Member of the Month Archive

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss what employers need to consider before mandating that their employees get the COVID-19 vaccine. *This podcast was recorded on January 12. Listeners should be aware that given the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic, information shared on this podcast episode may change at any time. The recent distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine has sparked a lot of questions from employers and many of them are asking whether employees can be required to get the vaccine, Frank tells podcast listeners. Because th...

UCI Researchers Developing Vaccine Designed to Prevent Future Coronavirus Outbreaks

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

(KABC) Remember the SARS and MERS outbreaks? Those were both coronaviruses. Could another deadly outbreak occur in the next few years? If there's anything we've learned is that we need to be prepared. Scientists at UC Irvine are developing a vaccine designed to prevent future coronavirus outbreaks. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, China. Shortly after, Chinese scientists released the virus's full genome sequence. With that, researchers were able to develop COVID-19 vaccines in record time. But even with unprecedented speed, the virus has killed nearly 2 million people worldwide. UCI professor Lbachir BenMohamed, Ph.D. said it's not a matter of i...

City of Hope’s COVID-19 Vaccine Research Receives Boost from Broadcom

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Tech innovator Broadcom Inc. has recognized the promise of City of Hope’s pioneering research, by donating to its preclinical coronavirus research and development efforts. The investigational research for the vaccine, known as COH04S1, is in phase 1 clinical trials. Research is being led by City of Hope Professor Don J. Diamond, Ph.D., a viral immunologist, and assistant research professors Felix Wussow, Ph.D. and Flavia Chiuppesi, Ph.D., scientists with vast expertise in studying the immune system’s abilities to fight viral infections—a common concern for immune-compromised cancer patients during treatment. The vaccine has the potential for delivery in a freeze-dried form that would eliminate cold-chain requirements. All o...

Disneyland, OC's First Large-Scale Vaccination Center Opens To Lines

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

(Patch) If you are trying to get a handle on how to get vaccinated in Orange County, you are not alone. On Jan. 13, Cars lined up on the streets near Disneyland Resort of hopefuls awaiting their dose of coronavirus vaccine. As of Jan. 13, only those who fall in Phase 1A of the vaccination plan, and those 65-years-old or older, can register. Still, the application designed to handle the registry was not working as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Orange County officials planned to open a guest parking area off Katella, transforming that into a coronavirus vaccination center—one of five planned fo...

Disneyland to be Orange County’s First Large-Scale Vaccination Site

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

(Orange County Register) On the day the coronavirus death toll in California reached 30,000, Disneyland and other locations such as Dodger Stadium were established as vaccination super sites. Newly confirmed infections are rising at a dizzying rate of more than a quarter-million a week and during the weekend a record 1,163 deaths were reported – Orange County surpassed 2,000 reported deaths. Bereft of visitors for months because of the pandemic, Disneyland will soon see thousands of guests when it serves as one of Orange County’s five planned mass vaccination sites. County officials announced the deal Monday, Jan. 11, to use the theme park i...

Newsom’s Budget Offers Tax Breaks to Businesses, Job Training to Spur California Economy

Monday, January 11, 2021

(The Sacramento Bee) Californians struggling to get back to work during the coronavirus pandemic could get help from more than a billion dollars earmarked for job creation and workforce training in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new budget proposal. If approved, more than $750 million would go toward a so-called California Jobs Initiative that would provide a combination of tax credits, micro-grants, and loans aimed at boosting job creation. Newsom is also proposing $353 million for job training and apprenticeship programs, in sectors ranging from construction to cybersecurity. The money would come on top of $575 million in grants Newsom is asking the Legislature to be distribute...

SBA and Treasury Re-Open PPP with New Guidance

Monday, January 11, 2021

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, reopens the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, Jan. 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on Jan. 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act. This round of the PPP continue...

Mayor Farrah N. Khan’s COVID-19 Task Force Launches First Initiative

Saturday, January 09, 2021

The City of Irvine launched Irvine Cares, the first initiative of Mayor Farrah N. Khan’s newly assembled COVID-19 Task Force. The campaign invites the public to slow the spread of COVID-19 by pledging support of mitigation measures which includes acting as an advocate to ensure the health and safety of Irvine’s most vulnerable. Through Irvine Cares, community members pledge to protect one another by wearing a mask, washing their hands frequently, practicing social distancing, and staying home when sick. They commit to practicing kindness and good judgment by being respectful of others, especially those who are at increased risk for severe illness, an...

James M. Cox Foundation Donates $75,000 To Feed Families Across Southern California During Pandemic

Thursday, January 07, 2021

Cox Communications is helping feed families throughout Cox’s California markets with $25,000 donations to Second Harvest Food Bank, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, and the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. The grants, totaling $75,000 from the James M. Cox Foundation, will support local families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Cox has always supported the communities we serve,” said Sam Attisha, senior vice president and region manager for Cox Communications in California. “Now, more than ever, supporting our food banks and enabling access to nutritious food for families and children who need our help is so important. We’re committed to doing our part and will continue t...

UCI Health Infectious Disease Experts Answer questions About COVID-19 Vaccines

Thursday, January 07, 2021

We all want this pandemic to end. By mid-December 2020, the coronavirus has caused 75 million confirmed infections and 1.7 million deaths worldwide. More than 310,000 Americans have died due to COVID-19-related illnesses, which now exceeds heart disease as the leading cause of U.S. deaths. During the current winter surge, the virus is claiming about 2,500 U.S. lives every day. But safe and effective vaccines can end the pandemic if, as experts believe, at least 70% of people are vaccinated. Two COVID-19 vaccines have received emergency approval for frontline healthcare workers and residents of long-term care homes. UCI Health infectious disease expert...

Governor Newsom Plans $4 Billion for Economic Recovery

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

(NBCLA) California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 5 proposed a $4 billion spending plan he says will create jobs and help small businesses recover from the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Close to half of that money — $1.5 billion — would help people purchase electric cars and build the charging stations necessary for drivers to use them. That proposal is part of Newsom's goal to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars in California by 2035. Small businesses would get $575 million. The money would pay for grants of up to $25,000 each to small business owners, with priorit...

Legislative Lifeline for Small Business Deemed Urgent

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach), Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) unveiled new coalition support and legislative details of the Keep California Working Act during a Jan. 6 virtual press conference. The Keep California Working Act, otherwise known as Senate Bill 74, is a bipartisan small business relief package spearheaded by Senators Andreas Borgeas and Anna Caballero, and Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris. The bill invests $2.6 billion (or 10% of California's projected windfall) in grants for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. "SB 74 may be an essential lifeline for California businesses that are struggling to maintain jobs an...

Deadline Extended for First Round of Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program Applications

Monday, January 04, 2021

California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), announced that the deadline for the first round of applications for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will be extended to Jan. 13, 2021. The program, which officially opened Dec. 30, experienced high traffic—receiving thousands of completed applications. However, due to the high traffic, some businesses may have had trouble accessing the application. Adjustments to the program’s website have been made and the application period has been extended to ensure that all interested applicants have the opportunity to apply. The Round ...

CA Small Business Relief Grant Round One Applications Accepted Through January 8

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

The application period for Round One of the California Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant program is now open. Small businesses and nonprofits can visit CAReliefGrant.com and apply for micro-grants up to $25,000. Assistance is available in all counties and in multiple languages. The first round of applications ends Jan. 8, 2021. Grants will not be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Take the necessary time to go to the website, and review eligibility requirements and the application process. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the high-volume demand, connect with a local partner, ready your documents, and revisit CAReliefGrant.com during lower-peak demand times. I...

California’s New Series of COVID-19 Reporting Requirements

Monday, December 21, 2020

(CalChamber) During the 2020 California legislative session, COVID-19 forced lawmakers to pivot from their routine business to addressing the growing pandemic, and answering the question: "One of my employees just reported that they tested positive for COVID-19. Do I have to report this positive case?" In response, the Legislature enacted SB 1159 and AB 685 that created certain reporting requirements for employers when learning of a positive case. Following up, Cal/OSHA recently approved and implemented COVID-19 emergency regulations that also create a set of reporting requirements. Outline of Requirements To help readers sort out these varied requirements, we have created the table below outlining th...

Economic Recovery Assistance: OC Allocates $10 Million for Small Businesses

Friday, December 18, 2020

Small businesses in Orange County will soon be able to tap into a $10 million economic recovery program. During its Dec. 15 Board meeting, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported Vice Chairman Andrew Do’s $10 million small business economic support program to provide immediate relief to local businesses who have been adversely affected by the pandemic. “We are nine months into the pandemic and small business owners don’t know how much longer they can remain open,” said Vice Chairman Do. Vice Chairman Do’s directive calls for the allocation of $10 million from County reserves for economic support initiatives for small businesses, spli...

TIME Names Best Innovations of 2020

Friday, December 18, 2020

Some good things came out of 2020. Among them, were 100 Best Innovations changing how we live as named by TIME. The list includes Virti, a training platform that drops workers into high-stress augmented and virtual reality scenarios, where they can practice responding and receive feedback. Trauma surgeon Dr. Alex Young launched the U.K.-based Virti in 2018 to help medical professionals train for difficult situations, such as what to do when an artery is nicked during surgery. This year, the company found an important new use case: the pandemic. Virti’s COVID-19 modules teach frontline workers around the world skills like the proper wa...

UCI Health Receives COVID-19 Vaccine, First Batch of 3,000 to be Given to Frontline Healthcare Employees

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

UCI Health on Dec. 16 received an initial shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine at the UCI Medical Center and will begin providing the first round of injections to its front-line healthcare workers. UCI Health was allotted some 3,000 units of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. It will begin offering vaccinations to frontline healthcare workers today and continue with a full roll out tomorrow to its frontline clinical co-workers who care for patients in high-risk settings or patients with unknown COVID-19 status. UCI Health officials say they plan to vaccinate 2,000 people in this group, known as Group A, by Sunday and then begin t...

CalChamber Joins California’s Community Vaccine Advisory Committee

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

(CalChamber) The California Chamber of Commerce will be joining a broad coalition of community stakeholders to serve on the state’s Community Vaccine Advisory Committee. The committee will help guide the state’s decision making about COVID-19 vaccine distribution and allocation. As the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine arrive in California, state officials plan to leverage a well-established existing immunization framework and emergency response infrastructure to coordinate efforts between state, local, and territorial authorities to distribute and administer the vaccine. The Community Vaccine Advisory Committee will build on the work of the Scientific Safety Review Work Group and the Drafting Guidelines Work Group. The Committe...

California Governor Extends Small Business Tax Deadlines

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

(AP News) California small businesses will have more time to file their tax returns in 2021. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Monday giving small businesses until the end of July to file their first-quarter tax returns. More broadly, the order gives a 90-day extension on returns and payments for all businesses with returns of less than $1 million. It comes as California prepares to enter 2021 still in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led Newsom to implement restrictions that have shuttered businesses. In most of the state, restaurants are closed for indoor dining, hair and nail salons can’...

Mayor Farrah N. Khan Announces COVID-19 and Business Reopening Task Forces

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan has announced the formation of COVID-19 and Business Reopening task forces to guide the city in 2021 and beyond. The City, in partnership with key business leaders, will coordinate establishment of the Business Reopening Task Force to assist the Mayor in her efforts to help promote small business growth, support local entrepreneurship, target industry relocation within City boundaries, and assist the City in remaining responsive to the business community. Additionally, it advises the Mayor on topics where the City has the ability to shape issues affecting the business community. The Taskforce provides a foru...

OC Hospitals Ready to Distribute Vaccine

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

(Orange County Business Journal) OC healthcare workers could receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as the week of Dec 14. The OC Health Care Agency said it expects to receive 25,350 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine as soon as Dec. 15 and will begin distributing the vaccine to the area’s 31 hospitals the same day. “News of a vaccine is a sign of the virus’ last deep breath—a long, deep breath that will take time,” Chad Lefteris, chief executive of UCI Health, told the Business Journal. “It does create a sense of a light at the end of the tunnel.” News o...

New Assembly Bill Would Prioritize Food Sector Workers For COVID-19 Vaccinations

Friday, December 11, 2020

(California Globe) A bill that would prioritize food supply industry workers, such as supermarket workers and farmworkers, for COVID-19 vaccinations was introduced in the Assembly this week. Assembly Bill 93, authored by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), would specifically prioritize those workers for testing and vaccination. AB 93 has yet to be fleshed out in more detail, including where in line with other prioritized people would get testing and vaccinations, as well as if certain factors, such as immigration status or employment status, would play a role in prioritization. Assemblyman Garcia, who introduced the bill earlier this week along with Assemblyman Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), said that he ha...

Businesses Struggling with Stay at Home Orders: Your Chambers Are Here For You

Wednesday, December 09, 2020

New Stay at Home Orders for Southern California include Orange County. Orange County is once again subject to stay-at-home orders in response to surging COVID-19 levels and a regionally impacted ICU and hospital system. The business community has been a staunch advocate that Good Health is Good Business, maintaining a commitment to masks, social distancing, widespread testing, and the myriad of suggested public safety measures recommended by health leaders. With good protocols in place, local businesses have for the most part implemented recommended safety measures to protect workers and customers. The recent announcement of lockdowns have once again placed businesses of all sizes i...

UCI Researchers Develop At-Home Coronavirus Saliva Test

Wednesday, December 09, 2020

Researchers in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine announced promising results in the development of a noninvasive at-home antigen test to detect the spike of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in saliva. The team, led by Michelle Khine, professor of biomedical engineering, posted their findings on the preprint server medRxiv.org. Khine is proposing a point-of-care platform that uses saliva, an electrochemical reaction and the children’s toy Shrinky Dinks to create the low-cost electrodes. “A rapid, population-scale diagnostic and screening device is our goal, and we think our electrochemical aptamer-based assay could be an ideal candidate,” Khine said. Working with Khine...

UCI Researchers Develop Rapid Antibody Generation Technology to Target SARS-CoV-2 Virus

Monday, December 07, 2020

Using the same strain of yeast that ferments wine and makes dough rise, a team led by University of California, Irvine and Harvard Medical School researchers has developed an in vitro technology that can rapidly hypermutate antibodies. The new technology generates antibodies faster than animal immune systems and better than current synthetic methods, giving researchers the tools for evolving exceptionally potent agents, including therapeutic candidates that target SARS-CoV-2. In the research, posted as a preprint on BioRxiv.org, the UCI/HMS team created the synthetic antibody generation system called autonomous hypermutation yeast surface display, nicknamed AHEAD. They demonstrated the power of their system in a number of experiments. “Ou...

City of Hope Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Trial to Test its First SARS-CoV-2 Investigational Vaccine

Friday, December 04, 2020

City of Hope has initiated a phase 1 clinical trial that will test one of its investigational SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 who have not had COVID-19. The investigational vaccine, known as COH04S1, aims to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies, which can block the virus from entering cells, and also spur abundant T cells that are thought to provide the elusive long-term protection that could protect against future outbreaks. “Based on preclinical research, we are hopeful that the vaccine will protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection that can lead to COVID-19 disease, helping t...

California's Newest Small Business Relief Programs Announced

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a New Small Business Relief package of assistance for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including sales tax relief, $500 million in grants, and an additional $12.5 million added to the California Rebuilding Fund. If you are a small business or nonprofit interested in the $500 million grant program, the California's Office of the Small Business Advocate is working quickly to establish the program; for updates, sign up here. As businesses across the state face challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the opening of the California Rebuilding Fund to help impacted small businesses rebuild from the economic crisi...

What California Workers Need to Know About the State’s New COVID-19 Workplace Rules

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

(Sacramento Bee) More than eight months into the pandemic, California officially has rules in place aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19 at workplaces. The emergency rules will be in effect at least until late May. The standards board of Cal-OSHA may extend the period and could also work to make those rules permanent. Here’s what to know about the new rules. WHAT DOES MY EMPLOYER NEED TO DO TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS? Masks: Your employer must provide face coverings and ensure you and your co-workers wear them over the nose and mouth when indoors, or outdoors and less than six feet awa...

Thousands of Top U.S. Hospitals Encourage Everyone to #MaskUp

Thursday, November 19, 2020

One hundred of the nation’s top health care systems, representing thousands of hospitals in communities across the U.S., have come together with an urgent plea for all Americans – mask up, because wearing a facemask is our best chance at slowing the surging COVID-19 pandemic now. More than 11.5 million Americans have tested positive for the virus – including an additional one million in just the past week – leading to nearly 250,000 deaths. The current trends are daunting and frightening. If the nation stays on its current course, hospital leaders are increasingly concerned that more healthcare facilities will be overwhelmed as shortage...

Governor Newsom Slams California into Reverse Amid COVID Surge; Irvine Poised Better Than Most Cities to Rebound

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

During a press conference on Nov.16, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that 40 counties—including Orange County—are moving backward in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy tier system, rolling back reopening plans statewide. Of California's 58 counties, 41 are now in the state's most restrictive purple tier. The announcement comes after California's coronavirus cases doubled in ten days—the steepest case increase the state has seen yet—prompting officials to consider a number of tighter restrictions, including a curfew. Although a painful setback for many, Irvine’s diverse medium and small businesses are doing well, relatively speaking, under lockdown conditions, maintaining economic activity and the foundation allowing a successful return of small busines...

Orange County Restaurants: Outdoor Dining Grants Available

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

(Orange County Patch) Restaurants in Orange County will soon be eligible to apply for a $1,000 outdoor dining grant, according to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. As winter arrives across Orange County towns and the weather turns cooler, outdoor dining could become problematic for restaurants not ready for the conditions. The new OC Restaurant Outdoor Dining Grant program will serve to implement or expand Orange County restaurants' outdoor dining capacity amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Nowhere has the outdoor dining in Orange County been more successful than with Laguna Beach's Promenade on Forest. Wildly successful since its inception over the summer, th...

Unemployment Drops to 6.9% and US Adds a Solid 638,000 Jobs

Monday, November 09, 2020

Defying fears of another slowdown, U.S. businesses kept hiring at a solid pace in October, yet there are signs they remain cautious about the economy’s future as the pandemic worsens. The Labor Department said that employers added 638,000 jobs and the unemployment rate tumbled a full percentage point to 6.9%, extending what has been a faster recovery than many economists expected in the spring. But the pace of hiring isn’t robust enough to rapidly soak up the millions of Americans who were thrown out of work by the pandemic recession. The job gains were little changed from September’s 672,000 and less than half August’s 1....

UCI, OC Health Care Agency Lead State’s First Study to Widely Test Representative Sample of Residents for COVID-19 Antibodies

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Testing a representative sample of Orange County residents for a wide range of coronavirus antibodies, University of California, Irvine researchers found that 11.5% of them have antibodies for COVID-19, in contrast to previous estimates of less than 2%. Latino and low-income residents had the highest prevalence of SARS-CoV-02 antibodies with rates of 17% and 15%, respectively. UCI researchers led the actOC project in partnership with the OC Health Care Agency, which provided funding, testing sites and input on the study’s survey methods and scripts. Study results appear on the pre-print server site medRxiv. “This rigorously designed surveillance study offers important information about how many residents o...

COVID-19: Moving Between Tiers

Thursday, October 08, 2020

(CalChamber) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss California’s COVID-19 Tier Framework and what employers should keep in mind as counties transition into and out of tiers. Tier Framework California’s COVID-19 Tier Framework lays out the measures that counties must meet, based on indicators that capture disease burden, testing and health equity, in order to reopen business activity. Frank explains that the framework assigns color-designated tiers to identify these metric groups: Tier 1, Purple: Highest risk tier where disease is “widespread.” Counties fall under the Purple Tier if the...

New California Employment Laws Effective Now, Coming Jan. 1

Monday, October 05, 2020

(CalChamber) It’s now October which means new employment laws are here. Sept. 30 was the last day of this year’s legislative session, which ended with California Governor Newsom signing a flurry of bills with a few vetoes as well. Here’s a look at some of the new employment-related laws that employers should be aware of, which, unless otherwise stated, are effective Jan. 1, 2021. COVID-19-Related Laws The legislature responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with several new laws. Governor Newsom signed SB 1159, which establishes a rebuttable workers’ compensation presumption for workers that contract COVID-19 under certain conditions and requires employers to report COVID-19 case...

New Laws: California at Forefront of Health Policy Innovation

Monday, October 05, 2020

(Capitol Weekly) Though COVID-19 forced California leaders to scale back their ambitious health care agenda, they still managed to enact significant new laws intended to lower consumer health care spending and expand access to health coverage. When Gov. Gavin Newsom concluded the chaotic legislative year — his deadline to sign or veto bills — what emerged wasn’t the sweeping platform he and state lawmakers had outlined at the beginning of the year. But the dozens of health care measures they approved included first-in-the-nation policies to require more comprehensive coverage of mental health and addiction, and thrusting the state into the generic drug-makin...

US Service Industries Expand More Than Forecasted

Monday, October 05, 2020

(Bloomberg) U.S. service industries expanded in September by more than forecasted as faster growth in new orders and a pickup in employment pointed toward a better pace of economic recovery. The Institute for Supply Management’s services index, which represents about 90% of the economy, climbed to 57.8 during the month from 56.9 in August, according to data released on Monday. Readings above 50 indicate expansion, and the September figure exceeded the 56.2 median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists. More Momentum Gauge of U.S. services stronger than forecast as orders, activity accelerate Improving orders and business activity are encouraging more service providers to ad...

Cox Communications Commits $60 Million to Close the Digital Learning Gap

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Cox Communications’ President and CEO Pat Esser announced in a live press conference today that Cox will pledge $60 million over the next year to close the digital learning gap. Esser urged in the press conference the need for collaboration to solve the digital divide. “Our commitment remains strong, but we cannot do this alone. We need to keep partnering with cities, school districts, counties, and community-based organizations to get families connected,” said Esser. “Connection is more important than ever before, especially for kids.” Esser also announced that Cox will be extending the company’s offer to new customers that qualify for Connect2Compete. Ne...

Gov. Newsom Signs Three Bills to help Small Businesses Recover from COVID-19, Economic Downturn

Thursday, September 10, 2020

(California Globe) Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 9 signed three bills into law aimed at assisting small businesses and construction in California. Senate Bill 1447, authored by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), was the first bill signed on Sept. 9. The bill institutes the Main Street Hiring Tax Credit, which allows businesses with less than 100 employees to get a tax credit against personal and corporate income taxes each year. The credits are good for $1,000 for each new employee hired between July and November, with a set limit of $100,000 per business. The bill was tied back into the COVID-19 and economic crisis by having businesses qualif...

What’s Open, What’s Closed in Orange County

Monday, August 31, 2020

(Orange County Business Journal) Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Aug. 28 reveal of the new COVID-19 tracking system, Blueprint for a Safer Economy, set new timing for business reopenings. The monitoring system, with changes effective Aug. 31, replaced the previous County Data Monitoring List in outlining what businesses can reopen with health and safety modifications to their operations. OC is currently in the highest risk, or purple, tier of the Blueprint. Here, a list of the status of each business sector as of Aug. 31 in Orange County as outlined by the state. Businesses that do reopen must follow safety guidelines. Full information on th...

Newsom Announces New Blueprint for a Safer Economy

Friday, August 28, 2020

Governor Newsom has released revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The new blueprint replaces the current watch list approach. The guidance is effective Monday, Aug. 31. According to the state's revamped website, every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its rate of new cases and positivity. At a minimum, counties must remain in a tier for at least 3 weeks before moving forward. Data is reviewed weekly and tiers are updated on Tuesdays. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks. I...

Cox Expands Commitment to Bridging the Learning Divide, Provides Additional Support for Kids and Families Learning from Home

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Cox announced on Aug. 25 an expanded commitment to bridging the learning divide as part of its ongoing effort to support kids and families learning and teaching from home during the coronavirus pandemic. Through June 30, 2021, Cox is suspending late fees and extending payment relief offerings for customers in the company’s low-cost internet program Connect2Compete who express an inability to pay due to pandemic hardships. “I would like to thank Cox Communications for their commitment,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Now, more than ever, it’s critical that every Californian have the ability to connect to the internet and that every child ha...

City of Irvine to Begin Offering Drive-Up COVID-19 Testing

Friday, July 10, 2020

The City of Irvine, in partnership with Curogram and multiple laboratories, including local Pangea Laboratory, will begin providing drive-up COVID-19 testing for individuals that live or work in Irvine beginning Monday, July 13 at the Orange County Great Park. Tests will be available to those who are symptomatic and asymptomatic. The City will have multiple lanes dedicated to testing, and can accommodate approximately 200-260 tests per day. Only PCR testing, which determines if someone currently has the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is available. “The City Council has put in place appropriate and forward-thinking safety measures every step of the way since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,&rdquo...

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Saturday, April 25, 2020

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