Blogs of the LA Area Chamber
Congress Authorizes Trade Promotion Authority With Bipartisan Support
Gary Toebben on June 30, 2015 at 9:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Last week’s Congressional approval of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) was a major victory for President Obama, U.S. businesses that export, and the working men and women of America. With a bipartisan vote, the U.S. Congress prioritized economic growth and job creation here at home. In doing so, Congressional leaders proved they could tune out opposition on the left and the right and take action on an important measure to move our economy forward.
Help “Make It in LA” - Return Your Survey Today
Gary Toebben on June 23, 2015 at 9:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
From the entrepreneur tinkering in his or her garage to the mighty aerospace industry, making things has always been part of the DNA of Southern California. According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, there are more than 365,000 people employed by the manufacturing industry in L.A. County, the most for any county in America. Led by aerospace and fashion, manufacturing accounts for almost 10 percent of all jobs in L.A. County.
Brown, California Lawmakers Reach Budget Deal After Compromises
California Healthline on June 17, 2015 at 10:00:00 am
Posted in Health Care Waiting Room
On Tuesday, California lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown (D) announced a $115.4 billion budget deal with several health care implications, the Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal" reports (Mason, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 6/16).
The deal comes after the California Legislature on Monday passed its budget plan (AB 93) hours ahead of the deadline to do so.
The initial $117.5 billion general fund plan assumed that the state would get about $2.3 billion more in revenue than estimated in Brown's revised version of the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget plan, which was released in May (California Healthline, 6/16).
Homes For Heroes – An Opportunity for Homeless Vets and Apartment Owners
Gary Toebben on June 16, 2015 at 9:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald was in Los Angeles 11 days ago to meet with Mayor Eric Garcetti and L.A. apartment owners to encourage their participation in “Homes For Heroes.” This campaign was organized by Home For Good, a partnership between the L.A. Area Chamber and United Way of Greater Los Angeles aimed at ending veteran homelessness in L.A. County by 2015.
Chamber Advocacy Strengthens Workforce Education & Training
Gary Toebben on June 9, 2015 at 9:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Last Thursday, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) was among three programs from the L.A. region awarded a Career Pathways Trust Grant to educate thousands of students through partnerships with businesses. LACCD received $15 million to support programming that blends academic and career technical education, cultivates business education partnerships, and trains students for jobs in high-demand fields, such as health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology, bio-technology and engineering.
ACA Changes Provide Big Opportunities for Small Businesses
Samantha Beasley, Senior Manager of Health Care Policy, L.A. Area Chamber on June 3, 2015 at 3:00:00 pm
Posted in Health Care Waiting Room
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare), all health plans must now have 10 essential benefits, including hospitalization, prescription drugs, maternity care and mental health treatments. Any health plans that do not meet all 10 requirements were to be canceled at the end of 2014, but Gov. Brown signed SB 1446 last July, giving California’s businesses with fewer than 50 employees an extra year to obtain ACA-compliant health coverage. If the eligible businesses' sponsored health plans still do not meet the law's requirements at the end of this year, such plans will be canceled. cancelled
MWD Invests $450 million on Water Conservation
Gary Toebben on June 2, 2015 at 9:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Is there a long-term benefit to Los Angeles County and all of Southern California that can come from this brutal, historic drought? Yes, if the call by Gov. Jerry Brown to lower water use turns out to have a permanent, lasting effect. Lowering demand will allow the system to store more water in wet years so that sufficient water is held in reserve to meet the demands of future droughts.