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The Leading Voice of Business in Orange County |
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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OC LOSES OUT (AGAIN!) ON HOUSING FUNDS. BUT OCBC'S BROOKFIELD HOMES WINS.
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California's
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) awarded $714 million to
build affordable housing and shelter spaces throughout the state last
week under
voter-approved Prop 1C.
Orange County projects
received $5
million for two Anaheim builders including
OCBC member
Brookfield Homes. That's the
good news. The bad news is that, measuring by population, Orange County should have received $61 million.
To put in perspective, San
Diego projects
applied and received
$44 million.
What's going
on here? Are OC builders not applying? Are OC applicants not making the cut
when they do apply? This is the second round of state funding where OC has been short-changed. Watch as OCBC and its partners tackle this
injustice in an upcoming conference that will help prepare Orange County to compete
more effectively-with guidance from California's Director of Housing and Community
Development, Lynn Jacobs. For more
information, or to assist
in developing the curriculum, contact
Lucy Dunn. |
DUNN AND DONE: REFORM EDUCATION AS CALIFORNIA REFORMS BUDGET
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Forty
percent of this state's annual budget--in the double-digit billion dollar
range--is dedicated to education. Despite this, California ranks near the bottom nationally in
student achievement and high school drop out rates-some districts are at 50%!
Now the state faces a $26 billion budget shortfall and must cut education as
part of the plan to fill the hole. It's time to break out of the traditional
education box and be creative. Click here for some creative ideas... |
EXECUTIVE INVITATION GOLF TOURNAMENT AUGUST 5 AT MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS
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 TEE OFF FORE SUCCESS! OCBC and UCI's Paul Merage School of Business team up for the 2009 Executive Invitational Golf Tournament presented by Kaiser Permanente.
Join us for this high level invitational that supports workforce education programs impacting every stage of learning, from kindergarten to higher education, so your business will have the skilled workers it needs for tomorrow. Tournament proceeds benefit OCBC's Latino Educational Attainment initiative and UCI's Paul Merage School Scholarship Fund.
Register today! This event will sell out -- great cause, great location, great fun!
 Date: Wednesday, August 5,
2009
Time: 10:30 a.m. brunch/contests | Noon - shotgun start | 5:30 p.m. reception
Place: The Monarch Beach Golf Links, Dana Point
Info? Michelle
Hart at 949.794.7219
Online Registration | Event Flyer | Sponsorship Opportunities
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CALL TO ACTION: JOIN VIRTUAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON TO STOP "CARD CHECK"
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The "Employee Free Choice Act"--better known as the card check
bill--would change ow unions organize workers in the United States. While the bill may be well-intentioned, Card Check has the potential to inflict costs, erode profitability, and decrease revenue for small business. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the card check bill,
H.R. 800, in 2007. It fell just 9 votes short in the U.S.
Senate, and is bound to resurface early in the next Congress.
OCBC strongly opposes this
anti-democratic legislation, and encourages you to send an important message to Congress through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Virtual March on Washington. |
ORANGE COUNTY I-5 FREEWAY SIGN UNVEILED
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 Orange County's first official monument sign marks the entrance to Orange County on the southbound I-5 Santa Ana Freeway in Buena Park. The sign is part of Caltran's and OCTA's Gateway Project, the final chapter in the original Measure M Freeway Program, including a widening from three lanes to five in each direction of the I-5.
"Orange County has long ago broken away from its rural and suburban
roots and transformed into a distinct metropolitan area and the
monument sign is an excellent way to show the unique character of our
county," said OCTA Chairman Peter Buffa.
OCBC's Lucy Dunn was also on hand and
noted that over $105 million of state funding went to widen the I-5 Gateway.
The sign was a tiny percentage of the overall budget, in development for many
years.
Now Orange County as a formal welcome mat. OCTA has
been an important partner in helping to identify the OC distinct from LA.
First, they added Anaheim to the freeway signs at
the 91 and 55 to Riverside. Next, let's add Orange
County/Irvine to the 405 signs. As we all know, the 405 does NOT end in
San Diego! Good
for business, good for tourism and for all of us who live, work and play in
Orange
County. For more information on OCTA projects, visit www.octa.net. |
CALIFORNIA MUST FIND A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR TRANSIT FUNDING
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California's legislature and
Governor Schwarzenegger recently approved SB 375--a sweeping
land-use reform bill with
the goal of coordinated planning for transportation and housing, limiting car
trips and increasing housing density in urban areas to prevent so-called
"sprawl" in green fields. Whether you agree with this central planning scheme
or not, it is the law of the land now, and fully funded 21st
century public transportation is a key component to its
success.
So
what
do California's
legislature and
Governor Schwarzenegger do? Zero out transit funding. Makes perfect
Sacramento-sense, doesn't it?
Makes you long for local control again, right?
Click here to read an op-ed written
by Lucy Dunn and my Silicon Valley counterpart,
Carl
Guardino, published in the San Jose Mercury News. What do you think? |
NEW STUDY SHOWS SMALL BUSINESSES TAKE BIG HIT IN AB 32 SCOPING PLAN
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 A recent study conducted by California State University, Sacramento shows small businesses in California will
pay an additional $49,691 as a result of the California Air Resources
Board's implementation of AB 32. The study analyzes the
potential economic impacts of AB 32 on the state of California, its
consumers and its small businesses.
The study used three different scenarios to measure costs to be incurred by consumers in five
specific areas: housing, transportation, natural gas, electricity and
food. The study concludes that the implementation of the AB 32 Scoping Plan will have significant
adverse impacts on California's economy, consumers, and small
businesses. Click here to view the study. For more information, contact Dr. Wallace Walrod.
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OC SUPER FAIR CELEBRATES "OCBC NIGHT AT THE FAIR" -- JOIN US!
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 Join OCBC and celebrate "OCBC Night at the Fair!" The Business Council is offering discounted tickets for Wednesday, July 29 at the Orange County Super Fair.
Purchase your $20 ticket, which includes a seat for the Magical Music of Disney Concert at the Pacific Amphitheater, all day fair park access and one free ride on the La Grande Wheel--the largest portable ferris wheel in the Western Hemisphere.
Click here to purchase to your tickets or for more information and we'll see you at the fair! |
EIGHTH ANNUAL MOBILITY 21 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT SET
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 Save the date for the eighth annual Mobility 21 Regional Transportation Summit scheduled for September 21 in Los Angeles. Mobility
21 brings together public, business and community stakeholders to
pursue regional solutions to the transportation challenges facing Southern California. A
nonpartisan alliance, Mobility 21 delivers a unified voice for the
region's transportation priorities and seeks to improve mobility in the
region. The summit serves as a catalyst for building consensus and collaboration among area transportation leaders. Click here for more info and to register. Click here for sponsorship opportunities.
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OCBC MEMBER OFFER OF THE MONTH: EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT ON TOSHIBA PRODUCTS
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 We know it's tough out there! That's why every month OCBC will offer its members discounted offers from our Affinity Program. Now, OCBC members will receive Toshiba's employee discount on laptops, televisions, accessories and more! Find the
latest in portable PC technology for home and office, as well as a
growing number of DVD and other consumer products from one of the
world's leading technology companies.
Visit www.store.toshiba.com/ocbc-aff to see all the available Toshiba products and technologies, as well as current special offers and promotions.
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UPCOMING OCBC EVENTS
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Executive Invitational Golf
Tournament:
In Partnership with UC
Irvine
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 |
Shotgun start at noon | Monarch Beach Golf Links
Chairman's Leadership
Breakfast:
Greg Spierkel, CEO,
Ingram Micro
Thursday, September
10, 2009 | 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. | Center Club, Costa Mesa
Workforce Development
Conference:
Sherry Lansing, former
CEO, Paramount Pictures
Thursday,
October 15, 2009 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Hyatt Regency
Irvine
Economic Forecast Conference:
Richard Davis, CEO, US
Bank
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 |
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. | Hyatt Regency Irvine
Click here fore event details and
registration! |
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
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July
2009
Workforce Development
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 from 7:30 - 9 a.m.
Economic Development
Friday, July 31, 2009 from 9 - 10:30 a.m.
Committee meetings are open to
OCBC members and invited guests only. All committee meetings are held
at the OCBC offices unless otherwise specified. For more information on
upcoming committee meetings for 2009 check out OCBC's Committees.
Looking to get more involved?
Click below to receive specific committee notices.
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS |
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OC Forum Presents Angel's Baseball
The Orange County Forum invites you to take an in-depth look at Angel's Baseball July 28, 2009 with team President Dennis Kuhl and play-by-play announcer Steve Physioc. Click here to visit www.ocforum.org to register and for more information.
Dead Banks Walking? A Panel Discussion on the Future of the Global Financial System
The World Affairs Council of Orange County presents an informative panel discussion of the current state of
the global financial crisis and the challenges and options we face as we move
forward. This informative panel will take place Wednesday, July 29 at the Hilton Costa Mesa - 6 p.m. Reception, 7 p.m. Dinner. 7:45 Program. OCBC members receive discount ticket offers! Visit www.worldsaffairscouncil.org or call 949.253.5751 for more information.
IBM Presents: Thriving in Today's Economy - Thursday, August 6, 2009
IBM Chief Economist, Dr. Phil Swan, who has
responsibility for developing and interpreting the global economic outlook and
its risks, including the implications for the rapidly evolving information
technology industry. Will be discussing
the state of the economy, recovery aspects, the impact of policies and how you
can move your business forward in today's challenging times. Please RSVP to pokilw@us.ibm.com, 818.539.3584or click here for more information.
Save the Date: September 3. 2009
UCI Law School Presents "Rescues, Reforms & Recovery Threats and Opportunities for Businesses"
Join UC Irvine's School of Law and Manatt, Phelps and Phillips for an executive briefing that will shed light on the policy issues affecting Southern California . This program will explore the immediate and long-term prospects for, and ramifications of, the evolving federal policy stimulus in finance, healthcare and energy. Experts representing government, the private sector and academia will share their perspectives and insights regarding the likely effects of the changes in federal policy, presented in a series of panels and discussion forums. Click here for event flyer andetails.
Filipino
American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County - Business Opportunity
DayThe Orange County Chapter of the Filipino American Chamber of
Commerce is proud to present A Twenty First Century Business Opportunity Day.
Save the date: Thursday, September 17, 2009. Highlights will include updates on
the Obama health reform, panel discussion on preserving the eco-systems, tax
incentives for starting green businesses and more. For event information
and registration, please visit www.faccoc.org2009
Komen
Orange County Race for the Cure -
Sunday, September 27, 2009The
Susan G. Komen Race for the CureŽ is an important community event bringing
women, men, families and teams from corporations, businesses and friends
together to celebrate breast cancer survivors and remember those who have lost
their battle with the disease. The beautiful Newport
Beach route is a 5K run and walk
and draws more than 25,000 people each year. The early run/walk steps off at
7:30 a.m.; survivor tribute at 9:00 a.m. and the second run/walk starts at 9:45
a.m. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To register and for more
information visit: www.komenoc.org. 75% of funds raised will
provide breast health services in Orange County and 25% will go to breast cancer
research. All registered participants receive a Race for the Cure shirt; breast
cancer survivors receive a special pink Race shirt.
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IS IT NEWS TO YOU? THEN IT'S NEWS WE CAN USE!
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Have an event coming up? Was your company just
highlighted in the news? Are you doing something great in Orange
County? The Business Council wants to know about it. Now OCBC members can submit news stories for OCBC's E-Update Indicator
Newsletter.
Click here and fill out the submission form for one of Orange County's premier business news source. Not a member? Click here for more information on how to get involved and join the leading voice of business in Orange County.
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SPREAD THE WORD! IMPACT THE WORLD! FORWARD YOUR COPY TO ASSOCIATES!
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Forward OCBC's E-Indicator to friends and colleagues by clicking on the "Forward Email" link at the bottom of the email and encourage them to sign up for one of Orange County's premier business publications!
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BUSINESS MEETS SOCIAL MEDIA
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 Do you tweet? Have a Facebook page or surf YouTube? Then follow the latest news
and information from OCBC online! The leading voice of business is connecting
you to business in Orange County like never before.
If you
have questions on how to get connected with the Business Council online, please
contact Director of Communications, Matt Prince at 949.794.7221. | |
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2 Park Plaza, Suite 100, Irvine CA 92614 | www.ocbc.org | PH: 949.476.2242 | FAX: 949.476.9240 | |
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