July 20, 2020, Simi Valley, CA – The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce is excited to launch the Community Connections
2020 Speaker Series on Thursday, July 30th with an update from Dr. Jason Peplinski, Superintendent of Simi Valley Unified School District.

Dr. Peplinski will provide an update to students, parents and community members on the Simi Valley Unified School District’s  plan for the 2020 School Year in light of COVID-19.

“With all of  the changes that have happened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want the community to hear decision makers first hand on how they are moving forward,” said Kathi Van Etten, President/CEO of the Simi Valley Chamber. “An update from Dr. Peplinski about the upcoming Simi Valley school year is incredibly relevant as it impacts a sizeable part of our population.”

This update is the first in a series designed to connect community leaders with community members to provide the most up to date information on areas and topics that impact Simi Valley.

This virtual event will be on Thursday, July 30th  from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Registration is required to attend this free event. Interested individuals can register HERE
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In a press conference on Monday July 13th, Governor Newsom issued an order mandating additional industry closures throughout the State. 

Effective July 13, 2020, ALL counties must close indoor operations in these sectors:

• Dine-in restaurants
• Wineries and tasting rooms
• Movie theaters 
• Family entertainment centers (for example: bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages and arcades)
• Zoos and museums
• Cardrooms

Additionally, bars, brewpubs, breweries, and pubs must close all operations both indoor and outdoor statewide.
Counties that have remained on the County Monitoring List for 3 consecutive days are required to shut down the following industries unless they can be modified to operate outside or by pick-up. This order applies to Ventura County.

• Fitness centers
• Worship services
• Protests
• Offices for non-essential sectors
• Personal care services, like nail salons, body waxing and tattoo parlors
• Hair salons and barbershops
• Malls

The Ventura County Public Health Officer may release guidance related to this order with additional restrictions. The most restrictive order issued must be followed by businesses.

​Contact the Chamber if you have any questions at 805-526-3900.

Business Builders, a program of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, is a business mastermind group open to all members of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce. The group meets twice monthly, on the first and third Thursday, at 8:00 AM. For more information, contact Amy Corneau.

​There are many reasons to join a business mastermind group like Business Builders, but here are our top 5:

1. Advice: There is nothing like good advice from people who share your struggles and experiences. Whether you're new to entrepreneurship, or have been running your own show for many years, sometimes you just need advice on managing stress, prioritizing tasks, balancing work and family life, how to clear up a misunderstanding with a client or how to drive new sales.

2. Motivation: What gets you going? Seeing and hearing about creative new approaches and the success of other people who are also entreprenrus be a huge motivator. Support and encouragement from people who know what you are going through can help you get in gear to move on to the next challenge.

3. Direction: Where do you see yourself in one, three or five years from now? Your mastermind community can help you set a goal and map your path to get there. As entrepreneurs, we set our own priorities and schedule. That can be, as they say, a blessing and a curse. Having accountability to your mastermind group can unlock, unblock and unstick you.

4. Coaching: It can be really hard for an entrepreneur to ask for help and coaching. After all, we are supposed to have all the answers, right? Masterminds can be a wonderfully sneaky way for entrepreneurs to get the coaching they need in the form of brainstorming. Like-minded individuals who have gone through similar struggles can offer sold answers to help you navigate the challenges more effectively, and get through the tough times strategically.

5. Support: It's lonely at the top, and as an entrepreneur, you may have begun to feel that more keenly than most. Dionne Warwick may have said it best in her song: "That's What Friends Are For." Masterminds are designed to develop strong support teams for you during the tough times, and often they develop into lifetime friendships.

If any of these reasons speak to you and your business, please join us for a meeting to learn more and see what Business Builders has to offer!

The United States Chamber of Commerce, at its board meeting in March 2020, awarded the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce with 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community.

“Accreditation validates a chamber as having programs that benefit its local economy and positively influence its community,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S. Chamber vice president of Federation Relations and Institute for Organization Management. “We applaud these organizations for advancing the principles of free enterprise.”

Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. This extensive self-review can take 6 – 9 months to complete.

“We are so proud to receive this 5-star distinction for the third time,” said Kathi Van Etten, President & CEO of the Simi Valley Chamber. “This truly is a testament to the hard work of our Board of Directors and staff to move business forward in Simi Valley.”

Local chambers are rated Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars. The final determination is made by the Accrditing Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce represents over 600 businesses in Simi Valley and the surrounding areas. The mission of the Simi Valley Chamber is to promote a strong business community. For more information on the Simi Valley Chamber, contact their office at 805-526-3900.

​Ventura County Public Health Department issues guidance for reopening additional sectors
Personal Services, Movies, Wedding Ceremonies permitted with restrictions
 
VENTURA, CA – As Ventura County’s hospitalized COVD-19 cases have stabilized, the Ventura County Public Health Officer has issued new guidance permitting the reopening of additional businesses that were previously closed. Sectors that may reopen with modifications, social distancing protocols, and completion of the attestation process include, but are not limited to:
 

• Personal Services: Nail salons, massage, skin care and cosmetology services, electrolysis, body art, tattoo parlors and piercing shops

1. Can open June 19, 2020.
2. Facial massages, waxing, tattoos, makeup, piercings or electrolysis services may be performed so long as they can be done without the removal of the client’s mask.
3. There is a 30-minute limitation on procedures and massages conducted in confined spaces.
4. Personal services are required to follow the state guidance at https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/expanded-personal-services.pdf.

 

• Movie Theaters

1. Must follow the state guidance https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-family-entertainment.pdf.
2. Can open June 26, 2020.

 

• Wedding Ceremonies

1) Outdoor wedding ceremonies may be performed with up to 100 persons present who can be safely physically distanced or a lesser number up to what the venue can safely support.
2) Indoor wedding ceremonies with 25% capacity or up to 100 people, whichever is less.
3) No reception or party permitted.
 
These sectors may be open only while adhering to social distancing protocols provided by the Governor and the Health Officer and after completing the County’s attestation process at www.vcreopens.com.

• Masks: The State of California announced today that face coverings are required in indoor public spaces, unless exempted by state guidelines for specific public settings (e.g., schools or childcare centers). Cloth face coverings or masks help reduce the spread of coronavirus especially when combined with physical distancing and frequent hand washing. Starting June 18, all people in California, including those in Ventura County, must wear face coverings in public indoor spaces and outdoors when six-foot distancing is not possible. Learn more about the state issued guidance and limited exceptions here.

 
For more information about COVID-19 and the local response, visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org.  
 

The County of Ventura has launched its Business Assistance Grant Program to provide relief for small businesses and nonprofit organizations from the impacts of COVID-19.

The Business Assistance Grant Program includes grants of $5,000 each for small businesses to alleviate impacts from COVID-19 for allowed uses such as payroll support, lease and rent payments, costs for personal protective equipment, purchases related to the operation of their businesses, and extraordinary business expenses for adhering to compliance protocols for reopening. 

Business Assistance Grants will be $5,000 awards to 1,000 recipients and will be available to those small businesses that meet the following criteria: 

• The business or nonprofit organization maintains a business license in Ventura County
• The business or nonprofit organization was in business on, or before, May 17, 2020
• In 2019, the business or nonprofit organization had total annual gross revenue between $25,000 and $2 million
• The business or nonprofit organization has registered with www.vcreopens.com if eligible
• The nonprofit organization is exempt from tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) per an IRS determination letter

The Ventura County Community Foundation will oversee the COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program with the coordination of a special oversight committee.

Business owners can apply for the grant at www.vcreopens.com from June 24 to July 8, 2020. 
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The County has also released its Rental Assistance Program, which may provide temporary rental assistance for Ventura County residents who owe past-due rent becuase of a hardship due to COVID-19. Priority will be given to eligible applicants with an annual household income of less than 50% area median income, followed by 80% AMI. The application process opens online at www.ventura.org/rent on June 17, 2020. Applications must be fully completed by July 1, 2020, including  submission of information requested from each applicant's landlord to support the appliction. If more eligible households apply than total funding can support, a computerized lottery system will be used to fund eligible households at random.

Those who qualify could potentially receive rental assistance in the amount of $1,500 for a studio/1 bedroom and $2,500 for a 2 bedroom or larger, with a maximum of two months of rent owed. While the funding may not fully cover monthly rent, it will assist in reducing the amounts owed. Payments will be made directly to landlords.

The rental program is federally funded by the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and prioritizes rental assistance for those with very low incomes who have been unable to pay rent due to the impacts of COVID-19.