News

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...

A Message from the Greater Irvine Chamber President & CEO

Thursday, March 12, 2020

To our valued members and community partners: Out of an abundance of caution, the Greater Irvine Chamber is taking proactive measures to protect the health and well-being of our members, volunteers, staff, and visitors. To help prevent the risk of Coronavirus occurrences in our community, the Chamber is suspending all meetings for 30 days, effective March 13. Normal operations, including all committee and leads group meetings and events, are expected to resume on Monday, April 13. Rest assured, the Chamber staff will remain operational during this time working to support your business interests and will continue to serve as a resource to ou...

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...

Great Park Ice, FivePoint Arena to Host 2020 USA Hockey Youth National Championships in Irvine

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena will host the 2020 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 18U National Championships in Irvine. Projected to bring in more than 30,000 visitors to the city and surrounding areas between April 2 and April 6, 2020, the tournament in Irvine will host some of the nation’s top youth hockey competitors. Last year, Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena hosted the Girls Tier I 14U National Championship teams and 2020 brings another year of exciting hockey play. Each of the games is open to the public and local businesses also have the opportunity to promote their organization i...

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...

Two-Time Stroke Survivor Michelle Wulfestieg to Open Women of Influence 2020

Monday, February 03, 2020

Two-time stroke survivor, award-winning author, motivational speaker, and Executive Director of Southern California Hospice Foundation (SCHF) Michelle Wulfesteig will open the Greater Irvine Chamber’s 2020 Women of Influence event set for Friday, March 6, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Hotel Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Rd. The first employee of SCHF, a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the lives of terminally ill patients and their families, Wulfestieg has grown the organization from a start-up to a multi-million-dollar, nonprofit enterprise. At SCHF, she fulfills final wishes for terminally-ill patients, has launched a capital campaign to establish Orange County’s first dedicated end-of-life-care home, an...

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...

Businesses Can Score a Winning Goal for Community at Second Annual Orange County United Way Corporate Soccer Cup

Friday, January 31, 2020

Orange County United Way will host its 2nd Annual Corporate Soccer Cup, a recreational-style soccer tournament for a good cause. The tournament will take place at the Orange County Great Park Soccer Complex in Irvine, June 11 - 13. Companies and organizations are invited to register a team or become an event sponsor. The tournament, presented by CISOSHARE and in partnership with Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC), will raise money to support Orange County United Way’s initiatives to reduce childhood obesity in our community. In Orange County, one in three children is overweight or obese. At $2,500 per team and with ...

Initial Draft Regulations for Privacy Act Create Concerns for Business

Friday, January 31, 2020

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) took effect on Jan. 1, 2020. California businesses appreciate the intent of the CCPA to help consumers protect their online privacy and the effort by the Attorney General to draft regulations that facilitate and encourage compliance. However, the Attorney General’s draft regulations fail to address many of the ambiguities in the CCPA, impose mandates that may exceed the authority of the CCPA, and levy high costs on all California business sectors. CalChamber Comments The California Chamber of Commerce provided extensive comments on the regulations, expressing concern over the lack of clarity in a variety of areas, including...

Mexico Chief Negotiator Provides Insight on USMCA at CalChamber Luncheon

Friday, January 31, 2020

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a “wide, forward-looking agreement” that brought some of the best minds to the negotiating table, Dr. Jesús Seade Kuri, Mexico’s USMCA chief negotiator and undersecretary of foreign affairs for North America, told an intimate gathering of business and government leaders this week. The Jan. 28 luncheon held by the California Chamber of Commerce featured remarks from Seade, who explained some of the important aspects of the USMCA. President Trump signed the USMCA on Jan. 29, saying, “The USMCA is the largest, most significant, modern, and balanced trade agreement in history. All of our countries will benefit greatly.” Th...

Quick Take: Your Primer on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement

Friday, January 31, 2020

President Donald Trump signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. The signing sends a powerful message to the world that America remains open for business. The USMCA brings the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into the 21st century with updated provisions for digital trade, financial services, and agriculture trade. While no deal is perfect, USMCA’s updated rules promise real benefits to American businesses and consumers. It's disappointing that certain intellectual property provisions were removed from the agreement. Going forward, this cannot be precedent for future agreements. More than 45 million American jobs and $6.6 trillion in GDP depend on IP-dependent industries. The USMCA couldn’...

Safe Community Task Force 2020 to Hold First Meeting on Feb. 4

Friday, January 31, 2020

The community is invited to attend the City of Irvine’s first Safe Community Task Force 2020 meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4 from 6 - 9 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Irvine City Hall. The meeting will include a public safety overview by Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel and the Irvine Police Department, as well as presentations by the Orange County District Attorney and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force. The Safe Community Task Force 2020 was established by the city council in September 2019 to ensure Irvine remains a safe city. Last year, Irvine was ranked the Safest City o...

Two Big Wins for US Trade

Friday, January 31, 2020

After several tumultuous years on the U.S. trade agenda, 2020 started with a bang with two back-to-back victories for American business: completion of a Phase 1 deal with China and final passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These critical trade deals will create new opportunities for companies large and small and help restore certainty to business owners, workers, farmers, and manufacturers. The Phase 1 agreement with China marks a positive and important first step in rebalancing U.S.-China relations. In addition to reducing certain tariffs, the 80-page agreement includes commitments by China to expand market access for agricultural products, manufactured goods, an...

UK Rates Held as Brexit Clarity Shores Up Economic Surveys

Friday, January 31, 2020

The Bank of England opted against cutting interest rates amid signs of improvement in the British economy in the run-up to Britain’s imminent departure from the European Union. The bank said in a statement that its Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to keep the key U.K. interest rate unchanged at 0.75%. The committee split the same way in December, but the strong vote in favor of holding expressed the day before Brexit came as somewhat of a surprise. Earlier this month, some rate-setters indicated they might be in a position to reduce interest rates. But the big general election win by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’...

US Economy Heads Into 2020 With Steady Growth

Friday, January 31, 2020

The U.S. economy headed into 2020 on a solid footing, with growth settling back to the roughly 2% pace that has prevailed during the decade-old economic expansion. Gross domestic product—the value of all goods and services produced across the economy—grew 2.3% last year, after rising at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted annual rate of 2.1% in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department said. Year-over-year growth of 2.3% was the slowest pace since 2016, but in line with the average pace that has marked the expansion that began in mid-2009. The economy was buffeted last year by the U.S.-China trade dispute and a slowing global economy...

Chapman Gets Hollywood Insider for Film Dean

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Chapman University said Stephen Galloway will be dean of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, effective March 30. Galloway is executive editor and producer at the Hollywood Reporter, where he worked 30 years. He graduated from Cambridge University, studied at the American Film Institute’s conservatory, worked in film and TV, and started a program and raised money to help students interact with industry execs and break into the business. “Stephen has an in-depth knowledge of the industry [and is] a gifted intellectual,” said Chapman President Daniele Struppa in a statement. “I love his passion for film as an academic discipline an...

Chinese Coronavirus: Information for Businesses

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

While the news can be alarming and details surrounding the Novel Coronavirus are quickly evolving, as of this date, locally there is still relatively low risk of contracting the virus. Employees and customers should, however, take precautions to avoid contracting the virus as they would with any other infectious illness. (See recommendations below.) Coronavirus, which recently broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan has spread to several countries, with only five known cases in the U.S. as of Jan. 28, one each in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to a report in the Orange County Register. Those patients hav...

Destination Irvine Gains Industry Insights at Orange County Tourism Industry Conference

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The Destination Irvine sales team, along with 27 Irvine hoteliers from 12 properties, provided a strong presence for the city at the 10th annual State of the Industry conference hosted by Meeting Professionals International Orange County Chapter (MPIOC), on Jan. 16. The annual event brings together nearly 200 Orange County tourism professionals, providing them with insights into upcoming trends and challenges in the industry. “Knowing what our area offers is absolutely important as we face strong competition. We all win when we can position Southern California, and Orange County, as a premier destination,” said AnaLaura Becerra, director of corporate sales, Destination Irvine...

Irvine Ranked No. 1 in Latest Fiscal Strength Survey

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The City of Irvine in 2019, for a third straight year, has been ranked No. 1 in fiscal strength. The Truth in Accounting (TIA) ranking of America’s largest 75 cities calculated how a city would fare financially after all the bills are paid. Irvine was given a surplus score of $4,100 per taxpayer, earning the distinction as the most fiscally healthy large city in the United States. “The City of Irvine is proud to receive this distinction for the third consecutive year,” said Irvine Mayor Christina Shea. “This ranking confirms the City Council and City staff remain committed to ensuring residen...

OC Supervisor Donald P. Wagner to Visit Greater Irvine Chamber Government Affairs Committee

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Orange County Supervisor Donald P. Wagner will speak with business and community leaders convening for the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6, 8 – 9:30 a.m. The meeting is open to the public. Supervisor Wagner represents nearly 600,000 residents in the thriving communities of Orange County’s Third District: Anaheim Hills, Irvine, Orange, Tustin, North Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda, and the unincorporated canyons. A vigorous advocate of public safety, Supervisor Wagner was elected to public office for his ability to bring people together and solve local challenges. As a practicing attorney, community college district trustee, state legislator, an...

OmniPrint International Inc. Partners with Greater Irvine Chamber as a Bronze-Level Leaders Circle Sponsor

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

OmniPrint International Inc. has partnered with the Greater Irvine Chamber, as a bronze-level Leaders Circle sponsor. “We are proud to be a new partner of the Greater Irvine Chamber as we’ve recently chosen Irvine as the new home for the monumental expansion of OmniPrint International,” said Victor Pena, president and CEO, OmniPrint International. “We are bringing new jobs, our entire current team, expanding production, and increasing distribution of our award-winning products based out of the city of Irvine. With both our partnership and new headquarters, we hope to greatly contribute to the efforts for advancing the economic vitality of the cit...

Concordia University Irvine’s Master of Healthcare Administration Degree Program Receives CAHME Candidate Status

Friday, January 24, 2020

Concordia University Irvine’s (CUI) Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program has received candidate status from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the national organization that grants accreditation to graduate degree programs. Candidate status puts Concordia’s MHA program closer to CAHME accreditation. Concordia Irvine’s MHA program voluntarily underwent a year-long review period by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education in order to receive candidate status. The review process included an extensive review of policies and procedures as well as site visits by the CAHME candidate committee. Candidate status must be earned before MHA programs can receive CAHM...

OC Unemployment Rate Falls

Friday, January 24, 2020

Orange County’s unadjusted jobless rate dipped to 2.4% in December, down slightly from a revised 2.5% the month before and below the year-ago estimate of 2.7%, according to the state Employment Development Department. OC’s lowest-ever rate was 2.2% in December 1999. California’s rate was 3.7% and the U.S.’s was 3.4% last month. The most recent December numbers for the county, state and U.S. aren’t seasonally adjusted. OC non-farm employment increased by 6,200 jobs to just over 1.69 million in December from November. Six of the 11 employment sectors declined, while five increased. Professional and business services reported the largest increase, adding 4,900 jobs, whil...

US Business Activity Increases in Early 2020

Friday, January 24, 2020

Business activity in the U.S. improved in early 2020, contrasting with weaker economic performance in some of the world’s other major economies. Data company IHS Markit said that its composite purchasing managers index for the U.S., a measure of activity in businesses, posted a 10-month high of 53.1 in January, up from 52.7 in December. A level above 50 points to growth in business activity, while a reading below that mark points to contraction. IHS Markit said the pickup was due to growth in the services sector. Manufacturing PMI dipped to 51.7 in January, from 52.4 a month earlier. The data “highlight a manufacturing secto...

Antis Roofing & Waterproofing Partners with Greater Irvine Chamber as Platinum-Level Leaders Circle Sponsor

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Antis Roofing & Waterproofing has renewed its partnership at a new level with the Greater Irvine Chamber, as a Leaders Circle platinum-level sponsor. “I smile when I think of our partnership with the Greater Irvine Chamber because they lift us to be exponentially more powerful in keeping families safe and dry. The Chamber creates a loud echo for Antis and other top brands, using our stories to showcase local people doing great things,” said Charles Antis, founder and CEO, Antis Roofing & Waterproofing. “Cheers to Bryan Starr, Jessica Welch, and the all-in team at the Chamber. Thank you for your visio...

Audrey Schneider Named VP of Finance for Antis Roofing & Waterproofing

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Audrey Schneider has been named the Vice President of Finance for Antis Roofing & Waterproofing. In this role, she is responsible for managing all aspects of the finance organization as well as the strategic financial direction of the company. As vice president, Schneider’s focus will be on sustainable, healthy growth by expanding markets through a strategy of adding high quality and value to the customers served by Antis. She embraces Antis Roofing’s commitment to philanthropy and is a member of the Habitat for Humanity Leadership Build Committee. Last year the team raised more than $310,000 to support affordable housing for all families. “Audre...

City of Hope Previews Its First Cancer Center In Orange County

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Early next week, Orange County cancer patients seeking specialized treatment close to home can walk through the doors at a new facility near Fashion Island and be greeted with an uplifting sign: “Hope Lives Here.” The “Hope” is both aspiration for patients and their families, and a reference to the first foray into Orange County by Duarte-based City of Hope. On Tuesday, more than 300 people — including past and current patients, donors and volunteers, as well as local politicians like Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill and Rep. Harley Rouda, D-Laguna Beach — turned out for a preview and ribbon-cutting for th...

Concordia University Irvine Honors Co-Founder with the Dedication of International Center

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Standing room only was available for the Moon International Center dedication on Jan. 9. The center honors Dr. Shang Ik Moon’s journey from war-torn South Korea to America, his dedication to help co-founding Concordia University Irvine (CUI) and his dedication to loving and caring for CUI’s international students. This center welcomes students from all countries as well as sends students out into the world. New Concordia University President Michael Thomas reminded the crowd of the Great Commission. “Dr. Moon has dedicated his life to living the great commission. Therefore, it is fitting that we dedicate the Moon International Center in hono...

Greater Irvine Chamber British Partner Touts Upcoming UK Visit

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Good news travels far. Greater Irvine Chamber foreign direct investment partner TechUK is spreading the word of the upcoming U.K. arrival of a Chamber-led delegation of distinguished business leaders and life science and technology experts. This visit, scheduled for Feb. 17-20, marks the fourth time the delegation of Chamber leadership has visited the U.K. since the Chamber's Foreign Direct Investment initiative was launched in 2017, with a goal of establishing a profile for Irvine in the U.K.’s life science and technology sectors that encourages expansion-ready U.K. companies to consider Irvine/Orange County for their U.S. operation. “Irvine and Orange County initially became a hotbe...

OCO Global Founder and CEO Mark O’Connell to Deliver OC World Trade Week Keynote Address

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Mark O’Connell, founder and CEO of OCO Global, will discuss "Globalization: Pandemic, Populism, & Power" during his keynote address at the Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Forum delivered digitally Tuesday, May 12 - Thursday, May 14. O’Connell’s work in international trade and investment spans more than 20 years, initially in the private sector for a Saudi investment fund, before moving on to Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government export agency. He spent six years in the management consulting division at PricewaterhouseCoopers specializing in trade and investment advisory work. In 2001 O’Connell established OCO Global, a leading boutique consultancy firm whic...

Octane’s Nicole Washington to Serve as 2020 Women of Influence Master of Ceremonies

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Nicole Washington, senior advisor of community engagement, Octane, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Greater Irvine Chamber’s seventh annual Women of Influence event, set for Friday, March 6, 2020, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Hotel Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Rd. In her current role, Washington focuses on engaging with strategic partners to increase access for women and underrepresented groups to the Southern California entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. She is the founder and owner of Micro Biz Coach®, a firm that focuses on educating the micro- and small- business owner to leverage various aspects of internet technology in their business operation...

USMCA Passes Senate, Awaits President Trump’s Signature

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) passed the U.S. Senate and the deal is now awaiting President Donald J. Trump’s signature. The California Chamber of Commerce supports the USMCA based on an assessment that the agreement serves the employment, trading and environmental interests of California, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and is beneficial to the business community and the California and national economies. “Irvine is the economic center and economic powerhouse of Orange County. Our companies—whether global organizations or local businesses—have a significant impact on the region’s trade economy. To ensure we continue to succeed economically, the passage of the USMCA by th...

Key California Housing Bill’s Chances of Passing Just Improved Dramatically

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

State Sen. Scott Wiener’s bill to clear a path for denser housing around public transit and in wealthy suburbs got a big push forward when the Senate’s leader steered it out of the committee where it stalled last year. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said she moved SB50 out of the Appropriations Committee, whose chairman, Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino, blocked it in 2019 and gave a frosty reception to the amended version that Wiener is now proposing. Atkins sent the bill to the Rules Committee, where it could advance directly to a Senate floor vote before a deadline for passage at th...

Concordia University Irvine Names New Dean of the School Of Business and Economics

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Concordia University Irvine (CUI) has named George W. Wright as the Dean of its School of Business and Economics. Wright has been serving in various leadership roles, most recently as Administrative Dean, at the school since 2008. In his new role, Wright will oversee academic policy and curriculum for graduate and undergraduate degree programs, as well as guide constituent relations. Wright’s goal is to integrate best business practices with real-world experiences from an ethical and moral perspective so that students graduate with a solid foundation to serve as impactful global leaders. “George Wright’s breadth of experience from the board room to th...

California Economy Remains Strong; Finance Director Outlines Investment Objectives in Governor’s Budget

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

California is now into the 11th year of the U.S. economic recovery and all of the state’s economic vitals continue to be strong, state Finance Director Keely Martin Bosler told business leaders at a California Chamber of Commerce. Budget Is ‘Structurally Balanced’ The Department of Finance (DOF) expects the state’s economy to keep growing, though at a slower pace than before. The state saw an overall $5.6 billion surplus this year, and though the figure is lower than in previous years, Bosler cited improvements in the DOF’s ability to estimate the impact of federal tax policies on California’s revenue as the mai...

Economic Expansion Will Continue, Irvine Serves as a Model, Economist Says

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

In his economic forecast presented to well over 500 business and community leaders at the Greater Irvine Chamber’s 2020 Business Outlook, Chris Thornberg, founding partner, Beacon Economics, expressed overall optimism regarding economic growth in the year ahead. “Despite all the pessimism in the last 12 months, the economy is just fine...this expansion is going to continue,” said Thornberg. Remarking on Irvine’s strong economy, Thornberg noted that the city’s younger population is growing, indicating a strong labor market and housing availability. “This is a model that everyone can and should be focusing on,” he said about the pace of high-density, entry-level housing development. Openin...

US Employment Remains Strong, 145,000 Jobs Added in December

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

U.S. employers added 145,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.5%, signaling that the job market remains strong at the start of 2020 even if hiring and wage gains have slowed somewhat more than a decade into an economic expansion. A snapshot from the Labor Department showed hiring slipped from robust gains of 256,000 in November, which were given a boost by the end of a strike at General Motors. For the year, employers added an average of roughly 175,000 jobs per month, compared with about 223,250 per month in 2018. Annual wage growth fell in December t...

US Representative Katie Porter Cites Greater Irvine Chamber in House Hearing

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

U.S. Representative Katie Porter (CA-45) at a House Oversight Committee hearing aimed at examining the Census Bureau’s strategies and plans for reaching hard-to-count communities in the 2020 Census, addressed the reasons a complete census count matters for businesses. Porter also remarked on a recent visit she made to the Greater Irvine Chamber, where she held a roundtable discussion with regional community, business, and faith leaders on the topic of the Complete Count Census Committee. She cited the Chamber’s work as an example of the ways local organizations are getting involved in ensuring a complete census count. “In my district I met wit...

City of Hope President Annette Walker Named One of OC's 2019 Most Influential

Monday, January 13, 2020

Annette Walker wanted to make a difference in her community. Leading the charge in bringing a $1 billion, 190,000-square-foot comprehensive cancer center and hospital to Orange County seems to achieve that goal. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, in February announced plans to open the campus in 2021 – with the hospital to follow in 2024 – on 11 acres of Irvine land purchased from developer FivePoint. The Irvine campus will provide treatment and diagnostic services, as well as access to the latest research and personalized support services for cancer patients and their families. The center will be accompanied b...

Hoag Health Partners with Greater Irvine Chamber as Platinum-Level Leaders Circle Sponsor

Monday, January 13, 2020

Hoag has renewed its community partnership with the Greater Irvine Chamber as a platinum-level Leaders Circle sponsor. “Hoag is proud to be an integral part of the Irvine community. Since opening our doors nearly a decade ago, we’ve been committed to creating a world-class destination for the health and wellness of Irvine residents and beyond. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to continuing to make Irvine one of the healthiest cities in America,” said Marcy Brown, chief hospital operations officer, Hoag. Hoag is an approximately $1 billion nonprofit, regional health care delivery network in Orange County that treat...

Irvine Company and FivePoint Master-Planned Communities Make Real Estate's Top 50 List

Monday, January 13, 2020

Irvine serves as a model master-planned community for cities around the world. So, it’s no surprise that two Irvine developments have made the 2019 list of the 50 most successful master-planned communities by John Burns Real Estate Consulting. The Orange County Business Journal has reported that, ranked by sales, Irvine communities making the list are Irvine Company’s Irvine Ranch at #7 with 850 net sales, and Five Point Communities’ Great Park Neighborhoods at #20 with 553 net sales. Rancho Mission Viejo is the third Orange County development on the list at #33 with 445 net sales. Communities making the Top 50 lis...

US Trade Deficit Shrinks to Smallest in Three Years

Monday, January 13, 2020

The U.S. scored the smallest trade deficit since October 2016 as tariffs slowed the flow of imports into the country. With imports down while U.S. consumption continues to rise, American workers grabbed a larger share of domestic demand. The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services for November 2019 was $43.1 billion, down 8.2% on the previous month and down 19.6% on the year-earlier figure. The November decline is due to a $3.9 billion decrease in the goods deficit to $63.9 billion and a slight decrease in the services surplus of $0.1 billion to $20.8 billion. Good imports of $201.1 billion in Novembe...

Charleston Blonde's Popular Lifestyle, Travel Blogger Adventures Through Irvine in 24 Hours

Wednesday, January 08, 2020

Popular lifestyle and travel blogger Jaime Huffman of Charleston Blonde in a recent post recapped her fun-filled, 24-hour visit to Irvine. The post highlights Huffman’s shopping experience at the Irvine Spectrum Center, her time in Irvine’s Bommer Canyon while on a full-moon hike, and her adventure through the city on a Pedego electric bike. “If you’re planning a trip to Southern California, you can’t miss out on the gem that is Irvine! Encompassing 66 square miles, it may seem overwhelming for a day trip, but with only 24 hours, there’s still plenty you can do to get the most out of the city,&rdquo...

Hoag, Kaiser, MemorialCare, UCI Medical Center Named Exceptional Neurosurgery and Spine Programs

Wednesday, January 08, 2020

Becker's Healthcare, a media platform for the industry, has named the following Greater Irvine Chamber Leaders Circle sponsors to the 2019 edition of its list of 100 hospitals and health systems with exceptional neurosurgery and spine programs. Hoag Health Network: Hoag Health Network offers numerous spine programs, including care at Hoag Orthopedic Institute. In 2018, the institute reported 3,246 hospital spine procedures, as well as 180 ambulatory procedures. Hoag has two acute care hospitals, 11 urgent care centers and eight health centers it staffs with a team of more than 1,700 physicians and 6,000 employees. U.S. News & World Report ranked Hoag Hospita...

US Department of Commerce Invests to Equip Biotech Incubator Facility in Irvine

Wednesday, January 08, 2020

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $3 million grant to The Beall Family Foundation of Newport Beach to provide scientific lab equipment for use at the University Lab Partners biotech incubator facility in Irvine, at Research Park on the campus of University of California, Irvine. The EDA grant, to be matched with $3 million in local funds, is expected to help create 635 jobs and retain 55 jobs. “The Trump Administration is committed to helping American entrepreneurs grow and succeed,” said Secretary Ross. “The University Lab Partners state-of-the-art workspace will hel...

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 Approved for Irvine Outpatient Center

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

Plans for converting an office building into the first phase of a new City of Hope campus in Orange County were approved Dec. 19 by the Irvine Planning Commission. The nearly 190,000-square-foot building in the FivePoint Gateway Campus off Barranca Parkway and Alton Parkway will be used to create an outpatient cancer center. “Our team is moving forward with great momentum,” Annette Walker, president, City of Hope Orange County, said in a release. “As always, we’re grateful to FivePoint for their partnership and support, and appreciate the Planning Commission’s endorsement.” City of Hope, a nonprofit clinical cancer research center, expects to invest mor...

Hotel Irvine Completes Multi-Million Dollar Reinvestment Program

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

Hotel Irvine – a 536-room lifestyle hotel conveniently located in the heart of Orange County – has recently completed a comprehensive $6.8 million reinvestment program, emerging with a fresh contemporary look and punches of color that span the entire property from accommodations to meeting areas to dining spots. According to Jeroen Quint, general manager, Hotel Irvine, the project entailed a number of design aesthetic updates, including the installation of bold new fabrics, patterned pillows, and comfy seating throughout public areas such as EATS Kitchen & Bar and Red Bar and Lounge as well as the lobby entrance. “This most recent reinvestment project...

Orange County Soccer Club Signs Historic Partnership with Rangers Football Club of the Scottish Premiership

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Rangers Football Club, founded on football, youth development, and commercial activities between California and Glasgow, Scotland. The new partnership includes several exciting programs, activities, and player movements between the two clubs. A number of Rangers professional and academy players will go on loan for the season to play in the United Soccer League (USL) for the OCSC first team in January. “Rangers will serve as the aspirational peak of the one-of-a-kind ‘Pathway to Professional Soccer’ that OCSC has built for youth soccer players in Southern California,” said Oliver Wyss, presiden...

2020 to Bring New Offices, Leasing Options to Irvine

Monday, January 06, 2020

Orange County’s Irvine Company isn’t seeing a local slowdown on the horizon for 2020. “This has been a strong cycle for us, and we anticipate that to continue,” said Steve Case, executive vice president of Irvine Company’s office division. Chapman University economists last month predicted national GDP growth of 1.9%; Case said the local economy should outpace that of the country, noting OC “compares favorably to any market in or outside our portfolio.” Irvine Company’s total office portfolio runs about 50 million square feet; much of it is in OC, where occupancy rates are well north of 90%. “We remain bullish about Orange County’...

Joan Irvine Smith, Member of Pioneer Family Who Was Instrumental in Creation of UC Irvine Campus, Dies at 86

Monday, January 06, 2020

Joan Irvine Smith, an environmental activist, philanthropist, and avid equestrian who was instrumental in establishing and advancing UC Irvine and fighting to preserve open space in Orange County, has died. She was 86. Smith died peacefully at home on Thursday, Dec. 19, her son, James Irvine Swinden, wrote in her obituary. Smith was the great-granddaughter of Irvine Ranch founder James Irvine, an agricultural pioneer whose family went on to create The Irvine Company, the influential Newport Beach-based real estate development company. The city of Irvine carries the family name. “Joan was a longtime friend and I always admired her passion for the lan...

Brenda Callen LeGault Named Greater Irvine Chamber December 2019 Ambassador of the Month

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Brenda Callen LeGault of ISC Resources, has been named the Greater Irvine Chamber December 2019 Ambassador of the Month. “I’ve found the biggest benefits of my Chamber membership to be the connections I have made personally and professionally. I have been fortunate enough to call my connections friends as well as clients. Working with the Business and Workforce Development Committee has helped me understand the challenges that business have in Irvine as well as Orange County and how I can be a resource to solve those challenges,” LeGault said. Since joining the Chamber in April 2019, LeGault has become involved in ...

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...

New Beall-Backed Facility Features Wet Lab Incubator at UCI’s Cove

Monday, December 30, 2019

Out with the old, in with the new. That’s certainly the mentality at the Cove, UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s hub for entrepreneurs, investors, venture capital firms and community partners, which recently took the wraps off its expanded new home. “It’s another step in accelerating the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the community,” Richard Sudek, executive director of Applied Innovation, told the Orange County Business Journal following its unveiling late last month. “We are building a more robust ecosystem with a bigger platform for more partners and events.” The more than 100,000-square-foot, three-story building, once part of Broadcom’s former headquarters campus, doubles the program’s space. It also provide...

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...

Scott Jackson Named Greater Irvine Chamber November 2019 Ambassador of the Month

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Scott Jackson of CPS Employer Benefits, has been named the Greater Irvine Chamber November 2019 Ambassador of the Month. “The greatest benefit of being a member of the Greater Irvine Chamber has been getting to meet new people that I now call friends that I golf with and spend quality time with! Being a member has also been beneficial to my business. Last year, I transacted a $2,000,000 and a $1,000,000 life insurance policy through connections made at the Chamber,” Jackson said. In addition to his volunteer leadership as an Ambassador of the Chamber, Jackson has become involved in various other capacitie...

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...

Mentors Invited to Facilitate Greater Irvine Chamber’s Award-Winning Career-Readiness Program for OC College Students

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Are you interested in helping students get an edge as they prepare to enter the workforce? Business professionals are encouraged to volunteer as mentors for students participating in the fifth series of the Greater Irvine Chamber’s award-winning Career Edge program, hosted in collaboration with Google, Irvine Valley College, Webster University, Irvine Campus, and the members of the business community. Career Edge is a simple but important solution to a challenge that Orange County companies face: new employees who arrive with the knowledge and technical skills necessary but lack satisfactory business writing, presentation, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. Volunteer mentors and presenters fro...

What to do if Immigration Officials Come Knocking at Your Business

Saturday, August 24, 2019

CalChamber President Allan Zaremberg discussed with immigration expert Kevin Johnson, Dean of the UC Davis School of Law, what employers are required to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials raid a job site or ask to inspect records. Under the Obama administration, ICE officials focused primarily on deporting undocumented immigrants who were in jail or prison, and more or less backed off of workplace enforcement. Now under the Trump administration, ICE has shifted more of its focus to the workplace, Johnson said. Doing business in a state with high numbers of undocumented immigrants, employers in California need to know wha...

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...

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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Irvine is #3 in the Top Ten Cities of the Future Economic Potential

The top 10 of fDi’s third biennial ranking of American cities is a wholly North American affair, with all entrants located in Canada or the US. Rebounding somewhat following a turbulent economic period, FDI projects into North America increased 4.55% between 2012 and 2014.