The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and increased consumer spending. For small businesses, this time offers a tremendous opportunity to maximize sales and connect with customers on a deeper level. But if you think of the holiday season as just Thanksgiving and Christmas, you could be missing out. Experts estimate that most small retail businesses earn about 20% of their annual sales in December and even more if you factor in November as well. While Christmas has been the front runner in
Zone 7 Water Agency is looking for community minded individuals who are interested in helping to shape water supply and flood protection policy by serving on its seven-person board. A qualified candidate is 18 years of age or older and lives within the boundaries of Zone 7 service area. Zone 7 Water Agency’s Board of Directors election will be held on March 5, 2024. During this election, four terms will be open for eligible candidates to run. The nomination period is open from November 13 to December 8,
Launching a business is a thrilling journey filled with possibilities and challenges. While no year is without challenges, the first few are particularly so for most businesses. Many naive owners think that if they can make it through the first year, their success is guaranteed. However, that isn’t the case. The first year actually has the lowest failure rate. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20% of small businesses fail within their first year. The failure rate increases to 30% by
At the November meeting of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) Board of Directors, planners presented survey results from the Wheels in Motion public outreach campaign, as well as the staff recommendation for a preferred bus network. The preferred bus network was selected after careful analysis of survey results and stakeholder feedback collected throughout the month of September during the Wheels in Motion campaign. The Board of Directors, having been presented with a recommendation
Las Positas College (LPC) invites you to their ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Academic Support and Office Building and the New Landscape Renovation Project on November 14 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. on-campus. The ribbon–cutting will take place at the front entrance of Building 2100. District Chancellor Ronald P. Gerhard, Chabot-Las Positas Board of Trustees President Tim Sbranti, Trustee Hal Gin, Trustee Stephen Lanza, Student Trustee Omar Au and LPC President, Dr. Dyrell Foster, along with other
Senior living communities can be the perfect place during the holiday season, especially for those who have lost loved ones or yearn for the joyful experience of past holidays. In fact, it’s often the best time of year to move into senior living—when communities are especially festive and bustling with activities, all planned to make residents feel connected and engaged in the spirit of the season. Click here to read more about the wonderful advantages of senior living during the holidays.
$18.1M Grant Awarded to Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Funding to support education-to-career pathwaysGovernor Gavin Newsom announced on November 2, 2023, that the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District (CLPCCD) and its partners were awarded one of four $18.1M grants through the Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program. California distributed a total of $72.5 million to create regional education-to-career pipelines as part of a $250 million investment in the 2021 Budget
S&P Global Ratings upgrades the Agency’s rating to 'AAA'; Fitch affirms AA+ and revises to ‘Outlook: Positive’Two independent credit rating agencies have reviewed Zone 7 Water Agency’s current position in connection with the agency’s anticipated sale of new money bonds to fund capital improvement projects. Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) announced it has raised its long-term rating on the agency's outstanding 2018 series A water revenue bonds to 'AAA' from 'AA+'. S&P also assigned a 'AAA' to the
The holiday season (and Small Business Season!) is upon us! It's the perfect time to capitalize on the festive spirit to attract customers and boost sales. As a small business you also want to invite people to linger, especially if you’re in retail. According to the Wall Street Journal, sales could increase as much as 40% for stores that are welcoming and encourage relaxation and invitations to “stay a while.” Holiday decorations and photo ops are great ways to do this. Plus, social media plays a pivotal
Las Positas College's (LPC) Theater Arts program is thrilled to announce that auditions for its upcoming spring production of "She Loves Me" will take place December 13. Set in Budapest in 1934, the romantic comedy musical tells the story of a small perfume shop in the heart of town. Two shop workers, Georg and Amalia, are constantly at odds with one another, though unbeknownst to them, they are each other’s secret “lonely hearts” pen pals. The store is filled with many colorful characters, all
As we age, self care practices become crucial in nurturing our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It’s about fostering a lifestyle that not only promotes longevity, but a high quality of life. Here are some good self care practices for seniors:Regular exercise. Getting regular physical activity is one of the most important self care tips for elderly adults because it improves mobility, boosts mental health, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Low-impact exercises like walking, swimming,
The Dublin Chamber is partnering with CalChamber on a series of webinars or our members addressing SB%4 regulations that could significantly impact businesses in 2024. As many of you know, passed in 2022, SB 54 (Allen) requires all companies selling products in single-use packaging to register with a Producer Responsibility Organization or PRO. We want to help keep California’s business community up to date on how to comply with these new rules. Here's why you can't afford to miss this:New Legal
Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority celebrated employee skill and spirit as it hosted the return of the Wheels Roadeo. This year’s “HalloWheels” Roadeo rolled out on Saturday, October 28th. The Roadeo is an annual, international transit event that invites bus operators, maintenance teams, and other transit professionals to partake in driving skills competitions testing speed, skill, and accuracy. In addition to the contests, LAVTA and MV Transportation employees and families enjoyed games, a picnic
Starting and managing a business is no small feat. While you may feel empowered to start a business or work for yourself, it can be daunting. You may be facing a myriad of fears and uncertainties. Unfortunately, there’s no magical time that they go away. It’s not like once you pass the five-year mark, you become fearless. No, you must work at that and leverage your resources. So, let’s explore the most common fears for business owners and the strategies for addressing them. One solution that can
Las Positas College student receives Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group's 2023-2024 Dreammakers and Risktakers Award Las Positas College (LPC) is proud to announce that one of its students, Daniel Santoyo, has been selected as a recipient of the 2023-2024 Dreammakers and Risktakers Award by the Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group (ITV). Now in its 13th year, this award honors Bay Area students who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit, determination, perseverance, creativity and passion. Each
Click picture below to see what is happening at Livermore Valley Arts in November.
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East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) is now Ava Community Energy (Ava). New name, new logo, new look. Same clean energy, low rates, and local programs.Ava Community Energy (Ava), formerly East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), is the not-for-profit public power provider for more than 1.7 million residents and commercial customers in Alameda County and the City of Tracy, with service extending to the San Joaquin County cities of Stockton and Lathrop in 2025. As one of 25 community choice aggregation (CCA) programs
Las Positas College (LPC) is excited to announce its Preview Night event on campus this Thursday, November 2, inviting prospective students, their families, adult learners and community members to discover more about the college and its programs. “Our Preview Night is designed to give prospective students and their families a sneak peek of all the great academic and student services and programs that Las Positas College has to offer,” said LPC Vice President of Student Services, Dr. Jeanne Wilson. “The
Everything you need to know about the merriest time of year We are delighted to announce the official kickoff of Small Business Season™ 2023 on November 1st. This year our campaign to support our neighborhood small businesses will be even bigger than before! It hasn’t been an easy year for any of us. With rising costs, fears of inflation, hiring challenges, and so much more, our local businesses need assistance and what better time to support their dreams than at the holidays? As part of Small
Sustainable Eco-Friendly Practices for Businesses on a Budget Whether it’s coming from mounting pressure from your city or state or requests from customers, the call for sustainability is growing louder. Small businesses, just like their larger counterparts, have a crucial role to play in reducing their ecological footprint. But for small businesses operating on tight budgets, embracing eco-friendly practices might seem like a daunting challenge. Sustainability doesn't have to break the bank. In
We are proud to be a top healthcare provider in your area! Here are some helpful links and information.Not sure when and where to receive care? Click here.Browse our contracted insurance plans here.Find a primary care provider here or call 925-988-7550 to speak with a Patient Match Coordinator for one-on-one guidance.Click here for support with next steps such as scheduling your first appointment or filling prescriptions as a new John Muir Health patient. Further questions? Reply here or email
Dublin Unified School District is seeking applicants to fill a vacant position which currently exist on our Citizens' Bonds Oversight Committee (CBOC) The CBOC is an independent oversight committees comprised of volunteers from within our community. These volunteers are entrusted with and dedicated to ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent according to voter-approved Bond and Parcel Tax language.The CBOC is seeking member representatives for who ideally has ties to the Chamber of Commerce or another local
The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) and the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s® Stadium are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to provide and promote sustainable transportation via the ACE train service to select events at Levi’s® Stadium. ACE will be serving weekend San Francisco 49ers games throughout the 2023-24 NFL season. For tickets and information visit: https://acerail.com/event-train. “We are very excited to have a partner like the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s® Stadium that
Adobe Acrobat is a versatile software suite that offers a wide range of benefits for small and local businesses. From document management to collaboration and security features, Acrobat is an indispensable tool for organizations of all sizes for many reasons: Efficient Document Management: Acrobat provides robust document management capabilities, allowing businesses to create, edit, organize, and archive documents seamlessly. With features like merging, splitting, and indexing PDFs, businesses can
Hope Hospice offers this one-hour workshop as a safe space to discuss the unique considerations of grieving during the winter holiday season. We also will talk about how to prepare for gatherings that you choose to attend, as well as spending time alone to honor the memory of your loved one privately. Although this workshop is offered over Zoom, space is still limited due to the interactive nature of the presentation. There is no charge to attend. Choose from one of following dates; the program is the same.
Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) continues its tradition of quality transportation services in Tri-Valley communities as reported by riders in its 2023 Passenger Satisfaction survey. Wheels riders scored the agency a 4.5 / 5 rating average for quality of service including safe, clean, and reliable operations. “Wheels continues to uphold the high standards of the communities it serves”, said Melissa Hernandez, LAVTA Board Chair and Mayor of Dublin. “Riders let us know they consider
Act Now: Avoid Penalties and Secure Your Employees' Future with CalSavers Time is running out to comply with California's CalSavers Retirement Savings Program, and failure to act could cost you. The mandate creates a legal requirement and many employers with an average of five or more employees are past their deadline to register or certify an exemption. The Program is open for employers with as few as one employee and soon it will be required for them as well – if they do not offer a qualified
Do you have a limited marketing budget? Do you think what you can accomplish with your budget is less than ideal because you don’t have the money of a large company? While that may seem true, there is one thing you can do to really move the dial and maximize your small marketing budget. Sure, there are many ways to get “free” marketing through social media and growing your referral network but using funds in a targeted way can have a huge impact on obtaining more customers and showing the community who
The City Council approved the Citywide Outdoor Seating Design Guidelines at the September 19, 2023, City Council meeting. The Design Guidelines help to facilitate the design of permanent outdoor seating within parking lots for eating and drinking establishments. In addition, Design Guidelines ensure that outdoor seating within parking lots is aesthetically pleasing, provides a high-quality environment for patrons and is appropriately designed for the location. The Design Guidelines provides a framework
Community TV featured Dublin Chamber members Learn And Play Montessori Schools and JOYA Yoga Dublin (the Livermore Location) and the Tri-Valley Career Center! Click here to check out the show!
While the MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index reached its highest level of confidence since COVID in Q3 of 2023, there are still many businesses that are battling rising costs and trying to make every dollar count. According to the report, 33% of small businesses are saying the U.S. economy is in good health (up 9% points from Q2). The report read, “Small businesses also feel better about their own business health and cash flow: Two in three (66%) report that their business is in good
Grant from State Department of Water Resources will offset cost of new Stoneridge facility Zone 7 Water Agency will receive a $16 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program for development of the Stoneridge Well Ion Exchange (IX) PFAS Treatment facility. The new facility will remove Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from groundwater pumped into the facility and is the first facility to offer IX PFAS removal in Northern
Recent Outreach Campaign Saves Businesses $4.5 Million by Changing Rate Plans OAKLAND, Calif.— Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) knows how important it is for small and medium business customers manage expenses. Business adjustments, such as changes to staffing, hours of operation and equipment updates, can significantly impact energy usage and bills. Business-owners are urged to review electric rate plan options annually or when a significant operational change happens. Changing your rate plan
Article courtesy of CalChamber On Monday, July 31, the California Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw officially certified that beginning January 1, 2024, California’s minimum wage will increase from $15.50 per hour to $16 per hour for all employers, regardless of size. Per California’s Labor Code, once the state’s minimum wage reaches $15 per hour — which already has occurred, as the current minimum wage is $15.50 per hour — the California Director of Finance must determine on or before
Updated I-9 A new Form I-9 (Rev. 08/01/23) will be available for employers to use on or after August 1, 2023, and once released can be found on the USCIS website. Employers can also order paper copies if they don’t want to use the electronic version. The version date, noted in parenthesis, can be found in the bottom corner of the Form I-9. The prior version of Form I-9 (Rev. 10/21/19) continues to be effective through October 31, 2023. Beginning November 1, 2023, only the Form I-9 (Rev. 08/01/23) will
As an established entrepreneur will tell you, learning on the job is key to being successful at running a business. New entrepreneurs are bound to make mistakes, given the sheer amount of responsibility on their shoulders. However, instead of letting mistakes hold you back, the correct approach is to use them as a learning experience to make better decisions in the future. In this article, we explore a handful of common mistakes most new small business owners make and some helpful tips for minimizing and
The SBA recently published it's National Resource Guide. Click picture below to download and discover resources for your business.
In today's business world, it's more important than ever to keep up with the latest digital innovations. By harnessing the power of technology, small businesses can level the playing field and compete with larger businesses. Courtesy of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, here is a collection of great advice on some ways that small businesses can use digital innovation to grow.Using AI Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a thing of the future — it's here now, and it's changing the business landscape.
In an effort to provide a channel for parents or guardians of community members with special needs, the City of Dublin is establishing a Special Needs Registry. Parents or guardians can enroll a person of any age with any medical condition, mental health condition, or disability in the registry. It will provide Dublin Police with information regarding any special assistance that person may require during a disaster, evacuation, emergency, or interaction with first responders. The Registry will be a
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and during the holidays, they need our support more than ever. A strong holiday shop local campaign can benefit not just individual businesses, but also the entire community. When you spend your money at a locally owned business, more of that money stays in the community. That's because locally-owned businesses tend to buy from other local businesses, and they're also more likely to reinvest their profits in the community. This strengthens the
It's no secret that we may be heading for a recession. And while that may be bad news for the economy as a whole, it doesn't have to be doom and gloom for your small business. With a little preparation, you can weather any economic downturn and come out the other side stronger than ever. Here's how courtesy of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce:Resist Layoffs A recession can be a tough time for any business. Orders dry up, customers disappear and profits dwindle. In response, many companies take the drastic
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If you’re a small business, you need to invest in your local chamber of commerce, here’s why.CredibilityDiscounts and ResourcesNetworking and AdvocacyProfessional DevelopmentMarketing OpportunitiesREAD MORE HERE
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If you're going to hire an SEO company, you’re going to want to make sure you’ll get what you need for the money you’re spending. Here’s our guide for how to hire an SEO company. LEARN MORE
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