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October 10, 2009
Corona Chamber
Levels Playing Field For Small Business
Earlier
this year the Corona Chamber of Commerce supported a piece of
legislation that would expand small business and disabled
veteran business enterprise participation in state contracts and
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger signed AB 31 into law in October.
“This new law is a win-win for both large and small businesses
because both play an important role in improving our local
economy,” stated Cynthia Schneider, Chair of the Corona
Chamber’s Legislation Action Committee. “We were please to
support this legislation which will have a direct impact on our
local economy when Corona businesses apply for state contracts,”
continued Schneider.
According to the Governor’s office, small businesses and
disabled veteran business enterprises make up 98 percent of all
California enterprises, employ over half of the state’s
workforce and are projected to create 99 percent of the state’s
future jobs. A recent study by the California Department of
General Services found that all small businesses and disabled
veteran businesses, when compared to all large businesses,
produce 50 percent more overall economic impact to the State.
Small businesses and disabled veteran businesses are eligible
for more of the state’s $10 billion in annual contracts and
billions more in federal stimulus dollars.
AB 31 expands an existing streamlined contracting process called
the SB/DVBE Option to enhance small business (SB) and disabled
veteran business enterprise (DVBE) participation in state
contracts. Current law allows state departments to contract
directly with these firms for goods and services contracts or
purchases between $5,000 and $100,000 and up to $147,000 for
public works contracts. AB 31 increases the allowable thresholds
in both areas to $250,000.
September 22, 2009
Economic
Recovery: Corona Chamber the Driving Force
Each year the Corona Chamber of Commerce determines its three
most important public policy priorities. One such priority this
year is for the Chamber to take a proactive role in stimulating
our local economy.
The Chamber recently joined a coalition focused on reviving our
economy at both the state and local level. The coalition is made
up of many other Chambers of Commerce statewide. The Corona
Chamber of Commerce was one of the first to step up in support
of the coalition which is dedicated to helping shape
California’s economic for recovery.
The new coalition and the Corona Chamber believe that there are
four fundamental steps that must be taken in order to revive our
economy:
Develop a comprehensive economic growth strategy.
Our growing population and increasing list of state priorities
require the state to facilitate, rather than just encourage
economic growth.
The state needs a
concrete, proactive strategy that will stimulate broad-based
economic growth and job creation and assure entrepreneurs and
businesses of all sizes that the conditions in California are
right for success.
Drive business investment and retention.
In this new era of tight capital, California must develop a
policy to encourage investment in state infrastructure and
private enterprise.
The competition
among the states for federal funds as well as competition for
private investment requires California to develop a plan for
attracting projects and retaining business enterprises.
Require an assessment of economic impacts.
All governmental policies and programs should be reviewed to
ensure that they do not limit or suppress economic growth.
If the state is
required to abide by acceptable economic and scientific
standards, then businesses will have the confidence that policy
decisions will evaluated fairly.
Establish accountability metrics.
The state needs to adopt quantifiable standards so that there is
consistency and transparency in the implementation of the
economic impact analysis.
These accountability
metrics are crucial to ensure that the state is meeting its
goals and that there are uniform measurements of success.
“The Corona Chamber will directly impact the restructuring of
California’s economy, at both the state and local levels, by
championing fundamental core business ideals through
legislation,” stated Cynthia Schneider, Chair of the Corona
Chamber’s Legislation Action Committee. “The Agenda for Economic
Recovery is only the first of many steps that will be required
to stimulate a revival. We will be alert to every piece of
legislation that will drive economic revival and will actively
work with area legislators to ensure that they are passed,”
continued Schneider.
July 18, 2008
Chamber Leads Local
Effort to Support Proposals that Reduce Business Costs
The
Corona Chamber of Commerce is supporting two proposed laws that
will reduce business costs.
The first proposal, SB 691, will specifically impact junk
dealers by making it easier for police to check their records
for the intake of large amounts of metals and other related
materials that may have been stolen.
SB 691 is designed to stop a statewide epidemic of costly metals
and other materials being stolen from businesses, construction
sites and cities. The proposed law also assists and protects the
individual business (junk dealers and recyclers) who may receive
the scrap metal and other material by enforcing transaction laws
already in place. SB 691 clearly states stringent expectations
of individuals seeking to sell scrap metal and at the same time
discourages individuals from stealing the material from
businesses and throughout the city.
Click here to take action on SB 691.
The second proposed new law, SB 1608, will control litigation
against business owners relating to unreasonable disability
access requirements.
SB 1608 is a bipartisan effort with two important goals: to
promote and increase compliance with state and federal civil
rights laws for equal access for individuals with disabilities
in public accommodations and reduce unwarranted litigation that
does not advance the goals of disability access. The proposed
law also stipulates that every architect be licensed and
regulated by the California Architects Board. This will help
insure that those who specialize in building, construction and
new tenant improvements have received the necessary training in
area of disability access and avoid costly litigation in the
future.
Click here to take action on SB 1608.
“The Chamber needs your help in supporting these two very
important pieces of legislation as they move through the
legislative process in Sacramento,” stated Cynthia Schneider,
Chair of the Corona Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee.
“This is an opportunity for our business community to voice
their support to legislators in Sacramento. The perspective of
business owners is important and must be heard. ” continued
Schneider.
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