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. 

On Friday, June 5, the California Department of Public Health put out a news release that included new guidance in multiple areas effective June 12. The County of Ventura and our public health officials will be reviewing this guidance in the coming days and we will update you with the industries that are allowed to register and reopen in Ventura County. Please review the news release below to find additional details.


California Public Health Officials Provide COVID-19 Update
State Announces New County Monitoring List to Support Local COVID-19 Response and Allow Timely Response to Outbreaks
State Releases New Guidance to Help Counties Plan for Reopening Based on Decisions by Local Public Health Officials

State Announces Critical Supplies and Guidance to Support Re-Opening of Schools and Childcare Facilities 

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health today announced the most recent statistics on COVID-19. California has 122,901 confirmed cases and 4,485 deaths. To date 2,238,463 tests conducted in California, with an increase of 55,792 tests over the prior 24-hour reporting period. As testing capacity continues to increase across the state, an increase in the number of positive cases has been expected. However California remains in the range of stability for case positivity rate and COVID-19 related hospitalizations. Despite increased testing and the reopening of certain sectors of the economy, California’s case positivity rate is at 4.5 percent and the number of hospitalizations has decreased by 2.9 percent over the last 14 days.
As Californians will remain at risk for COVID-19 until there is an effective, widely available vaccine, CDPH today also released its first County Monitoring List to give Californians insight into how their county is performing and provide early indicators of developing areas of concern. As the state continues to advance through its Pandemic Resilience Roadmap, CDPH also released guidance for additional sectors of the economy. This guidance provides sectors with information on public health modifications they should implement prior to opening. Upon review of local data related to COVID-19 spread and county preparedness, the county public health officer will make a final decision about the timing for opening a sector. 
"Just because some businesses are opening doesn't mean your risk for COVID-19 is gone. We all need to continue to keep physical distancing, wash our hands and wear face coverings in public," said Dr. Sonia Angell, State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health. "As we continue to release guidance on how different sections can reopen with modifications, it is important to remember guidance doesn't mean 'go.' Your local health officer will make the final decision about which sectors will open, guided by data specific to your community."
County Monitoring List
California is actively monitoring data on how COVID-19 is affecting individual communities. Today, the California Department of Public Health is publishing the County Monitoring List to give Californians insight into how their county is performing and provide early indication of developing areas of concern. The state will work closely with county health officials to more effectively target the public health response to local outbreaks. This will include identifying the drivers of increased transmission, reviewing strategies, discussing additional steps that can be taken (testing, contact tracing, infection control), discussing gaps in resources, and reviewing local containment measures. If a county is not able to address a localized outbreak it should consider reinstituting sector limitations or more general Stay-at-Home provisions. If the county makes insufficient or no progress, the State Public Health Officer may take action.
Given the state’s vast geographic diversity, many counties have attested to epidemiological readiness and overall preparedness and are able to move at their own pace into Stage 3 depending on local conditions. California provides guidance on how local jurisdictions should modify behavior and operations to reduce risk for infection should they decide to reopen a specific sector. If the state has not yet released guidance for a sector, then that sector cannot yet be reopened. Local officials in counties with attestations determine when specific sectors of their economy that have state guidance posted will reopen. It is up to the local jurisdiction to make decisions regarding reopening specific sectors based upon the epidemiology and readiness of the county.
​
Interim Statewide Guidance for Schools and Updated Guidance for Childcare
The California Department of Public Health today released interim guidance for schools and school–based programs to assist communities, school leaders, staff and parents to plan for the upcoming school year. The guidance is based on the best available public health data, international best practices currently employed, and the practical realities of managing school operations. As the science evolves and the school year draws closer, the guidance will be updated based on the most current information and the progress of the disease in California. In that spirit, the California Department of Public Health also released updated guidance for childcare programs and providers, including resources for parents and for employers supporting employees with childcare needs.
To support the safe reopening of schools and to protect public health, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the Department of General Services will assist public schools (traditional and charter), private schools and childcare facilities in procuring necessary PPE, supplies and equipment.
The following supplies will be distributed to meet the near-term needs of schools and childcare:

1. No-touch thermometers for every school and childcare facility totaling over 47,000;
2. Face shields for every teacher and childcare provider, totaling approximately 2.4 million;
3. Over 14 million cloth face coverings for staff and students;
4. Over 16 million disposable masks;
5. 123,000 N95 masks for school-based health professionals, including those interacting with symptomatic students; and
6. 143,000 gallons of hand sanitizer.

The Department of General Services will also work with schools and childcare providers to procure PPE and other supplies through a statewide process, easing logistical burdens and ensuring lower rates by leveraging the state’s purchasing power.
Implementation of the interim guidance should be tailored for each school site and the needs of students and families. School leaders should engage with families, staff, and public health authorities as they begin planning for the upcoming school year.
Guidance for Day Camps
This new guidance is intended to help day camps formulate and implement plans for safe re-opening. Implementation requires training and support for staff and adequate consideration of camper and family needs.
Guidance for Casinos Operated by Sovereign Tribal Nations
In working with California's sovereign tribal nations, California has released guidance on how to reopen casinos with reduced risk of transmission. Tribal governments should coordinate with local public health officials in the surrounding or neighboring jurisdictions to determine the readiness for reopening.
Guidance for Music, Film and Television Production
Music, TV and film production may resume in California, recommended no sooner than June 12, 2020 and subject to approval by county public health officers within the jurisdictions of operations following their review of local epidemiological data including cases per 100,000 population, rate of test positivity, and local preparedness to support a health care surge, vulnerable populations, contact tracing and testing. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers should abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should adhere to Office Workspace guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Guidance for Professional Sports without Live Audiences
Professional sports in California may resume training and competition without live audiences, recommended no sooner than June 12, 2020 and subject to approval by county public health officers within the jurisdiction of operations following their review of local epidemiological data including cases per 100,000 population, rate of test positivity, and local preparedness to support a health care surge, vulnerable populations, contact tracing and testing. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, athletes, coaching staff, medical staff, broadcasting staff and others at sporting facilities or events should abide by COVID-19 protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should adhere to Office Workspace guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Retail staff should adhere to Retail guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
June 12 Planning Guidance for Counties with Attestations
The California Department of Public Health also released new guidance on how local jurisdictions with attestations to readiness should modify behavior and operations to reduce risk for infection. All guidance is effective as of June 12 and should only be implemented with local health official approval following their review of local epidemiological data including cases per 100,000 populations, rate of test positivity, and local preparedness to support a health care surge, vulnerable populations, contact tracing and testing.

1. Campgrounds, RV Parks, and Outdoor Recreation
2. Hotels 
3. Cardrooms, Satellite Wagering Facilities and Racetracks 
4. Family Entertainment Centers 
5. Restaurants, Bars, and Wineries 
6. Fitness Facilities
7. Museums, Galleries, Zoos, and Aquariums 

 
More information about the state's COVID-19 guidance is on the California Department of Public Health's Guidance web page.
More information about reopening California and what individuals can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California.
www.cdph.ca.gov

A new Stay Well VC Order has been published and goes into effect tonight (May 29) at midnight. The revised order is attached and can be found at: https://www.vcemergency.com/staywellvc. This new order is set to expire on June 14th.

• This order includes the reopening of placed of worship following the state guidance.
• This order does not open up other whole industry sectors at this time. However, it allows us to stay in alignment with the state unless our local Public Health Officer chooses to be more restrictive for certain things.  
• This order does remove several restrictions to allowed activities.
• Golf carts are allowed (limit 1 person per cart), putting greens and flag pins are also allowed (with protocols).
• Sportfishing is allowed with the guidance approved by Dr. Levin.
• At the 1pm County Press Conference today https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=250800352660313&ref=search, additional openings for camping/beaches were announced. Passive recreation is allowed and expanded parking along the coast. Day use parking expanding at some parks. RV camping at the Rincon will be opening early next week at 50% capacity (finalizing operational protocols). 

You can read the new order here