News & Updates

Growing Concerns about Cross-Border Restrictions

InternationalNewsPolicy

September 23, 2020

The temporary restrictions on non-essential travel across shared ports of entry between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico have been extended to October 21. The Chamber recently met with U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau and shared concerns about the impact border restrictions and fluctuating border wait times have on our cross-border economy. The impact extends beyond economic as increased border waits pose a risk to public health through increased air pollution and now during the pandemic, creates a scenario of increased risk of exposure. If businesses can operate safely with strict health protocols, the border should as well. An effective way to mitigate the spread of this disease across our border is to implement a coordinated binational effort around social distancing and mask wearing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reopened Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers at the Otay Mesa and Calexico East Ports of Entry. Interviews for conditionally approved Global Entry, SENTRI, and FAST applicants are available by appointment only and must be scheduled online. For more information including enrollment center hours of operation, visit CBP’s website.

To help facilitate border crossings for our workforce, the Chamber is working with CBP to organize mobile enrollment events at work sites. Applications submitted at these events will be reviewed within a month and granted expedited interviews. If you are interested in offering this at your company, please contact the Chamber.

Governor Newsom Endorses Controversial Proposition 15

NewsPolicy

September 23, 2020

Proposition 15, the measure commonly referred to as “split-roll,” recently received the Governor’s endorsement. While opposed by many major business organizations across the state (including the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce), the Governor’s late endorsement highlights the high-stakes battle taking place as the state is increasingly desperate to identify new revenue sources as it struggle with its budget. Polling shows that Prop 15 has an uphill climb with voters, and Chamber President and CEO Jerry Sanders recently published this op-ed warning of the undue financial stress Prop 15 would put on California’s small businesses.

Unemployment Rate Dips to Lowest Since April

NewsPolicy

September 23, 2020

In tentatively good news, the state’s unemployment rate was 11.6%, the lowest it’s been since April at the height of pandemic-related closures. According to the same monthly report, San Diego claimed 9.9% unemployment. While these numbers demonstrate some economic resilience in the state and especially recently, many are quick to warn that these positive trends in lower unemployment may not be here to stay. Factors including state-directed closures and restrictions on business will immediately impact hiring, as well the fate of federal stimulus packages which look less likely for our most in-need industries including tourism.

New Sick Leave and Recall/Retention Legislation

Policy

September 14, 2020

Last week had significant policy impacts for large employers, as Governor Newsom signed a bill providing additional sick leave benefits and a second bill offering worker protections awaits his signature, and the City passed its own ordinance. More specifically:

AB 1867, a budget trailer bill, was signed that provides supplemental paid sick leave for businesses with over 500 employees nationwide. This bill is designed to mirror the benefits given to workers as provided in the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which applied to companies with less than 500 employees (however did provide certain credits to ease the burden of employer compliance with the law, which the state bill expressly does not).

  • The bill requires 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave to be provided to employees working full time (which is defined by an employee working an average of at least 40 hours per week in the two weeks prior to paid sick leave being received). Part-time employees would also be eligible for the benefit based on a variable determined by the amount of hours they worked in the previous two weeks.
  • Paid sick leave is available for:
    • Employees subject to a federal/state/local quarantine order
    • Employees advised by a doctor to self-quarantine or isolate
    • Employees prohibited from working because of transmission concerns.
  • Supplemental paid sick leave is capped at $511 per day, and $5,110 total per employee.
  • If employers have provided a supplemental benefit equal to or greater than that outlined in AB 1867 before the implementation of the act, the employer is not required to then add another 80 hours of leave.
  • AB 1867 was passed under urgency, meaning it will go into effect no less than 10 days after signing (latest would be 9/19/2020). The Department of Labor must issue guidance for compliance and enforcement before going into effect.
    • The bill does not say whether medical documentation is necessary, or allowable, for the employer. It’s likely DOL guidance will determine that.

 

AB 3216 (Kalra) is pending the Governor’s signature, and would not go into effect until January 1, 2021. This bill outlines worker recall after lay-offs, and retention requirements. It is the statewide version of local ordinances passed in many large cities, including the City of San Diego (outlined below).

  • The bill applies to hotels, private clubs, event centers, airport hospitality services, airport service providers, and building service providers.
  • Outlines that rehiring after COVID-related lay-offs must be done by order of seniority.
    • Employers can make simultaneous offers, but employees are allowed five days to respond to the offer.
    • Employers must make offers for any job which the laid-off employee is qualified for, not necessarily the job they were laid off from.
  • For worker retention, the bill outlines that if a covered employer (outline above) goes out of business, the successor employer must keep the staff on for a minimum of 90 days and must consider making permanent offers. This would be enforced by allowing employees to file complaints with the Department of Labor.

 

Councilmember Chris Ward offered his own local policy proposals reflecting the two above, in the instance that one or both bills may be vetoed by the Governor. AB 1867 was an urgency bill, so there will be no additional effort on a local supplemental paid sick leave policy. However, AB 3216 has a later effective date, making the Councilmember’s Emergency Recall and Retention Ordinance a sort of “bridge” policy that will go into effect in the time between now and January 2021. The local policy:

  • Will require hotels with 200+ rooms or commercial properties with 25+ security/janitorial staff to prioritize the rehiring of laid-off staff based on the amount of time they have worked for the employer.
  • Laid-off employees that have been offered to be rehired will have three days to decide if they want to accept the position.
  • This ordinance will go into effect immediately and will sunset in 6 months or on December 31, 2020, when the state law (AB 3216) is expected to go into effect.

Member Spotlight: College Apps Abroad

Member Spotlight

September 3, 2020

Is your child thinking about applying for college or grad school overseas? College Apps Abroad is an educational consultancy that specializes in helping students do just that in places like the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada and more.

Nowadays, more and more students are applying abroad for a number of reasons. Students can benefit from a high-quality education at a fraction of the cost compared with U.S. colleges, shorter degree durations, more focused majors, enrolling in professional programs like Law, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine straight out of high school and developing their cultural competency,

independence and global networks.

More than 200 universities worldwide also accept U.S. federal financial aid and 529 plans, and there are a number of scholarships specifically for international students.

College Apps Abroad provides customized, personalized support with:

  • Understanding admissions requirements overseas
  • Building a list of best fit programs and institutions
  • Submitting applications
  • Guidance on essays and personal statements
  • Financial aid and scholarships
  • Housing
  • Student visas
  • And much more!

Sara Cavalieri, Founder of College Apps Abroad

Sara Cavalieri, the Founder, has more than 10 years of experience working in international recruitment and admissions for some of the world’s top 100 universities, including The University of Edinburgh in the UK and the University of New South Wales in Australia. She also completed her Master of Education in Australia and lived abroad for nine years before moving to San Diego.

On September 29 at 5 p.m, College Apps Abroad is also hosting a free webinar on How to Apply for College Abroad in the Midst of a Pandemic, featuring representatives from three of the top universities in the world: Kings College London, Macquarie University in Australia and the University of Auckland. Register your place here.

 

For more information and for a free, 30-minute virtual consultation, contact Sara at:

Email: sara@collegeappsabroad.com

Phone: 619-919-4656

Website: https://www.collegeappsabroad.com

Leadership Action Teams

LEAD

August 28, 2020

Each year’s Impact Program cohort includes a large group of skilled professionals across a wide range of vocations and job sectors. The following list include some of the work Leadership Action Teams have done for community organizations. Interested in a helping hand or two for an upcoming project? Visit our LAT webpage for details.

A Reason To Survive (ARTS) (2019) – The Leadership Action Team created a marketing plan framework and fundraising plan. In addition, they explored a potential membership model and also created a video highlighting the ARTS mission.

OG Yoga (2019) – The Leadership Action Team provided a comprehensive strategy and guide for OG Yoga to establish a foundation for future sustainable growth. The plan is separated into five main focus areas: Nonprofit Board of Directors, Budget and Sustainability, Communications and Partnerships, Fundraising Opportunities, and the Teacher Training School Program. To accompany the strategic plan, the LAT group has also provided several practical appendices that will be highly useful to OG Yoga.

I Love A Clean San Diego (2018) – The Leadership Action Team created a plan to improve volunteer development, donor cultivation, and retention of both. The plan includes a volunteer development marketing campaign, recognition program, and communication plan. It also includes a donor conversion plan that links dollars to tangibles. The created plan relates back to the organizations purchase of a new CRM system in which each piece is outlined in a workflow diagram for optimal volunteer/donor communication and involvement.

Promises2Kids (2014) – The team developed and implemented a marketing strategy for social media which will increase awareness of foster youth challenges in San Diego amongst 30 to 45-year-old professionals in an effort to create and sustain a pipeline of next generation time, talent, and treasure support for Promises2Kids and its initiatives.

Outside the Lens (2017) – The Leadership Action Team  worked to build a network of corporate and community partners interested in supporting the CC Three-Year Initiative to expand the innovative youth development program into more San Diego Unified Title One Schools.

Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center (2019) – The Leadership Action Team developed a marketing strategy to enable Olivewood Gardens to increase awareness of their programs, support donor development, and more effectively tell their impact story.

Somali Bantu Association of America (2019) – The team helped SBAOA focus their goals and operations to increase their impact in supporting the Somali Bantu and refugee community in San Diego. This was accomplished through an evaluation of daily workflows and tasks and the design of an operational process to guide for the staff and target community to more easily navigate the organization’s programs and services. In addition, the team helped SBAOA’s CEO enhance his presentation skills while developing an elevator pitch to efficiently communicate to stakeholders and staff. The staff has already seen noticeable change in the CEO’s mindset and now feel empowered to achieve their goals and work as a team, allowing the CEO to focus on moving the organization in a strategic direction.

zero8hundred (2020) – The Leadership Action Team focused on enhancing their objective to ease veterans’ transition to civilian life. The majority of the project was based on obtaining feedback from on an online survey of zero8hundred’s video presentation shown during military Transition Assistance Program (TAP) class. The feedback was presented to zero8hundred, along with other recommendations derived from research.

 

Member Spotlight: Business Group Resources

Member Spotlight

August 26, 2020

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, one of the biggest challenges facing management is how to fund on-going operations, and retain employees on the payroll, and quickly resume normal operations after the crisis subsides. In addition to several programs now available at the federal, state, and local levels, it is important to consider the role R&D Tax Credits could play in your funding strategy. Business Group Resources can assist you in doing so.

The Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit was first enacted in 1981 and is now permanent, yet it continues to be one of the most misunderstood areas of tax law. In 2003, IRS regulations replaced a “discovery test” with much more broader requirements in order to qualify for the credits. Year after year, small and mid-size businesses continue to miss out on the opportunity for huge tax savings because they either don’t realize they are eligible for the credit or are unsure how to apply for these credits. Business Group Resources is offering a free initial analysis on your business in order to see analyze any available credits that may be entitled to by law.  Their company boasts an average tax rebate from these credits up to $120,000.

Who can qualify?

  • Manufacturing
  • Construction
  • Engineering
  • Textiles
  • Agriculture
  • Automotive
  • Financial Services
  • Software
  • Consumer Products
  • Entertainment & Media
  • Food Processing
  • Doctors
  • Dentists
  • Chiropractors
  • Medical Devices
  • Fashion Designer
  • Oil & Gas
  • Consulting
  • Chemical & Plastics
  • Telecommunications
  • Website Development
  • Paper & Forest Products

And many more!

Contact Steve Wright with Business Group Resources to see if your business qualifies.

Phone: 858 525 2833
E-mail: stevewright@businessgroupresources.com

Sponsored Content: The Cleaning Company

Sponsored

August 26, 2020

Research has shown that microorganisms can survive on surfaces for days, weeks, and even months, and can be hidden from current spray and wipe methods. Which is why having a trusted professional disease remediation company to protect and clean your business is so important. The Disinfection Connection is an industry leader in Electrostatic Disinfection, including Coronavirus disinfection, and delivers the highest professional standards possible. We provide rapid response throughout the San Diego area so you can have peace of mind in the event of an outbreak.

Disinfection Connection process on outdoor patio

Our electrostatic technology provides safe and comprehensive surface coverage. The electrostatic application process is the ideal method of applying disinfectants to a target surface by utilizing the electrostatic force of attraction. This process evenly distributes positively charges disinfectant droplets across target surfaces. Since most surfaces are neutral or negatively charged, the positively charged droplets effectively cling to even the most irregular surfaces. Areas that are already covered will repel the spray, making the method extremely efficient. No small nooks or corners are left out when it comes to our disinfection.

Use Disinfection Connection for professional electrostatic disinfection services before reopening your business and ensure your workplace is hygienic and safe for all clients and employees.

Safe and effective disinfection indoors and outdoors

The whole process takes 50% less time than conventional methods allowing you and your team to get back to work sooner. Disinfection Connection’s virus and disinfection clean-up services and will get you started on the road to a healthy workplace. You focus on work; we will focus on the cleaning.

 

When it comes to virus disinfection, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Call 858-260-1165 and schedule a virtual or on-site consultation with one of our Professional COVID-19 Electrostatic Disinfection Services Technicians.

IBA Forum: Integration of San Diego’s Immigrant Population

InternationalNewsPolicy

August 26, 2020

In partnership with the City of San Diego and the New American Economy (NAE), this month’s International Business Affairs Forum hosted a virtual discussion on the economic impact of the immigrant population in San Diego and efforts to advance their civic, social, and economic integration. We heard from Mo Kantner, Director of State and Local Initiatives at the NAE, who shared key data on the demographic and economic contributions immigrants make in our community (available here by state and municipality). NAE’s research and reports have been critical in our region’s focus on the integration of immigrants in San Diego and led to the City of San Diego’s “Welcoming San Diego” initiative which launched in 2018. The Chamber was proud to support the initiative and partnered with local nonprofits, educational institutions and businesses to facilitate local immigrant integration and inclusion. As a result, the City of San Diego welcomed its first Immigrant Affairs Manager, Rita Fernandez, our second speaker at the Forum. Rita  shared an overview of San Diego’s foreign-born population and the City of San Diego’s Strategic Plan for Immigrant and Refugee Integration.

The roundtable conversation prompted comments from participants such as Ambassador Carlos Gonzalez, Consul General of México in San Diego, who shared information about the recently launched Colibri MX Scholarship Program. The Consulate and MAAC created the program in December of 2019 to promote access to higher education for  students whose families have immigrated or are of Latino descent residing in San Diego County. 84 scholarships were awarded this year to students providing them with resources needed to fulfill their academic goals. Colibri MX strives to become a catalyst for social networks to support future Latino leaders and build healthier and vibrant communities here in San Diego and across the US.

For more information on the Chamber’s upcoming International Business Affairs Forum, or to register, please visit our website.

Update on Mexico’s COVID-19 Response

InternationalNewsPolicy

August 26, 2020

The Mexican federal government announced a remote learning mandate until further notice to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure, with educational institutions resuming classes on Monday, August 24. The instruction excluded higher education, allowing universities to determine when and how to resume studies based on local circumstances. The Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) signed a collaboration agreement with multiple television networks and radio stations which began broadcasting educational programs nationwide. In addition, SEP will continue to provide free textbooks to students enrolled in public schools (grades K-9) and is developing a strategic plan to support working single parents.

In Baja, the Secretariat of Sustainable Economy and Tourism (SEST) signed a memorandum of understanding with Baja Health Cluster in an effort to reactivate medical tourism in the region. The agreement will facilitate data sharing; joint research to further understand the demand of health services across the state; specialized training for health professionals; and increased collaboration to promote medical tourism.

In Tijuana, a private sector-led initiative has been launched to support the city and state’s ability to test and track COVID-19 cases. The effort also helps to identify vulnerable neighborhoods and areas across the region which will support their strategy to combat the virus. This initiative comprises a system of 17 laboratories with the ability to conduct up to 500 COVID-19 tests onsite at a discounted rate and, in some cases, businesses are covering the cost for their employees. Results are available within 24 hours and submitted into a database which maps positive results. For more information, please contact Francisco@wellwavescenter.com.

A new COVID-19 testing site has opened outside of the San Ysidro East Pedestrian Port of Entry (PedEast) processing area, located next to the trolley station. The site operates from 6:30a-10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and offers about 200 free tests daily for interested individuals. Although the initiative is primarily to serve essential workers and American citizens living in Tijuana, local residents are also welcome, and no appointments are necessary.

Health and safety checkpoints have been set up at the Ensenada and Mexicali city access points to ensure adherence to stay at home orders. This includes the Calexico West, Calexico East, and Andrade/Algodones land ports of entry, where checkpoints have been operating each Friday through Sunday. Authorities will verify the use of face masks, confirm that the trip’s purpose is essential, and conduct temperature checks for each passenger. There is also a limit of two passengers per vehicle crossing southbound through Mexicali’s land ports of entry.