Survey/Made in America/ EDD legislation

We have received over 300 responses to the Small Business California survey. To those of you that have completed the survey thank you. If you haven’t done so please take a few minutes to complete. We will close the survey March 3. For results of prior surveys go to www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org


Below is the live link to the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SBCAL2015

Last week Assembly Member Jones introduced AB 312 which would allow businesses to affix a Made in America label to their product if virtually all of the product is made in the USA. The current law says the product must be 100% Made USA..

This is a common sense law which will encourage California businesses to use US manufactured products. Currently businesses that have a foreign manufactured product in their product regardless of how infinitesimal cannot use the Made in America label in California and if they do use the label they are the subject to potential lawsuits. It must be 100%

The bill is opposed by the Consumer Federation of California and Consumer Attorneys of California who stopped its passage last year.
The bill is coauthored by Assembly Members Travis, Allen,Chang, Waldon and Wilk.

As I said in a email last week EDD is introducing legislation that would require businesses to file their quarterly reports Online. There is a hardship clause that says if you don’t have the capability to do so you will not be required to purchase technology to do so. How many of you don’t have ability to file Online? How many of you have ability to do so but choose to file on paper


Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA  94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188 

GO-Biz Workshops: How to Apply for California Tax Credit

Please find information below on the California Competes tax credit.

GO-Biz to Host Regional Workshops on How Businesses Can Apply for the California Competes Tax Credit

 

You are invited to join the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) for a free workshop on how to apply for the California Competes Tax Credit. Companies large and small that are adding jobs in the state are encouraged to apply for tax credits to help expand their business. GO-Biz evaluates the most competitive applications based on the factors required by statute, including total jobs created, total investment, average wage, economic impact, strategic importance and more. Applications are accepted online through a free and interactive website at www.calcompetes.ca.gov.

This fiscal year, GO-Biz is authorized to award $151.1 million in tax credits of which 25% ($37.7 million) is reserved for small businesses.  GO-Biz made the first allocation of $31 million on January 15, 2015 and is scheduled to make additional awards on April 16, 2015 ($75 million) and June 18, 2015 ($31.1 million plus any unallocated amounts from the previous application periods).  So far, GO-Biz has allocated approximately $60 million to 85 companies that are projected to create over 10,000 jobs and make close to $3 billion in investments. For more information about the California Competes Tax Credit visit the GO-Biz website here.

Please join us for one of the following workshops in your area:
Eureka, CA
Monday, February 23, 2015
9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Details and Registration

Redding, CA
Monday, February 23, 2015
2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Details and Registration

Petaluma, CA
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Details and Registration

Vallejo, CA
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
9:00 to 10:0 a.m.
Details and Registration

Walnut Creek, CA
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Details and Registration

Oakland, CA
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Details and Registration

San Francisco, CA
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Details and Registration

Salinas, CA
Thursday, February 26, 2015
9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Details and Registration

Bakersfield, CA
Friday, February 27, 2015
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Details and Registration

Torrance, CA
Monday, March 2, 2015
9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Details and Registration

City of Lakewood, CA
Monday, March 2, 2015
2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Details and Registration

Santa Clarita, CA
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Details and Registration

Corona, CA
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Details and Registration

Indio, CA
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Details and Registration

National City, CA
Thursday, March 5, 2015
8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Details and Registration

Santa Ana, CA
Thursday, March 5, 2015
2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Details and Registration

Thousand Oaks, CA
Friday, March 6, 2015
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Details and Registration

Cupertino, CA
Friday, March 6, 2015
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Details and Registration

Ventura, CA
Friday, March 6, 2015
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Details and Registration

Online Webinar
Monday March 16, 2015
2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Details and Registration

About GO-Biz
GO-Biz serves as California’s office for economic development and offers a range of services to business owners. Those services include attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, important informational briefings and much more. For more information visit: www.business.ca.gov or contact Jorge.Jaramillo@gov.ca.gov.



Brook J. Taylor
Deputy Director for Communications
California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
1325 J Street, 18^th Floor | Sacramento, CA 95814
Office Phone: (916) 322-0667 |Cell: (916) 769-6487|Twitter: @BrookTaylorCA
 



Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA  94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188 

Survey/Paid Sick Leave/Ex-Offenders

Yesterday, I went to see Selma.  A wonderful movie, but I was particularly taken by Dr. King's comments about speaking up.  He told the black community that if they wanted to have their voices heard they need to speak up.  Now I don’t want to equate the black struggle for voting rights with small business wanting their voices heard but the message is the same.  You need to speak up.
 
Please take a few minutes to complete the Small Business California survey if you have not already done so.  We will keep this open for a few weeks but we need to get more responses.  Below is the live link to the survey: 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SBCAL2015

In the State of the Union speech, President Obama signaled his support of the Healthy Families Act.  This would provide 7 days paid sick leave for employees of businesses with 15 or more employees.  It would be earned at a rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked.

A topic of discussion has been to get businesses to hire ex-offenders.  There are tax breaks available to businesses that do so.  The question is, would you hire an ex-offender in your business?

Covered California/Survey

February 15 is the last day individuals can sign up for Covered California.  If you miss the date you will not be able to sign up until the next Open Enrollment Period ( November 15, 2016 through Feb 15, 2016).

As a general statement, it is also the last day to change your coverage if you signed up last year.  Go to  www.HealthCare.gov to get coverage or change coverage.

We started our survey Monday and I want to remind all of you to complete the survey.  This is the most important thing Small Business California does during the year to set our agenda.  Thank you to those that have already completed it.  Please forward it to others.

Below is the live link to the survey: 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SBCAL2015