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New Start for Redevelopment – Redevelopment as we know it came to a halt on Wednesday along with the state mandated deadline to dissolve California’s more than 400 agencies, including the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. “San Francisco is a city that has used redevelopment successfully to create needed housing, jobs and lasting economic stimulus,” said Chamber President & CEO Steve Falk. “The focus is now on creating a new mechanism so that important projects can continue.” The city has taken steps to transfer the agency’s affordable-housing assets to the Mayor's Office of Housing, and management of approved projects, such as the Hunters Point Shipyard, Treasure Island and the Transbay Transit Center, to the city administrator. The Chamber will continue to support investments in redevelopment projects that buoy growth in emerging industries and bring economic boost to the city. Contact Jim Lazarus at jlazarus@sfchamber.com or 415.352.8810. Go to Cuba with the Chamber – Join the Chamber and Californians Building Bridges for an exclusive new nine-day, eight-night guided cultural exchange trip to Havana, Cuba April 3-11. During this unique trip sanctioned by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, participants will enjoy access to Cuban business and government leaders and discover Morro Castle, the Hemingway Historic site, Bueana Vista Social Club, the Martin Luther King Center’s Project Havana, as well as trips to pristine beaches, private artist homes, organic tobacco growing farms and much more. Chamber members travel single for $3,800 and double for $3,500 (plus $500 for non-members). Trip prices include roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles to Havana, five-star lodging at the Melia Cohiba, group ground transportation and most meals. Read more and view the itinerary. To register, contact Nadia Chan at nchan@sfchamber.com or 415.352.8803 by February 20. Marketing Solutions for Small Business – Chamber small business members heard from Strongpoint Public Relations Vice President Jennifer Malleo-Osinga Wednesday about cost-effective marketing and PR practices at the January Small Business Issues Forum. “PR can be executed on a modest budget, and the awareness and word-of-mouth that can be attained is priceless for a small business,” said Malleo-Osigna. The group also discussed the role of PR in an integrated marketing strategy and how to use it as a sales tool. The next Small Business Issue Form is Wed. Mar. 7, Leveraging Branding & Marketing to Stand out Amongst Competition, presented by UNIT Partners. Read more and register. This Month in Economic Development – The Bay Area economy continues to be a statewide and national “bright spot:” unemployment is down; the commercial real estate sector is strong for both retail and office; and housing is picking up slightly. “The positive data points are confirmed by qualitative information from clients in the market,” said Dennis Conaghan, Executive Director, San Francisco Center for Economic Development (SFCED), a division of the Chamber Foundation. “People are looking at prudent expansion, and are much more optimistic than a year ago.” Read more. This Week in Public Policy – Board of Supervisors voted 6-5 to give preliminary approval on new rules for two Castro district parklets. Board President David Chiu introduced legislation that would give preferences to more socially responsible companies for bids on city contracts. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) put plans on hold to install thousands of new parking meters in Dogpatch and parts of the Mission and is now considering a $5.53 per square foot fee for residential construction to help fund transit, transportation and infrastructure improvements. Local city and transit officials are calling for local High-Speed Rail (HSR) construction to begin within three years. Mayor Ed Lee has hired former Supervisor Bevan Dufty as the head of the office of Housing Opportunity Partnerships and Engagements (HOPE). Members Making News – Pollack Architecture changed its name to Rapt Studio and is expanding its services to include environmental graphics and brand design, as well as interior and architectural design. The San Francisco Federal Credit Union is opening a new branch at 311 California St. Mon. Feb. 6. Join in on the Grand Opening Celebrations held daily next week from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm and get entered to win fantastic prizes! The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) unveiled a fee-based pre-screening security program and a first-of-its-kind yoga room in Terminal 2. Click here to submit your company’s news.
Want to help make local government more responsive and efficient? The Superior Court in San Francisco is looking for volunteers to serve on the Civil Grand Jury, the city’s independent “watchdog” investigative body. The 19-member citizens group monitors the performance of local governing entities and makes recommendations which can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of government services. Read more and apply by April 15, 2012. Contact ggiubbini@sftc.org or 415.551.3605.
The Chamber has partnered with California’s preeminent Human Resources expert, Employers Group, to help members understand the complexities of state employment laws, mitigate risk, manage the compliance burden, define priorities and minimize costs. Chamber members can enjoy a 60 day membership trial for $19.99, including unlimited access to: a live consulting helpline, a live reference center and BNA’s HR Essentials with Employers Group. After the trial, Chamber members receive an exclusive 25% discount on annual Employers Group dues and a training credit on dues amount dollar-for-dollar. Read more. Register Online. |
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
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The Chamber gratefully
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