Business News
SACRAMENTO—The Assembly Committee on Insurance passed legislation today that would create the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) Program in California and allow some unemployed workers to focus on creating a microbusiness while claiming jobless benefits.
The bill, AB 152, authored by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis), passed from the committee on a 9-2 vote.
Yamada noted that, despite signs of economic recovery, many Californians are still unemployed and the state needs to consider options like SEA.
“The Self Employment Assistance Program recognizes the rapidly evolving labor market in a time of continued high unemployment,” Yamada said. “SEA provides another pathway to reemployment by promoting entrepreneurship and microenterprise development.”
The SEA program would focus on a subset of unemployed workers identified as likely to exhaust their unemployment benefits without becoming reemployed. The Congressional Research Service reported recently that SEA participants in other states were more likely to become self-employed or gain other employment.
“A SEA program turns unemployed workers into employers,” says Claudia Viek, C.E.O. of the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity. “Often these folks are over fifty; their job has gone away; and they can best support their family by starting a business.”
Passage of AB 152 would also permit California to apply for $5.3 million in federal funding.
The bill is now headed to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations for consideration later this spring.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Effective March 18, Deanna Benzenberg will join Shannon Ridge Family of Wines as the southwest territory manager.
She will be responsible for Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
“We are thrilled that Deanna will be joining the Shannon Ridge family,” said Chris Baker, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Shannon Ridge Family of Wines. “Deanna has extensive understanding of the fine wine industry, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.”
“After nearly 15 years in the wine industry, I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the Shannon Ridge Winery family,” said Benzenberg. “The Shannons have a great vision for the quality of wines, the appellation of Lake County, and sustainable practices in the vineyards. It will be exciting for me to represent them in three dynamic markets that have all been home for me at one point or another. I look forward to going back to my roots of wine estate building, and collaborating with a dynamic team in Shannon Ridge Winery and our distributor partners.”
Prior to joining Shannon Ridge, Benzenberg was the Colorado sales manager at Treasury Wine Estates (Fosters Wine Estates), managing several district managers and more than 25 winery brands.
She also worked as district sales manager, Arizona and New Mexico, for Icon Estates (Constellation), where she managed 13 premier wineries from around the world.
Benzenberg will be based out of Denver, Colo.
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