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FEATURED STORIES
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JOBS STRATEGY NEEDED NOW FOR CALIFORNIA
State Budget: Get It Done.
We heard one of the shortest State of the State speeches from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this week. No big proposals, no new legislation. Instead, he respectfully urged the legislature to come to closure on a $42 billion deficit state budget that is effectively a year overdue and suggested legislators decline their paychecks until it's done.
A state budget is critical now--state funding has stopped for traffic relief projects. Funding has stopped for affordable and workforce housing construction. Funding constraints for key workforce development institutions, particularly community colleges and universities, is resulting in fewer student enrollments at a time when we need more highly educated folks prepared for science and technology in the global workplace.
Even more importantly, the failure of this state to balance its budget is an anchor around California's neck as we prepare to compete for federal funding under the Obama administration's planned $800 billion economic stimulus package. 49 other states are able to move much more nimbly--their governors and state legislators engaged, their teams in place--because they took care of balancing their state's budget long ago.
State Projects: Get Alignment on Needs and Messages.
Our state’s needs and messages need alignment. There are $28 billion "shovel ready" infrastructure projects in Southern California alone that would create hundreds of thousands of jobs. This is important as layoffs increase daily and state unemployment stands at over 8%. To secure this state's "fair share" of economic recovery funds, California must urge the new administration and Congress to use the existing federal formulas which everyone is familiar with. Formula distribution is important as it avoids the politics of earmarks or "pork" and helps create certainty, which stabilizes a volatile marketplace.
Show Us the Money: Seek Alignment in California's Congressional Delegation.
At no time in history has this state's 55 Congressional representatives spoken with one voice for California. But it's time we ask our state Democratic and Republican party leaders to deliver on the economic stimulus this state needs as the world's 8th largest economy. Show us the money. Don't play politics. The Schwarzenegger administration must dedicate a "point person" in his shop with the gravitas and experience necessary to deliver this delegation. Business, labor, government, our future -- depend on this success.
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Orange County is Ready to Work!
The Orange County Business Council in partnership with OCTA is strongly advocating that transit operating funds be part of the economic recovery program. Current OCTA projects in the pipeline will result in more than 62,000 jobs in Orange County, but that’s only possible if streamlining infrastructure projects are a part of the economic recovery and reinvestment plan.
Help Orange County get its fare share, get people back to work and help stimulate the economy.
Send a letter to Congress or state officials. Click here to share your thoughts on OCTA's "Ready-to-Go-Projects.
The Orange County Business Council is determined to get projects moving, get people back to work and help stimulate the economy.
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Economic Recovery and Stimulus Talks in
Washington, D.C.
Kris Murray, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Orange County Business Council, joined a delegation from Southern California to advocate for a federal economic recovery program that accomplishes increased investment in shovel-ready infrastructure projects. Business Leaders and public officials from Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura went to Washington, D.C. January 12-14th to meet with leaders on Capitol Hill to press the case that Southern California’s projects have national economic significance, as well as the ability to deliver quickly and get people back to work.
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Excerpts From Governor Scharzenegger's
State of the State
- I will not give the traditional State of the State address today, because the reality is that our state is incapacitated until we resolve the budget crisis. The truth is that California is in a state of emergency. Addressing this emergency is the first and greatest thing we must do for the people.
- The 42 billion dollar deficit is a rock upon our chest and we cannot breathe until we get it off.
- It doesn’t make any sense to talk about education, infrastructure, water, health care reform and all these things when we have this huge budget deficit. I will talk about my vision for all of these things... and more... as soon as we get the budget done.
[FULL STORY]
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Latino Educational Attainment Initiative's Impact
Shines Bright at Event
The Orange County Business Council, Orange County Department of Education and Orange County United Way celebrated LEA's accomplishments in education with special remarks from State Senator Lou Correa yesterday.
Presented by The Waltos Group of Northwestern Mutual, this event highlighted the positive impacts of the Latino Educational Attainment Initiative-parents trained, students' achievements, partnerships created and communities enhanced.
“Forty-four percent of all public school students in Orange County are Latino. While there are many excellent Latino students, as a group these students have demonstrably lower test scores, graduation rates and college acceptance rates," stated LEA co-founder Joe Ames. "If a company with 1,000 employees had 440 under-skilled workers, that company would be in trouble."
To date, LEA has trained over 6,000 parents and have 20 neighborhood coalitions partnering with the initiative and OCBC.
"When we started this program one in seven Latino students were eligible for a four year college," said Dr. Juan Carlos Araque, Chair of LEA initiative. "As of now, three of seven are eligible. We know that this works, we know that parent involvement is key."
Read more about the event here...
Special thanks to title sponsor The Waltos Group of Northwestern Mutual, event sponsors at&t and Time Warner Cable and our gracious venue host the Discovery Science Center.
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OCBC's Chairman Larry Buster Hits the Airwaves!
OCBC Chairman Larry Buster of First American Title Company taped an interview on Time Warner’s Local Edition last week that will air throughout the month as a local insert during CNN’s Headline News program. In addition to promoting OCBC’s upcoming February 10 Annual Dinner, Buster outlined several major business council initiatives and discussed the 2009 theme "Compete to Succeed."
Take a look at the video here...
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From Rose Bowl Victory to OCBC's Annual Dinner
USC's Pete Carroll to Keynote Event
Join the Orange County Business Council for the 2009 Annual Dinner: Compete to Succeed. This annual event will feature USC head football Coach and two-time national champion Pete Carroll. Carroll's dynamic keynote "Win Forever" will show businesses how to compete to win with proper preparation and determination in the face of challenges.
February 10, 2009
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
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OC Heading Into Drier Times
Orange County Register Op-Ed by Lucy Dunn
California is in the midst of an escalating water crisis, and it is imperative that Orange County develop a variety of technologies and techniques to ensure its long-term water supplies.
Orange County is known for its innovation in water. Recent success stories include Orange County's own groundwater replenishment systems, using reclaimed water for a variety of agriculture and landscaping purposes, a well-established track record of conservation and solid investment in seawater desalination technology.
[FULL STORY]
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OCBC Testifies in Support of the 241
On Thursday, January 8, Kris Murray, Vice President of Government Affairs testified at a packed Transportation Corridor Agencies Board of Directors meeting, expressing the business council’s continued support for completion of the SR-241 Foothill South Toll Road. The Orange County Business Council has been a long-standing proponent of the toll road, a critical component of the Regional Transportation Plan, as well as the air quality management plan for Southern California approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If the 241 is not completed, it will result in tens of thousands of hours of delays, lost productivity, lost jobs, and greatly restricted recreational access to the California coast. Given the state of the economy, it is imperative to ensure we capture the high-wage jobs and improve mobility in the region.
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OCBC Being Honored by Neighborhood Housing Services
The Neighborhood Housing Services of Orange County celebrates the 32nd Good Neighbor Awards Dinner February 26 at the Westminster Rose Center.
Proceeds from the 32nd Awards Dinner will help fund classes in Financial Literacy and Homebuyer Education empowering over 1,500 residents to take charge of their financial future and provide leadership training for local residents.
NHS OC presents awards to individuals and organizations who continually make efforts to better sustain affordable workforce housing and display community leadership throughout Orange County.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Westminster Rose Center | 14140 All American Way, Westminster
6 p.m. Reception | 7 p.m. Dinner
Click here for more information and sponsorship opportunities.
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Member Spotlight
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Celebrate the New Year with Toshiba Direct Discounts!
OCBC members now receive Toshiba's employee discounts on industry-leading computer and consumer electronics products. Visit www.store.toshiba.com/ocbc-aff or call 1.800.405.3704 and reference Program ID: PAOB to receive your discount!
From new laptops for the office to GPS systems for the holidays, save on all Toshiba electronics with Toshiba Direct. OCBC and Toshiba Direct recently launched a new custom website just for OCBC members where you can find all the latest in portable PC technology for home and office, as well as televisions, office electronics and other consumer products from one of the world's leading technology companies.
Contact OCBC Director of Communications Matt Prince for questions.
OCBC gives special thanks to Chris Harrington, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Manager for Toshiba and OCBC's Vice Chair of Workforce Development, for bringing this opportunity to the Business Council and its membership.
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Investor Spotlight
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Orange County Water District Honored by EPA
Congratulations to the Orange County Water District, who was recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency with a Water Efficiency Award. The award honors agencies and institutions that reduce, reuse and recycle water through innovative systems.
Click here to read the OC Metro article.
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Upcoming Events
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Committee Meetings
January 2009
Workforce Housing Committee
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Community Colleges Working Group
Thursday, January 22, 2009 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Workforce Development Committee
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
For more information on upcoming committee meetings for 2009 check out OCBC's Master Calendar.
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