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Small Business Season - Support Local

Let’s Show Our Support – Small Business Season

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small business season

You’re Invited!

We invite you to join us to celebrate our community businesses and help them not just survive this Small Business Season, but to THRIVE!

When you’re doing your holiday shopping, we ask that you look local first. See if there is a local business who can offer the goods and services you are looking for.

Let’s support our local businesses, our neighbors and friends who provide jobs and give so much back to our community.

Shop Local

  • Commit to spending a portion of your holiday budget at local business.
  • Create a holiday shopping list with all the local businesses you love. Share with others.
  • Purchase gift cards to use at a later date or to give as gifts.
  • Take advantage of online ordering and curbside delivery.

Looking for a specific business? Support your Lomita Chamber members.

Eat Local

  • Frequent local restaurants.
  • Dine-in or get your meal(s) to go.
  • Treat yourself this holiday season and have a catered meal.
  • Purchase gift cards to use at a later date or to give as a gift.
  • Pick a day of the week and make it your take out day – Take Out Tuesdays sounds good!
  • Don’t forget dessert! Stop in at a local bakery/café/restaurant and pick up a treat.

Share the Love Online

  • When you shop or eat local, check in at the business on Facebook to give them exposure.
  • Hashtag #shoplomita #shoplocal #smallbusinessseason #shopsmall
  • Order online from a local business.
  • Post photos of your food, favorite items you’ve purchased, etc. on social media. Share photos of favorite items you would like as hints on social media for your friends and family.
  • Like and follow local businesses. Share and comment on their posts. Participate in local Facebook groups by recommending your favorite businesses.
  • Leave a review on Facebook, Google or Yelp of businesses you have been shopping at, dining in, etc.

Go The Extra Mile

  • Over tip your servers and service providers.
  • Tip your service provider in advance for future services.
  • Pay it forward. Pay for a coffee behind you, pick of a tab of another, etc.
  • If you have a membership or subscription to a business, continue paying it.
  • Take the time to say, “Thank You” to those serving you.
  • Tell the manager(s) how much you liked your experience, or how much you liked the service you received, etc.
  • Leave a nice note to your servers and service providers. A kind word can mean a lot!
  • Ask a business owner how you can help. This kind gesture will go a long way.
  • Send local businesses a holiday card to brighten their day.

Now through December 31st, we’re celebrating Small Business Season™. The chamber is encouraging every person of our community to support friends and neighbors by shopping, dining, and exploring our small businesses.

To learn more about the impact YOU have by shopping local and the impact SMALL BUSINESSES have in our communities, please read our other post/s here.

Join us and pledge to support local this holiday season. Shopping small can make a big difference.

Looking for a specific business? Support your Lomita Chamber members.

Follow the Lomita Chamber on social media for more ideas and announcements to celebrate Small Business Season™.

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IG Post - Small Business Season

It’s Small Business Season!

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Now through December 31st, we’re celebrating Small Business Season™. The chamber is encouraging every person of our community to support friends and neighbors by shopping, dining, and exploring our small businesses.

Small Businesses Are a Big Deal to Lomita and the South Bay

Small business made up over 60% of all new jobs this year and yet they face many challenges from rising costs to filling vacancies. Plus, according to JP Morgan Chase, “The median small business holds (only) 27 cash buffer days in reserve. Half of all small businesses hold a cash buffer of less than one month. Moreover, 25% of small businesses hold fewer than 13 cash buffer days in reserve.” That means over 50% of small businesses wouldn’t last over a month on their reserves.

They need our help, and we need theirs. On average, $68 of every $100 spent locally stays in our community. Most of us turn to small businesses first when we’re seeking help for our nonprofits, youth activities, and sponsorships. When they thrive, we thrive!

Where you spend your money this holiday season matters.

Support small businesses by patronizing them and/or:

  • Writing reviews
  • Referring friends
  • Checking-in and taking pictures or videos and sharing them on social media when you’re visiting small businesses
  • Sharing small business posts on social media
  • Talking about your favorite businesses on social media
  • Hashtag #shoplomita #shoplocal #smallbusinessseason #shopsmall

Join us and pledge to support local this holiday season. Shopping small can make a big difference.

Follow the Lomita Chamber on social media for more ideas and announcements to celebrate Small Business Season™.

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2022 Starts With You

Chamber Priorities for 2022

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Chamber Priorities for 2022

As we embark upon the new year, the Chamber looks forward to continuing to create business networking opportunities, deliver professional development, and strengthen community ties.

We will continue to focus our efforts this year in developing four areas of priorities that allow the Chamber to carry on and serve its membership based on a viable foundation. We thank our members who provided feedback to our Board of Directors last quarter to assist us in planning for this year.

Programming & Initiatives

In addition to what the Chamber is already doing to produce business networking opportunities, monthly after-hours mixers, community events, provide referrals and advocacy, we’re looking to provide continuing business education and professional development programs, as well as start testing events at other time frames via lunch-n-learns and business over breakfast.

Partnership & Collaboration

We look forward to continuing our collaborative partnerships with our City, fellow chambers, and other organizations to offer workforce and business recovery solutions to help build back the economy and get our small businesses back on track, take a position on legislative matters that impact our businesses, and create opportunities to support local businesses and inspire future entrepreneurs.

Membership & Growth

Heading into our third year, our commitment to growing our membership is twofold; continue to attract and retain a healthy number of chamber members; offer our members and their teams growth opportunities through volunteerism and involvement in chamber initiatives. Tapping into the talents of our membership not only helps the chamber serve its mission as a volunteer organization but those members who get involved by serving on a committee, appointed to the Board, or volunteer with the chamber raise their credibility and visibility.

Infrastructure & Financial Needs

The chamber relies on meetings, events and programs to raise non-dues revenue to keep the organization running. We continue to be financially responsible by practicing a healthy balance of saving costs while generating revenue to ensure that basic business expenses are covered. We’re very grateful for the generosity of our members who have offered their time and services gratis in order to help the chamber. We’re always looking to invest in our infrastructure to support the growing needs of our chamber.

As we kick off 2022, we continue to be here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to discuss any of these areas or how you’d like to get more involved this year.

 

Lomita Chamber Reopening

Yellow Tier Updated Health Officer Order

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Updated May 7, 2021 – Yellow Tier Updated Health Officer Order

The revised Health Officer Order Blueprint for a Safer Economy – Yellow Tier is effective as of 12:01 am on Thursday, May 06, 2021.  The recent changes are highlighted in yellow:  Aligns with the Yellow Tier safety modifications of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.   

The following protocols have been updated and are effective as of Thursday, May 06, 2021:

Retail Establishments

Grocery Stores and Retail Food Markets

Office Based Worksites

Museums, Galleries, Zoos, Aquariums

Hotels, Lodging and Short-term Rentals

Family Entertainment Centers

Bars

Personal Care Establishments

Community Sporting Events

Cardrooms

Breweries, Wineries and Craft Distilleries

This Health Officer Order, protocols and other pertinent information and resources can be found on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 webpage. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to protect the health and well-being of Los Angeles County residents.

Lomita Chamber Business Resources

Congress extends deadline for PPP applicants to May 31, 2021

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Small businesses have an additional two months to apply

PPP applicants can go through the loan process with the following changes:  

  • The PPP program is open through May 31, 2021 or until the new funding is exhausted. 
  • If you are a 501(c)(6), a 501(c)(5), a local news media organization, or a housing cooperative you may be newly eligible for a loan.  
  • You may qualify even if you took advantage of the Employee Retention Tax Credit. 
  • If you are a publicly traded company, you are now prohibited from receiving a loan.
  • Group insurance payment can be included in your payroll costs when determining your maximum loan amount (see Step 3 in our original Guide). 
  • If you are a seasonal employer, you have greater flexibility in picking the 12-week period between February 15, 2019 and February 15, 2020 used to determine your payroll costs and thus your maximum loan amount. 

Small businesses have an additional two months to apply which may also open the door to apply for a second PPP loan if the first draw was recently received and not enough time passed between loans to apply for a second one.  (Eight weeks must pass between the loans so there’s time to spend the money on payroll.)

More helpful resources are here:

Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans

Guide to PPP Forgiveness 

For more info, visit the SBA website.

 

Lomita Chamber Business Resources

Second Draw PPP Loans ends March 31, 2021 

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Second Draw PPP Loans – PPP ends March 31, 2021 

  • The Paycheck Protection Program ends on March 31, 2021. All eligible entities can apply through a participating lender until then.
  • Second Draw PPP Loans can be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations.
  • Maximum loan amount and increased assistance for accommodation and food services businesses.
  • For most borrowers, the maximum loan amount of a Second Draw PPP Loan is 2.5x the average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs up to $2 million. For borrowers in the Accommodation and Food Services sector (use NAICS 72 to confirm), the maximum loan amount for a Second Draw PPP Loan is 3.5x the average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs up to $2 million.

A borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if the borrower: 

  • Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses
  • Has no more than 300 employees; and
  • Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020

For more info, visit the SBA website.

Don’t miss the SBDC’s webinar series on PPP to find out who is eligible, how to apply, loan details and how to use the funds. Register for the SBDC’s PPP webinar here.

Update: What If I Never Received a PPP Loan?

For new PPP applicants, the PPP program is open through May 31, 2021 or until the new funding is exhausted.

 

Lomita Chamber Reopening

Orange is the NEW Tier

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Updated April 1, 2021 – Orange is the NEW Tier!

As of March 30, Los Angeles County has met the threshold for the less restrictive orange tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Los Angeles County is entering the Orange Tier with key sectors reopening, resuming indoor operations and/or increasing capacity starting Monday, April 5. The Health Officer Order and modified directives for businesses will be posted on Friday, April 2, with an effective date of April 5.

 

March 21, 2021 – Reopenings in the “Red Tier”

Update to the Los Angeles County Health Officer Order http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/HOO/HOO_SaferatHomeCommunity.pdf (HOO)(dated March 19, 2021), effective as of 12:01 AM Saturday, March 20, 2021.

The HOO was modified to reflect updates that allow breweries, distilleries, and wineries to reopen for outdoors only if not serving a bona fide meal; add a specific protocol for Limited Services (i.e., laundromats, contractors auto repair shops, etc.) http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_LimitedServices.pdf
 
and increase the number of participants obtaining in-person behavioral health or substance use disorder support in therapeutic small group meetings and obtaining in-person faith based small group counseling services, where the services cannot reasonably be practiced remotely.
 
Please continue to stay safe and keep our businesses open.
 
Public Health’s HOO and sector protocols are available at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/.

March 15, 2021 – LA County has entered the “Red Tier” of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy and is lifting some local activity-specific restrictions, which went into effect Monday, March 15, 2021.  However, Los Angeles County continues to experience substantial rates of COVID-19 transmission, and the danger COVID-19 poses to our community has not subsided.  Vaccinations are occurring as quickly as supplies allow, but most people in our community are not vaccinated.  New variants of the virus that may spread more easily or cause more severe illness are present in our county; however, their impact on our local pandemic is largely unknown. 

The LA County Department of Public Health urges businesses, entities, and residents to continue exercising caution even as certain restrictions are lifted.  Just because certain activities are allowed or certain reopening protocols are revised, that does not mean that those activities are “safe”.  Businesses and customers should continue to regularly check the County Public Health website for updates to their sector-specific protocol(s) to ensure they are in compliance with the most current safety modifications. 

The updated Health Officer Order adds three protocols: Appendix S – Youth and Adult Recreational Sports; Appendix W – Limited Services; and Appendix X – Movie Theaters.

Newly permitted activities and modified safety protocols in the red tier will include the following:

  1. Museum, Zoos and Aquariums can open indoors at 25% capacity.
  2. Gyms, Fitness Centers, Yoga and Dance Studios can open indoors at 10% capacity with masking requirement
    for all indoor activities.
  3. Movie Theatres can open indoors at 25% capacity with reserved seating only where each group is seated with at least 6 feet of distance in all directions between any other groups.
  4. Retail and Personal Care Services can increase capacity to 50% with masking required at all times and for all services.
  5. Restaurants can open indoors at 25% max capacity under the following conditions: 8 feet distancing between tables; one household per table with a limit of 6 people; the HVAC system is in good working order and has been evaluated, and to the maximum extent possible ventilation has been increased. Public Health strongly  recommends that all restaurant employees interacting with customers indoors are provided with additional  masking protection (above the currently required face shield over face masks); this can be fit tested N95 masks, KN95 masks, or double masks and a face shield. In addition, Public Health strongly recommends that all employees working indoors are informed about and offered opportunities to be vaccinated. Outdoor dining can accommodate up to six people per table from 3 different households.
  6. Indoor Shopping Malls can increase capacity to 50% with common areas remaining closed; food courts can open at 25% capacity adhering to the restaurant guidance for indoor dining.
  7. Institutes of Higher Education can re-open all permitted activities with required safety modifications except for residential housing which remains under current restrictions for the Spring semester.
  8. Schools are permitted to re-open for in-person instruction for students in grades 7-12 adhering to all state and county directives.
  9. Private gatherings can occur indoors with up to 3 separate households, with masking and distancing required at all times. People who are fully vaccinated can gather in small numbers indoors with other people who are fully vaccinated without required masking and distancing.

 

Read the LA County Press Release Here

Health & Wellness Day at the Market IG

Health & Wellness Day at the Market!

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Health & Wellness Day at the Market!
Health and Wellness Day gives customers education and tips on making positive healthy lifestyle choices. Find resources and local businesses that can help with health and wellness needs.

Come meet Members of the Chamber’s Health & Wellness Committee at the Lomita Farmers Market:

Health & Wellness Day at the Market!

Be sure to visit Still Got It Fitness!
Frustrated with getting older, gaining weight and struggling to do the activities you once loved? Come talk to the health and fitness specialists to help you build strength, balance and motivation to live a long, healthy and active life.
Offering a 1-week trial and free book!

Health & Wellness Day at the Market!

New to Medicare or assisting someone who has Medicare? John Ballard can help you. Medicare can be confusing. John can give you peace of mind by helping you with your Medicare questions.

Come by for a no-cost consultation with your friendly Lomita Medicare Guide.

Health & Wellness Day at the Market!

Stop by Adam Chiropractic
Working from home, increased sitting due to endless Zoom calls, it’s no wonder we’re all probably feeling a little off balance these days. Say hi to the friendly team from Adam Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Set up an appointment, get your questions answered or enjoy a mini massage.
Offering complimentary mini massages and spinal screenings!

Health & Wellness Day at the Market!

Say hello to Mary & John with The Wellness Company
Learn more about The Wellness Company, an American Manufacturer of more than 400 products that are available only online and contain no harmful ingredients.. The catalogue includes nutrition, safe and effective household cleaners, beauty, personal care for babies, kids and adults, pure essential oils, medicine cabinet items. Switch stores and save up to 50% off market value.

Meet other other local businesses and Chamber members at the Market including:

  • South Bay Credit Union
  • Project Barley
  • State Farm Insurance Shabby Shaw
  • Kettle Corn King & Acai Bowls

And of course our farmers and food vendors featuring…

Veggies, Herb Plants, Berries, Eggs, Honey, Strawberries AND… Craft Beer, Fresh Breads, Vegan Pastries, Acai Bowls, Kettle Corn, Hummus, Tamales, Loose leaf tea… and some great home goods, jewelry, candles, clothing and accessories.

See you Sunday, January 31st 10am-2pm at Lomita Farmers Market (Lomita City Hall: 24300 Narbonne Ave, Lomita, CA 90717).

For more information and vendor application, please visit LomitaFarmersMarket.com

business advocacy

Lomita Chamber Advocates for Businesses & California Economy: Appeal to Governor Newsom

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“The California economy cannot fully recover until businesses are allowed to reopen… At the same time, California continues to suffer a significant exodus of employers to other states… California needs to address both crises immediately.” 

On January 13, 2021, the Lomita Chamber of Commerce along with nearly 160 fellow California Chambers of Commerce and industry organizations rallied to appeal to Governor Gavin Newsom to take executive action to immediately and temporarily suspend for at least six months, specific laws and regulations, to reduce burdens on employers without affecting the health and safety of Californians.

The following letter was sent by CalChamber to Governor Newsom.

IG employer resources

2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program

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Apply for PPP Loans Today

The Small Business Administration launched an online portal for eligible businesses to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans based on the latest Covid-19 stimulus package.  

Overview

  • Applications will initially be reserved for first-time community-based borrowers.
  • In an effort to make the process more equitable, the SBA is aiming to prioritize the distribution of the much-needed aid to smaller and financially vulnerable business, including borrowers participating in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and Microloan Intermediaries. 
  • First-time borrowers are welcome to start submitting applications now.
  • Second-time borrowers can start requesting a new loan starting on Wednesday, January 13.

According to the latest regulations approved by Congress, Business with fewer than 300 employees and who suffered a decrease in gross receipts of at least 25% in any one quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019 are eligible to apply for the PPP loans.

How to Apply

You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.

If you wish to begin preparing your application, you can download the following PPP borrower application forms to see the information that will be requested from you when you apply with a lender:

Paycheck Protection Program First Draw Borrower Application Form (revised 01-08-21)
Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Borrower Application Form (01-08-21)

Contact a local lender with any questions.

More information can be found here: SBA PPP User Guide 

Information about the CARES Act of 2021 and other relief programs can be found here:U.S Treasury Department CARES Act of 2021

Please contact the Lomita Chamber of Commerce if you need assistance with any of these areas. We’re happy to connect you with a resource to help answer your questions.

 

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Thank You Chamber Partners & Sustaining Members

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2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program
2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program
2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program
2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program
2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program
2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program
2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program
2021 CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program
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