On October 15, 2020, the Oxnard Chamber hosted a virtual "State of the Port" presentation with Jess Ramirez, President of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Commissioners, and Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director. The Port of Hueneme is one of the biggest economic engines in Ventura County. Its mission is to operate as a self-supporting Port that enforces the principles of sound public stewardship maximizing the potential of maritime-related commerce and regional economic benefit.
Want to increase awareness of your business and show your support for our military? Then become a sponsor of our 2020 Military Appreciation Presentation airing on November 11. While the Oxnard Chamber has been honoring enlisted military personnel with a dinner event over the past 22 years, 2020 is the time to reinvent! Our Military Appreciation Presentation will be a virtual event, but we still need sponsors!
This is a New Member Spotlight article for LED Partnership.
Commercial buildings of 20,000 sq. ft. or greater can get interior space LED lighting with rebates covering 100% of the cost through a program funded by Southern California Edison. Applications to qualify for this rebate must be submitted by October 15th. Contact Sid Pelston, Program Manager at sid@LEDpartnership.com or call 424-289-0316 for information and to schedule a visit to gather data of a building’s existing lighting and to determine if the building is eligible for the rebate. Sid Pelston, Managing Director of LED Partnership has served commercial marketplace since 1976. Yes, the ballot you recently received, or are about to receive is loaded with state and local ballot measures. The Oxnard Chamber sifted through the state propositions and took the following positions:
Prop 15 – OPPOSE STRONGLY Prop 15 will be the largest property tax increase in state history at $11.5 BILLION per year. Unless defeated by voters, the measure shreds long-standing Prop 13 protections that have kept property taxes affordable and provided every taxpayer that buys a home or operates business with certainty that they can afford their property tax bills in the future. Prop 15 repeals these protections for business property by requiring reassessment at current market value at least every three years. Prop 15’s higher property taxes will cause rents to skyrocket for small businesses and the cost of living to increase for all Californians. That’s why small businesses, farmers, social justice organizations, and taxpayer advocates across California oppose this massive tax increase. Prop 19 – SUPPORT Prop 19 Limits Property Tax Increases on Primary Residences for Seniors, People with Severe Disabilities, Families, and Wildfire and Natural Disaster Victims.
Prop 21 – OPPOSE Prop 21 would repeal portions of the state’s existing rental housing laws (Costa Hawkins) and open the door for extreme forms of rent control to be enacted at the local level. It is nearly identical to 2018’s Prop 10, which voters rejected by nearly 20 points. Prop 21 would allow for permanent price caps on all forms of housing, including single family homes and condos. Prop 21 contains:
Independent academic experts from Stanford and UC Berkeley agree that policies like Prop 21 discourage new construction and reduce availability of affordable and middle-class housing, driving up rents for many Californians. Furthermore, Prop 21 undermines a new, statewide rent control law, just months after the law went into effect. Governor Newsom and the Legislature, with the support of numerous stakeholders, recently passed some of the strongest statewide rent control and renter protections in the nation. Assembly Bill 1482, which became law on January 1, 2020, ensures renters will not face extreme rent hikes or be unfairly evicted from their homes. The new law also provides stability for property owners. It ensures the rental housing supply is not diminished and housing continues to be built. Prop 23 – OPPOSE Prop 23 would force community dialysis clinics to cut services and close – putting the lives of vulnerable dialysis patients at serious risk.
This is a Member Spotlight article for the Ventura County Community Foundation.
On behalf of Ventura County Complete Count Committee, we need your help – this is your chance to be a Census Superhero! As a valued business leader, we are asking you to join us in The Final Count campaign for the 2020 Census. With the census ending on September 30th, we are in the final stretch to reach all who have not yet been counted. Help us spread theword and encourage your employees and patrons to participate in the 2020 census. Follow our final countdown efforts on Ventura County Counts social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can click here to download the Business Toolkit Guide where you can review your Census Superhero Checklist, and fill out your Final Count Pledge Form. Download Business Toolkit Resources to share here. We appreciate your time, consideration, and leadership! For more information or questions email: alandis@vccf.org
The Oxnard Trophy recipient is chosen by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Oxnard Trophy is presented to a person, business or organization that has brought recognition to Oxnard and has bettered the community.
In December of last year (when the world was normal!) the Pacifica Tritons football team astonished the high school football world and became the CIF Division 2-A State champions. It was the first Ventura County public school to win the title. Coach Mike Moon and his talented players beat Oakland-McClymonds 34-6. Pacifica (15-1) set or tied 11 Division 2-A records in delivering the city of Oxnard its first football state title. Congratulations to Coach Mike Moon and the Pacifica High School Tritons! Your name will now be added to decades of previous Oxnard Trophy awardees. The Community & Business Awards aired on October 8, 2020. Watch the full presentation below. Democracy can be messy. Some good ideas can turn out to be very bad when you look at the consequences. That seems to be the case with four measures that qualified for Oxnard's November ballot.
Measure F – Expedited Processing of Certain City-Issued Development Permits We've all heard horror stories about how long it can take to get a permit for a new warehouse or office building. But that's not always the case. The city of Oxnard has been studying the flow of permit issuances and has worked out some of the kinks that slowed the process. Measure F would allow self-certification of projects that meet specific requirements and if those project applications are filed by certified professionals. No city has ever done this to the scope called for in Measure F. Phoenix, Arizona may be the closest, but its scope covers about 50% of what is proposed in Oxnard. Audits of the Phoenix self-certified projects show 39% failed to comply with current building standards and codes. Would you want to go to work in a building constructed under those circumstances? In addition, the city's Insurance Service Organization rating would likely go down, which means residents and business owners would see higher rates. Not a good idea. Measure L – Expansion of Duties of Elected City Treasurer This measure would expand the duties of the city's elected Treasurer to include the job of Finance Director, who manages accounting functions, budget management, and purchasing. The requirements to be elected as the city Treasurer are: registered to vote in Oxnard, 18 years old, US citizen, not currently in a state or federal prison or on parole for a felony, and not currently found mentally incompetent. There are no requirements for education or training in the field of finance, investments, or banking. Not a good idea. Measure M – New Requirements Regarding the Way in Which City Council Meetings, Council Committee and Other City Legislative Bodies are Run Measure M would require all meetings of legislative bodies to commence no earlier than 5:00 pm on weekdays and 9:00 am on weekends. Remember those council meetings that used to go until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning? With Measure M, we would be headed back to those late, unproductive meetings. The measure also requires that all staff presentations be videotaped and posted on the city's website at the time the meeting agenda is posted. There is a sizeable cost involved with this requirement, along with increased staff time. Measure M also requires all meetings of legislative bodies be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, not commonly employed by local government. Not a good idea. Measure N – Early Termination of Measure O Sales Tax Measure O was a twenty-year general-purpose half-cent sales tax passed by the voters of Oxnard in 2008. Measure N would tie the condition of Oxnard's streets to a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) in order to continue the Measure O tax collection. It appears to be mathematically impossible for the city to attain the PCI results Measure N calls for. There simply is not enough money in the city's coffers. In addition, the voters approved the general-purpose sales tax. Measure N would change that to a specific-purpose tax, which could be challenged in court if it is not adopted by two-thirds of Oxnard voters. Not a good idea. The Oxnard Chamber urges all voters to educate themselves on the intended or unintended consequences of all ballot measures.
Continuing the Chamber's 70-year tradition of recognizing community and business champions had its challenges in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we accepted the challenge and pivoted our annual event by hosting it virtually, celebrating our honorees with an online program that aired on October 8, 2020. Congratulations to this year's winners and thank you for all that you do to make Oxnard a great city to live, work and do business in!
Distinguished Citizen of the Year – Marvin Boos is on a mission to clean up our city. After he retired from Naval Base Ventura County, he certainly was not going to become a couch potato. Last year when the city of Oxnard had to cut its budget and eliminate groundskeepers and graffiti removal personnel, Marvin Boos loaded his truck with a rake, dustpan, and hand saw and went to work. He spends about five days a week, three or four hours a day, cleaning up Oxnard's medians, parks and sidewalks. He's also inspired many others to join him in his fight against weeds, litter, overgrown trees, and graffiti. Thank you, Marvin! Volunteer of the Year – Jim Magnusson is the definition of what a great community volunteer should be. He has spent the last 25 years volunteering his time and talent to help high school athletes respond and recover from injury. Over the course of the last two-and-a-half decades, Jim has helped hundreds of students at local high schools. Since 2005, Jim has volunteered a Pacifica High School, working with the football team. But Jim has done even more than serve as the team's medical support. He has also pitched in at other schools, such as for Oxnard High School's baseball team. Business Advocate of the Year – Ashley Golden is the Assistant City Manager for the city of Oxnard, which seems odd that a chamber of commerce would name a government employee the Business Advocate of the Year. However, the Oxnard Chamber has had more input on city matters since Ms. Golden sought and incorporated opinions of the business community in city issues. Whether it's a minor change in city policy or a major overhaul of a process affecting business, she seeks responses from the entities impacted. Even when she has bad news to deliver to the business community, Ashley brings the issue to the Chamber for feedback. Young Professional of the Year – Taylor Penny is hard to keep up with. She's a habitual volunteer! She's an avid supporter of the Oxnard Young Professionals, a champion for the local Boys & Girls Clubs, a board member for the California Strawberry Festival, board member for the Friends of the Bard Mansion, Oxnard PD K-9 Unit, mentor with Big Brothers & Big Sisters, and serves on the Steering Committee for the Chamber's Oxnard Leadership program. Taylor's coworkers say she is always volunteering to help with any projects at St. John's Hospital, where she works for their foundation. Ms. Penny lives in Oxnard, works in Oxnard, and serves many organizations in Oxnard. Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County is celebrating 50 years of service through youth mentoring in 2020. With a big focus in Oxnard, they opened a new mentoring site earlier this year, bringing group and individual mentoring opportunities to youth for after-school hours. Through the guidance of dedicated case managers across all of their programs, BBBSVC has provided Oxnard youth the benefits of 1-to-1 mentoring to support individual needs, leading to life-long and life-changing friendships for many. Small Business of the Year – PODS Moving & Storage has donated more than $1.5 million in logistics, PODS containers, trucks, fuel, and personnel to Central Coast charities in the past 15 years. Franchise owner Steve Yapp has instilled his passion for service in his entire team. Recipients of this generosity include the Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, Casa Pacifica, FOOD Share, California Strawberry Festival, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and veterans Stand Down events. Giving back to the community that helped grow his business is a big part of Yapp's business model. Large Business of the Year – DW Drums was founded in Santa Monica in 1972 and moved to Oxnard in 2000 where their international headquarters is today. Their mission is to produce the finest drums possible, to be innovative leaders in their industry, to provide outstanding customer service, and to bring together a team of employees and give them the opportunity to work with pride at a fun place to work. They also bring elite music legends to Oxnard ranging from Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) to Oxnard's own Grammy-winning Anderson Paak. Hundreds of big-name musicians come to Oxnard each year to monitor the progress of their made-to-order drums. Innovative Business of the Year – FOMAT Medical Research has launched a search to find treatment and a vaccine for COVID-19. FOMAT has set up a testing site adjacent to the Oxnard Library on A Street. FOMAT conducts trials on whether antibody medicine offers effective treatment for people that have tested positive for the virus, and a second study will be on healthy people at high risk of the virus who will take a cocktail to measure the effectiveness in preventing infection. Testing is free, aimed at people willing to participate in the trials, and tests will provide results in 45 minutes. Best place to Work – Visit Oxnard offers an unparalleled work culture, so ingrained in its employees that the term "staff" is always substituted by the word "team." Flexible schedules allow team members to put family first. Annual reviews allow for both professional growth and consistency in performance-based compensation adjustments. Team outings to support Oxnard restaurants, retailers, and attractions are common occurrences. Leadership guides by the principles of sociocracy, giving everyone the opportunity have their voices heard. "Coming to work each day is a joy," said the nominator for this award. Watch the recording of the presentation below.
On Thursday, September 10, 2020, Oxnard City Manager Alex Nguyen addressed how the city is coping with the fiscal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts, the homelessness crisis, civil unrest, and other emergencies. What are the solutions? How many more expenses can be cut? How much more revenue can be raised?
It was a very candid conversation about the impacts this situation has on businesses and residents, hosted by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce along with the City of Oxnard, and sponsored by UCLA Health. Watch the full recording below. Are you ready for some COVID-related stats that won't spin you into anxiety or depression? We are too!
At the Chamber, we've been watching some of the emerging trends related to business -- from local to global. We decided to share some of the more interesting findings in this brief round-up. New Business Boom According to the US Census Bureau, over 111,000 applications to start a new business were filed during the week of August 10th. That's a 69% increase over the same week a year ago. And it's no fluke: 113,000+ filed the week before. In fact, third quarter new business tax IDs have surpassed second quarter numbers in just the first eight weeks. Saving for a Rainy Day The average savings rate in April jumped to a record 32%, up from an average of 8%. The average savings rate in May was also significantly higher than average at 23% -- and it's remained higher than average since. Business Growth in Online Sales Nationwide there has been a 49% increase in online retail sales. Much of this increase has, of course, gone to the big internet players such as Amazon but not all. While some view Amazon as a retail giant, over two million small businesses in the US view Amazon as a sales and delivery channel, along with sites like Etsy, Ebay and others. Home Sales Climb Nationwide Realtor.com reports that July real estate prices were up 8.5% over July 2019. And the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shared that July 2020 home sales were up 24.7 percent from the month before. July was "among the strongest (months) the housing market has ever seen." These home price increases are partly due to a shrinking supply of houses on the market (down 32.6 percent nationwide), low interest rates and pent-up demand from potential home buyers putting off house hunting during the uncertain spring season. Speaking of demand, the NAR noted that home ownership, in general, is at a reported 12-year high. The Oxnard Chamber's Political Action Committee recently released endorsements for local races in the November election. The PAC interviewed many candidates and researched prior vote records of those currently holding office. Here are the endorsements to date:
Tim Flynn, Ventura County Supervisor District 5 John Zaragoza, Oxnard Mayor Oscar Madrigal, Oxnard City Council District 3 Bryan MacDonald, Oxnard City Council District 4 Vianey Lopez, Oxnard City Council District 6 Jess Ramirez, Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Celina Zacarias, Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Please keep these candidates in mind when voting this fall. The Chamber's PAC works to support the organization's mission of representing business interests and advocating public policies that promote a healthy economy. Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a retooled process for loosening and tightening COVID-19 restrictions Friday. Labeled a “Blueprint for a Safer California,” the system puts California’s 58 counties into four tiers based on the number of new daily cases and the percentage of positive tests. Ventura County enters the new plan under the “purple” or widespread tier. However, the plan does allow for some limited sectors to reopen with restrictions.
View the Blueprint here. California is in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis, and yet another threat is on the horizon
for small businesses. Prop 15 on the November ballot will be the largest property tax increase in state history at $12.5 billion per year. Unless defeated by voters, the measure shreds long-standing Prop 13 protections that have kept property taxes affordable and provided every taxpayer that buys a home or operates business with certainty that they can afford their property tax bills in the future. Prop 15 repeals these protections for business property by requiring reassessment at current market value at least every three years. Prop 15’s higher property taxes will cause rents to skyrocket for small businesses and the cost of living to increase for all Californians. That’s why small businesses, farmers, social justice organizations, and taxpayer advocates across California oppose this massive tax increase. Why should everyone be concerned about Prop 15?
The Oxnard Chamber Board of Directors strongly opposes Prop 15. The Chamber's Political Action Committee sent a financial Contribution to the NO on Prop 15 campaign. For more information, go to https://noonprop15.org/.
PPP loans have been a lifeline for many small and medium size businesses during the COVID pandemic. Now that most of the funding has been released, it's time for loan recipients to think about getting the most loan forgiveness to keep that capital in our local economy.
The Oxnard Chamber arranged for two experts to deliver a free webinar for PPP borrowers. Timothy A. Jones, Executive Vice President with Umpqua Bank, will address the SBA process to apply for forgiveness. He has become the bank's authority on PPP loans. Andrew Kiefer, CPA and Managing Director for CBIZ MHM LLP, will address accounting for applicable expenses and potential income tax consequences. The webinar was held on Thursday, August 13, 2020. Watch the full recording below. On August 5, 2020, the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) secured $2.45M in new loan capital from the U.S. Department of Commerce/Economic Development Administration's CARES Act Fund to help support Ventura County businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. Set to be allocated as an EDC Revolving Loan Fund (RFL) over the next 24-months, qualifying Ventura County businesses can apply to receive between $10,000 to $250,000 of working capital.
With this new $2.45M award, the EDC now controls $5M total in loan capital set for distribution specifically in Ventura County. Fixed with a 4.2% interest rate, all RFL recipients are reasonably expected to repay in full within 7 years. "The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is one of the EDC's oldest partners," states Marvin Boateng, EDC Director of Lending. "We greatly appreciate their more than 24 years of continued financial support and are excited that this new grant will expand our opportunity to lend to small businesses within Ventura County. We know that many have been hard hit by COVID-19 and additional capital is a lifeline to businesses with limited cashflow." Ventura County businesses interested in learning more about or applying for an EDC loan are encouraged to contact Marven Boateng directly via email at loans@edcollaborative.com or phone at (805) 409-9156. After the coronavirus put the brakes on the Chamber's annual Community & Business Awards, originally scheduled in late April, we are moving forward for a presentation of the awards on Thursday, October 8 at 4 pm. The nomination period will be open until Tuesday, September 8 at 5 pm, so please submit your nominations before the deadline.
We all know people, organizations and businesses that contribute to our great community, why not spend a couple of minutes to honor them with a nomination? The categories are:
You can download a nomination form here, or click for the online form.
In case you missed it, on July 30, 2020, the Chamber hosted Oxnard Mayor Tim Flynn's annual State of the City address to the business community with a theme of "Rebuild, Reinvest, and Revitalize." Although these are difficult times to be optimistic, Mayor Flynn's message was pragmatic about where the city needs to go in order to deliver services to it residents and businesses. Watch the recording below.
The Chamber sincerely thanks the following businesses for supporting this year's program!
Title Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
GO-Biz Hosting Webinars for Businesses Interested in Applying for $80 Million in Tax Credits7/27/2020
GO-Biz is offering a series of free webinars to explain the application process for California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) application. The next CTCC application period began on Monday, July 27, 2020, and there is $80 million in tax credits available for businesses to claim.
The California Competes Tax Credit is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to come to California or stay and grow in California. Tax credit agreements are negotiated by GO-Biz and approved by a statutorily created “California Competes Tax Credit Committee,” consisting of the State Treasurer, the Director of the Department of Finance, the Director of GO-Biz, and one appointee each by the Speaker of the Assembly and Senate Committee on Rules. The application can be accessed at www.calcompetes.ca.gov, and the application period closes on Monday, August 17, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time; at the time of the deadline, the application website will automatically close. Those interested in attending an informational webinar have a variety of dates to choose from: July 29, 2020 Details and Registration August 6, 2020 Details and Registration August 11, 2020 Details and Registration The impact of COVID-19 will go well beyond the pandemic itself, with serious effects expected on the global economy as well as on people's lives. During periods of economic downturn, people's incomes are limited, and their spending habits change significantly. To stay afloat and retain customers, some businesses will choose to revise their prices and fees downwards. Naturally, with the stiff competition that characterizes many markets, you may be tempted to follow suit. Even as you strive to make the right decisions for your business and customers, it would be important to understand the visible and hidden negative effects of lowering prices.
The negative effects of lowering prices The negative effects of lowering prices can be categorized into visible and hidden outcomes. The visible effects related to profits and sales volumes. While a good number of business owners think that lowering prices will help to drive sales, the move can lower your profits by a significant margin. Reduced profitability will have a huge negative impact, particularly on startups and small businesses. For any business to enjoy the same level of profitability after lowering prices, they will need to sell more products to customers. In a shrinking economy, it may be difficult to sell more than you used to do previously. Apart from the visible effects, the hidden ones can have a huge impact on your business. Cutting your prices may lead customers to believe that they will get lower quality from you. This notion could affect your reputation as a business that sells high- quality products or services. Another possible outcome is that long-term customers will feel that you have been overcharging them, a factor that could see you lose some of your current customers. In addition, customers who feel that they overpaid will not refer others to your business. You may also not end up attracting more new customers if your competition lowers their prices as well since things will still be the same. With these effects, adjusting your prices downwards could be counterproductive, effectively dealing a blow to your efforts to drum up business. As such, lowering prices during a recession would not be a smart strategy. What you should consider doing To help you get through the tough times, there are several steps that you can consider taking. With declining demand, you will need to come up with smart and innovative ways of keeping your business going. If you only handled big projects in the past, it would be time to consider taking on smaller projects with smaller budgets. Taking on smaller projects will not only keep you going but could also earn you new customers. Another option would be to provide free consultations while maintaining the prices of your products and services at the same level. Since the price is defined by the value that customer enjoy, you can also choose to increase price and value simultaneously. However, this will require that you pick the right time and decide how much to change the prices. In the end, you will want to make changes while ensuring you encounter the least resistance from your customers. In the long run, the pandemic will ease off, and the global economy will rebound. However, adjusting prices can have long-term effects that will take a long time to rectify. Provided you deliver value to your customers, we recommend that you charge what you believe is a fair price. Is your email inbox flooded with messages from big brands, with every message starting off with "In these uncertain times" and ending with "We're all in this together"? You're not alone. It seems like every brand wants to reach out to its customers in these (sorry) uncertain times.
But there's no need to fall into the trap of being predictable and sounding like all the corporate robots filling your inbox. We believe it's possible to connect to your clients and customers in a meaningful way that's relational and personal. Take a look at some of our tips for reconnecting with your clients via email, even if you temporarily can't communicate face to face. 1. Be Transparent and Helpful You probably don't have all the answers to clients' questions right now. But the more transparent you are, the more likely your customers are to stay connected with your brand. Let them know how your business is affected by the current situation, for starters. But many clients want to know more. Reach out to tell your customers what you're doing to protect them, whether it's by sanitizing your physical location or adding extra online security to protect their data when your employees are working from home. Many customers want to know how you're supporting your staff during this time, and others want to know what your plans are going forward. If you've changed the hours of your customer service center or you've opened new web pages to help customers out, let them know. When you're transparent and clear via email, your clients will know you're still there for them. 2. Focus on Your Current and Recent Clients Too many companies are digging too deep into their databases to connect with customers they haven't had any contact with in years. This isn't the time for that deep dive, which is likely to alienate people and make them think you're just trying to exploit them. Instead, connect with the customers and clients you have active relationships with, focusing on how you can help meet their current and future needs. Those are the clients who will be most receptive and appreciative to your updates. 3. Strike the Right Tone You undoubtedly have already established a clear voice when you reach out to customers. Now is the time to take a careful second look at that voice, especially if you tend to add a flash of sarcasm or flippancy to your communications with customers. If your emails make customers feel as if you aren't taking their concerns and worries seriously, your efforts to reach out could have the opposite effect than the one you're hoping for. It's also not the time to push people to buy things in an overt way, especially when many of your clients or customers may be taking second looks at their own budgets. If you send the inadvertent message that you're taking advantage of the current situation, you won't win friends. As you strive to strike a tone that's supportive without being jarring, you should also avoid making political statements or promises you don't know if you can keep (such as opening dates). During a crisis, you have an opportunity to define who you are through your communications with your clients and customers. Honest, transparent communication via email can help you maintain the relationships that will be crucial again in the near future. On July 7, the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) launched Business Forward Ventura County, an initiative to provide services and resources to local businesses and entrepreneurs.
The new Business Forward Ventura County website will serve as a centralized platform to exhibit the rich diversity of Ventura County business associations and incubators, Chambers of Commerce, government organizations, and other resources that both provide assistance and prioritize the improvement of industry. When asked what the EDC hopes will evolve from Business Forward specifically, EDC President and CEO, Bruce Stenslie, remarked that he and participating stakeholders are confident it will become the business community's "go-to virtual resource" to access and learn all about the business-related support the county has to offer. Stenslie stated that Business Forward also serves to educate and attract potential new business and entrepreneurial capital to the region, outside of current county residents. The Business Forward website is officially live and accessible to the Public at www.businessforwardvc.com. We recently welcomed The Villas at Channel Islands as a new Chamber member! The Villas at Channel Islands were happy to share more details with us about their new property of apartment homes.
What products or services do you provide? The Villas at Channel Islands is a community located in Oxnard consisting of contemporary apartment homes, and as of July, we have just opened and are now leasing. We are proud to provide amenities such as private balconies, a fitness center, and a courtyard with spa, to name a few. We are also conveniently located an easy distance to shopping, entertainment, and restaurants in Oxnard. What is the company's mission or motto? We invite everyone to "Live Outside the Lines at The Villas at Channel Islands." What’s one thing the business is known for over its competitors? Excellent customer service! We are happy to provide help in any way we can. How can the Chamber / members / Oxnard community help the business? We are hopeful that the Chamber, the community, and fellow Chamber members can help to promote our property within the community to improve awareness of our beautiful new development. Please add any additional details or information you want readers to know. We are proud to offer military discounts. Those interested in learning more can contact Rene Felix, Property Manager, by phone at 805-413-0660, or through email inquiries directed to info@thevillasatchannelislands.com. Learn more at thevillasatchannelislands.com Follow them on social: The Villas at Channel Islands on Facebook @villasatchannelislandsapts on Instagram No one has a crystal ball to see when businesses will start to open up again, but smart business owners and marketers are already planning for what lies ahead. If you wait until you get the go-ahead to open up to start to plan your business comeback, you may find all your competitors racing past you at the starting line.
As you make the shift from survival mode to comeback mode, take a look at these tips which we've pulled together to help you hit your mark, get set, and go. 1. Stay in Touch with Your Employees No business thrives without a dedicated workforce who bring their skills and passion to the job every day. You have probably already been keeping your whole team up to date on your own company's situation, and as you prepare for your comeback, you need to confirm your concern for them. Be transparent with all developments, and let them know your plans as they come into shape. 2. Plan for Interaction with Your Customers All brick-and-mortar businesses are likely to face new requirements when they reopen. While you definitely need to stay up to date on what your state, county, and city ask of you, you also need to make sure your employees are fully informed. Your staff may have to wear masks and gloves for a while, they may have to practice social distancing, and you may have other requirements you insist on for your customers' health and safety. Put your expectations in writing to make sure everyone's operating on the same page. 3. Get Your Finances in Order If your business has been closed for a matter of weeks or even months, your balance sheet may not be in the best of health. Before you open up, take a long, measured look at your financials to determine how to approach the new normal. You may need to apply for a business loan to pay bills that have been piling up or to replace inventory. You also need to estimate just how much business you expect to do immediately if, for example, you have to limit the number of customers who enter your establishment and you experience hitches in your cash flow. Working with your banker and your accountant can help you make wise decisions while you have time to consider all your options. 4. Plan to Remain Flexible Even when your local governments okay opening up again, you may not want to leap feet first into the fray. Check with your insurance company for guidance, especially if customers or clients enter your workplace. Social distancing guidelines are likely to remain in effect in many locations, so you may want to allow staff to continue to work from home — a situation which requires a great deal of trust between employer and employee. If you can create contingency plans now, you'll provide yourself with more options once it's time for your comeback. We believe in the ability of our community to bounce back from tough times and to adapt to new environments, so we are optimistic about the future for our region. If you're ready to pivot and adapt as you begin your comeback, you should find your business in a position of leadership again. On Saturday, the 4th of July, President Trump signed legislation that extends the deadline for businesses to apply for aid under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The bill extends the deadline for businesses to apply for PPP loans until Aug. 8. The program, set up to assist businesses impacted by closures related to the coronavirus pandemic, had expired on June 30 with roughly $130 billion left unused. The Senate in a surprise passed the legislation by unanimous consent late on June 30, extending the program hours before it was set to expire. The House took up the Senate bill and passed it by unanimous consent on July 1, sending it to Trump’s desk. The lending program was established by the $2 trillion stimulus package negotiated by the White House and congressional leaders and signed into law at the end of March. The program experienced a chaotic rollout but has been popular, with the Small Business Administration lending more than $520 billion in emergency loans to more than 4.8 million small businesses. The extension comes as lawmakers on Capitol Hill prepare for negotiations over the next round of coronavirus stimulus. House Democrats passed a $3 trillion stimulus bill in May that included aid for state and local governments and another round of $1,200 direct payments to Americans, but the measure gained little traction in the GOP-controlled Senate. In partnership with Express Employment Professionals, the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce would like to give Chamber members a chance to attend "3 Tips to Welcoming Back Your Work Force: The Deep Dive" - a three-part webinar series normally priced at $129 - for free.
Rick Hernandez and Michael Veltri will host three virtual talks about the best ways to boost morale as Stay at Home restrictions begin to ease up and employees begin to return to the office. This webinar series begins on July 16 and will consist of three, 60-minute long webinars. The series will include recorded sessions sent directly to participants, easy-to-follow and implement action plans, an interactive Q&A session with the presenters, and more. Chamber members may enter the raffle by filling out our form here: bit.ly/2VRHpdi A winner will be drawn on July 14. Good luck to all of our participants! Not feeling lucky? You can still register by calling Express Employment Professionals at 805-418-1111, or by visiting their Zoom registration link here. |