During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Attorney General Bonta Urges Californians to Stay Safe Against
During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Attorney General Bonta Urges Californians to Stay Safe Against Online Threats Staying safe online is easier than you think OAKLAND – In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is celebrated annually every October, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today provided tips for consumers and businesses to defend themselves against cybersecurity threats. “During Cybersecurity Awareness Month and beyond, I urge Californians and businesses to take online
Acrobat Power Moves: Adobe Tools Help Women Entrepreneurs Crush It
This Women’s Small Business Month, it’s time to spotlight the resources that help women entrepreneurs soar. Adobe Acrobat simplifies key business processes, from document management to team collaboration, freeing up time for what matters most—scaling their companies. Whether refining workflows or speeding up decision-making, these features give women business owners a competitive edge in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship. Acrobat AI Assistant: With Acrobat AI Assistant, you can see for yourself
Local Aviation Businessman named Top 40 Under 40 by Major Aviation Trade Association
Santa Maria, CA , October 15, 2024 – Chris Kunkle, President, Central Coast Jet Center, was recently named a Top 40 Under 40 recipient by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). He will be presented with the award at the NBAA annual meeting in Las Vegas later this month. Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the NBAA is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The
From Trauma to Hope: Stories of Foster Care open in Santa Maria
October 14, 2024 — CASA of Santa Barbara County proudly presents a unique community art installation, From Trauma to Hope: Stories of Foster Care. This impactful and moving exhibit gives voice to former foster youth and shines a light on the complex journey from trauma to resilience. Now open to the public, the exhibit provides an intimate view of the challenges children face in foster care and celebrates their strength and perseverance.“This exhibit is significant on multiple levels. First and foremost, it
Root One, First Storefront Dispensary in Santa Maria Valley, to Open in Guadalupe SLO CAL Roots Welcomes the Community with Discounts, Free Food & Music
GUADALUPE, Calif. – SLO CAL Roots will celebrate the grand opening of its third dispensary, Root One, in Guadalupe on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. As the first and only storefront cannabis dispensary in the Santa Maria Valley, Root One is hosting a community celebration with special promotions, live music, and free food. Attendees can enjoy free Slushies and Santa Maria-style barbecue, along with live DJ performances. Root One will offer 40% off storewide from Thursday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 20.
Frightmare Forest Returns to Allan Hancock College
After a successful campaign with the event last fall, the Allan Hancock College men’s basketball program is preparing once again to scare and delight the community with the return of the “Frightmare Forest” haunted maze. The three-acre haunted maze is located at Hancock’s basketball and softball complex and is adjacent to the college’s vineyard at 800 South College Drive in Santa Maria. Maze runners brave enough to enter the eerie labyrinth will navigate their way through an entanglement of tricks and
Businesses of the Quarter - October 2024
The City of Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce are partnering to highlight different businesses in the City through a Business of the Quarter Program. This program will, on four occasions this calendar year, recognize two local small businesses chosen by the Chamber. The criteria are: fewer than 20 employees; in operation for at least five years; physically located within the City Limits; and being a local Chamber of Commerce member in good standing. Not only does this give them
Paid Work Experience Program: Santa Maria Info Session on Nov. 6
Learn how to boost your workforce at no additional cost at this informative session on November 6 at 12-1:30 p.m. at the Coast Hills Community Room at 1075 Betteravia Rd, Santa Maria. This info session will show how your business can take advantage of the Paid Work Experience program offered through the Workforce Development Board! Businesses willing to provide work experience for an individual who has been justice-involved can receive 300 hours of work, with 100% of wages & liability covered by the
Santa Maria Valley Chamber and League of Women Voters to Host 2024 Forum for Santa Maria Public Airport Board, District 5
[SANTA MARIA, CA. October 7, 2024] – The Santa Maria Valley Chamber and League of Women Voters of North Santa Barbara County have partnered to host the upcoming Candidate Forum for Santa Maria Public Airport Board, District 5, taking place on October 14th at OASIS Senior Center at 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, CA 93455. There will be time for networking from 5:30pm-6pm, and the forum will be held 6pm-7pm.During the moderated forum, candidates will each answer various questions regarding their experiences,
Health Care Worker Minimum Wage
Recently enacted Legislation, SB 525 (Chapter 890, Statutes of 2023), SB 828 (Chapter 12, Statutes of 2024), and SB 159 (Chapter 40, Statutes of 2024), added sections 1182.14, 1182.15, and 1182.16 to the Labor Code, increasing the minimum wage for workers of certain health care employers. Implementation of this minimum wage increase has been contingent on triggers based on either state revenues or after the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) notifies the Legislature that it has
RESOLUTION OPPOSING INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC MINIMUM WAGE FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
WHEREAS, Santa Barbara County agriculture accounts for $1.9 billion in annual sales;and WHEREAS, Santa Barbara County agriculture competes in a global environment; and WHEREAS, the average farm net profits typically run between 2-4%; and WHEREAS, any attempt to artificially set wage floors only applicable in Santa Barbara county will result in the inability of farms to remain competitive and viable; and WHEREAS, the precedent set by an industry-specific minimum wage could lead to calls for similar
Letter of Opposition: $26/hr. Minimum Wage for Agricultural Workers
Dear Members of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, We are writing on behalf of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce to express our opposition to the proposed $26 per hour minimum wage for agricultural workers. While we understand and support the desire to ensure fair wages for all workers, we believe that this significant increase—nearly $10 per hour more than the current wage for most companies—will have unintended and potentially harmful consequences for the local agricultural industry
Letter of Partnership: The Allan Hancock College (AHC) Innovative Mechanized Agriculture Growing Inclusive Networks Education (IMAGINE) Advanced Technology Education NSF 21-598
To Mrs. V. Celeste Carter, This letter confirms the Santa Maria Valley Chamber supports Allan Hancock College to provide agriculture training, tours, paid internships, and experiences for students pursuing degrees and certificates in Agriculture Robotics and Mechanized Agriculture. As a partner, we strive to support educational institutions committed to preparing the next generation of agriculture leadership, employees, and management. If the proposal for The Allan Hancock College (AHC) Innovative
The Magic of “Christmas in the Country” Returns at the Elks Event Center
Elks Recreation, Inc. is excited to announce the upcoming 5th Annual “Christmas in the Country” magical holiday drive through event held at the Elks Event Center, 4040 Highway 101 in Santa Maria, every Friday & Saturday evening beginning Friday, November 29th, with the season finale scheduled on Tuesday, December 24th, 2024. Christmas in the Country offers visitors a memorable winter wonderland experience as they are guided through the wonder-filled world of enchanting holiday exhibits, spectacular
Cottage Urgent Care to Offer Free Flu Vaccines Throughout October
SANTA BARBARA, CA — September 23, 2024— Cottage Urgent Care, in partnership with the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation, is offering free flu vaccinations to the community throughout October at the Cottage Urgent Care—Buellton Village, located at 328 McMurray Road, Suite 102, Buellton, CA 93427. As part of our commitment to keeping our community healthy, we encourage residents to get a flu vaccine in preparation for the coming flu season, which generally runs from mid-fall to mid-spring.
Chamber Welcomes New Members from August 2024
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of August! August 2024 New MembersAdi Ringer PhotographyCen Cal Business Finance Group Glenn MorrisLincoln Group Inc. & Lincoln IndustrialReadyWork IncWicks Roofing and Solar
Santa Maria Valley Chamber and Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board Unveil New “Build Your Workforce” Program to Support Local Businesses and Job Seekers
[SANTA MARIA, CA. September 11, 2024] – The Santa Maria Valley Chamber is proud to announce the launch of the “Build Your Workforce” program in collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board. The program helps connect businesses with resources to funding and other resources available for hiring, upskilling and providing work experience for employees.Interested businesses may fill out the Business Service Interest Form. A member from the Workforce Development Board will then connect
Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down for Homeless and At-Risk Veterans
Santa Maria— The Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down on Oct. 26, 2024, will once again offer veterans a free place to get healthcare screenings, employment assistance, on-the-spot assessments, clothing and shoes, crisis counseling and more. The 12th annual free event is geared toward homeless and at-risk veterans, and will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg St. The event is limited to the first 500 veterans, legal spouses and dependent children younger than
Vote NO on SB 399
Vote NO on SB 399A bill, to drastically restrict how businesses communicate with their employees on matters directly related to their company and industry, is getting a late push in Sacramento. Billed as a way to protect workers from political influence, SB 399 is unnecessary and will deter companies from engaging in open dialogue with their employees around matters that impact a company, their industry, and even new rules governing their jobs. For instance, employers could be limited from discussing a new
Chamber Welcomes New Members from July 2024
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of July! July 2024 New MembersBeso Cocina / 1920 SpeakeasyCapuno’s Lutong BahayOld Orcutt YarnerySanta Maria Tax and Bookkeeping ServiceSKYWAY NIGHTSVere Marketing Group
Chamber Welcomes New Members from June 2024
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of June! June 2024 New MembersA Mi Manera Mexican Cuisine & MariscosCassia ApartmentsAmeriCorpsCity of Santa Maria Transit DivisionCentral Courier LLCTheodore Harmand AppraisalsWalkthrough ProductionsWater Fixers Plumbing & Filtration, Inc.
California Small Businesses Eligible for Paid Family Leave Grants - Online application is open
[SANTA MARIA, CA. July 1, 2024] -- Eligible small businesses across California can now apply for grants of up to $2,000 per employee through California’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) program. This initiative, funded by the California Employment Training Panel and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, aims to support small businesses in managing the additional costs incurred when employees take leave.These grants are designed to help small businesses cover expenses such as cross-training existing
Chamber Welcomes New Members from May 2024
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of May! May 2024 New Members 1st Gen - GOC Insurance & Financial StrategiesBrightStar Care of Santa Barbara CountyCoast Valley CremationsDr. Leslie K. Empowered WellnessEl Sabor ProductsFellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) JET Art & GraphicsKaleidoscope CompassPhotobooth Parlor Co Semilla Finances Sweet Creations by IssaTeamLogic IT Santa Maria
Chamber Welcomes New Members from April 2024
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of April! April 2024 New MembersElements Apartments LLCEl Pollo Loco unit 3882Goetz ManderleyInsight Agency GroupJamba - Santa MariaJamba - Arroyo GrandeJamba - Chorro, SLOJamba - Downtown SLOKerosky & Gallelli LLP - Santa RosaKerosky & Gallelli LLP - Paso RoblesSanta Maria Civic TheatreSimple CafeThe CollectiveThe Management Trust - Central Coast Division
Chamber Welcomes New Members from March 2024
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of March! March 2024 New Members805 InvestigationsGold Star Event CenterGolden State Nonprofit SolutionsMaria Elena Lopez of Valley Hills RealtyMariscos La CoquetaMaya @ The CollectiveMONA Payment SolutionsPismo Beach HomesTaqueria La Coqueta
Santa Maria Valley Chamber Opposes SB 1345 (SMALLWOOD-CUEVAS)
The Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce joins California Chamber of Commerce and other organizations to respectfully OPPOSE SB 1345 (Smallwood-Cuevas) as a JOB KILLER. The California Fair Chance Act strikes a careful balance between removing barriers to the workforce for workers with a conviction history and the need to consider that history for certain job positions. SB 1345 would eliminate employers’ ability to run a background check or consider conviction history unless they meet one of the narrow
Santa Maria Valley Chamber Opposes AB 2499 (SCHIAVO)
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber has joined California Chamber of Commerce and other organizations to OPPOSE AB 2499 (Schiavo). AB 2499 expands leave mandates for small businesses, which have already been subject to nine new leave laws in just the last four years. AB 2499 is duplicative and unnecessary as it expands an uncapped leave mandate to cover scenarios addressed under existing leave laws, or where there is no urgency. California currently has robust protections for employees who are victims of
Santa Maria Valley Chamber Opposes AB 2374 (HANEY)
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce joins forces with California Chamber of Commerce and other organizations to respectfully OPPOSE AB 2374 (Haney). AB 2374transforms the Displaced Janitor Opportunity Act into a joint liability statute under which any size company in California becomes liable for the failure of a contractor to comply with the Act and is now responsible for new notice and scheduling obligations for workers who are not its employees. The Act already provides robust, job retention
Santa Maria Valley Chamber Opposes SB 1434 (DURAZO)
The California Chamber of Commerce OPPOSE your SB 1434 (Durazo)The California Chamber of Commerce and the undersigned respectfully OPPOSE your SB 1434 (Durazo), as introduced February 16, 2024, as a JOB KILLER because it would be a massive increase in unemployment insurance taxes for every single employer in California. In brief, SB 1434is a vast re-working of California’s unemployment insurance (UI) system, including the following elements: - Historic increase of traditional UI taxes for employers via
Santa Maria Valley Chamber Opposes SB 1299 (CORTESE)
SB 1299 (CORTESE) FARMWORKERS: BENEFITS OPPOSE – AS AMENDED MARCH 21, 2024The California Chamber of Commerce and the organizations listed respectfully OPPOSE SB 1299 (Cortese).We are unaware of data to support the presumption proposed by SB 1299. Further, the presumption would apply even in situations where any link between the employer’s conduct and a heat related illness or injury is tangential, at best, and appears to mandate that WCAB evaluate employer compliance with regulations created by a
Chamber Welcomes New Members from February 2024
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of February! February 2024 New MembersDan Williams Floor CoveringFull Draw Strategies, LLCHuckleberry's Breakfast and Lunch - AtascaderoHuckleberry's Breakfast and Lunch - Santa MariaIntegrity Restorations & Floor Covering Inc.ProTac SecurityRoot One - GuadalupeSLO CAL Roots - San Luis ObispoSLO CAL Roots - Grover BeachSpotless JanitorialSt. Peter's Episcopal Church/Iglesia Episcopal de San
Chamber Opposes SB 1116 (Portantino)
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber has signed a letter Opposing SB 1116 (Portantino) on Unemployment Insurance: Trade Disputes - eligibility for benefits. This Bill has been labeled a JOB KILLER by Cal Chamber because it would effectively require employers to subsidize striking workers, even if that employer is not presently (or has never) experienced any strikes. By forcing employers to pay unemployment insurance (UI) payments to striking workers, SB 1116 would also raise unemployment insurance taxes on
Chamber Welcomes New Members from January 2024
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of January! January 2024 New MembersColors Lath and Plastering Inc.K-Rimes LLCLuisa's Tax-Pro and AccountingOrcutt Ice Cream Kitchen
Chamber Welcomes New Members from December 2023
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of December! December 2023 New Members Empower TCT Inc.
Chamber Welcomes New Members from November 2023
Cassandra Rhoades-Realtor® - The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of November! November 2023 New Members Cassandra Rhoades-Realtor® - BHGRE Haven Properties Children's Creative Project - Santa Barbara County Education Office Coastal Housing Partnership Orcutt Direct Care Partners in Education - Santa Barbara County Education Office Rick's Car Care Senior Care Authority Starving Artist Picture Framing Co Tito's
Chamber Welcomes New Members from October 2023
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome these businesses who joined membership in the month of October! October 2023 New MembersBody Shop PlusCuyama Buckhorn LLCGrizzly Construction & Remodeling Inc.Grocery Outlet of Lompoc Grocery Outet of Santa MariaHolliday Rock Co. Top Down JanitorialVilla Maria Post Acute
Local Leaders Weigh In: AI in the Workplace
Each month, we’re asking our local leaders to weigh in on a timely topic. This month, we’re talking about AI in the workplace. We asked: AI services like Chat GPT are becoming more popular. As an employer, what do you feel some of the benefits and challenges will be as AI tools become more commonplace?” “As the leader of a High Technology company, the prospects for AI are very exciting. There is still a lot to learn about how it can be incorporated, I look forward to exploring how we can incorporate AI