Steve Cushman

 

 

 

 

 

  The Santa Barbara International Film Festival once again attracts tens of thousands of visitors to town. Roger Durling has outdone himself with this year's lineup of movies and stars. Of course, a side benefit of Durling's efforts is the annual guaranteed rain that the festival brings. Way to go Roger, sometimes the rain is worth more than the tourist's money. And a special thanks to Lynda.com, a homegrown tech education company, who sponsored this year's event.

 

Good news for local contractors: Cottage Health System continues work on it's billion dollar downtown hospital, breaks ground on it's remodel of the Goleta hospital and starts work on it's 110 unit work force housing project on the site of the old St. Francis Hospital. And more: the courts announce a new 150 million dollar downtown annex building; the State Street hotel reconstruction is underway as is the renovation of the BeBop Burger building; the Entrada Project has been sold to a Los Angeles developer; work is underway to convert the Borders and Barnes and Noble stores to Marshalls and HandM retail stores.

 

STEM2 Micro Loans Available.

The Chamber of Commerce mission is to promote a vibrant local economy. As part of it's economic development strategy, the Chamber is creating a micro loan program to assist in the incubation of small start-up businesses.

 

The Chamber has established a scholarship program for students at Santa Barbara City College (Chance for Change). The Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation administers the scholarship program. Currently ten students attend City College on Chamber scholarships. The scholarships are targeted for students who have left youth gangs or are at risk of joining youth gangs.

 

As a link to the City College scholarship program, the Chamber will utilize referral resources from City College Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to identify young student entrepreneurs who may wish to apply for a Chamber Micro Loan for their business. The Chamber has created a loan committee to approve applicant loans and assign optional mentors.

 

The Chamber short-term objective is to fund a test program of 5 new micro loans. The long-term objective is to raise a fund of at least $100,000.00 to support this business development effort.

 

Loans are available. Contact Steve Cushman, steve@sbchamber.org

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COUNCIL

 Join us every third Thursday of the month for lively discussion on important local issues. 

This month:

Taxi-cab franchise fees in the City of Santa Barbara

Thursday, February 17, 2011
7:30 am
924 Anacapa St., Ste. 1
Call for more information at 805/965-3023
 

 

 

 

 The month of January was extremely dry and we had some surprisingly warm weather with clear beautiful blue skies! How wonderful to be able to attend the Santa Barbara International Film Festival without getting soaked! The Film Festival will continue through February 6, www.sbfilmfestival.org.

 

In February we will celebrate Valentine's Day! Why not give a very special and unique gift, like a personal tour of The Zoo. You can choose from these different tours:  Behind-the-Scenes, Keeper for a Day, Backstage Pass and Painting with the Elephants, http://sbzoo.org/visitor_information.asp#13.

 

The Zoo had a surprise event with the birth of a baby giraffe. Daniel was born January 9, and will not be on public view for several weeks, http://sbzoo.org/giraffe_calf_11.asp. If it is baby animals you want to see, the baby otters are out and so much fun to watch. Try to catch them when they are being fed, twice a day, www.sbzoo.org.

 

Here are a few other events you can attend in February: 

· Feb 1-5 · Reagan Ranch Center Exhibit Gallery, special hours to celebrate 100^th anniversary of Reagan's birth, 217 State Street (across from Amtrak station), 10 am-4:00 pm, 957-1980, www.yaf.org/Reagan100.aspx.

 

· Feb 3 · 1^st Thursday, An Evening of Visual and Performing Arts, various locations downtown SB, 5-8 pm, 962-2098, www.santabarbaradowntown.com.

 

· Feb 3 · Bike Moves Downtown Ride, meet at Cota and Anacapa, 7:30 pm, www.sbbikemoves.com.

 

· Feb 4 · 1^st Friday in Carpinteria, 5-8 pm, www.carpinteriachamber.org.

 

· Feb 5 · Celebration in the Park - Black History 2011, Chase Palm Park, 564-5418.

Please see The Chamber Web Site for details on all January Events and all the Main Events for 2011. Go to www.sbchamber.org, click on CALENDARS and then CITY EVENTS.

 

Happy 2011!

Annmarie Rogers

Visitor Center

1 Garden Street

805-965-3021 or 568-1811

Annmarie@sbchamber.org

www.visitingsb.com