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The Leading Voice of Business in Orange County |
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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MORE BEHIND OC'S
RECENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROP
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 The latest numbers
were released by California's Employment Development Department (EDD) last week,
showing Orange County's unemployment rate falling to 9.1 percent in December,
down from a revised 9.6 percent in the month of November. Good news, right? Not
so fast--according to OCBC's Dr. Wallace Walrod.
"The recent decline
in unemployment can be attributed to the shear number of people no longer
actively looking for jobs," Dr. Walrod states. "Because of this, nearly 11,000
workers in Orange County are no longer counted in the unemployment numbers."
So
what's the real unemployment rate for the nation's fifth largest county? According to
Dr. Walrod, close to 14 percent. At what would seem like an alarmingly high
rate, Orange County still remains the lowest of any metropolitan county in
California.
In addition, over the past three months, Orange County has seen continual growth in the Business and Professional Services, Health Services, Hospitality and Tourism sectors. While that is great news, these are not the "high paying" jobs needed to help re-start the economic engine and get things moving again.
Click here to see what OCBC is doing to create 100,000 throughout the state. For more information, please contact Wallace Walrod.
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CALIFORNIA JOBS INITIATIVE--CALLING ALL OC PROJECTS!
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 The CalChamber is requesting information on construction projects around the
state that might qualify for the Governor's California Jobs Initiative permit
streamlining opportunity. Projects need to be close to certification of their
environmental impact report (EIR) required under the California Environmental
Quality Act to qualify. It is the intent of the proposal that once an EIR has
been certified, the selected project will not be subject to litigation
challenging the validity of the EIR. The goal of the proposal is to create badly
needed jobs now.
Candidate
projects can be private or public, and other considerations will
include:
Click here to include your OC project! For more info, please contact Kate Klimow.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRANSIT FORUM
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 Leaders from government, business, labor
unions and transit advocates will join together in a daylong summit as
they seek solutions to an unprecedented statewide financial crisis
facing public transportation.
With millions of transit riders throughout the state already suffering
from higher fares and reduced service, Governor Schwarzenegger's
recently released budget proposal for next year, would take an
additional $1 billion from public transportation.
"Public transit in our state is on life support because of Sacramento's
continuous raids on our coffers, and it's hard to imagine the damage
that would be inflicted on the struggling economy and the people of
California by further cuts," said OCTA Chairman Jerry Amante, also the
mayor of Tustin. "If you are concerned as I am about the future of
transportation, please lend your voice to the Southern California
Transit Forum."
The free event will cover topics including legislative and legal options for
preserving transit funding, proposed ballot initiatives, federal
funding opportunities, economic impacts and stakeholder perspectives
and information on the California high-speed rail. Click here for full event program. For more information, please contact Kris Murray.
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LUCY DUNN TESTIFIES AT CONGRESSIONAL FIELD HEARING ON WATER CRISIS
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Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California hosted the House Natural Resources
Committee Water and Power Subcommittee field hearing on "Perspectives on
California Water Supply: Challenges and Opportunities" yesterday. OCBC's Lucy Dunn testified on behalf of the business
community, and discussed the significance of resolving California's water
crisis.
"This is the first time in human history a government
has turned off water for its people," said Dunn regarding the federal
shut down of pumps to protect the Delta smelt over water for Central Valley
farmland. "Any and all signals that suggest we are emerging from
this economic downturn could be dashed if we do not have a sufficient water
supply. The time
for talk and studies is over. The time for action is
now."
California has been the leader in U.S. agricultural
production for over 60 years. Eight of the nation's top 10 producing counties
are in the state. California grows more than half of the country's fruits, nuts
and vegetables. It is the country's number one agricultural exporter. Food
production and processing industry is critical to both California and the United
States' overall economy. Food production companies face unprecedented global
competition and must remain cost competitive to stay in business while natural
and regulatory drought conditions are resulting in zero water supplies in many
Central Valley areas and similar situations have begun to emerge elsewhere in
California, including many of the state's major urban areas. For more info, please contact Kate Klimow.
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SAVE THE DATE: OCBC ONE VOICE, TWO CAPITOLS ADVOCACY TRIPS
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Join OCBC, civic and business leaders for the region's premier
advocacy trips to the Nation and State capitols for the Business Council's One Voice, Two Capitols Advocacy Trips.
Washington, D.C. - March 15 - 17, 2010
OCBC, in partnership with local
government officials and chambers of commerce, will lead an annual delegation of
business leaders and public officials to Washington, D.C., to
advocate for Southern California. Participants
meet with members of Congress and the president's administration on key issues.
The trip includes a welcome reception, two breakfasts with high ranking
Congressional leaders, a marquee evening event, and unparalleled business
networking with fellow participants.
Event Highlights | Event Schedule | Sponsorships Form | Registration Form | Online Registration
Sacramento - May 17 - 19, 2010
Meet with legislators on state issues
vital to Southern California. Participants will
meet with state lawmakers, members of the Governor's administration and other
decision makers on issues including education, health care, housing,
transportation, and water.
Contact Kate Klimow for more info.
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BUSINESS COUNCIL UNVEILS NEW ADVOCACY ACTION CENTER
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The Business Council now makes it easier to take action and get involved on the issues that matter most to businesses in Orange County. With the new Advocacy Action Center you can:
1. Track key legislation that OCBC is following.
2. Gain access to the most up-to-date legislative directory.
3. TAKE ACTION! As issues unfold, OCBC's Advocacy Action Center is your one stop shop to send letters to your legislators.
Click here to tour the new Advocacy Action Center! For more info, please contact Kate Klimow.
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OCBC COMMITTEE MEETINGS
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January
2010
 Community Colleges Working Group
Thursday, January 28, 2010 from 3 - 4 p.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 |
CMTC Presents: Profit 101 Workshop - January 26th, 2010Profit 101 provides a "hands-on experience" with a collection of
data-proven tools and tactics for reducing risk and increasing success
with new products and services. Multiple people from the same
organization are encouraged to attend. Click here for more info and to register. Four Corners Transportation and Economic Summit - January 28, 2010Join the Four Corners Transportation and Economic Summit that is "Paving the Road to Recovery...Perspectives for a New Decade." OCBC's Lucy Dunn and Dr. Wallace Walrod will be featured panelists discussing the economic reality of the region and today's era of cooperation in the transportation arena. Click here to register or for more event information.Orange County Forum Luncheon Program - February 4, 2010
Join the OC Forum for their latest luncheon program featuring Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brezinski. Former
Congressman Joe Scarborough(R-Fla.)
serves as host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and "The Joe Scarborough Show" on
Citadel radio, interviewing top newsmakers and politicians and analyzing
the day's biggest news stories.
Previously hosting "Scarborough Country," in primetime on MSNBC, he has
emerged as a popular political commentator.
Joe
Scarborough served as a member of Congress from 1994-2001, serving on the
Judiciary Committee and the Armed Services Committee. After leaving Congress,
he was named by President Bush to the President's Council on the 21st
Century Workforce. "Morning Joe" co-host, Mika
Brzezinski, is also the co-host on "The Joe Scarborough Show" on
Citadel radio. Prior to joining MSNBC
in January 2007, Brzezinski was an anchor of the "CBS Evening News Weekend Edition" and
a CBS News correspondent. A native of
New York City, Brzezinski is the daughter of Foreign Policy Expert and Former
National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski. Click here for more info and to register.
World Affairs Council of Orange County Speaker Dinner - February 11, 2010
"World Affairs Council of Orange County Speaker Dinner" (Fairmont
Newport Beach) Dr. George Ayittey, Distinguished Economist and President, Free Africa
Foundation - "Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa's Future" -
Listed as one of the 100 most influential thinkers of 2009 by the Foreign Policy
Magazine - Time: 6:00 pm Reception, 7:00 pm
Dinner, 7:45 pm Speech and Q & A - Cost: $55 members $70 non-members To
register or for more information, please call 949-253-5751 or go to www.worldaffairscouncil.org.
Cal State Fullerton presents Front & Center 2010 Featuring the Steve Miller Band - February 20, 2010
OCBC board
member Julie Miller-Phipps, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of
Kaiser Permanente of Orange County, is pleased to serve on this year's CSUF
Front & Center Blue Ribbon planning committee. The event is Cal State
Fullerton's annual entertainment extravaganza and will feature the Steve Miller
Band. Proceeds support the President's Scholars Fund which provides a full ride
scholarship for 12 - 15 students each year. The competition for these
scholorships is extraordinary. There are hundreds of students who apply
annually and awardees typically have 4.0+ grade point averages and numerous
other areas of involvement and achievement. "It's important that we keep the
best and brightest in Orange County which feeds our need for a highly educated
workforce," said Miller-Phipps. The funding Cal State Fullerton receives from
state sources is not nearly enough to provide for student scholarships. "Please
join me in sponsoring a table or purchasing arena seats to help support this
important community event." For more information: 657.278.3480 or www.frontandcenterevent.com.
The State of Education in Orange County 2010 - February 25, 2010Join the Orange County Department of Education for informative presentations on national, state, and local issues geared toward increasing awareness of relevant topics affecting the economic and community well-being of Orange County. Orange County Superintendent of Schools, Bill Habermehl, will present Orange County's 2010 State of Education Report. Additional speakers include OCBC's Lucy Dunn, and Ronald Bennett from Schools Services of California. Click here for more event information and to register. |
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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TUNE INTO OCBC-TV WEBCASTS AND GET CAUGHT UP ON THE LATEST EVENTS
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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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