Keep An Eye Out For Upcoming Chamber Activities

As President / CEO of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, it is always my privilege to provide you with business information relevant to our membership. This month’s column focuses on two things: the Chamber’s upcoming Business Expo and the voice of our Chamber being heard in Sacramento on legislation detrimental to the business community.

The SCV Chamber’s 2010 Home & Business Expo is right around the corner and moving up on us fast. There’s no time like the present to focus on Expo as an opportunity to put you and your business in the spotlight with a sponsorship at the event. This year’s event will take place October 8, 9 and 10, and will once again be held at the city of Santa Clarita Activities Center.

More than ever, businesses are seeking a personal touch with existing and potential customers. Being a sponsor at the expo puts you top of mind, and front and center with the hundreds of people in attendance, as well as your fellow sponsors and participating businesses. Sponsorships are still available but going fast so please contact the Chamber for more information on becoming a sponsor at (661) 702-6977. We would also like to thank the city of Santa Clarita for its ongoing support and cooperation in the planning of our annual Business Expo, the largest event of its kind in the Santa Clarita Valley.

On June 17, 2010, business leaders from the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, city of Santa Clarita and College of the Canyons travelled to Sacramento to meet with elected officials and their staff regarding proposed changes to existing Enterprise Zones throughout the State and to voice our opposition to proposed legislation. SB 974, a bill authored by Darrell Steinberg, (D)SenatePro-Tem, seeks to eliminate funding for various Enterprise Zones located throughout the State of California, including the one in the city of Santa Clarita.

One of the proposed eliminations would be the Hiring Tax Credit, which is the most used and most lucrative benefit to businesses participating in the program. The elimination of Enterprise Zone benefits would be a serious financial blow to the Santa Clarita Valley business community. Since the inception of the Enterprise Zone in the city of Santa Clarita in 2007, more than 200 businesses have joined the program, resulting in the creation and / or saving of 1,700 local jobs, and a combined financial savings to the participating businesses of $60 million dollars. At the beginning of July, the Assembly Jobs Economy and Economic Development Committee chose to not allow a hearing or vote on SB 974, thereby not allowing the bill to move forward in the process. The voice of the SCV Chamber of Commerce and that of more than 350 other groups opposed to the legislation was heard loud and clear by the members of the committee. The recent developments regarding SB 974 are good news for the members of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce and for the business community at large. As a Chamber, we will make every effort to make certain this legislation does not come back to life as part of the ongoing budget discussions in Sacramento.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with information each month, and thank you for your ongoing membership in the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.