News & Updates

San Diego and Tijuana Mayora Sign MOU

InternationalPolicySan Diego

May 25, 2022

This month, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero signed a new memorandum of understanding in an effort to increase collaboration between the two cities.

The MOU, signed in a ceremony in Tijuana that had been delayed several times due to the pandemic, will allow San Diego and Tijuana to continue working together to share best practices and develop joint working programs in areas of common interest including:

  • Environmental protection
  • Municipal and regional planning
  • Economic development
  • Police services
  • Fire services
  • Parks and recreation
  • Waste disposal and recycling
  • Emergency management
  • Immigrant Affairs

Learn more

Regional Task Force on Homelessness Report

Policy

May 25, 2022

This year’s Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RFTF) Report is out. According to the report, the annual count of homeless individuals in San Diego County increased about 10 percent in over a little over 2 years– with an official count of at least 8,427 homeless individuals.

Read Full Report Here

 

The RTFH is responsible for collecting, tracking, and reporting on a significant amount of data as it pertains to homelessness in our region.

 

Many of the reports are mandated by funding sources; however, there are also reports such as the Dashboards and System Framework that provide timely and relevant insights into the progress and performance of the CoC in meeting its mission. 

Watch: IBA Forum on SME Enhancements

InternationalPolicy

May 25, 2022

The Chamber hosted a conversation with  Dilawar Syed as part of their International Business Affairs Forum series. Syed is a special representative for the State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. During the forum, he shared an overview of resources and initiatives that help SMEs engage in international trade and the agency’s role in increasing U.S. exports, as well as brief insights on the 9th Summit of the Americas that will take place in Los Angeles this June.

City of San Diego Ready to Rebuild Budget

PolicySan Diego

May 25, 2022

Mayor Gloria released his May revision of the “Ready to Rebuild” budget. With the total City budget now at $5.03 billion, strong commitments to providing mental health services, homeless shelters, affordable housing, and enhanced public safety are included. Here are a few highlights: 

  • $878,000 to help residents struggling with mental or behavioral health. 
  • $5.4 Million to provide homeless shelters.
  • $594,000 to improve park facilities

Sacramento Updates

Policy

May 25, 2022

Governor Newsom unveiled a $300.6 billion budget, with an estimated $97.5 billion surplus far exceeding previous estimates from January. The legislature has until June 15 to pass a budget and send it back to the Governor. See what’s included here. 

There was much discussion about the May Revise during our delegation trip to Sacramento. The trip, which included more than 50 business & community leaders also  included agenda items covering a variety of areas such as:

  • California budget funding priorities in our region
  • Border Infrastructure
  • Healthcare Delivery & Security 
  • Cannabis Law & Policy 
  • and Housing Supply & Affordability

Check out the trip hashtag, #SDinSac, on social media and view our photo album for meeting highlights and trip photos.

City Council Votes on Sports Arena Site

Policy

May 25, 2022

The San Diego City Council voted unanimously Monday to advance three competing proposals for how to redevelop the 48-acre Sports Arena property in the Midway District.

The list consists of Midway Rising, HomeTownSD and Midway Village+. All three plan to replace the arena and build thousands of units of new housing. Two other bidders were rejected.

Learn More

 

Member Spotlight: EZ-ERC

Uncategorized

May 12, 2022

EZ-ERC helps companies determine if they qualify for and receive the Employee Retention Credit.

As you may know, the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) was initially passed under the CARES Act, the substantial COVID-19 government stimulus bill, to reward business owners for retaining employees throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It is similar to PPP except these are payroll tax credits that could mean big payouts for a majority of business owners. They are tax credits that are not loans and do not need to be repaid. 

Most businesses qualify for it and can received hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars for their business, which could include yours! Allow the carefully assembled team of CPAs, lawyers, and payroll specialists at EZ-ERC efficiently and effectively help you maximize your ERC claim, while further assisting you in monetizing your credit as quickly as possible.

Contact Jesse if you want us to determine if you qualify and give you an estimate of your potential credit. 

Email: Jesse@ez-erc.com

Phone: 443-797-3738

 

 

Member Spotlight: Staples

Member Spotlight

May 12, 2022

This just in: Chamber members can now receive exclusive discounts at Staples stores, thanks to their newest savings program! Whether you need in-store printing for signage at your next in-person event or every day office supplies as your employees settle back into the office space, Staples has you covered. Learn more about the Staples Connect program today!

Click here to enroll in this exclusive rewards program.

Influence 2022 Wrap – Up

LEAD

May 10, 2022

On April 28 – 30, 24 leaders from our regional business community completed the 2022 Influence program! The class explored topics from Corporate Social Responsibility to Housing and Homelessness and more. They also heard from our region’s elected officials: Mayor Todd Gloria, Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, and Congressman Scott Peters (95).

Want some highlights from the weekend and explore what the participants learned? Click here to scroll through!

Learn more about the program and submit your interest for the Class of 2023 here.

Now Accepting Visionary Award Nominations

LEAD

May 10, 2022

Do you know a person or organization making substantive change in our region? We want to recognize the inspiring work happening all around us and those leaders making a difference in our community at the annual Visionary Awards. Submit your application/ nomination today for the following award categories:

The Neil Morgan Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement
Named for the late journalistic icon Neil Morgan, awarded to an individual who has served as a catalyst for positive change, resulting in a better future for our region.

LEAD Graduate of the Year
Awarded to a LEAD San Diego graduate who epitomizes excellence in community leadership.

Innovation & Economic Opportunity Award
Recognizing visionary leadership by redefining how we tackle challenges to create change or create economic opportunities that improve the quality of life in our region.

The Ronald Kendrick Memorial Award for Regional Collaboration
Named for late banking executive and community leader Ronald Kendrick, presented in recognition of visionary leadership as demonstrated through coalescing diverse communities, focusing on collaborative approaches to shared resources, synergies, and problem-solving skills for positive regional outcomes.

The Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building
Named for the late Charles Nathanson, a champion of cross-border communication and development, presented in recognition of visionary leadership demonstrated in addressing joint solutions to cross-border issues, further uniting San Diego and Baja California for a common future.

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION