April 21, 2026

This month, the Chamber launched the inaugural “San Diego Business Giants: Lessons for Small Businesses” event in partnership with the San Diego Football Club. This series aims to leverage large-scale success in our region to empower small business growth. Small and medium-sized business members had the opportunity to hear from Bill Miles, COO, who shared best practices on staff management, brand expansion, AI utilization, and more.

Looking ahead, the Chamber will host its annual Small Business Success Summit on May 5th in honor of National Small Business Week, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s San Diego District Office and the San Diego & Imperial SBDC, and graciously hosted by SDG&E. This half-day event is designed to connect small businesses and provide valuable insights on how to maximize available resources locally and beyond. The program will feature opening remarks by San Diego County Clerk Jordan Marks, a session on marketing and branding strategies, a panel on navigating the rising cost of doing business, and a presentation by the San Diego International Airport on “Doing Business with Public Agencies: Contracts, Compliance & Opportunities,” among other engaging discussions. In addition, Chamber members will have the opportunity to showcase their business at the Summit to boost visibility, connect with attendees, and provide support.

Business Programs Manager Jimena Villasenor attended the California State Treasurer’s Office’s Building Partnerships for California Businesses Legislative Briefing, which convened business organizations from across the state to strengthen collaboration in support of business growth. During the briefing, the Office asked for help to increase awareness of state programs that provide financial incentives, loan support, and funding opportunities to help small businesses invest, innovate, and grow. Staff also gained insight into state legislation impacting small businesses, including bills sponsored by the Treasurer’s Office this legislative cycle. We look forward to continued collaboration to help our business community leverage state tools and resources. Jimena also appeared on CBS 8 to highlight the importance of supporting small businesses, share a recap of the Chamber’s business support programming, and promote upcoming initiatives designed to drive growth and success— including the Small Business Success Summit.

In partnership with Grow with Google, the Chamber is hosting a free, hands-on webinar designed to help small businesses apply AI tools in practical ways. The workshop will provide real-life examples and guidance to help participants develop a personalized plan to strategically use AI to address common business challenges.

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