“The California economy cannot fully recover until businesses are allowed to reopen… At the same time, California continues to suffer a significant exodus of employers to other states… California needs to address both crises immediately.”
On January 13, 2021, the Lomita Chamber of Commerce along with nearly 160 fellow California Chambers of Commerce and industry organizations rallied to appeal to Governor Gavin Newsom to take executive action to immediately and temporarily suspend for at least six months, specific laws and regulations, to reduce burdens on employers without affecting the health and safety of Californians.
2021 Kickoff Networking Hour – January 27 5:30 – 6:30pm
Introverts, extroverts and ambiverts welcome!
Join us for an interactive networking hour. We’ll do a quick round of intros and then breakout for some fun in smaller groups. Don’t worry, we’ll have convo starters to kick-off connections.
(Bring a gift to donate to the drawing to create a 1:1 connection outside of our time together.)
We’ll start right at 5:30pm, so please join on time.
Together we build… Connections > Relationships > Prosperity
The Small Business Administration launched an online portal for eligible businesses to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans based on the latest Covid-19 stimulus package.
Overview
Applications will initially be reserved for first-time community-based borrowers.
In an effort to make the process more equitable, the SBA is aiming to prioritize the distribution of the much-needed aid to smaller and financially vulnerable business, including borrowers participating in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and Microloan Intermediaries.
First-time borrowers are welcome to start submitting applications now.
Second-time borrowers can start requesting a new loan starting on Wednesday, January 13.
According to the latest regulations approved by Congress, Business with fewer than 300 employees and who suffered a decrease in gross receipts of at least 25% in any one quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019 are eligible to apply for the PPP loans.
How to Apply
You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.
If you wish to begin preparing your application, you can download the following PPP borrower application forms to see the information that will be requested from you when you apply with a lender:
Please contact the Lomita Chamber of Commerce if you need assistance with any of these areas. We’re happy to connect you with a resource to help answer your questions.
Be sure to read up on the laws that will apply to employers and small businesses including the California Family Care Act, Leaves of Absence, Workers Comp and more. Read more about these laws at the CalChamber website.
Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training
By January 1, 2021, employers with five or more employees must provide one hour of sexual harassment prevention training to nonsupervisory employees and two hours of such training to supervisors. These new requirements expand the prior harassment training law, which required employers with 50 or more employees to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisors in California. The mandatory sexual harassment prevention training can be purchased on the CalChamber Store.
PPP Forgiveness Simplified Application
The SBA has released a 1-page forgiveness application for borrowers to apply for loan forgiveness for loans $50K or less. For loans larger than $50K here’s a link to the PPP EZ Application. Borrowers need to apply within 10 months after the last day of the borrower’s loan forgiveness covered period. For more info visit the SBA PPP Forgiveness FAQs.
California’s $100 Million Main Street Hiring Tax Credit
Qualified California small businesses that employed 100 or fewer employees as of December 31, 2019, and suffered a 50 percent decrease or more in income tax gross receipts can apply. Learn more about this credit.
CA Work Sharing Program Offers Employers Temporary Alternative to Layoffs
Employers can apply for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Work Sharing program as a temporary alternative to layoffs if the business’s production or services have been reduced. (The program is optional.) Visit the EDD website here.
Please contact the Lomita Chamber of Commerce if you need assistance with any of these areas. We’re happy to connect you with a resource to help answer your questions.
Happy Holiday Social Hour Online Event – December 9th 5:30 – 6:30pm JOIN US FOR SOME HOLIDAY CHEER! — IT’S OUR FINAL SOCIAL HOUR OF THE YEAR & WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A BLAST!
We’ll kick off the evening with a holiday icebreaker game.
Show up with your most festive holiday background (virtual or live) or wear your ugly xmas sweater!
Which team will win holiday movie pictionary?
Join us for lots of laughs. Prizes. And fun being together.
No cost to attend. — All are welcome to join us for this free online social hour.
Registration required. (After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.)
On November 23, 2020, the Lomita Chamber of Commerce along with many of our local Chambers of Commerce in the South Bay Cities rallied to share appeals on behalf of the business community to the LA County Board of Supervisors (BOS) concerning shutting down outdoor dining once again due to COVID-19.
Despite these efforts, the BOS voted 3-2 to shut down outdoor dining and reduce capacity at their November 24th meeting.
Last week, the Chamber presented the Lomita State of the City event to over 100 guests virtually. As we’re now going through another wave of challenges for our community, businesses and economy due to COVID-19, we wanted to take a moment share some of the uplifting highlights from the event and thank everyone for their participation.
The event reminded us that “Lomita is a community that continues to move forward regardless of what’s in our way,” said Mayor Jim Gazeley. As we Lift Up Lomita and keep Lomita Strong, Captain Jim Powers of Lomita Sheriff’s Station shared his definition for the acronym TRUST to be “Truth, Respect, Understanding, Support, Teamwork” — another commonality that bonds us and brings the community together especially during these hard times.
As we heard from Mayor Pro Tem Mark Waronek, “Even with all of these new challenges that 2020 has thrown at us, Lomita still continues to shine as a strong, resilient and focused community, that cares for our neighbors, supports our businesses, and always looks to better days in the future.”
We thank Mayor James Gazeley, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Waronek, Captain James Powers, Unit Commander of Lomita Sheriff’s Station and Captain Chris Vazquez of LA County Fire Department, Lomita Station 6 for being a part of the event. We also thank all of our Councilmembers, Elected Officials, Sponsors and Guests for your support and participation.
And for one last quote to carry forward with us “It really is the hardest times that make Lomita shine the brightest.”
