News & Updates

Chamber Supports Veteran Women through Dress Code Program

Jerry @ Dress Code

Jerry speaking at the Dress Code event

Last week, the Chamber partnered with the Dress Code program, which helps military women transition to the civilian workforce by supplying them with professional attire. From October 29 – November 9, pink Dress Code bins were positioned throughout the San Diego area where supporters dropped off new and gently used professional clothing, shoes, jewelry and handbags.

The Chamber office hosted a bin and received excellent results and feedback from the community.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez Joins Chamber for Good Government Series Discussion

12241074_1269242496435464_7801523177227770204_oFriday, the Chamber hosted a “Meet and Greet” with Congresswoman Sanchez, candidate for the U.S. Senate and recognized leader on military and national security issues. Currently serving on her tenth term, Congresswoman Sanchez has addressed issues ranging from immigration reform to human trafficking as a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee and focuses on keeping our land and sea border safe as a member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security. This was a great opportunity for Chamber members to ask questions on Congresswoman’s plans for enhancing our binational region.

For more photos, visit our album on Facebook.

President Obama’s Nomination for Mexico Ambassador Moves Forward

robertaTuesday morning, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to approve President Obama’s nomination of Roberta Jacobson as the next U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Jacobson currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and was previously Deputy Assistant Secretary for Canada, Mexico and NAFTA issues.

Jacobson must be approved by the full Senate before taking office in Mexico City.

Jerry Sanders and Cross Border Xpress Featured in The Washington Post

MayraWhile the national debate on immigration has continued to exude a negative tone, The Washington Post recently featured an article detailing San Diego’s successful leadership to enhance cross-border commerce. In particular, the Cross-Border Xpress facility – a new pedestrian skybridge connecting San Diego to Tijuana’s international airport – and Chamber President & CEO Jerry Sanders have been credited as two examples that set our region apart.

The Cross Border Xpress is scheduled to open in December; access will soon be available for purchase on their website.

POLICY WIN: Congress Reauthorizes Ex-Im Bank

Last month, Congress voted to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) which expired in June. The Ex-Im Bank levels the playing field for San Diego businesses in the global marketplace by enabling both large and small companies to sell their products around the world. This creates jobs and contributes to a strong local economy. Because of the Ex-Im Bank’s reauthorization, small businesses looking to expand their global reach are poised to benefit significantly. In San Diego County, the Bank has supported $2.8 billion in exports by 107 exporters, 80 percent of which are small businesses.

The San Diego Regional Chamber applauds our San Diego Congressmembers, Rep. Susan Davis, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Rep. Darrell Issa, Rep. Scott Peters, and Rep. Juan Vargas as well as other members of the California congressional delegation and members of Congress for effectively representing the border and supporting the future of San Diego business.

ACTION ALERT: Urge Congress to Approve Trans-Pacific Partnership

Last week, the Trans-Pacific Partnership was officially released for public review. As a strong proponent of the trade agreement, the Chamber released a statement making a case for congressional approval. A vote by Congress is expected in the first quarter of 2016.

We strongly encourage you to take a moment to learn more about how the Trans-Pacific Partnership will significantly benefit our national economy. To sign on to an open letter of support, please contact Chamber staff.

Covered California and CaliforniaChoice to Implement Expansion of “Small Business” Definition

Last month, President Obama signed legislation into law that stopped an Affordable Care Act provision which would have changed the definition of small business from 50 or fewer employees to 100 or fewer. Covered California and the private insurance exchange, CaliforniaChoice, however, plan to move forward with the new expansion.

What this means for you: If your business employs 100 or fewer people, you must provide employee health plans as offered by the small-group insurance market by January 1, 2016.

Read more here.

Seth Seigel, Author and Water Expert, Leads Discussion on Water Crisis

12240483_1267611319931915_4067786370955423994_oIn partnership with Simon Falic, COO of UETA/Duty Free Americas, the Chamber hosted a Good Government Series discussion with Seth Seigel, author of Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World. Chamber members took this opportunity to ask questions and discuss how businesses and government can come together to reach a water solution at the local level.

All attendees received signed copies of the book, complimentary of UETA/Duty Free Americas.

For more photos, visit our album on Facebook.

Jerry Sanders Honorary Witness to International Aerospace Collaboration

jerrysandersaersopaceindustryChamber President & CEO, Jerry Sanders, was honorary witness to a Memorandum of Understanding between the Aerospace and Defense Forum, San Diego Chapter and the Cluster Aeroespacial de Baja California. This agreement marks the beginning of international collaboration between a growing sector.

From Xavier Peniche, SEDETI’s Secretary of Economic Development:

“Our city (Tijuana) and entity along with San Diego and Southern California have been key to our sector’s success for several decades enriching our five business segments: a) Commercial Aviation, b) Defense, c) Space, d) Unmanned Vehicles, and e) MRO/R&O with an export value in 2014 estimated in $ 2 billion USD alone in Baja California. Now with this cooperation agreement we are formalizing the exchanging of information and strengthening our flow of communication. This will result in better business opportunities for both sides within a bi-national spirit in our region.”

Chamber Releases Housing Study

San Diego has long been known as “America’s Finest City,” but in recent years our region has earned a less attractive title: “America’s Least Affordable City.”

In an effort to drive the conversation about the region’s ongoing housing shortage crisis, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce has released a study authored by Gary London of The London Group on the implications of not meeting regional housing demand. The study confirms that the San Diego region is failing to develop the number of multifamily and single family homes needed by 2020 to accommodate population growth. Of the required annual growth, only 64 percent of single family homes and 44 percent of multifamily units have been added.

The key findings from the study include:

  • The region’s substantial housing shortage is getting worse as post housing bubble development (since 2008) has produced a fraction of the housing units required. Multifamily building permits averaged at 3,153 units since 2008, which corresponds to only 44 percent of the units per year that SANDAG expects to be needed. With respect to single family permits, the figure averaged 2,272 units since 2008, or at 64 percent of the units required annually.
  • Between 2010 and 2050, the San Diego region will experience a shortage of single family homes ranging from 43,388 to 118,602. In addition, in the North County, for every one home that is “moderately” priced in the $600,000 range, there are two homes priced over $1 million.
  • Ever changing and highly difficult “regulatory” barriers to building homes in the San Diego region will challenge our ability to provide sufficient housing to accommodate population growth.
  • Policy LU-1.2 of the County of San Diego General Plan, which allows new sustainable mixed-use villages, is a stop-gap to prevent people from traveling to/from Temecula – where an estimated 37 percent of Temecula workers commute outside of Riverside County for work.

These findings underscore the critical need to meet existing and future housing demand. The most serious risk: the region would not be able to grow, or even sustain, its employment base.

The Chamber is a sponsor of the study and releasing the report to facilitate the community discussion around housing development, a key policy priority for the Chamber. The study’s author is a local expert with four decades of real estate development experience as an analyst and strategic advisor.

The full study can be downloaded from the Chamber website here.