March 13, 2020
On March 5, a group of approximately 20 Chamber members visited the 
Pure Water Demonstration Facility for a guided tour and a briefing from the City’s Public Utilities Department. The tour provided a firsthand look at the demonstration process and an update on relevant litigation to Pure Water.
For more information on Pure Water, visit the City’s website.
March 12, 2020
As part of our mission to further economic development and national and international commerce, we know travel is a large part of our members’ business operations. With the REAL ID deadline of October 1, 2020 fast approaching, we encourage our members to avoid waiting until the last minute to obtain the new federal ID. Avoid delays in your business travel and ensure you have your REAL ID. California residents may make an appointment at their local DMV branch to complete the process. For more information, click here.
March 12, 2020
On March 10, the San Diego City Council approved the Mount Etna proposal with an 8-1 vote. The project, which will build over 400 affordable homes – many of which will be designated for seniors and individuals with developmental disabilities – required Council approval to 
rezone the land from commercial to residential. The Mount Etna proposal leverages vacant space within a transit-rich and vibrant neighborhood for those in need of a stable home. Rebecca Lieberman from the Chamber’s Public Policy team was present to testify in support of this important project.
March 12, 2020
The Chamber will host the California Veterans Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. The California Veterans Board is an entity of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). The Board advises Governor Newsom and advocates for the needs of California veterans and their dependents.
Chamber members and members of the public are welcome to attend. More information on the California Veterans Board and CalVet resources can be found here.
March 12, 2020
The Chamber will continue to share information received from our partners regarding best practices and guidance around Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In accordance with directives from state and local leaders, we have cancelled all Chamber meetings, programs, and events through the end of March and are monitoring the situation going forward. For more on this, please read our most recent email.
As more businesses implement responses to diminish risk of virus spreading and heighten awareness for employees, we encourage those with questions to reach out to the Chamber team or visit the County website here.
The State of California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Employment Development Department provide information on available resources.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also compiled a number of helpful resources on preparing for and addressing the impacts of the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. Visit the U.S. Chamber website for more information.
The Small Business Administration has streamlined helpful information on the state and federal level. Information on Economic Injury Disaster Loans can be found on the SBA website. More information on SBA’s disaster loans, including eligibility and how to apply for loans, can be found here: www.SBA.gov/disaster
SBA District Office- San Diego
550 West C St. suite 550
San Diego , CA 92101
619-557-5894
March 12, 2020
Earlier this year, Governor Newsom announced his 2020-21 budget which included a significant investment in the Tijuana River Valley. Regional stakeholders, including the Chamber, issued letters of support for the budget request of $35 million for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a series of pollution capture devices and infrastructure projects on the U.S. side of the Tijuana River Valley. The proposed funding would complement the $15 million already appropriated to the State Coastal Conservancy, as well as other federal and state resource investments in both the U.S. and Mexico.
The considered projects below were identified in the County of San Diego’s SB 507 Needs and Opportunities Assessment:
Smuggler’s Gulch: sediment basins, automated trash screens, in-stream water quality detention basin, and retrofit low-flow diversion
Goat Canyon: retrofit low-flow diversion, increased sedimentation and trash management
Yogurt Canyon: feasibility study of low-flow diversion installation; creation of a pilot channel
The budget commits the state to the construction, completion, and two years of operation and maintenance. This will allow engagement with local and federal partners and stakeholders to discuss long-term options.
The budget request for the Tijuana River Valley was discussed on March 4 and 5 in the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #3 on Resources and Transportation, and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee #2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation.
If the budget allocation is approved by the legislature, these projects will contribute to our binational 
community’s health and reduce transboundary pollution impacting our region.
The Chamber is also working closely with the Mexican government to advocate for funding to implement infrastructure projects on the Mexican side of the Tijuana River. These projects include optimizing existing facilities with improvements and expansion of diversion systems, as identified in the North American Development Bank’s Tijuana River Diversion Study.
March 12, 2020
With U.S. and Mexico’s approval of USMCA, the last step for the new trilateral agreement to move forward is Canada’s ratification. The trade deal was approved Friday by Canada’s House of Commons and the Senate in their final day in session before adjourning until April 20th due to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Canada’s House of Commons and Senate.
The agreement has one final step in Canada’s ratification process. Once ratified, a ninety day period to review regulations will occur before the agreement goes into effect.
March 12, 2020
From incubators to manufacturing, marketing, sales, and customer service… our Cali-Baja region has it all. Companies from around the world are tapping into the business expertise that exists in our binational region.
Learn how you can make the most of existing opportunities from regional industry experts and business leaders who have successfully leveraged Cali-Baja’s integrated economy and strong cross-border ties at our next International Business Affairs Forum on April 23.
Through the International Business Affairs Forums, the Chamber provides business leaders the essential knowledge and resources needed to thrive within the binational marketplace. Attendees also have the opportuni
ty to build and strengthen new relationships, exchange ideas, and debate policies that are relevant to the Cali-Baja business community.
We invite you to register for the upcoming International Business Affairs forum taking place on Thursday, April 23 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the San Diego Regional Chamber offices.
March 10, 2020
AIS Technology Services (AIS), Southern California’s leading provider of cloud, colocation and connectivity services, announced the company’s complete rebrand to NFINIT. The new brand reflects the evolution of the company into a full stack technology services provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of technology solutions and cloud platforms.
“As a company, we have been growing and progressing to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients in today’s fast-paced digital world. Modernizing our brand was necessary to better showcase who we are, what we offer, and how we represent ourselves to our clients,” said Matt Thoene, CEO. “Our new brand not only highlights the company’s expansion, but matches our culture and values, and is centered on the passionate and innovative people that make up NFINIT.”
Over the last two years, the company has invested over $15.5 million in technology platforms, network, and facilities and increased the year over year investment in the operations, support and engineering teams transforming from an established colocation and network services provider into a full stack technology services company.
Most recently, Fortitude Technology became an integrated part of the company’s cloud division, which has enhanced product development, improved performance, and brought new solutions, features, and functionality to market faster. Today, NFINIT delivers an unrivaled portfolio of offerings, including network services, security services, Cloud hosting platforms (Oracle, AIX, Hyper-V, VMware, etc.), virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), Disaster Recovery, and Backup as a Service (BUaaS) all supported by 24x7x365 geographically diverse Network Operation Center (NOC) support teams.
NFINIT is the next chapter in the company’s story. The rebrand represents the building of an impressive legacy over the last three decades, and underscores the commitment to focus on providing future-proof solutions to clients nationwide.
Learn more on their website: www.nfinit.com
Contact NFINIT via email: info@nfinit.com or call 858.576.4272
March 10, 2020
Gensler is a global architecture, design, and strategic planning firm with 49 locations worldwide. Gensler San Diego was established in 2004 to respond to the growing demand from clients who were expanding their interests in the San Diego area. Their talented staff of 120+ design professionals and interior designers offer a wealth of specialized knowledge across a wide breadth of design services. Practice areas span from hospitality, mixed-use, commercial, education, workplace, health & wellness, science, civic & culture, and sports facility centers.
When combined with their ability to leverage firm-wide resources, including benchmarking, best design practices, and sustainable design strategies, this volume of San Diego-based work offers a unique breadth of experience to the local market. Some of the most notable projects are the San Diego International Airport Federal Inspection Services Facility, Porsche Carlsbad, San Diego State University Aztec Stadium, Little Italy Food Hall, Manchester Pacific Gateway and Adidas Showroom.
Gensler is committed to creating positive, enduring change through social responsibility and civic engagement in the communities where we live and work. In 2019 alone, our San Diego office 
donated over $140K to local schools, students, and community organizations. Similarly, they support over 30 local associations and have been committed to over 18 volunteer projects including Ronald McDonald House, Kids Against Hunger, and Homeless Outreach. They support local artists by hosting a special monthly event in their office each month, called Local Craft. Local Craft’s mission is to connect our designers with creative artisans in the community for future project collaborations.
At Gensler, we are one community and are focused on improving the human experience, guided by a vision that’s committed to creating a better world through the power of design.