| 5:23 p.m.
Source: Molly Schiff for Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber has been recognized for its advocacy efforts with CalChamber’s 2021 President’s Circle Award, which lauds chambers for excellence in business advocacy and helping their members comply with California employment laws.
“Advocacy plays a large role in the chamber’s efforts to be a champion for our local business community,” said Tim Ritchie, chair of the chamber’s Business & Government Roundtable.
“While much of this work is done behind the scenes, programs like our Business & Government Roundtable allow us to continue the important conversations about how government decisions impact our business community, and where our business leaders feel the chamber needs to take a stand, he said.
Santa Maria District, Local Leaders Talk Future of Schools
A virtual event last week hosted the superintendent, the local chamber president and others to discuss how schooling has changed, lessons from the past year and the need to invest in internships and summer programs.
May 25, 2021 •
Shutterstock (TNS) Local education and chamber officials joined forces for a State of Education event last week to discuss how the pandemic altered the entire educational landscape, what lies ahead for schools and ways local businesses can get involved.
The virtual event Wednesday featured reflections from county Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido and Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Glenn Morris. The discussion revolved around how teachers, parents and students have adapted since March 2020 and a new partnership between the chamber and education office.
By LOMPOC RECORD Published: May 12, 2021 SANTA MARIA, Calif. (Tribune News Service) Vandenberg Air Force Base will formally rename the installation to Vandenberg Space Force Base during a command ceremony on Friday. The 30th Space Wing also will transition to Space Launch Delta 30 during the ceremony that is slated for 2 p.m. at the command s Parade Field, according to Tech. Sgt. Patrick A. Harrower, a base spokesman. The 30th Space Wing is responsible for managing Department of Defense space and missile testing, and launches satellites into orbit from the West Coast. Announcement of the base s name change was made by 30th Space Wing s Col. David Rickards during the State of Vandenberg Air Force Base address on March 4. All Air Force personnel at Vandenberg will eventually transition to the Space Force, according to Glenn Morris, the president of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Santa Maria Council Agrees to Limited Fee Hikes, Sets Goal to Recover 100% of Costs for Services
A screenshot of the Santa Maria City Council during Tuesday’s meeting shows Mayor Alice Patino, center, along with Councilwoman Gloria Soto, left, and Councilman Mike Cordero, right. Not pictured since they were sitting off the dais because of social distancing are Councilwoman Etta Waterfield and Councilman Carlos Escobedo. By Janene Scully, Noozhawk North County Editor | @JaneneScully
April 22, 2021
| 9:50 p.m.
Faced with a proposal to implement huge hikes in user fees, the Santa Maria City Council on Tuesday balked and instead favored lower and slower increases to cover the costs of providing services.
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce make final push for Latino business owners to apply for PPP loan
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber teamed up to encourage Latino business owners to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program loan.
According to CEO of Santa Maria Valley Chamber Glenn Morris, many business owners have a applied for the PPP loan, however, there is a smaller number of Latino business owners that applied. There s some evidence in the reporting that indicates that they [Latinos] have applied less and received the loans less than the general business community, said Morris.