Business Advocacy

December 28, 2020

Employer Resources: 2021 New Laws, Tax Credits, PPP Forgiveness and More

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New Laws for 2021

Be sure to read up on the laws that will apply to employers and small businesses including the California Family Care Act, Leaves of Absence, Workers Comp and more. Read more about these laws at the CalChamber website.

Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training

By January 1, 2021, employers with five or more employees must provide one hour of sexual harassment prevention training to nonsupervisory employees and two hours of such training to supervisors. These new requirements expand the prior harassment training law, which required employers with 50 or more employees to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisors in California. The mandatory sexual harassment prevention training can be purchased on the CalChamber Store.

PPP Forgiveness Simplified Application

The SBA has released a 1-page forgiveness application for borrowers to apply for loan forgiveness for loans $50K or less. For loans larger than $50K here’s a link to the PPP EZ Application. Borrowers need to apply within 10 months after the last day of the borrower’s loan forgiveness covered period. For more info visit the SBA PPP Forgiveness FAQs.

California’s $100 Million Main Street Hiring Tax Credit

Qualified California small businesses that employed 100 or fewer employees as of December 31, 2019, and suffered a 50 percent decrease or more in income tax gross receipts can apply. Learn more about this credit.

CA Work Sharing Program Offers Employers Temporary Alternative to Layoffs

Employers can apply for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Work Sharing program as a temporary alternative to layoffs if the business’s production or services have been reduced. (The program is optional.) Visit the EDD website here.

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.

November 30, 2020

Lomita Chamber Advocates for Restaurants & Economy: Appeal to LA County Board of Supervisors

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On November 23, 2020, the Lomita Chamber of Commerce along with many of our local Chambers of Commerce in the South Bay Cities rallied to share appeals on behalf of the business community to the LA County Board of Supervisors (BOS) concerning shutting down outdoor dining once again due to COVID-19.

Despite these efforts, the BOS voted 3-2 to shut down outdoor dining and reduce capacity at their November 24th meeting.

The following letter was sent on behalf of the Lomita Chamber of Commerce to LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office.

The Lomita Chamber continues to advocate for businesses. We also encourage business owners and members of the business community to participate in and have their voices heard. For info about the LA County Board of Supervisors meetings visit the LA County BOS website.

October 13, 2020

Lomita, Torrance & San Pedro Chambers Discuss Public Health Councils With Supervisor Hahn

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On October 9th, Heidi Butzine, President & CEO of the Lomita Chamber of Commerce; Donna Dupperon, President & CEO, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce and Elise Swanson, President & CEO, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce met with Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (4th District) to discuss Public Health Councils, a motion put before the LA County Board of Supervisors.

Public Health Councils would be made up of employees at a workplace working with other organizations certified by the Health Department, to monitor, document, and report any violations of the public health guidelines.

The Health Department engaged various labor organizations and some businesses to discuss the formation of public health councils, which would add another obstacle for businesses already struggling to remain open and keep employees working during the COVID-19 recession.

Bringing questions and concerns forward, Butzine, Swanson and Duperron focused discourse with Supervisor Hahn on recommendations and clarification on four areas of importance. These include prioritizing industries of greatest concern where outbreaks are supported by data, concentrating public health councils in those companies and industries with a documented record of noncompliance and violations; focusing the program’s application to those businesses with 75+ employees; further definition and explanation of the “third party organizations” qualifications and clearly defined authority; ensuring that labor unions or bargaining groups are exempt from consideration as “third party organizations”; specifications for how a business may have the chance to defend or implement changes if reported; and the need for better outreach to the business community and a robust public service campaign that supports existing reporting mechanisms for COVID-19 violations.

The Lomita Chamber will continue to monitor and participate in this ongoing dialog.

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