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- Written by: Editor
“Employing more than 52 percent of California’s workforce, small businesses are the driving force of our economy – and they will be the driving force behind our economic recovery,” said Marty Keller, the governor’s small business advocate. “I would like to thank the participants of the first-ever Governor’s Conference on Small Business and Entrepreneurship for their participation and thoughtful recommendations for how we can work together to further the small business economy in California - and maintain our state’s leadership in the global economy.”
The first-ever Governor’s Conference on Small Business and Entrepreneurship was held in Los Angeles Nov. 18 and 19.
The governor invited small business leaders and entrepreneurs representing the spectrum of the state's economy to make recommendations on how to improve the partnership between the private sector and state government to stimulate the economy.
Since May, individuals from these groups prepared over 100 draft proposals for consideration and prioritization by conference participants.
At the conference, participants discussed, revised and voted on the prioritization of these recommendations – yielding top recommendations to submit to the governor for consideration.
Small businesses comprise 98 percent of all enterprises in California. With more than 3.6 million small businesses in the state, they employ more than 52 percent of the state’s workforce.
Policy recommendations:
1. Ask the Legislature to restore investment in programs that support small businesses.
Action items:
• Restore investment in existing SBDC infrastructure to expand support for small business to
leverage federal dollars by matching with state funding.
• Upgrade one SBDC in each of the six SBDC regions to receive accreditation as Small Business
Development & Technology Centers (SBDTC) to be a next step for the Technology Accelerators.
2. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) should perform a comprehensive assessment of the
interim costs for AB 32 implementation that affects small businesses and identify financing programs that could help alleviate those costs.
Action items:
• CARB, in collaboration with California’s small business leaders, should developing innovative
market mechanisms designed to achieve the mandated emission reduction targets.
• CARB should provide implementation benchmarks and their implications prior to finalizing
timelines for compliance.
• CARB should work with California small business leadership to develop a dialogue on all policy
matters, including the development of regulations pertaining to the implementation of AB 32, and
CARB should tailor all information related to AB 32 implementation according to the size of the
business and the type of industry impacted.
• CARB should conduct an economic analysis of near-term, and mid-term costs of AB 32.
3. Small business partnering in the state regulatory process.
Action items:
• Hold agencies accountable to small business through the Office of Administrative Law prior to
enactment and 3rd party review but subsequent to implementation- Recommend legislation for:
- Strengthening the authority of Office of Administrative Law
- Establishing third party criteria protocol
-Implementing elements of other regulatory flexibility acts
• Standardize economic impact analysis and review lower cost alternatives
-Establish review criteria and standardize methodology through enforced use of the APA
and conformity amongst regulatory agencies
-Consider cumulative (multi-agency) effect in economic impact analysis
• Encourage early and meaningful small business participation in regulation drafting
-Expand criteria to require small business workshop during regulation drafting through regulation or legislation
-Consider an executive order to improve agencies notice and outreach processes to be more inclusive through better use of cutting edge technology, making California the leader in small business outreach.
4. Implement a program to ensure that the current laws and regulations regarding SB/DVBE contracting procedures, laws and goals are enforced.
Action items:
• Enforce compliance, including, but not limited to CUF, prompt pay and “Loss Leader,” through
creating an independent third party auditory review.
5. Enhance and increase funding for loan guarantees and micro lending programs.
Action items:
• Support increasing SBA guarantee, decrease loan fees, streamline processes, and facilitate new
SBA lenders.
• Encourage state and federal collaboration to raise loan guarantees to lower lender risk exposure.
• Increase micro-lending and technical assistance funds.
6. Amend the CA Education Code to state that the priority of the K-16 public education system is to
prepare students to compete and contribute to a global economy with the outcome being the ability to
demonstrate the applied relevancy of their education.
Action items:
• Legislation
7. Create a more effective and transparent system for the setting and monitoring actual utilization of
SB/DVBE procurement inclusion goals.
Action items:
• Place the Governor'sexecutive order S-O2-O6 into public contract code 10115.
• Require reporting of actual prime and sub spend vs. promise participation.
• Set aside contracts under $500,000 for SB/DVBE.
8. TX-1: The state should shift the Minimum Franchise Tax into a uniform fee applicable to all business
entities that incorporate.
Action items:
• Legislation should be introduced to eliminate the Minimum Franchise Tax and to increase Secretary of State filing fees for incorporations in an amount that offsets the loss of Minimum Franchise Tax revenue.
9. HC-1: Subject to significant cost containment small businesses will support legislation that requires
shared financial responsibility among all stakeholders (employers, individuals, government, health
industry, providers, insurers, etc.) to facilitate health care access for all.
Action items:
• Legislation should be introduced
10. AC-2: Eliminate barriers to capital through restructuring and developing creative forms for financing.
Action items:
• Streamline loan agreements, guarantee restrictions, and cost structures.
• Create more innovative and additional uses of pension funds for small businesses.
• Establish new public-private funding mechanisms to encourage investments in small businesses
including emerging domestic markets and veterans.
11. PR-2: Execute the process of un-bundling State contracts.
Action items:
• Eliminate the practice of strategic sourcing.
• Review all contracts over $500,000 for un-bundling.
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- Written by: Lori Peters
LAKE COUNTY – Keep your money in your community by committing to support local stores and restaurants during the holiday season.
Instead of giving your money to out of county stores this Christmas, consider making a commitment to buy local during the Christmas shopping season.
Here are some local businesses that can be found in most areas that deserve more than a drive-by glance this holiday shopping season.
Find Christmas Treasures
Retail shops are generally small, locally owned stores. They are a treasure trove of interesting gifts for young and old. Toys, books, gift certificates, flowers and plants, Jewelry, custom printed shirt, satellite radio, the perfect sweater, pet gifts, wine, art from local artists and more can all be found in Lake County .
Find Christmas ornaments and unusual gifts at local gift shops
Almost every town around the lake has a locally owned gift shop. These stores are often quaint and filled to the brim with holiday ornaments, decorations and unusual gifts. Gift shops are a great place to find a wide range of Christmas gifts ‒ from cookbooks to jewelry.
Shop for Christmas Gifts at the Local Hardware Stores
For the men in your life, search the local hardware store for Christmas gifts. Locally owned hardware stores are all but extinct in other areas, but in Lake County we have wondrous stores to delight every do-it-yourselfer on your list.
Support our local stores by shopping for holiday gifts for all the handy people you know. If you can’t find anything, consider a gift certificate that will help bring more business back to the local owner.
Take a Christmas shopping break at a locally owned restaurant
Whether you live in the north, south, east or west of the lake, step off the beaten path and choose a locally owned restaurant for your holiday shopping lunch break. You’ll find delicious food, locally inspired décor and may be greeted by the actual business owner. Gift certificates for dinners are a great gift.
Win $1,000 for shopping local this holiday season
Local merchants are offering a $1,000 raffle to those shopping local this holiday season. Who knew you could save money and make money for shopping local?
Check out these local merchants this holiday season.
South side
2 Goomba's Italian Deli, 16175 Main St, Lower Lake
A & B Auto Collision, 7070 Old Highway 53
Avina's Market, 14060 Olympic Drive
Best Western-El Grande Hotel, 15135 Lakeshore Drive
Big O Tires, 14320 Lakeshore Drive
Bob's Vacuum Repair and Janitorial Supply, 4165 Mullen Ave.
Brown's RV, Highway 53 and 29, Lower Lake
Cactus Grill, 3900 Bayliss Ave.
Cecil's Take 'n' Bake Pizza, 3386 Washington St.
Chic le Chef, 19024 Redbud Road, Hidden Valley Lake
Clearlake Bait and Tackle, 14699 Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake TV and Appliance, 14915 Olympic Drive
Clearlake Veterinary Clinic, 3424 Emerson St.
Elegant Touch Salon, 14820 Olympic Drive
Espresso Depot, 14667 Lakeshore Drive
Fischer Auto and Electric, 4314 Old Highway 53
Four Corners Builders Supply, 14975 Olympic Drive
Girlfriends, 14510 Lakeshore Drive
Griffins Furniture Outlet, 14409 Lakeshore Drive
Thomas M. Hewlett, DDS, 3560 Old Highway 53
Highlands Nursery, 3445 Old Highway 53
Howard's Grotto, 14732 Lakeshore Drive
Jonas Heating and Cooling, 9125 Highway 53
Kevin Ness Jeweler, 14114 Lakeshore Drive
Konoctees, 2395 Ogulin Canyon Road
Konocti Dance Academy, 4274 Old Highway 53
Lake County Furniture Consignment, 14270 Lakeshore Drive
Lake Escape Resort, 13885 Lakeshore Drive
Lake House Inn and Bistro, 14165 Lakeshore Drive
Lakeshore Bait and Tackle, 14913 Lakeshore Drive
Lakeside TV and Appliance, 14092 Lakeshore Drive
Lisa's Sizes 3-60, 14290 Olympic Drive
Main Street Bar and Grill, 14086 Lakeshore Drive
Marie's Lakeshore Feed and Grain, 14590 Lakeshore Drive
Moran's Pharmacy, 14855 Lakeshore Drive
One Stop Automotive, 14570 Lakeshore Drive
Pampered Pooch, 14420 Lakeshore Drive
Perfect Printers, 14096 Lakeshore Drive
Shannon Ridge Winery, 12599 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks
Shearwood Forest Salon, 14822 Lakeshore Drive
Travelodge, 4775 Old Highway 53
Wild About Books, 14290 Olympic Drive
North side
Featherbed Railroad Co., 2870 Lakeshore Drive, Nice
Lake County Car Audio and Security, 325 W. Highway 20, Upper Lake
Law Office of Dennis A. Fordham, 55 First St, Suite 207, Lakeport
Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, 1545 E Highway 20, Nice
Serving all of Lake County
Aero Airport Shuttle, 707-987-1920
Bordessa Construction, 707-994-9675
Enterprise Towing, 707-994-8801
Gallery of World Accents, www.galleryofworldaccents.com
S.C. Productions, 707-995-9602
Yuba Community College District, SBDC, www.yubasbdc.org
Lori Peters is executive director of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.
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A new bee service is provided by GetBees, based in Northern California.
Giving the common home owner an opportunity to purchase a beehive with an ongoing service needed to maintain the hive throughout the years.
The service includes medicating, feeding, as well as extracting and bottling honey produced from your own hive.
The average GetBees client is expected to receive 40 to 50 pounds of pure raw honey each year.
For those who want a more hands-on experience, beekeeping lessons can be given during the time of hive maintenance. Extra bee suits are provided to avoid the rare but painful bee stings.
The need for these marvelous pollinators has never been more important. The honeybee has been devastated in the past three years by an unknown cause, and losses are occurring worldwide with numbers dropping nearly 40 percent. Possible explanations for these losses include pesticides, stress and poor nutrition.
Allen Larson, owner and sole operator of GetBees, believes that beehives kept in the backyard is one of the best defenses against undo stress.
Keeping the hive in one location allows the bees to collect pollen and nectar from backyard gardens throughout the neighborhood. This with proper maintenance gives the bees a fighting chance against the unknown.
Larson has been around bees most of his life. He was raised on a small family run apiary where he learned the ins and outs of the lost art of keeping bees. In recent months, he has seen the rising concern for the pollinators and peoples willingness to help; this is that opportunity.
To get your own hive or obtain more information go to www.GetBees.net or contact Allen Larson, telephone 530-510-6181, e-mail
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- Written by: Editor
CLEARLAKE – Tom and Geri Todd's Lake County Furniture Consignment recently celebrated its opening with a Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 23.
The store is located in the old Brothers Interior building, 14270 Lakeshore Drive.
This large furniture store has everything from bedroom sets to kitchen tables to decor.
Geri Todd takes consignment on beautiful furniture, which she sells at reasonable prices.
The store is a great place to get that extra bed or that unique piece that fits perfectly into your homes decor.
Inventory comes and goes frequently so if you see it, get it, and if you don't see it stop by again.
For more information contact Lake County Furniture Consignment, 994-2526.
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