CHAMBER MEMBERS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FOR JOB CREATION 
More than 300 business leaders convened at L.A. City Hall on Wednesday for the Chamber's annual ACCESS L.A. City Hall event. Chamber members heard from L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (left), L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel, L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti. This year's event, presented by the Southern California Gas Company, a Sempra Energy utility, focused on eight issues the L.A. City Council can do right now to create jobs and strengthen the economy. "The Chamber's agenda is my agenda ... your presence here means that this is your house," said Garcetti. Top picture, from left: Chamber VP of Public Policy P. Anthony Thomas; Chamber President & CEO Gary Toebben; Chamber Board First Vice Chair Karen Hathaway, LAACO, Ltd./Los Angeles Athletic Club; and Chamber Board Chair Joseph Czyzyk, Mercury Air Group, Inc. Contact Beverly Kenworthy, 213.580.7531. View photo gallery.

Chamber releases second annual report on L.A. City Council district economic trends
In conjunction with ACCESS L.A. City Hall, the Chamber released the Los Angeles City Council Districts: 2011 Economic Report, which breaks down economic trends and figures by council district. The report, prepared by Beacon Economics, highlights annual employment, average wage and building permits (commercial and residential) over the last year. The report also provides a breakdown of gross business receipts. Implementing a plan to phase out the Gross Receipts Tax could potentially create 130,583 new jobs and generate more tax revenue, according to the report. "The message we are trying to get to City Council members is that their top priority is creating jobs in their districts," said Chamber President & CEO Gary Toebben. Contact Beverly Kenworthy, 213.580.7531.

Chamber hears from GM North American President Reuss on the new GM
General Motors Corporation is a new company; it's committed to winning and its models are worthy of buyers, said GM North American President Mark Reuss at the Occidental Petroleum Power Hour Series on Thursday at the Chamber. "We have literally lost generations of car buyers in California," Reuss said. "That has to change and we're making headway." Reuss discussed new GM models that the company is introducing and its goal to win back customers in California and nationwide. Above, Eric Moses, Occidental Petroleum, and Reuss. Contact Pat Clark, 213.580.7595.

California Energy Commission Chair talks about improving State's energy systems
“Innovation and energy are vital for the future of our economy, and certainly for jobs,” said California Energy Commission Chair Robert Weisenmiller, left, at the Environmental Sustainability Council Friday at the Chamber. “Research and development is critical,” Weisenmiller said, sharing how the State’s primary energy policy and planning agency is working to improve energy systems, including reducing energy use in existing buildings and incentivizing the development of renewable energy. Contact Jessica Duboff, 213.580.7558.

Caltech wins U.S. Department of Energy funding for student competition The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $2 million over three years for six regional awardees to create and administer a network of student-focused business creation competitions to inspire young entrepreneurs to develop innovative, clean energy companies. The western region winner is the California Institute of Technology. The school's competition, First Look West, will adopt the best practices and draw on the success of various other existing regional competitions. It will be administered by the California Institute of Technology, in partnership with the University of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles. Read more. LAUSD schools to receive MIND software to boost math performance Non-profit education researcher MIND Research Institute recently announced that elementary school students at 46 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) using MIND's ST Math® visual math software program in 2010/11 achieved a dramatic 13.6-point gain in math proficiency on the 2011 California Standards Test. MIND Research officials, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Meg Whitman recently announced that the Whitman-Harsh Family Foundation will invest $500,000 to deliver the innovative MIND ST Math® program to 10 Los Angeles schools, including five Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. Read more. Want your good news featured here? Click here to learn more.