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Nov 05CalSavers Employer Requirement: What You Need to Know
CalSavers is here! There’s an employer requirement. Here’s what you need to know: In July of 2019, a public board chaired by the State Treasurer rolled out the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program, the State’s ambitious new effort to level the playing field for small business workers, the self-employed, and the nearly 7.5 million Californians who lack access to a savings vehicle at work. It comes at zero cost to taxpayers or employers. CalSavers launched statewide July 1, 2019, and state law now
Nov 04Proper Food Permits Ensure Public Health & Safety
When you purchase a meal from a food truck or enjoy catered food at an event, do you stop to consider whether the business has the proper food permits? The California Retail Food Code (a section of California Health and Safety Code) is the section of state law that regulates retail food sales in California. It requires that food that is sold, distributed or given away to the public be prepared in and sold from a permitted food facility. But, as Kendra Wise with the Santa Barbara County Health Department
Nov 04Southern California Gas Company Applauds State-Wide Support of Balanced Energy Policies
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) recently recognized more than 100 local governments across Southern California, representing approximately 6.75 million Californians, that have passed resolutions in support of affordable and balanced strategies to reduce emissions from buildings and that call on state policymakers to preserve consumers’ ability to choose either natural gas or electric appliances for their homes and businesses. Governments in the Santa Maria/Northern Santa Barbara Country region were
Nov 04Leadership Santa Maria Explores Santa Maria’s Creative Side
Leadership Santa Maria Valley class of 2020’s October 4th Topic Day centered upon Arts and Recreation. Our coordinating team of Steve Williams, Emily Kitts, Patricia Horta, Yoshira Jimenez and Vanessa Guevara were on a mission to explore the way arts and recreation enrich lives in the Santa Maria Valley. The class gathered at Naughty Oaks Brewing Company in Old Orcutt. We started the day enjoying breakfast provided by Steven Funkhouser from Starry Sky Coffee shop located in the Allan Hancock College
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Nov 04Working Hard on Your Behalf: Chamber Month in Review (October 2019)
From attending conferences with tourism and legislative partners to connection with future business leaders, Chamber staff has been busy both in and out of the office this past month. Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve been up to: •The Chamber joined representatives from the EconAlliance of Northern SB County in Washington DC on October 9 -11. Chamber leadership visited with representatives from the US Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and Small Business Administration to discuss
Oct 01Amid Growing Wildfire Threats, PG&E Expands Public Safety Power Shutoff Program
Given the continued and growing threat of extreme weather and wildfires, and as an additional precautionary measure following the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, PG&E is expanding and enhancing their Community Wildfire Safety Program to further reduce wildfire risks and help keep customers and the communities they serve safe. This includes expanding their Public Safety Power Shutoff program beginning with the 2019 wildfire season to include all electric lines that pass through high fire-threat areas – both
Oct 01Visit Santa Maria Valley Unveils Global Launch of The Swirl Machine During California Wine Month
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber &Visitors Bureau announces its worldwide product launch of The Swirl Machine, an interactive, digital-meets-the-real-world machine that swirls Santa Maria Valley wine into a digital piece of art. The Santa Maria Valley Swirl Machine opened to the public on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 10 a.m. PST, and will stay open 24-hours-a-day for a limited time. Users can visit SantaMariaValley.com/Swirl to register and participate for free. Users will be entered in a queue until it is
Oct 01Harassment Training Deadline Extended, Clarified
As you may remember, on January 1, 2019, a new California law went into effect that made substantial changes to mandatory sexual harassment prevention training. Under SB 1343, all employers with five or more employees must provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees — supervisors must receive two hours of training and non-supervisory employees must receive one hour. Training must take place within six months of hire or promotion and every two years thereafter. Shortly after SB 1343’s
Oct 01Leadership Santa Maria Valley Welcomes Class of 2020
Leadership Santa Maria Valley kicked off another year of its program with their annual retreat. Run by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Santa Maria Valley is an 11 month program designed to foster and create future community leaders. The program allows participants to increase their understanding of local issues, challenges and solutions while expanding their personal and professional networks and refining their leadership skills. Each Class gives back to the community with their own
Sep 04Soaring to New Heights: Central Coast AirFest Takes Flight for Second Year in Santa Maria
After taking flight for its inaugural year, the Central Coast AirFest is soaring back to the Central Coast to provide excitement and entertainment the whole family can enjoy. “AirFest was extremely successful for the inaugural event,” explained Chris Kunkle, who spearheaded the effort to bring an airshow to Santa Maria. “We saw about 17,000 people over the two days. It is going to turn into a signature event in Santa Maria.” Kunkle says the event was not only fun for the whole community, it also gave back
Sep 04Energy Watch Partnership assists SM Tire Retread Facility and Eco-Wine Furniture
SM Tire reached out to the Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership, a program administered by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, for a lighting upgrade in its Santa Maria retread facility. At the retread location, SM Tire uses state-of-the-art machines and technology to apply rubber to tires and extend the life of their use. From industrial-sized fleet truck tires to specialized tires for large equipment, SM Tire serves the entire Central Coast region and provides a practical solution to
Aug 05Allan Hancock College Career Center Benefits Students, Businesses and Beyond
The Allan Hancock College Career Center is your post-secondary career readiness partner. Located in the Student Services building at the Santa Maria campus, the Career Center is home to many programs and services that connect high school and college age students with career readiness training and opportunities. Equipped with a computer lab, mock interview room and a career closet, the Career Center employs a team of Faculty Counselors, Career Readiness Specialists and Student Assistants. “If you are a
Aug 05CalSavers Retirement Savings Program Registration to Begin July 1
In 2016, the California Legislature passed a bill that laid the foundation for a state-run retirement plan, and in 2018, the final governing regulations were adopted. Eligible employers can begin to register for the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program (CalSavers) on July 1. CalSavers is a retirement savings program for private sector workers whose employers don’t offer a retirement program. Once the program goes into effect, employees who haven’t opted out are automatically enrolled in CalSavers, and
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Aug 05Chamber Ambassador Committee Welcomes New Leadership
The Chamber Ambassador Committee has a long history of serving as the public relations arm of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber. Ambassadors help the Chamber by promoting the benefits of Chamber membership to the community, as well as volunteering at Chamber events, serving on the welcoming committee for new Chamber members, and more. Chamber Ambassadors play a critical role in helping the Chamber as well as the local business community as a whole. Recently, changes were made to the Ambassador Committee to
Aug 05Be counted in 2020: Census provides important funding, data for Santa Maria
Every business person knows that information is power. One of the best places to gather free intelligence is from the U.S. Census Bureau. The 2020 United States Census will take place on April 1, 2020. This decennial Census is constitutionally mandated to count all the people living in the United States. Over the next eight months, the business community needs to help make sure the 2020 Census is as complete as possible. Employers are big stakeholders in the census, and getting employees and their
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Jul 02Champions for a Stronger Santa Maria Valley: Chamber Welcomes New Board Members for 2019-2020
July 1st marks a new fiscal year for the Santa Maria Chamber, and with it new leadership is welcomed to the Chamber Board of Directors to replace those who have served their term limits. The Santa Maria Valley Chamber Board of Directors is made up of senior executives from member companies and partner organizations. The board provides strategic and policy guidance to ensure the Chamber’s program of work serves the best interest of Chamber members and the Santa Maria Valley community. Board members serve
Jul 02Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership Visits Twitchell Dam
The Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership performed a site visit at Twitchell Dam, which is part of the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District. The goal was to find ways to provide energy efficiency options for this special district. The dam was built and dedicated in the 1950’s and provides water that is released into the aquifer to recharge the ground water basin. The reservoir has risen substantially due to this season’s above average rainfall. One of the surprises of the site visit was
Jul 02Leadership Santa Maria Valley Celebrates Graduation, Looks to Future Community Involvement
The Leadership Santa Maria Valley Class of 2019 wrapped up the 11 month program with their June topic day focused on leadership development, and a graduation ceremony celebration. The theme of both events centered around future plans for the group as they move on from the leadership program. “The Chamber offers the Leadership program in order to ensure that our community has a broad range of individuals who understand what the issues are, know who is working on those issues, and are committed to getting
May 30Santa Maria Chamber Champions #RespectWorks Campaign
Recognizing the importance of an inclusive, harassment-free workplace, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is partnering with CalChamber on their #RespectWorks initiative. #RespectWorks is a campaign to promote and implement a harassment-free workplace for all Californians. The Santa Maria Chamber has embraced this effort, and invites the local business community to join in by adopting proven, best practices that will help educate workers and employers on ways to prevent workplace harassment and
May 30Supporting changes to state Consumer Privacy Act
Commentary from Glenn Morris, President/CEO, Santa Maria Valley Chamber From when we wake up in the morning until we go to bed, we rely on technology to make our lives easier and more accessible than ever before. We rely on the apps on our mobile phones to order lunch, navigate directions, make doctor appointments, order groceries, browse items to buy, or read interesting and free articles or blogs. While we have all enjoyed the benefits of technology, there has been growing concern about personal data
May 30Labor, Technology and Food Safety Discussed at Leadership Agriculture Topic Day
The Leadership Santa Maria Valley class of 2019 took a day to learn about agriculture. Time and again they heard about labor, technology, food safety and celery. Well not always celery, the juicing craze has put celery in high demand this year and celery became a common theme as the day took the class from seed to seller. The class started out their day at Plantel Nurseries with a breakfast provided by Advanced Wireless. Claire Wineman, President of the Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San
May 01The Roots of Rancho Bowl: Celebrating 60 Years in Santa Maria
Rancho Bowl is celebrating their 60th year in the Santa Maria Valley Community as an entertainment hub for families to bowl, dine and gather for celebrations of all kinds. This family-owned business has kept the same tradition since it first opened in 1959: to create an exciting environment for people to have fun. The man behind this plan was Rancho Bowl founder, Mili Acquistapace. 60 years ago, this farmer, businessman and family-man wanted to create a gathering place for Santa Maria Valley locals to
May 01Chamber Convenes Business and Legislative Leaders at Business & Government Roundtable
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber convened local, county and state legislative representatives and local business leaders at their first Business & Government Roundtable. The group was formed as a way to guide the Chamber’s work in the area of political and regulatory advocacy. It will also serve as a resource to public agencies by providing a forum for issues and alternatives to be shared, discussed and reviewed by leaders of the local business community. While the Chamber currently is a member of
May 01LSMV Explores Media and Tech During April Topic Day
Do you know how many advertisements we are exposed to through media in one day? According to Ed Carcarey, we see and/or hear approximately five to seven thousand every day. The rules of advertising vary depending on the form of media being used; however, there are four laws in advertising that are constant: know your ideal customer, have consistency, establish your frequency, and have a unique message. Throughout his career, Carcarey has observed many companies claiming their customer service is “the best”.
Apr 05Local Events Celebrate Women in the Santa Maria Valley
While March 8th may have marked International Women’s Day, the Santa Maria Valley community spent the past month celebrating strong female leaders with a number of community events. Central Coast Women in Business Expo Highlights Women-owned Businesses The Central Coast Women in Business Expo was held to help promote and showcase the women-owned and operated businesses in Santa Maria. The event was put on by the Central Coast Women in Business group, a project of the Santa Maria Business Development
Apr 05Going Green is Good for the Environment and Good for Business
Your business can save money and help the environment by becoming a Certified Green Business! The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County helps businesses in the cities of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Buellton, Solvang, Santa Maria, and Guadalupe, as well as the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County to operate in an environmentally responsible manner and recognizes them for their efforts. The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to be one of the many local businesses in
Apr 05Santa Maria Valley Visitors Bureau Supports Local Events
Event promotion is a top priority for the Visitors Bureau as these programs bring visitors – often overnight - year-round. Our mild climate and selection of venues make Santa Maria a strong host city. Whether it is a car show, the Central Coast Airfest, SB County Fair, or the Rodeo, Santa Maria is host to a wide range and large number of events each year. We appreciate the many organizations who sponsor and produce these events for supporting tourism in our city. We encourage locals to support these
Apr 05Santa Maria Pride Trickles Down from the Top
“No one loves Santa Maria more than me!” is often a sentiment heard at chamber events or community gatherings. The Leadership Santa Maria Valley class had the unique opportunity to really see that Santa Maria Pride during their government topic day on March 1st. The day began with Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino. “It was the first opportunity I’ve had to hear her speak, as a woman in leadership I was inspired by her attitude and perseverance! She would always ask herself, what’s the worst that can happen?
Mar 05Santa Maria Chamber CEO Elected to Serve on Regional Chamber Board
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Glenn Morris has been elected to serve on the WACE (Western Association of Chamber Executives) Board of Directors as their Chairman-Elect. Morris, who has served on the WACE Board in previous years and has been actively involved in their organization, says the position is a great opportunity to learn from his peers and other Chamber leaders. “I’m honored to be asked by my peers to serve in a leadership position on the WACE Board,” Morris said. “The
Mar 05Santa Maria: A Thriving Hub for Businesses Big and Small
Leadership Santa Maria Valley Class Explores Business & Economics during February Topic Day Did you know that one Santa Maria Business supplies $30 million worth of cable to PG&E every year? Not only that but for two years in a row now, all of that cable had zero defects? In February, the Leadership Santa Maria Valley Class of 2019 saw what incredible industry resides right here in Santa Maria. From the massive cables at Okonite to the twelve rotating taps at Naughty Oak, the class was introduced to many
Feb 25Deep Roots in the Local Community: Diani Companies Celebrates 70 Years in Santa Maria
Diani Companies is a family owned business with a rich history in Santa Maria. Celebrating 70 and counting in the community, the local business continues its tradition of building construction encompassing military, public works and commercial building projects that have had a major impact in the Santa Maria Valley community and beyond. Their story begins in the 1920’s when Lorenzo and Mary Diani, with their two children, Americo and Madeline, moved their family to the Santa Maria Valley to operate a dairy
Feb 06From the Saddle to the Skies: Santa Maria Events Receive National Recognition
From fundraisers and auction dinners to festivals, concerts and more, it’s hard to find a week where there’s aren’t a number of great events happening in Santa Maria. Recently, two major local events – the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and the Central Coast Airfest - received national recognition for putting on programs that truly excelled in their industries and provided value and entertainment to the Santa Maria Valley. Central Coast Airfest awarded the first place Pinnacle Platinum Award for best Small
Feb 06Top Three Reasons Winter Blood Donations are Needed
Hospitals in Santa Barbara County have one thing in common, they receive blood from Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services. Who donates this much needed blood? Citizens of Santa Maria just like you, who have realized the importance of keeping a healthy blood supply in our community. Ready at a moment’s notice, many units of blood are used for emergency situations, but what many people don’t realize is there are units that are transfused to local patients on a daily basis to support cancer therapy, open
Feb 06Chamber’s Role in the Energy Watch Partnership heads into the 10th year
In 2009, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce became the administrator of the Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership. Since 2010, this successful program has assisted over 400 businesses in northern Santa Barbara County become more energy efficient through its Direct Install program. This includes numerous non-profits helped through the Chamber’s non-profit grant program. In addition to businesses and non-profits assisted through the program, the Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership
Feb 06Leadership Says Hello to Human Kindness during Health & Human Services Topic Day
“Hello Human Kindness” is the slogan of Dignity Health, one of the stops during Leadership Santa Maria Valley’s Health & Human Services Topic Day, which took place January 11th, 2019. It was also the theme of the day, as the class met with leaders and organizations focused on bettering the physical and mental health of our community, and had a true passion for the people they serve. The class began their day at VTC Enterprises, an organization that provides job opportunities to adults with disabilities.
Feb 06Green Business Program to Recognize Newly Certified Green Businesses in Santa Barbara County
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a Certified Green Business through the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County! The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County (GBPSBC) is part of the California Green Business Program, a network of local programs operated by counties and cities throughout California. The GBPSBC provides resources and assistance to businesses wanting to be green, certifies businesses through workshops and trainings, on-site visits and evaluation,
Jan 03Zodiac Aerospace taken to new heights with recent acquisition by Safran
Many may not be aware, but Santa Maria’s roots in the aerospace industry extend beyond Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Santa Maria Airport. Zodiac Aerospace has a history in Santa Maria dating back to the 1980’s. Over the years, the company has served a variety of airlines by providing interior commodities for companies including Bombardier, Embraer, McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, and Airbus.In 2008, Zodiac Santa Maria launched a campaign to manufacture seating units, referred to as “seat shells” by the
Jan 03Don’t Quit, Overcome: SCORE's Tips for Entrepreneurs to make 2019 a Year of Success!
Businesses and entrepreneurs alike sometimes face days where we feel like quitting. In the new year, make perseverance your goal for 2019. Don’t quit, overcome! Use these recommendations to keep going and drive your business towards success. One: Establish a Routine We plan to fail when we fail to plan. This includes your daily plan of action or routine. A regular routine for your workdays will keep you centered, focused, on task and should include: • Normal work hours. Choose when you work best,
Jan 03Touchstone hosts “Leading with Love” Conference
A local organization is bringing a day-long conference to Santa Maria dedicated to uplifting and supporting women. Touchstone is a women’s collective whose mission is “embracing women by sharing stories, building trust and re-defining expectations.” Co-creators Diane Adam and Emily Smith, trusted leaders in the community, began dreaming of a special event to bring women together over their weekly cups of tea and coffee years ago. Timing, circumstances and a little bit of divine intervention resulted in a
Jan 03Leadership Class Explores Youth Services, Struggles & Opportunities in Santa Maria
On December 7th, the 2019 Leadership class had a full schedule visiting a number of organizations focused on the youth of the Santa Maria Valley and their respective ongoing efforts to improve the lives and future outlook for those youth. At the Boys & Girls Club, the class learned about the 52 years of service that the club has provided to the kids of Santa Maria. The organization prides itself on the fact that many former club members now serve as staff members with some serving at the club for multiple
Nov 28Chamber Creates Roundtable to Champion Issues Important to Business
One of the essential ways the Chamber delivers on its mission is by being actively involved in political/regulatory conversations that affect the ability of local businesses to be competitive and successful. In this arena, we seek first to be a source of information, both for our businesses and for those who make decisions that affect businesses. The Chamber actively monitors proposed legislation and regulatory decisions and comments when appropriate to ensure decisions made by government or other
Nov 28Public Safety Topic Day Informs and Inspires Leadership Class
For its monthly topic day in November, the 2019 Leadership Santa Maria Valley class was treated to an in-depth look at public safety in our community. The class gained valuable insight into the startling issue of human trafficking, received an education on the leadership philosophy that’s helped transform local law enforcement and got a first-hand look at how local public servants protect people and property. The class was graced with visits from Santa Maria Police Chief Phil Hansen, Santa Maria Fire
Nov 28Dine Out, #SantaMariaStyle with Restaurant Week & Craft Cocktail Contest
As the sun sets on another amazing summer in the Santa Maria Valley our fall and winter promotions are well underway. Most of the marketing efforts and strategies implemented from year-to-year really begin revving up during what the industry labels as “slow season”. On the surface a “slowing” of sorts is certainly true, however the individuals driving our local tourism and hospitality industry are working hard to ensure the future of this very important economic sector. Each year there are free promotional
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Nov 28Chamber continues to Champion for Local Business Community
Our mission at the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is to be a catalyst for business growth, a convener of leaders and influencers, and a champion for a stronger Santa Maria Valley. Our staff works hard to fulfill this mission - here’s a sample of what we’ve been up to lately:Campaigning for Measure U The Chamber is proud to have been an early and active endorser of Measure U. “Our board recognized the importance of ensuring a long-term, stable financing source for public safety and quality of life
