Gilroy Chamber Business Focus October 2023

October 23, 2023

Resignation of President/CEO and Appointment of Interim President/CEO

To: General Membership – Gilroy Chamber of Commerce

Fr: Gina Lopez, Chair of the Board

Re: Resignation of CEO and Appointment of Interim CEO

Date: October 20, 2023

Dear Gilroy Chamber Members and Supporters,

Thank you for your continued support and engagement with the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. It has been a privilege to serve as your Board Chair this year.

The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce is a prominent organization dedicated to serving the business community and fostering growth in Gilroy. After nearly five years of exemplary service with the Gilroy Chamber, one as CEO, Victoria Valencia will be leaving the Chamber, with her last day being November 3. She will be leaving to take on a pivotal role with the City of Gilroy as their Economic Development Manager, and will still be working hand in hand with the Chamber and our business community.

In light of this transition, the Chamber is pleased to introduce Jane Howard as the interim President/CEO. Jane steps into her role as Interim President/CEO, effective November 6, with a deep sense of commitment to the Chamber, our members, and the City of Gilroy. As a seasoned member of our organization and as the former Executive Director of Visit Gilroy, she is well-equipped to provide stability and continue the work of the Chamber during this transition.

This transition presents a unique opportunity for the Chamber and the City of Gilroy to enhance collaboration and alignment in their economic development efforts. Both Jane and Victoria are committed to ensuring a seamless transition and will work closely to drive the Chamber’s mission forward.

The Chamber Board of Directors, alongside Jane, will be overseeing the search for a permanent CEO who will lead the Chamber into a promising future. Throughout this process, we will ensure that our members are kept informed of the latest developments.

We encourage Chamber members to reach out to Jane or the Board of Directors with their questions, suggestions, and concerns. This transition marks a pivotal moment in our Chamber’s history, and we are excited to embark on this journey with the support and engagement of our dedicated members.

As we move forward, the Chamber remains dedicated to its mission of supporting local businesses and driving economic development in the City of Gilroy. We look forward to an exciting future of growth and prosperity.

Thank you, in advance, for your support during this transition period.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Gina Lopez, Chair of the Board

October 2023 Spotlight: Code Enforcement

Mayor Marie Blankley

Code Enforcement Team

The City’s Code Enforcement team falls under the umbrella of our Community Development Department. The Code Enforcement program helps preserve and enhance neighborhood quality and general welfare through enforcement of City regulations. Code Enforcement has the following responsibilities: Performing activities related to investigation and enforcement of City zoning codes, ordinances, abatement regulations, public nuisance, property maintenance, neighborhood preservation, and other issues relating to the health, safety, and welfare of the community. Code Enforcement responds to a wide range of concerns from the community. Examples of code violations for which Code Enforcement is responsible to address include the no smoking ordinance; sidewalk vending ordinance; building or substandard housing issues; unpermitted construction; blight, weeds, garbage-related complaints; spills, sewer overflows, public way encroachment concerns.

Code Enforcement Officers issue notices of violation, administrative notices for non-compliance, and administrative citations. They also maintain records of complaints, inspections, investigations, and enforcement activities. Corrective action must follow each violation within a specified period of time. Otherwise, additional enforcement actions are taken to correct violations, which can include administrative citations, recordation of violation on the property, abatement, or other actions. The Code Enforcement team strives to promote voluntary compliance, with a focus on education and technical assistance where Code Enforcement Officers work with property owners, concerned parties, and businesses to help guide them through compliance. The goal of the Code Enforcement program is to improve and maintain the quality of life for Gilroy’s residents and businesses.

The Code Enforcement team currently consists of two full-time Code Enforcement Officers that respond to reports of code violations. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City had 3.25 full-time equivalent on the team, consisting of two full-time and two part-time Code Enforcement Officers. Our Code Enforcement team responds immediately to calls regarding life safety hazards such as sewage overflow, substandard housing, or construction without permits, to name a few. Alleged code violations may be reported by calling 408-846-0454, or by utilizing our online “Report a Concern” request tracker, or visiting in person with a Code Enforcement Officer at City Hall located at 7351 Rosanna St.

The City Council recently authorized the funding for a position of Supervising Code Enforcement Officer. We expect that this position will prioritize code enforcement activities/cases and ordinances to implement, and focus on complex, cross-departmental cases with Police, Fire, and/or Public Works Departments. More detailed examples of responsibilities include handling the most complex and sensitive investigations and cases; organize, supervise, and prioritize code enforcement activities; coordinate staff training; provide technical expertise on difficult incidents; assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure timely and accurate completion of assignments; supervise the preparation of materials and evidence for administrative appeal hearings; and coordinate with other departments or divisions on compliance activities. The Supervising Code Enforcement Officer will be tasked with addressing and assisting with the accumulation and backlog of cases, as well as elevating areas that are currently necessitated to be lower priority, such as signages, offsite advertisements, abandoned newspaper racks, shopping carts, etc.

A new Supervising Code Enforcement Officer along with two existing Code Enforcement Officers will allow the City to provide a basic level of resource for reactive, complaint-driven enforcement efforts. Most jurisdictions operate on a reactive model of code enforcement and the function is typically funded by the General Fund as it serves the entire community. This resource level will bring the City close to the pre-pandemic level, which had two full-time and two part-time Code Enforcement Officers. Some of the current challenges of our Code Enforcement team are the increasing demand for services and the increasing complexity of cases. Measuring customer interaction as service activities, which would include contact log entries, meetings, and inspections, the Code Enforcement team has seen a steady increase since 2020. We project that we will provide close to 2,900 service activities for 2023 with our current two full-time Code Enforcement Officers, up from 2,514 service activities in 2019 pre-pandemic and when we had an additional two part-time employees, and up from 1,707, 2,215 and 2,742 service activities in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Gilroy Police Department

As members of the public, we may sometimes find it difficult to differentiate between calls for service that are the responsibility of a Code Enforcement Officer vs. a call necessitating the response of a police officer. Most Municipal Code violations (infractions/misdemeanors) are typically addressed through administrative or civil procedures where a citation and fine are issued by a code enforcement officer. However, in cases involving public safety, such as traffic regulations or alcohol-related infractions and misdemeanors, a more criminal approach may be necessitated. For example, the Gilroy Police Department (GPD) oversees matters related to vehicle abatement and parking violations. In many cases, the vehicle in question may be reported as stolen, and this information is discovered only after a check through the Stolen Vehicle System, which is accessible exclusively to GPD personnel. Additionally, criminal actions may be taken in cases involving open alcohol containers, alcohol consumption in prohibited city property areas, cooking or warming fires, aggressive panhandling, public urination, and various other public nuisance and quality of life violations. These types of code violation complaints/reports may result in a citation or arrest by GPD. Typically, in both scenarios, the situation is managed by issuing a “Notice to Appear (NTA),” commonly known as a “ticket” or citation.

From a legal standpoint, an NTA involves an arrest, but physical custody is rarely necessary unless there are other factors at play, such as outstanding warrants. This NTA serves as a commitment to appear before a magistrate and address the specified charges. These cases are subsequently forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for further assessment and potential prosecution.

Cases related to issues like the quality of life and public nuisances are often resolved through fines, community services, agreement to participate in rehabilitative classes or other benefitting community resource. The outcome may vary depending on the defendant’s previous criminal record. A representative from the City Attorney’s office may be present to represent the city in matters related to Municipal Code misdemeanors. The prosecution of all other crimes is handled by the District Attorney’s office. State law has minimized certain crimes with the unintended consequence of enabling repeat offenders, making it difficult if not impossible for law enforcement to remove offenders and avoid the repeated process of arresting the same individual(s) over and over. In addition, the prosecutorial process gives offenders numerous opportunities to appeal and otherwise “work the system,” contributing further to the obstacles faced by law enforcement officers.

Please note that this newsletter is not meant to include a discussion on crimes clearly falling under the jurisdiction of the GPD, be that theft, robbery, assault, and more serious crimes. It has hopefully provided you with information that defines and explains how we handle municipal code violations across the city through Code Enforcement Officers, and when such violations may cross over as criminal and necessitate Police Officers. For more in-depth discussions, please meet us in Council Chambers for coffee and donuts on Saturday, November 4th.

Gilroy's Commitment to a Greener Tomorrow

Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) recently released its Community Impact Report for Gilroy customers, detailing the sustainable strides taken in Gilroy. Here’s why it matters:

🍃 A whopping 82% reduction in electricity-related emissions. That’s 18,299,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions we’ve collectively avoided!

💡 Gilroy residents and businesses saved $385,000 directly on their bills!

☀️ Solar energy enthusiasts? You’ve earned $79,310 in cash payments for contributing surplus solar power.

🏡 Moreover, 18,820 households and businesses now harness the power of clean, carbon-free electricity.

SVCE is the public, not-for-profit agency providing clean electricity for residents and businesses in Santa Clara County that’s not only competitively priced but also sourced from clean and renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower. While SVCE focuses on clean generation, PG&E delivers this electricity through its existing infrastructure.

To learn more about SVCE, visit svcleanenergy.org.

October 16, 2023

Meet the Team

The Gilroy Chamber is thrilled to welcome Cristina Cortes to our team as our Membership and Marketing Coordinator. Make sure to say hi when you see her at an upcoming mixer or breakfast.

Cristina brings a business and community background to the Gilroy Chamber as a business owner herself – founding Cristina Alida Social Media. She is a social media strategist, speaker, and founder of the #1 Bay Area content creator event, Content & Cocktails. She coaches business owners about content creation, how to generate leads, how to be authentically you online, and how to create a content strategy that supports your business goals. She speaks to groups on the topics of a success mindset, entrepreneurship, and social media marketing/branding.

Cristina has been selected to attend NYFW with a Latina content creator organization for personal branding experience, has been a panelist and keynote speaker at SJSU, and held marketing workshops at the Silicon Valley Capital Club.

She’s looking forward to bringing her expertise and energetic spirit to all of our members and supporting Gilroy’s thriving business community.

You can contact Cristina Cortes at: cristina@gilroy.org

Proud Members of the Gilroy Chamber

The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce appreciates the support of our members. Investment dollars are dedicated to vital programs such as economic development, business marketing, leadership programs and more. We applaud each of you for helping make Gilroy a better place to live and work.

20 Years & over
Accurate Printing & Promotions
ASCO Service, Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating
Bonfante Collision Center Inc.
Community Media Access Partnership
Integrated Financial Benefits
Marcia Queen Financial Support Services
Pintello Comedy Theater
Ruggeri-Jensen-Azar

10 Years & over
Authentikos Advisory
Colliers International
Gardner South County Health Center
Jack’s Overhead Doors
Renz & Renz Real Estate Brokerage
The Pixley House
Youth Alliance

5 Years and over
Banister Hand Therapy, Inc.
Gilroy Unified School District
Intero Real Estate, Steve Barsanti
J. Barr Realty, Inc.
Leadership Gilroy
Sushi Omakase
Star Arts Education

 

Sidewalk Vending Community Workshop Outreach Meeting

 

Date: October 19, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: City Council Chambers, 7351 Rosanna St 

Hosted by the City of Gilroy Community Development Department and Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. 

The City of Gilroy is hosting a Sidewalk Vending Community Workshop Outreach. This meeting will provide information on the recently adopted Sidewalk Vending Ordinance and the permitting process. Santa Clara County Health will also present the required steps to obtain County Health’s approval. 

This community meeting will be in English with Spanish translation and in person at the City Council Chambers on October 19, 2023. The meeting will start at 6:00 pm and will conclude with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and meet with the City of Gilroy and Santa Clara County Health staff at 8:00 pm. 

Community members are encouraged to join the conversation by participating in the workshop meetings. 

Questions?

Please Call or Visit the City of Gilroy Community Development Department at – Gilroy City Hall, 7351 Rosanna Street, Gilroy, CA 95020; Phone – (408) 846-0451.

For additional information about sidewalk vending in the City of Gilroy, please visit the City’s website.

CalChamber Opposition Helps Stop 3 Job Killers, Other Harmful Proposals

Governor Gavin Newsom laid down his lawmaking pen Friday night after signing 890 new laws into effect, and vetoing another 156, including three California Chamber of Commerce job killer bills.

The CalChamber tracked more than 700 bills this year, formally opposing more than 100. Most of the legislation the CalChamber opposed was either stopped or amended to address concerns.

Out of 19 job killer bills identified this year, the Legislature sent seven to the Governor, who signed four of those bills into law. At the urging of the CalChamber, the Governor rejected three job killer bills.

In one of labor’s major defeats of the year, the CalChamber led a large coalition to secure a veto of SB 799 (Portantino; D-Burbank), which would have provided unemployment compensation to striking workers. The Governor also vetoed several other onerous labor-supported bills, including SB  627 (Smallwood-Cuevas; D-Los Angeles), setting a stringent recall process for certain employers to return former employees to the workforce; AB 1356 (Haney; D-San Francisco), a WARN Act expansion; and SB 725 (Smallwood-Cuevas; D-Los Angeles), requiring grocery stores to pay mandatory severance. He also vetoed a plaintiff attorney-sponsored bill, AB 524 (Wicks), which would have subjected employers, especially small employers, to litigation.

Below is a sampling of the CalChamber priority bills that were either stopped or signed into law.

Job Killer Bills

The Governor signed the following job killer bills:

  • AB 647 (Holden; D-Pasadena) Grocery Workers. Significantly expands statute related to successor grocery employers, including disrupting the ability for independent small stores to join together and creating a significant new private right of action.
  • SB 365 (Wiener: D-San Francisco) Undermines Arbitration. Discriminates against use of arbitration agreements by allowing trial courts to continue trial proceedings during any appeal regarding the denial of a motion to compel.
  • SB 616 (Gonzalez; D-Long Beach) Costly Sick Leave Expansion on All Employers. Imposes new costs and leave requirements on employers of all sizes, which is in addition to all other enacted leave mandates that small employers throughout the state are already struggling with to implement and comply.
  • SBX1 2 (Skinner; D-Berkeley) Windfall Profits Tax. Sets an arbitrary cap on the amount of profit that a refiner operating in the state of California can earn over a quarterly basis. This measure would further diminish supply, discourages operational efficiencies, and would limit the amount of capital a refiner could reinvest into their infrastructure to support California’s long-term climate goals.

The Governor vetoed the following bills:

  • AB 524 (Wicks; D-Oakland) Expansion of Litigation Under FEHA. Exposes employers to costly litigation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act by asserting that any adverse employment action was in relation to the employee’s family caregiver status, which is broadly defined to include any employee who provides direct care of any person of their choosing, and creates a de facto accommodation requirement that will burden small businesses.
  • SB 627 (Smallwood-Cuevas; D-Los Angeles) Onerous Return to Work Mandate. Imposes an onerous and stringent process to hire employees based on seniority alone for nearly every industry, including hospitals, retail, restaurants and movie theaters, which will delay hiring and eliminates contracts for at-will employment.
  • SB 799 (Portantino; D-Burbank) Increased Unemployment Insurance Taxes to Subsidize Striking Workers. SB 799 will allow striking workers to claim UI benefits when they choose to strike. Because the UI Fund is paid for entirely by employers, SB 799 will effectively add more debt onto California employers. Moreover, SB 799 will effectively force employers to subsidize strikes at completely un-related businesses because the UI Fund’s debt adds taxes for all employers, regardless of whether they’ve had a strike.

Oppose Bills

The following CalChamber-opposed bills were vetoed:

  • AB 316 (Aguiar-Curry; D-Winters) Vehicles: autonomous vehicles: Codifies an arbitrary date by which heavy duty autonomous vehicles will need to keep a human safety operator within the vehicle and bypasses state’s current regulatory process.
  • AB 1213 (Ortega; D-San Leandro) Tolling temporary disability payments. Requires tolling of temporary disability payments if Utilization Review decision is overturned during Independent Medical Review, which will drastically increase the number of unnecessary Independent Medical Review requests and is unnecessary in light of data supporting accuracy of Utilization Review decisions.
  • AB 1356 (Haney; D-San Francisco) WARN Act expansion. Significantly expands WARN Act by increasing notice period, changing definition of covered establishment, and expanding applicability to workers under overly broad definition of “employee of a labor contractor.”
  • SB 90 (Wiener; D-San Francisco) Increases health care costs. Increases health care costs by capping cost sharing for insulin prescriptions at $35 for 30-day supply.
  • SB 725 (Smallwood-Cuevas; D-Los Angeles) Mandatory severance. Unnecessarily requires grocery stores to pay mandatory severance, which should be left to the discretion of the employer.

Water-Related Opposed Bills

The following opposed bills were defeated for the year, but may be brought up again in 2024:

  • AB 429 (Bennett; D-Ventura) Groundwater restriction. Adds new regulatory layer to groundwater well permitting processes with unclear triggers for applicability. Increases costs and liability risks associated with well permitting. Failed deadline.
  • AB 460 (Bauer-Kahan; D-Orinda) Water rights. Gives State Water Board broad authority to issue interim relief orders for a wide variety of alleged water use violations, with little or no opportunity to be heard. Prevents judicial review of an interim relief order. Failed deadline.
  • AB 560 (Bennett; D-Ventura) Groundwater adjudication proceedings. Imposes new requirements for courts to consult with State Water Board prior to entering a final judgment in a groundwater adjudication, raising questions about role of executive in the judiciary. Failed deadline.
  • AB 1337 (Wicks; D-Oakland) Water rights. Gives broad authority to State Water Board to curtail water rights of any seniority or claim of right. Allows curtailments to issue without a hearing, depriving water rights holders of due process. Failed deadline.
  • AB 1563 (Bennett; D-Ventura) Groundwater restriction. Adds new regulatory layer to groundwater well permitting processes. Increases costs and liability risks associated with well permitting. Failed deadline.
  • SB 687 (Eggman; D-Stockton) Delta conveyance. Stops progress on the Delta Conveyance Project until Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan is updated and fully implemented. Holds infrastructure project to modernize California’s water system hostage until a lengthy planning process is both complete and “fully implemented.” Failed deadline.

Amended Bills

CalChamber opposition to the following proposals were removed after amendments were made to the bills. The Governor signed both bills:

  • AB 418 (Gabriel; D-Woodland Hills) Chemical Ban. Prior to amendments striking titanium dioxide from the bill, the bill banned five food chemical additives found to be safe by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Opposition removed after amendments narrowed the scope of chemicals banned.
  • SB 567 (Durazo; D-Los Angeles) Hurts Small Rental Property Owners. Originally prohibited owners of rental property from moving into their rentals unless they could show a 51% or greater ownership stake, creating an impossible standard to comply with if the property was owned 50/50 with someone else. Also made it difficult, if not impossible, to repair or sell one’s rental property by placing arbitrary new requirements on small property owners. Opposition removed after amendments eliminated these provisions. Neutral.

Support Bills

The following CalChamber-supported bills have been signed:

  • AB 356 (Mathis; R-Porterville) Streamlines housing. Extends the sunset contained in AB 2341 (Mathis) that provides aesthetic impacts are not a CEQA impact for any project involving the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing or replacement of an existing building into housing.
  • AB 358 (Addis; D-Morro Bay) Community college districts student housing. Eases construction of student housing by easing compliance with Field Act.
  • AB 531 (Irwin; D-Thousand Oaks) The Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond. Provides $6.38 billion to fund critically needed behavioral health treatment beds and supportive housing through a general obligation bond measure.
  • AB 965 (Juan Carrillo; D-Palmdale) Deploys broadband faster. Streamlines deployment of broadband infrastructure and will allow for higher speed internet to be provided to more Californians.
  • AB 1217 (Gabriel; D-Woodland Hills) Food and beverage service. Extends existing regulatory modifications that allow neighborhood restaurants to continue to serve the public in expanded, outdoor dining areas.
  • AB 1355 (Valencia; D-Anaheim) Electronic notices. Allows workers to request certain employment notices to be delivered electronically rather than in paper, benefiting both workers and the environment.
  • AB 1373 (Garcia; D-Coachella) Energy. Streamlines processes to ensure more rapid buildout of certain energy technologies and infrastructure.
  • AB 1633 (Ting; D-San Francisco) Expedites Housing. Closes a known CEQA loophole used by some local jurisdictions to block housing projects and helps ensure that legally compliant homes are permitted and built by expanding the definition of “disapproving a project” under the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) to include stalling once the environmental review documents have been completed.
  • AB 1756 (Committee on Judiciary) Small employer mediation program. Extends the sunset on the Civil Rights Department small employer mediation program, which allows small employers to mediate certain employment claims under the Government Code.
  • SB 326 (Eggman; D-Stockton) The Behavioral Health Services Act. Restructures California’s behavioral health services programs to provide services for substance use disorders and move homeless individuals to shelter for treatment.
  • SB 621 (Caballero; D-Salinas) Pharmaceutical Cost Containment. Reduces pharmaceutical costs and premiums for employers by allowing plans and insurers to utilize less expensive but equally as effective biosimilar drugs prior to administering a reference biologic.
  • SB 659 (Ashby; D-Sacramento) Groundwater recharge. Requires state to plan for creating new groundwater recharge storage by 2028.

October 9, 2023

October News from GUSD

Originally published Wednesday, October 4.

Fall is in the air, and our staff and students are settling into the routine of the 2023-24 school year. My fall site visits are well underway, and it fills me with joy to visit classrooms at all levels to witness the exemplary instruction that takes place in our District.

While visiting our campuses, I am looking at the quality of instruction across all subject areas. I am most happy when I see engaged students being taught by staff members who utilize educational best practices. I believe we have some of the best educators and staff members teaching our students in the entire County, and I am so proud of the collective work we are doing to provide a high quality education to all students.

In other news, we have some exciting community events coming up in the next six weeks. I’m pleased to be joining Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley at her monthly “Coffee with the Mayor” event on Saturday, October 7, where we will talk about the partnership between GUSD and the City of Gilroy.

On November 3 and 9, we will host members of the business community at Christopher and Gilroy High Schools at the annual Rock the Mock event. This annual event is presented in partnership with the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, and provides invaluable support to our juniors and seniors as they practice interviewing skills that will serve them well in the future. More information on this event is included below. I encourage you to get involved if you are interested.

 

My best,
Anisha Munshi, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Gilroy Unified School District

October 2, 2023

Gilroy Chamber of Commerce E-Waste Recycling Event Serves Local Residents

On Saturday, September 30, the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce and San Jose Conservation Corps hosted an E-waste Recycling event.

Total clients were: 71

Electronic Waste: 5,563 pounds total

60 flatscreens/monitors= 2,005 pounds
11 CRTs = 325 pounds
66 laptops = 188 pounds
3,045 pounds of mixed electronics

Stay tuned for the next event!

 

Community Happenings

The fall season in Gilroy offers plenty of opportunities to network and support local organizations. Here are a few noteworthy events and celebrations you don’t want to miss.

The Great Big Boo: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at Gilroy Gardens

Jacob’s Heart Grand Opening: Oct 5th @ 4:30 PM, actual ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 5:00 pm.

National Coming Out Day Flag Raising Ceremony & Resource Fair: October 11 @ 4:30pm-6:30pm, hosted by Rebekah Children’s Services

After-Hours Mixer: Oct 12th @ 5:30 PM, hosted by Informed Choices

Downtown Gilroy Beer Crawl: October 14 @12 PM- 6 PM, hosted by the Gilroy Downtown Business Association

Coffee and Commerce: Oct 18th @ 7:00 AM, sponsored by Heritage Bank

Gilroy Business Basic Marketing Workshop: October 19 @ 12:00 PM, cohosted by KSBW, Hearst Television, and the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce

After-Hours Mixer: Oct 26th @ 5:30 PM, hosted by the Neon Exchange

AWS ChangeX Community Fund Launch: Oct 30th @ 12:00 PM, open to all with programs located in Gilroy

 

Resources for Small Businesses

How To Recession Proof Your Small Business
Melissa Houston, Forbes Contributor

In times of economic uncertainty, it’s common to feel overwhelmed and unsure about the future of your business. The economy feels uncertain to many small business owners these days, which causes stress and anxiety over the future of your business. But there are a few tactics you can implement to ensure that your business survives tough economic times.

One of the most important things you can do is to stay resilient during harsh economic conditions. Staying resilient means keeping a close eye on your finances, being willing to make changes to your business model, and staying flexible when it comes to your products or services.

Another critical strategy is to stay focused on your customers. You’re more likely to retain their business and build a loyal customer base by providing exceptional service and going above and beyond to meet their needs.

Don’t be afraid to seek help or advice if you need it. Many resources are available to small business owners, from government programs to mentorship opportunities. By taking advantage of these resources and staying proactive, you can ensure that your business not only survives but thrives during challenging economic times.

Here are some tips on how to recession proof your business to survive the current economic state:

  1. Build a cash reserve
    Building up a cash reserve is one of the most critical steps in recession-proofing your business. Start by creating a budget that allows you to save a portion of your monthly profits. You can use this money to keep your business afloat during a downturn. Your cash reserve can also help you take advantage of recession opportunities, such as purchasing severely discounted supplies.
  2. Focus on customer retention
    During a recession, many businesses need help attracting new customers, making it all the more important to focus on retaining your existing customers. Ensure you offer excellent customer service, provide value and incentives, and build loyalty to reduce customer churn. It is far more expensive to acquire new customers than keep recurring customers.
  3. Diversify your revenue streams
    Some revenue streams may dry up during a recession, primarily if your business traditionally relies on a single product or service. Consider diversifying your offerings to make your business more resilient. Look at what other services or products you can offer that complement your current line-up.
  4. Control your costs
    To recession-proof your business, you must keep your operating costs as low as possible. Analyzing expenses and reducing costs can extend your cash runway to help you through tough times. Some options include renegotiating leases and supplier contracts, cutting discretionary spending such as entertainment or travel, and consolidating or outsourcing non-core functions.
  5. Make a plan
    Take a long-term approach to your business and plan. Having a business finance plan that considers various scenarios can help you pivot quickly and make sound decisions during a recession. Plan and be proactive about identifying and mitigating potential risks.

The bottom line is that recession-proofing your small business is about managing risks, building resilience, and staying competitive in tough economic times. With the right financial and operational strategies in place, you can make your business more flexible and adaptable to changes in the marketplace. It’s never too late to start financial planning for your business.

Here is a list of resources offering free advice:

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
work2future
California Office of Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

Gilroy Foundation Opens 2024 Competitive Grant Cycle to Address Evolving Community Needs

Gilroy Foundation is excited to announce the commencement of the 2024 Competitive Grant Cycle, aimed at empowering and enhancing the Gilroy community through philanthropy. The application window opens on October 1st, 2023, offering organizations the opportunity to secure funding for initiatives aligned with Gilroy Foundation’s mission of supporting community-driven projects and programs.

“As the landscape of community needs evolves, Gilroy Foundation encourages a diverse array of organizations to apply, from larger nonprofits to smaller neighborhood groups and parent clubs to school organizations. This inclusive approach seeks to expand the foundation’s reach and increase its impact, ensuring that funding reaches organizations of all sizes that are dedicated to making a positive difference in Gilroy,” said Jaclyn Muro, Executive Director of Gilroy Foundation.

The foundation welcomes grant applications from organizations engaged in various critical areas, including Agriculture, Artistic Enrichment, Education, Environment, Civic Services, Culture, Health, Recreation, and Technology. With grant awards ranging from $500 to $5,000, Gilroy Foundation is committed to being a catalyst for positive change and progress in the Gilroy community.

Interested organizations are encouraged to visit the Gilroy Foundation website to access the complete grant application guidelines. The deadline for submitting applications is 9 P.M. PST on Friday, December 15, 2023. Applicants are urged to confirm the receipt of their applications to ensure they meet the submission deadline.

“Over four decades, Gilroy Foundation grants have catalyzed positive and powerful change in our community,” said Muro. “Our goal is to support innovative projects that make a meaningful impact, whether you’re a well-established nonprofit or a grassroots organization. Together, we can continue to build a stronger Gilroy.”

For more information about the Gilroy Foundation Competitive Grant Cycle and to access application guidelines, please visit https://gilroyfoundation.org/grants-scholarships/grants-for-nonprofits/. Inquiries and requests for assistance can be directed to Renee Garcia at grants@gilroyfoundation.org

About Gilroy Foundation: Gilroy Foundation is a community-focused nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life in Gilroy through philanthropic leadership and community partnerships. With a rich history of grantmaking, the foundation continues to be a driving force for positive change in the region.

Press Contact: Jaclyn Muro, Executive Director jmuro@gilroyfoundation.org (408) 842-3727

Cycle 1 Sponsorship Application Cycle NOW OPEN

Kaiser Permanente supports a range of activities to enrich the health of our communities. Through our local sponsorship program, we support, strengthen, and enhance programs and organizations that address the health needs of our most vulnerable residents and form various marketing partnerships.

For our Cycle 1 application period, we invite you to apply for sponsorship of virtual and in-person events and programs occurring January – June 2024.

PRIORITY HEALTH NEEDS

Through an extensive community needs assessment, we have identified priority health and social needs to help guide our contributions to the communities that we serve.  

The health priority needs identified include:

  • Access to Care and Coverage
  • Healthy Eating/Active Living
  • Housing and Homelessness
  • Mental Health and Wellness

 

APPLICATION PERIOD

OCTOBER 2, 2023 – OCTOBER 31, 2023 – APPLY ONLINE NOW >>

(or paste this URL into your browser: https://mosaic.versaic.com)

Applications that are received after the October 31st deadline will be considered late and will not be eligible for Cycle 1 funding consideration.

 

ACCESSING THE APPLICATION

1) Go to Mosaic.versaic.com and create an account if you do not have one.

2) Once logged in, click on the blue “Get Started” button.

3) Were you provided an access code: NO

4) Answer question about type of event.

5) Answer question about organization tax status.

6) National/Local Program: Select Regional and then Northern California

7) Type of Funding – Local: Select Sponsorships 

Required uploads include: Agency W-9, current Board of Director’s list with employment affiliations for each member, Executive Officers or Leadership Team list, and the sponsorship levels with associated benefits. 

Note: Your submitted W-9 must be signed and dated within the past 12 months

and show a federal tax classification of ‘other’- nonprofit exempt. W-9s with a federal tax

classification of C or S corporation will not be accepted.  

Please use the FAQ/Online Application User Guide to help you through the Mosaic application process. 

 

MORE INFORMATION

Please note that Public Affairs staff cannot provide guidance or assistance with Mosaic responses once the application period is open. If you need technical assistance, please email SouthBaySponsorships@kp.org.