Our mission is to advance the economic vitality of greater Irvine.
Our core initiatives are to be a catalyst for local economic growth, champion for the business community with all levels of government, and to convene greater Irvine stakeholders.
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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 the 2021 H-1B visa cap lottery that opens March 1, 2020. Employers seeking to file H-1B petitions for fiscal year 2021, including the advanced degree exemption, must first create an account, and then electronically register and pay the $10 H-1B registration fee. This initial registration process requires only basic information about the company and each requested worker. Employers (or the individual designated to file H-1B petitions) can prepare, edit and store an H-1B visa hopeful’s record in their account prior to final payment and submission. The USCIS “intends to close” the registration period on March 20, though it may close as soon as March 5 because regulations requir...
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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 an opportunity to create an even greater impact on their schools and classrooms through innovation. Projects awarded included innovation labs, esports technology, 3D printers, musical instruments, and flexible furniture. “In order to prepare our students for the future, we must provide them with educational opportunities that give them hands-on experiences and skills that they can apply to real world applications,” explains Neda Eaton, president and CEO, IPSF. “We are proud to support IUSD instructors who are passionate about elevating student learning far beyond standard academic curriculum. We are also thankful to our community and sponsors who help make these grants possible fo...
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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 with culture, adventure, culinary delights, and a chic nighttime scene,” the blog reads. Also featured were Irvine’s speakeasies YNK and The Butcher Shop, and Irvine Marriott Spectrum’s rooftop bar Hive & Honey The visit was a result of promotional outreach by Destination Irvine, the destination marketing division of the Greater Irvine Chamber. Click here to view the full blog post. For more information on Irvine as a destination, visit DestinationIrvine.com.
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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, interns must complete all three workshops in the Career Edge series. “The Greater Irvine Chamber’s Career Edge program provides students with a professional advantage as they prepare to enter the workforce. Seeing the value in this program, and understanding the needs of our industry partners, we decided it was a perfect fit for our engineering students as they start their careers,” said Dr. Washington. The Chamber’s career readiness program, Career Edge, is presented in collaboration with Google, Irvine Valley College, Vital Link, and the business community. Courses are designed to inspire, inform, and empower students as they prepare to enter the workforce. Th...
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