maker of noninvasive monitoring technologies, will buy a German company whose products are in demand because of the coronavirus. TNI Medical AG in Würzburg, Germany, makes a technology called softFlow to provide high flow, warmed and humidified respiratory gases to spontaneously breathing patients suffering from serious pulmonary conditions. Terms weren’t disclosed, though Masimo said it will have an immaterial impact on net earnings in 2020. Last August, Masimo disclosed an investment in TNI that included an exclusive option to buy the company. “Due to COVID-19, there has been increasing demand for TNI’s softFlow technology,” Joe Kiani, founder...

The New Tax Deadline: Pay by July 15

Friday, March 20, 2020

In a historic move, the Internal Revenue Service has pushed the April 15 tax-payment deadline to July 15 this year for many people who haven’t paid their 2019 taxes. On Wednesday, the agency released details of the change in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The bottom line: People who want to delay their tax payments must submit their tax returns or another form to the IRS by April 15 to claim this benefit without risking interest or penalties. The three-month extension to pay federal income taxes doesn’t change the obligation to file returns. In short, taxpayers shouldn’t blow off their April 1...

Trump Signs Coronavirus Aid Package with Paid Sick Leave, Free Testing

Friday, March 20, 2020

President Trump on Wednesday signed into law a multibillion-dollar emergency aid package aimed at helping Americans impacted by the coronavirus. The House-passed measure was approved by the Senate earlier Wednesday and includes provisions offering paid leave benefits for Americans, bolstered unemployment benefits, and free diagnostic testing for the virus. “The [Families First Coronavirus Response Act] makes emergency supplemental appropriations and other changes to law to help the Nation respond to the coronavirus outbreak,” Trump said in a statement Wednesday evening announcing he had signed the bill. The bipartisan bill, which is the product of days of negotiations last week between Treasury Secretary Steve...

Unemployment Claims Double in Two Days in California as Coronavirus Takes Economic Toll

Friday, March 20, 2020

California is seeing a big spike in unemployment claims as the state and nation hurtle towards the first recession in 12 years. “We are currently experiencing a large increase in claims filed in our programs and have staff working overtime to keep up with the demand,” said Loree Levy, spokesman for the state’s Economic Development Department. “In addition, we are working to redirect other staff, and hire additional staff, as much as possible to assist with the claim filing process,” she said. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday evening that the state typically receives about 2,000 claims daily. “Two, three days ago we sa...

Trump Says US, Canada to Close Border to 'Non-Essential Traffic' Amid Coronavirus

Thursday, March 19, 2020

President Trump said the U.S. and Canada had agreed to close their border to non-essential travel as the two countries seek to blunt the spread of the coronavirus. "We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!" Trump tweeted. Specifics of the closure were not immediately available, but the new restrictions are likely to affect non-citizens traveling between the two countries. Trump and the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the situation, officials said. "You can only be vigilant and very professional, but it’s not pertaining at thi...

White House Seeks $1-Trillion Economic Stimulus, Including Payouts to Americans

Thursday, March 19, 2020

The Trump administration on proposed a $1-trillion economic stimulus package to counter the effects of the coronavirus, including relief for small businesses and the airline industry, and sizable checks for Americans in the next two weeks. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin outlined the request to Senate Republicans at a closed-door lunch on Capitol Hill and has been in discussions with House Democratic leaders. “It’s going to be big and it’s going to be bold,” President Trump said, praising the bipartisan commitment in Congress to move quickly. Senate Republicans — having taken a backseat to the administration and House Democrats on two prior coronaviru...

City of Irvine Leaders Close City Hall, Proclaim Local Emergency in Response to COVID-19

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

City of Irvine officials on March 17 issued a proclamation declaring a local emergency, announced the closure of City Hall, and took additional steps to protect the public and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “We want our community to know that the City is taking every step necessary to safeguard the health and well-being of our residents and businesses,” stated Irvine Mayor Christina Shea. “The City of Irvine is an innovative and diverse community. We ask that you follow the State and Federal guidelines. Even though they are not mandated, we encourage you to exercise them to th...

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Guidance for Businesses and Employers The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America - 15 Days to Slow the Spread The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the mos...

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to California Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Monday, March 16, 2020

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s designated representative, Director Mark S. Ghilarducci of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services on March 13. The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the following California counties: Alameda Alpine Amador Calaveras Contra Costa El Dorado Imperial Kern Lake Los Angeles Madera Marin Mariposa Mendocino Merced Mono Napa Orange Placer Riverside Sacramento San Bernardino Sa...

Edwards Lifesciences Named 2020 Champion for Babies & Families Awardee by MOMS Orange County

Friday, March 13, 2020

Greater Irvine Chamber Leaders Circle member Edwards Lifesciences has been named MOMS Orange County’s 2020 Champion for Babies & Families Awardee. The Champion for Babies & Families Award celebrates an Orange County employer that creates a working environment exceptionally supportive of expecting parent and new parent employees. “Edwards Lifesciences is a shining star in terms of the way it supports its employees who are new parents,” said Dave Lugo, interim CEO, MOMS Orange County. “Through meaningful and generous benefits, the company clearly helps its employees during this incredibly important time in their lives.” Edwards has long provided benefits specific to new an...

City of Irvine’s Pete Carmichael Provides Update on Community Reinvestment at Greater Irvine Chamber

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Pete Carmichael, director of Community Development for the City of Irvine, during the March Greater Irvine Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee meeting, brought business and community leaders up to date on One Irvine, the city’s community reinvestment initiative, as well as new state policies and legislation impacting the city. Through One Irvine, the city partners with the residents of older Irvine neighborhoods to identify needs, and through a Neighborhood Action Plan developed by the city, to enhance curb appeal and maintain property values. Carmichael also addressed the traffic impact of development and steps the city is taking to address the issue, such a...

Greater Irvine Chamber Members Are Eligible for Rewards for Booking Group Meetings at Irvine Hotels

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Destination Irvine’s Loyalty Pays Off program offers exclusive rewards to Greater Irvine Chamber members that book group meetings in Irvine. Groups booking 10-30 rooms total earn $300 toward their hotel account, groups booking 31-74 rooms total earn $500, and groups booking 75+ rooms earn $750. Participating Irvine hotels include, AC Hotel, Atrium Hotel, Candlewood Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, Irvine Airport, Courtyard Irvine Spectrum, DoubleTree by Hilton, Irvine Spectrum, Embassy Suites Irvine, Extended Stay America - Irvine Spectrum, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Irvine, Homewood Suites, John Wayne Airport, Hotel Irvine, Hyatt House, Irvine Marriott, LaQuinta Inn & Suites, Irvine Spectrum, Marriot...

Irvine’s Modern Stays and International Culinary Venues Featured in Popular Pacific Northwest Magazine

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Irvine’s modern, recently renovated Hotel Irvine, and one-of-a-kind international shopping and dining center Diamond Jamboree were highlighted in the March 2020 issue of Northwest50Plus magazine. The feature detailed the palm tree-lined pool at Hotel Irvine, which can be enjoyed on the nearly 300 days of warm, sunny Southern California weather, as well as the facilities expansive ballroom and Red Bar lounge. Also included in the feature was Diamond Jamboree’s wide variety of international food options, highlighting the city’s many cultures. “Everyone knows California is a melting pot of cultures and traditions, and it's evident in Orange County. One of my favorite ventures wa...

Mackenzie Corp’s Katie Rucker Named Greater Irvine Chamber 2020 Woman of Influence

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Katie Rucker, president of operations, Mackenzie Corporation, was formally recognized as the 2020 Woman of Influence at the seventh annual Greater Irvine Chamber Women of Influence forum. The award recognizes some of Orange County’s most successful women in business and community service. “Thank you, Greater Irvine Chamber, for this amazing honor and recognition,” Rucker said, as she accepted the award in front of more than 450 attendees. As the co-owner, along with her sister, and president of a women-owned, data-based business, Rucker has contributed countless hours supporting and encouraging women to find their own voice within their industry. In addition to her professiona...

Whit Peterson Promoted to Senior Director of Economic Development and Government Affairs at the Greater Irvine Chamber

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Whit Peterson has been promoted to Senior Director of Economic Development and Government Affairs at the Greater Irvine Chamber. Since joining the Chamber’s professional staff in 2016 as Director of Government Affairs, the scope of Peterson’s work has expanded to include facilitating decision-making incentives and transition benefits to qualified life science companies in their expansion to Irvine, made available through the Chamber’s Irvine Gateway soft-landing transition program. “Whit has proven to be an effective liaison for executives navigating the Irvine business landscape as they consider and plan expansion to our city,” said Bryan Starr, president and CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber. “His knowledge of busines...

Coronavirus Update from the Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The Orange County Board of Supervisors convened on March 10 for a Coronavirus update. The Health Care Agency (HCA) emphasized that the concerns about community spread of the disease should focus on high-risk individuals: over 60 years and those populations with compromised immune systems. Conversely, young children are not suffering from severe illness. Supervisor Don Wagner inquired about the appropriate public health response to communal gatherings and effects on tourism. In response, HCA urged people who are feeling unwell in general to avoid crowds, but that gatherings do not necessarily need to be canceled. Tourists are invited to continue visiting Orang...

As Coronavirus Cripples Global Supply Lines, More US Firms Looking to Leave China

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Beyond short-term economic disruptions and increased recession worries, the spreading coronavirus is sowing the seeds of a broad transformation of the global supply chains that for years brought low consumer prices and high corporate profits on products such as cellphones, computers, and household goods. China looks to be the biggest loser as U.S. producers step up plans to reduce their reliance on the world’s second-biggest economy, which has long enjoyed a central, dominant role in an international manufacturing network that ships parts and materials back and forth among different countries before assembling them into finished products. A slow U.S. exodus from Chin...

Coronavirus: An Economic Look

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Coronavirus continues to dominate the news, raising concerns among individuals and for our economy. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by economist Christopher Thornberg, Ph.D, founding partner of Beacon Economics, to discuss the COVID-19 coronavirus and its possible impact on the economy and businesses. Two Economic Impacts There are two places in our economy where the impact of the virus will be apparent and each one needs to be handled differently, Thornberg tells Frank. First, there is a substantial decline in the demand for travel services and basic tourism. “…Airlines, large hotels...

Greater Irvine Chamber Represents SoCal Region at Pew Charitable Trusts’ Forum

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

The Greater Irvine Chamber was invited to join Pew Charitable Trusts for their 2020 Flood-Prepared Communities forum in Washington, D.C. in February. The Chamber’s Senior Director of Government Affairs and Economic Development Whit Peterson represented the Southern California region as a stakeholder during the three-day event with the Pew’s policy team. The focus of the event was to bring awareness to several pieces of legislation centered around modernizing federal flood insurance, mitigating disasters, prioritizing flood-ready infrastructure, promoting nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding, and addressing repetitive flood-loss properties. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created in 1968 to provide federally-backed floo...

Private Payrolls Up 183,000 as Hiring Shows No Signs of Coronavirus Scare

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

U.S. companies kept adding jobs in February despite the coronavirus scare, as private payrolls expanded well above the pace that Wall Street had anticipated. Employment excluding government jobs rose by 183,000 for the month, according to a report from Moody’s Analytics, topping the 155,000 that economists surveyed by Dow Jones had expected. The job growth came during a month in which fear spread that the COVID-19 strain would lead to a global economic slowdown. So far, 93,455 cases have been confirmed worldwide, including 3,198 deaths. However, the economy remained resilient and companies continued to hire in the face of the worries and ...

UK Companies Look to Expand in Irvine

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

The Greater Irvine Chamber economic development team led by the organization’s Executive Vice President Linda DiMario visited London in February for scheduled meetings with expansion-ready U.K. companies looking to grow in the U.S. This visit was an extension of the Chamber-led foreign direct investment initiative underway for the last three years. The goal of this most recent visit was to illustrate to more life science and technology companies that Irvine/Orange County is a smart choice for the expansion of their company into the U.S. “We have signaled to U.K. life-science and technology sectors that Irvine and its innovation ecosystem are seriou...

University Lab Partners, Irvine Company, Greater Irvine Chamber Executives Welcome OC’s First Wet-Lab Incubator

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Celebrating the grand opening of University Lab Partners (ULP), Orange County’s first wet-lab incubator, ULP Founder and President Ken Beall, Irvine Company President Doug Holte, and Greater Irvine Chamber President and CEO Bryan Starr welcomed guests to the Feb. 27 program at UCI Beall Applied Innovation. “University Lab Partners is an important addition to Irvine’s life science and med-tech startup community; it provides a home for early-stage bioscience and med-tech companies that need an environment where they can work to advance their technology forward,” Starr said. “ULP provides a unique opportunity for small companies in these sectors to successfully scale int...

Air Canada to Launch Daily, Year-Round Flights from Vancouver to Orange County

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

Air Canada announced it will launch non-stop service between Vancouver and Orange County’s John Wayne Airport beginning June 15, subject to final airport authority approvals. Tickets are now available for purchase at aircanada.com or through travel agents until March 17 for travel between June 15 and September 30. "The shared California/Canada commitment to building new companies and expanding our economies has connected the two trade partners and now with daily non-stop flights between Orange County and Vancouver, we have a convenient portal for business and leisure travel," said Bryan Starr, president and CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber and Destination Irvine. "We are very pleased to announce new daily, year-round flights from Vancouver to Orange County as we strategically expand our transborder network int...

Cross-Border Connections Enable Economic Vitality of Baja California Region

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

The cross-border connections that make the Baja California region a dynamic economic center were the focus of a recent California Chamber of Commerce international breakfast meeting at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Speakers at the February 28 gathering hosted by the CalChamber Council for International Trade were Rubén Roa Dueñas, undersecretary of the economy for the State of Baja California, Mexico; and Ambassador Carlos González Gutiérrez, consul general of Mexico, San Diego. (Pictured L-R: Ambassador Carlos González Gutiérrez, consul general of Mexico, San Diego; CalChamber Chair Mark Jansen, Blue Diamond Growers; Undersecretary of the Economy Rubén Roa Dueñas, State o...

Octane's 2020 High Tech Awards: Nominations Open

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

Nominations are now open for Octane’s 2020 High Tech Awards (HTA). The HTA honors innovative med-tech and tech companies in Orange County in 11 categories. Nominations are open now through April 6. HTA will take place on Sept. 17 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach. 2020 Categories: Best Small Technology Company CEO Outstanding Small Technology Company Best Technology Company Leadership Team Best Enterprise or B2B Technology Innovation Best Consumer Technology Innovation Outstanding Innovation in Medical Technology/Lifesciences Deal of the Year Best Clean-Tech/Green Company Outstanding Large Disruptor/Innovator VC of the Year Outstanding Emerging Technology Company Click here to nominate for Octane's High-Tech Awards. Source: Octane

Hoag Receives Highest Nursing Credential with Prestigious Magnet Recognition

Monday, March 02, 2020

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has again attained Magnet recognition for its continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. As part of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program, this voluntary credentialing program is the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice. “Magnet recognition is a tremendous honor and is an incredible source of pride for our nurses,” said Robert T. Braithwaite, president and CEO, Hoag. “To earn this prestigious designation for an additional four years underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drives our entire staff to deliver the highest quality of care to this community.” Magnet has become the gold standar...

Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea Delivers State of the City Address

Friday, February 28, 2020

Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea delivered her State of the City Address on Feb. 25 to a capacity crowd in the Irvine City Hall Council Chamber. Topics included sustainability, public safety, fiscal strength, and development at the Orange County Great Park. In her address, Mayor Shea announced that the city received an award for sustainability from the California Environmental Protection Agency. The award recognized Irvine’s organic landscape policy, which reduces the use of synthetic pesticides on city property, and includes the use of goats for weed abatement and fire mitigation. Community members had a chance to learn more about the us...

2020 Woman of Influence Award Nominees Announced

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

A group of accomplished women have been nominated for the Greater Irvine Chamber’s 2020 Woman of Influence Award. Each of the nominees has demonstrated exemplary professionalism, held a leadership role in her community, and has served as a mentor or a source of inspiration for other professional women. The nominees are: Nasim Afsarmanesh, MD, COO, Ambulatory Care, UCI Health Allyson Brooks, Ginny Ueberroth Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair and Chief Quality Officer, Hoag Women's Health Institute Betty Carroll, School Board President, Irvine Unified School District Nancy Choi, Co-Founder and CFO, House of Carbonadi Suzanna Choi, Tashiro Choi & Associates Julie Cranston, Director, Small Business Development Center a...

Hoag Named One of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2020 by Healthgrades

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has once again been recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals™ for 2020. Hoag has received this designation for nine consecutive years – 2012-2020 – and remains the only Orange County hospital in the Top 50 and Top 100. “As one of the top hospitals in the nation for clinical excellence, Hoag is honored to be recognized by Healthgrades,” said Robert T. Braithwaite, president and CEO, Hoag. “We are committed to our patients and providing a level of personalized care that is unsurpassed in Orange County.” Healthgrades selected its list of top performing hospitals for exhibiting clinical excellence across a rang...

Innovation Drives Orange County’s World-Renowned Cancer Care and Healthcare

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

By Bryan Starr, President and CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber Innovation is the key to Orange County’s exceptional healthcare and is what sets our healthcare and its delivery far apart from other parts of the nation and the world. Patients accessing healthcare in Irvine, from routine maintenance to advanced disease treatment, receive top care delivered by some of the world’s most expert practitioners using the latest science and technology. The following are some of the ways Greater Irvine Chamber-partner healthcare institutions are at the leading edge of medical research and patient care in Irvine and Orange County. Cancer Care City of Hope, named the bes...

US Chamber Provides CCPA Guidance to Small-Business Leaders

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Do you think your company doesn’t have to worry about data privacy laws? Think again. New data privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) could cost your business thousands of dollars and significantly impact how you do business. The U.S. Chamber’s Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC), which has been leading the charge for a national privacy law that protects small business, hosted the first in a national series of Privacy Bootcamps in Orange County at the Greater Irvine Chamber in February. The bootcamps are designed to help local small businesses tell their story to federal legislators about the need fo...

Businesses to Attorney General: “We Need More Time!”

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Business owners are growing anxious about the timeline to comply with new California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) regulations – for good reason. CCPA requires businesses to be in full compliance with the new regulations by July 1 of this year – but there are still no regulations to comply with. For this reason, business owners are hopeful that the Attorney General (AG) is willing to hear them: “We need more time!” The rushed compliance timeline means that a beauty salon owner who is ready to pay her lawyer to make sure she’s following the rules can’t do it today. It mean...

Canada, California, and the Future of Work

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

By Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada, Northern California We are living in a time of economic upheaval and transformation, largely due to forces of globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Dynamics of this new industrial change–such as automation and artificial intelligence, and the rise of the “gig” economy–are dramatically altering how Californians, Canadians and citizens around the world live and work. Many technological developments originate in Silicon Valley, yet governments worldwide and at all levels must grapple with how these developments affect their citizens. As Canada’s Consul General to Northern California, I am fortunate to be able to share Canada’s approach t...

Census Ball Now in California’s Court

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Once the Census Bureau begins mailing out questionnaires, sending operatives to knock on doors and puts its forms on the Internet, much of California’s fate will be in the hands of its people, residents of every size, shape, color, belief, and ethnicity. To ensure schools are fully funded, roads and infrastructure are properly maintained and rebuilt, and maintain that the people have a significant voice in both public policy and the Electoral College, it is up to every individual to make sure they are counted For awhile, it appeared that Trump’s administration might insert a citizenship question among the standard queries to b...

Lighthizer Heading to London to Restart US-UK Talks on Trade

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is expected to visit London in the coming days for talks with British officials aimed at putting plans for negotiations on a free-trade agreement back on track. The visit will include a meeting with U.K. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, according to people familiar with the matter. He’s also scheduled to address the Oxford Union, according to the organization’s website. The so-called special relationship between America and Britain is showing strains after Prime Minister Boris Johnson in late January rejected President Donald Trump’s request to ban China’s Huawei Technologies Co. from its next-generation broadband networks. The move reportedl...

UCI is No. 1 Among MONEY Magazine’s Best Colleges in California

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

MONEY magazine has ranked the University of California, Irvine (UCI) No. 1 on its 2020 list of California’s Best Colleges. The university was also last year named the best college in the nation by MONEY. Colleges evaluated for inclusion on the list were scored on affordability, quality of education, and student outcomes. The youngest university admitted to the Association of American Universities, UCI is a research institution founded in 1965 and is one of 10 campuses in the University of California public university system. The full price of attending UCI for the 2019-2020 school year is an estimated $35,500 for California residents...

US Consumer Confidence Rises to 130.7 in February

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

U.S. consumer confidence improved slightly in February, rising to a reading of 130.7, the highest point since August. The Conference Board said that its measure of consumer sentiment is up from a revised reading of 130.4 in January. The January reading was revised down from an initial estimate of 131.6. Consumers views on the present situation for business and labor market conditions fell this month, but their expectations for the future rose. Conference Board economist Lynn Franco said that consumers continue to view the outlook as favorable, and when this is combined with solid employment growth, it should be enough to support continued spendin...

UC Irvine Set to Start Construction on $185-Million Health Sciences Complex

Monday, February 24, 2020

UC Irvine will begin construction this month on a state-of-the-art 9-acre health sciences complex for integrative patient care, training, and research. The initial work will be site preparation, with groundbreaking expected later this year, probably in the fall, according to university spokesman Tom Vasich. The site — on the corner of Bison and California avenues adjacent to the UCI Research Park — will include a five-level, 108,200-square-foot building for the Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences and an adjoining four-level, 71,500-square-foot building for the Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing. The health sciences building will house the Susan Samuel...

IPSF Awards More Than $200,000 in Innovative Grants to Irvine Teachers

Friday, February 21, 2020

Each year, Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) offers teachers and staff in the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) the opportunity to apply for funds through the Innovative Grants Program to implement new and creative approaches to teaching and counseling. The purpose of this grant program is to support innovation in schools by awarding funds to launch new curriculum and improve the educational experiences of students. The program in total will award 29 projects and more than $200,000 in grant monies to support innovative teaching methods in schools. This year, IPSF awarded eight mega grants, up to $20,000 each, to provide educators a...

Simplified H-1B Visa Application Process Starts March 1

Friday, February 21, 2020

This year, applying for one of those 85,000 H-1B visas begins a month earlier than in years past — and requires a lot less work for employers at the initial stage. Stated simply, the H-1B visa, commonly known as a U.S. work visa, allows American employers to temporarily hire highly-skilled foreign professionals in occupations that require specialized knowledge that many say they can’t find here. Applying for these visas used to be quite laborious, but after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) successfully completed pilot testing of its new registration process, it announced last December that it’s implementing the new process in th...

Career Edge Workshop Provides College Students with Tips on Workplace Etiquette

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

More than 30 students from Orange County colleges and universities attended the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Feb. 8 Career Edge workshop, Successful Business Etiquette and Workplace Behaviors, instructed by Massiel Pérez-Calhoon, Ed.D., manager of community and corporate relations, Brandman University. Dr. Pérez-Calhoon guided students in exploring basic business practices, how to navigate the demands and expectations of a fast-paced and evolving workplace, professional etiquette and attitude expectations. This year, the Career Edge program has been scaled to include an internship component. As part of the internship program at the Samueli School of Engineering at University of California, Irvine, led by Dean Gregory Washington...

Irvine’s Diverse, Modern Cuisine Featured in Popular Travel Blog

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Newlyweds and popular travel bloggers Allie and Bobby Talley of Traveling Newlyweds in a recent post highlighted Irvine as a destination for date nights, detailing the city’s diverse mix of modern dining options. The post outlines date night dining options at Irvine’s one-of-a-kind international shopping center, Diamond Jamboree, including dim sum restaurant Tim Ho Wan and specialty ice cream shop Somi Somi. “Recently we’ve been hooked on Irvine. It’s a city that can get easily overlooked by its flashy and touristy neighbors — but we’re here to let you in on a little secret. Irvine is on the rise. It’s bursting wit...

Getting to Know Irvine—Orange County’s Economic Engine—and its Connection to Canada

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The City of Irvine is well known for repeatedly earning the distinction as the Safest City in America and many may also know that it earns the highest marks for fiscal strength—recently ranking first for a fiscal health index among 116 U.S. cities with a population of over 200,000. And as the third-largest city among Orange County’s 34 cities and more than three million people, Irvine is also Orange County’s economic engine. Going beyond the veneer of knowledge about the greater Irvine region in Orange County shows the city’s exceptional growth. For some regional context, if Southern California were a country, i...

MemorialCare Acquires Irvine Family Practice Medical Group

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

MemorialCare, the largest nonprofit healthcare system headquartered in Orange County, acquired Irvine Family Practice Medical Group, a prominent group of physicians serving 25,000 patients in its expansive health center in Irvine. In addition to the medical group's board-certified family and internal medicine physicians, nurses, and other clinicians and support staff caring for all ages—from children through older adults—the newly named MemorialCare Medical Group offers the convenience of an onsite Urgent Care Center. Open every day, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., MemorialCare Medical Group Urgent Care Center (formerly Irvine Walk-In) treats patients with a variety of medical issues, supplementing the family medicin...

UK Lifescience Company ForteMedical Expands to Irvine and Its Innovative Product Makes Appearance at the Oscars

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The U.K.-based life science company ForteMedical has expanded to the U.S., establishing a satellite office in Irvine. The decision was aided by the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Foreign Direct Investment work in the U.K. and its Irvine Gateway soft-landing program, which helps expanding companies choose Irvine and transition to the city easily. “ForteMedical embarked on a mission to Irvine hoping that we would find not only enthusiasm for our work, but support, contacts, and avenues into launching our HealthTech into the U.S. We have not been disappointed. The Chamber’s Irvine Gateway team is indefatigable, prescient, and kind. What more could we hav...

Irvine Valley College Foundation Now Accepts Donations of Cryptocurrency

Friday, February 14, 2020

The Irvine Valley College (IVC) Foundation is now accepting cryptocurrency donations, putting the college in the first ranks of a new era in fundraising. “We are thrilled to be among the first colleges that can accept contributions via BitPay,” said Elissa Oransky, the foundation’s executive director. “The IVC Foundation received its first gift of crypto (also known as digital, virtual, or cyber) currency recently. While we are not the first nonprofit to accept gifts of this kind, we are among the early adopters.” Founded in 2011 as a Bitcoin payment solution, BitPay has handled more than $50 million in donations since 2017...

Strong Global IP Rights Will Unleash Economic Growth

Friday, February 14, 2020

America’s researchers, scientists, and entrepreneurs are driving the next wave of innovation—whether they’re developing lifesaving therapies for previously untreatable diseases or pioneering new technologies to improve the human condition. And what makes these achievements possible? In a few words: intellectual property (IP) rights. IP rights are the backbone of our economy, rewarding inventors for their risk-taking and ingenuity. And in today’s global marketplace, it’s not enough for our own IP regime to be strong—other economies must also respect IP rights. That’s one reason why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) published the 2020 International IP Index, an annua...

UC Irvine’s Beall Applied Innovation Celebrates 5-Year Mark and New Location

Thursday, February 13, 2020

University of California, Irvine’s entrepreneurial and innovation platform came about in 2014 as an initiative by UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman to connect students and faculty and help grow Orange County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The result was UCI Beall Applied Innovation, and Executive Director Richard Sudek was brought on in August 2014 to lead the effort. The program was renamed last year after a multimillion-dollar donation to the university from the Beall Family Foundation. It relocated in November to a larger facility in the Cove — a hub of state-of-the-art technological facilities and office space at the UCI Research Park — and the university marke...

Destination Irvine Recognizes Irvine Marriott Employee as part of the Spirit of Hospitality Award Program

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Art Forman, engineering supervisor, Irvine Marriott, is the 2020 second quarter recipient of Destination Irvine’s hospitality employee recognition program. Forman was nominated for his dedicated work ensuring guest and event attendee satisfaction, and his volunteer leadership in conducting an ongoing hotel-wide Art of Hosting training. He also works closely with front office and events staff to perform major maintenance and repairs, reducing impact to in-house guests and meeting attendees. Forman leads by example, remains calm in emergencies, and is persistent while trouble shooting difficult problems. The Spirit of Hospitality Award recognizes back-of-house and front-of-house hospitality professionals who deliver exceptional experiences daily...

Greater Irvine Chamber Brings Home Top Awards from Executive Association

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

The Greater Irvine Chamber was honored with top awards by the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) for its communications accomplishments and portfolio in front of more than 400 attendees during the 2020 W.A.C.E. Conference in Portland, Oregon. The Chamber received the top honor of best Overall Communications Program Award, as well as first place in the E-Newsletter category for its Weekly Connection digital newsletter, and Special Merit in the Website category. Jessica Welch, vice president of operations, Greater Irvine Chamber, was recognized as a recently W.A.C.E. Accredited Chamber Executive for her own professional development, as well as encouraging that of other chambe...

Greater Irvine Chamber EVP Linda DiMario Discusses During Podcast Reasons Irvine is an Ideal Home for Global Companies

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Linda DiMario, executive vice president, Greater Irvine Chamber, spoke to Irvine’s strength and attractiveness as a hub for global companies in a recent episode of Going Global With America’s Best Cities, a podcast of Global Trade Magazine. DiMario, who leads Economic Development initiatives at the Chamber including business attraction and foreign direct investment, discussed the reasons global companies and companies involved in exporting find Irvine the ideal place to do business. “It’s because our companies are working in a very compatible environment in which they can grow and prosper and experiment…without fear of risk. We are a very much 21st-century sector-drive...

Greater Irvine Chamber Members Recognized for Excellence in Entrepreneurship

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Five Greater Irvine Chamber members are among the nominees for the Orange County Business Journal’s 2019 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards: The Chamber’s Board of Directors Chair Dan Han, Agapay; Board member Ville Houttu, Vincit; and members at large, John Bradley Jackson, CSUF Center for Entrepreneurship; Mathew Jacobson, Ducere Global Business School; and Greg Krueger, Uplift Transport The Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards program recognizes individuals who exemplify the American entrepreneurial spirit – individuals who by their creativity and determination have established and nurtured successful business ventures. Award recipients will be formally recognized during the fifth annual 2020 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards program o...

UCI Again Receives Most Applications in UC System from State’s High School Seniors

Monday, February 10, 2020

For the second year in a row, the University of California, Irvine is the most popular UC campus for the state’s college-bound high school seniors. A total of 72,391 aspiring in-state freshmen applied to attend UCI this fall, up 2,000 from last year and more than applied to any of the other eight UC undergraduate campuses. Additionally, UCI was the top choice for first-generation college students and those from low-income families and underrepresented groups – also for the second consecutive year. “These outstanding numbers are a testament to our success in advancing our mission,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “We exist to provide the bes...

Brian Dozer Appointed Vital Link President

Sunday, February 09, 2020

Vital Link Education-Business Consortium announced that its board of directors has appointed Brian Dozer as president of the organization. Dr. Dozer has served on the board of directors of Vital Link since Nov. 2017. Prior to his appointment, he served as director of Webster University’s Irvine campus. Of the announcement, Vital Link Chairman Bo Wang said, “Dr. Dozer’s combination of relevant experience in education, nonprofits, industry and workforce development, along with his impressive academic background and knowledge of our organization made him the standout candidate.” Dr. Dozer also serves as co-chair of the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Business & Workforce Development Committee and works o...

HBLA’s Dov Lazarus, City of Hope’s Nisha Morris Elected to Greater Irvine Chamber Board of Directors

Sunday, February 09, 2020

Dov Lazarus, CPA, audit partner at HBLA Certified Public Accountants, Inc., and Nisha Morris, associate vice president, Marketing and Communications at City of Hope Orange County, have been elected to serve on the 2020-2021 Greater Irvine Chamber Board of Directors. Lazarus has more than twenty years of accounting and auditing experience, with significant experience serving companies in a variety of industries including importing, manufacturing, distribution, automotive and retail. He has serviced some of the firm’s more significant clients. He previously worked at Price Waterhouse South Africa and Price Waterhouse Australia. Lazarus is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant...

A New Way to Vote is Coming to Irvine and Orange County

Friday, February 07, 2020

The way Orange County residents vote is changing this year. Beginning with the upcoming March 3 Presidential Primary Election, the Orange County Registrar of Voters is replacing its 1,200 precinct polling locations with 188 Vote Centers including 16 in Irvine. Voters now have more options to vote early and on Election Day to match their busy schedules. All registered voters in Orange County have received or soon will be receiving a vote-by-mail ballot for the March election. They can cast their ballots in one of three ways: At a Vote Center: Voters can cast their ballots at any Orange County Vote Center regardless of wher...

Irvine State of the City Address Set for February 25

Friday, February 07, 2020

The public is invited to attend as Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea delivers her State of the City Address on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the Council Chamber at the Irvine Civic Center. The address will highlight accomplishments of the past year, as well as look to what’s ahead in 2020. New this year: Beginning at 3 p.m. the community is invited to the Irvine Civic Center piazza for a grazing goats educational and interactive experience. Learn more about the City’s sustainability efforts, Organic Pesticide Use Policy, and how goats are being used to maintain our open space and prevent wildfires. A receptio...

Irvine Public Schools Foundation Honors Top 100 Companies Committed to Educational Excellence

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF), a leading educational nonprofit organization focused on enriching the educational experience of each child in every school, hosted its 7th annual Top 100 Reception at The Resort at Pelican Hill in January. The list of Top 100 companies were honored for their commitment to excellence in education by supporting IPSF’s mission. These socially responsible companies are investing in Orange County’s future by ensuring local youth have access to educational resources that will enhance their academic and future success. “We are proud to live in a professionally diverse community that allows us to build rich partnerships with companies across man...

Irvine Business Complex Connects Trails Project Open House Feb. 12

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

The City of Irvine is underway with the Irvine Business Complex (IBC) Trails Feasibility Study, or IBC Connects project. The IBC Connects project is a feasibility study to evaluate the development of multi-use connected trails and linear parks in the IBC area. The IBC area is a dynamic, mixed-use residential, employment, and retail center located on the west side of Irvine near the John Wayne Airport. The first phase of community outreach occurred last fall and entailed six pop-up events in the IBC, and an online survey. The second phase of community outreach will be an Open House planned for: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 4-8 p.m. Irvine Cit...

Destination Irvine Promotes Destination to Dozens of Travel Writers and Influencers at Media Events

Monday, February 03, 2020

As part of its destination marketing and promotion initiatives, Greater Irvine Chamber’s Wendy Haase, vice president of Destination Irvine, shared story ideas with dozens of travel writers and influencers during the TravMedia International Media Marketplace (IMM) and the Visit California Media Mission, which included an editor’s event at Meredith and an influencer luncheon. The events fostered networking with editors at top publications, Travel + Leisure, Parents, Health, People, and inspired best practices in influencer partnerships, and provided an introduction to new contacts. Destination Irvine was one of 48 delegates representing 44 of California’s most desirable destinations and attractions. Delegates were seated together in the branded California Pavilion. IM...

USMCA Crosses Finish Line After Three-Year Marathon

Monday, February 03, 2020

Some races are marathons, some are sprints. By any measure, the push to get the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) passed — which preserves and strengthens America’s economic ties with its neighbors and top two export markets — was a marathon. The USMCA has been three years in the making, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was involved at every step — from the early days when the fate of NAFTA was in question, through eight rounds of negotiations on USMCA, and throughout the process to get the deal passed in the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate. The Greater Irvine Chamber also pushe...

Chamber-Led Life Science & Technology Delegation Returning to the U.K.

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

Once again, the Greater Irvine Chamber will lead a distinguished delegation of business leaders and life science and technology experts to the United Kingdom Feb. 17-20, 2020. This visit marks the fourth time the delegation of Greater Irvine Chamber leadership has visited the U.K. since the Chamber's Foreign Direct Investment initiative was launched in 2017. The goal is to establish a profile for Irvine in the U.K.’s life science and technology sectors that encourages expansion-ready U.K. companies to establish their U.S. operation in Irvine/Orange County. With the assistance of OCO Global, the delegation plans to meet with more life science and technology companies tha...

City of Hope Partners with Greater Irvine Chamber as First Ever Diamond-Level Leaders Circle Sponsor

Monday, December 30, 2019

City of Hope has renewed its community partnership with the Greater Irvine Chamber as the organization’s first ever Leaders Circle diamond-level sponsor. “City of Hope is answering a call to bring our breakthrough discoveries and specialized therapies closer to home, right here in Orange County. We are making tremendous progress, opening our medical office in Newport Beach in early 2020 and the comprehensive cancer campus in the heart of Irvine in 2021. These milestones are testimony to the power of our local partnerships, and our work with the Greater Irvine Chamber has been foundational to our success. Together, we share a visio...

U.S., State Economies Show Steady Growth; Political Rhetoric Disconnected from Reality

Friday, December 20, 2019

The Great Un-Recession When we look back at 2019 there will be plenty of negative memories—from the theatrics that have dominated national politics to the ongoing trade war with China to the unnecessary crisis of confidence that exists within our borders to grim tidings on the international front as the result of a slowing European economy to deepening political crises in the Middle East. Despite all the turmoil, what will not make the list of “2019 negatives” is the health of the United States economy. Pessimistic press coverage and punditry aside, the sum total of indicators for the year shows that th...

Get REAL ID Ready Before October 2020

Monday, December 09, 2019

Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will officially begin enforcing the REAL ID Act of 2005. This means that a traditional driver’s license will no longer be accepted through airport security and all Americans will be required to present REAL ID-compliant identification to go through airport security and enter federal facilities. Help spread the word: Make sure your family and friends are #REALIDready before Oct. 1, 2020—so they’re not left behind. What Makes a REAL ID Real? REAL ID-compliant cards are generally marked with a star in the upper portion of the card. The style o...

Irvine Quality of Life Survey Results “Unprecedented”

Monday, October 21, 2019

Irvine residents gave their city and its Master Plan remarkably high marks, according to results from a scientific public opinion poll conducted between Aug. 27 and Sept. 3. Nearly 90% (89%) of residents say that their quality of life is either “excellent” or “good,” compared to just one percent who say it’s not good. “Irvine’s tremendous quality of life numbers are about as good as it gets,” said Paul Maslin, partner at Fairbanks, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, a national research firm that conducted the poll. “The positive numbers are almost unprecedented in our decades of polling in cities across America.” City governmen...

Hoag Promise Campaign Still Going Strong After Hitting $627M Goal 18 Months Early

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Hoag Hospital Foundation has surpassed the $627 million Hoag Promise Campaign goal 18 months ahead of its Dec.31, 2020, target thanks to more than 22,000 donors who made 83,000-plus Hoag Promise Campaign gifts. Hoag will continue raising funds for the Hoag Promise Campaign until its end date in a bid to meet or exceed its ambitious clinical fundraising priorities within the larger Campaign. “Health care will never stop evolving and innovating, and Hoag will never relinquish its vision of providing leading-edge care in all of our service lines,” said Flynn A. Andrizzi, Ph.D., Hoag Hospital Foundation president. “Philanthropy is the key t...

Destination Irvine Releases 2019-2020 Irvine Visitors Guide

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Destination Irvine has released its 2019-2020 Irvine Visitors Guide, a resource that visitors use when looking for where to stay, play, meet, and eat in Irvine. Destination Irvine distributes 35,000 copies of the guide to locations throughout Irvine, including hotels, the Orange County Great Park Visitors Center, Irvine Metrolink/Amtrak Station, John Wayne and Ontario airports, California Welcome Centers throughout the state, University of California, Irvine, and the Irvine Spectrum Center visitor kiosk. The annually updated promotional publication is also distributed in key markets like Arizona, Seattle, and Texas. The guide is utilized at tradeshows and media marketplaces. View the 2019-2020 Irvine Visitors Guide digita...

Irvine Rotary, Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassadors Coordinate with City of Irvine to deliver Medical Face Shields to Local First Responders and Businesses

Monday, May 11, 2020

Irvine Rotarians and those from other Orange County chapters, along with Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassadors and members of the Irvine City Council and Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel in April assembled and distributed 65,000 face shields to local medical first responders, including those at Kaiser Permanente in Irvine, UCI Medical Center, and nursing homes in the city. The specialized face shields were purchased with funds from the more than $120,000 raised through an online giving portal. In the next phase of the project, Irvine Rotary, Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassadors will work with City Council members and Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner to delive...

Coronavirus: Nonprofit Response

Friday, April 10, 2020

Looking for a way to help the fight against the Coronavirus crisis? Below are volunteer and support opportunities offered by Chamber member nonprofit organizations.

HR Expert Shares Tools for Navigating Coronavirus Impact on Businesses

Monday, March 30, 2020

Tough Times: Real Help Right Now Episode 1 - HR In this series, industry experts in the greater Irvine business community deep dive into real-time, relevant, and essential information for businesses as they react to, respond to, and recover from the current global health crisis. The first episode in the series features human resources expert Brian Montes of Scaleocity Works. Resources: Company Property Policy Template Forgiveable Small Business Loan Information Sheet Sample Furlough Letter Surviving COVID-19 Crisis Presentation

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