The U.S. Small Business Administration and Agility Recovery Solutions are launching a new website to help small businesses develop an emergency preparedness plan before disaster hits, and reminding homeowners and renters to plan ahead as well.  

"Regardless of where you live, it's a good idea to be ready for any kind of crisis," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "Every threat, from wind storms, floods, wildfires and earthquakes, to power outages and computer system failures, reminds us to be proactive when it comes to building strategies to survive a disaster and recover quickly. Recent disaster events demonstrate the need for preparedness to reduce the risk to life and property."

In an effort to encourage businesses to plan ahead, the SBA has teamed with Agility Recovery Solutions, a firm that has provided business continuity and disaster recovery tools to small companies for 21 years. Today the SBA and Agility launched the Prepare My Business website.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce is texting. It was announced at the April Good Morning SLO event that the SLO Chamber of Commerce is now providing text alerts to their chamber members. 

Text the word "SLOCHAMBER" to 74700 to sign up for Chamber alerts (a maximum of four text messages monthly).

"This is just one more way members can stay connected with the Chamber," said Whitney Diaz, the SLO Chamber's Internet Services and Publications Director. "Although smart phones are very popular, there are many members with regular cell phones that don't have Internet or email access. So, we decided to roll out this Text Messaging program to provide those people with updates on special Chamber events and information."

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s Membership Accounts Manager Lori Silva, along with seven individuals from other businesses, was named an Employee of the Year and awarded a 2010 Suggs Award from the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo for her outstanding level of professionalism this year.

"Lori is a valuable 'behind-the-scenes' employee who rarely receives the recognition she so richly deserves for all of the hard work she does to keep the Chamber running smoothly," said Dave Garth, the Chamber’s president and CEO. 

Nearly 200 people gathered in Mission Plaza "Make SLO Fast" Tuesday evening, including San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce members and staff. 

The Chamber's own Technology Advocacy Committee (TAC) was out in force, manning a booth and passing out fliers on how to bring Google to San Luis Obispo. 

The “Make SLO Fast” rally, organized by San Luis Obispo-based business-to-business networking group Tech Networking, provided insight on what Google fiber can offer the community and sent a clear message to Google that San Luis Obispo is the place for this opportunity.

At the annual Beautification Awards edition of the Downtown Association’s Quarterly Breakfast held on March 5 at Mo | Tav (formerly Mother’s Tavern), Beautification Awards Committee Chair Marshall Ochyslki conducted the ceremony issuing certificates in categories of recognition, merit and excellence to attendees whose projects ranged from new construction to remodels to signage and awnings and also to those who demonstrated a high level of care and maintenance of their properties.

"These businesses have worked very hard over the years to beautify the downtown area and make it safer by complying with retrofitting guidelines. We couldn't be more proud that many of the award recipients this year are Chamber members," said Chamber President Dave Garth, who attended the ceremony.

The ceremony culminated with the announcement of the Mayor’s Award winner whose project is annually deemed the “best of show” of all the projects, with Mayor Dave Romero presenting the beautifully framed certificate to this year’s winner Ciopinot Seafood Grille.  

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce hopes a local rally next week will galvanize community action and influence Google to bring its fiber optic trial to San Luis Obispo. 

The “Make SLO Faster” rally, organized by San Luis Obispo-based business-to-business networking group Tech Networking, will provide insight on what Google fiber can offer the community and send a clear message to Google that San Luis Obispo is the place for this opportunity. The rally is at Mission Plaza on March 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. 

“This Google Fiber project is the greatest potential economic, cultural and social enhancement opportunity that I have ever seen for San Luis Obispo,” explained Jeff Buckingham, a local entrepreneur who helped form the Chamber’s ad hoc Google fiber group and has volunteered with the Bring Fiber to San Luis Obispo initiative. “To make it happen, we need our community to create and attend multiple initiatives and events just like the Make SLO Faster meet-up before the March 26 deadline.”

Speakers include: Buckingham; Chamber President Dave Garth; Susan Opava, dean of Research and Graduate Programs at Cal Poly; Howard Gordon from Surveyor Corporation; and Digital West CEO Tim Williams. The event will be moderated by Tech Networking President Amy Kardel of Clever Ducks. 

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce membership boasts a weighty representation on a list of the world’s most innovative companies this year.

Chamber members First Solar and Pacific Gas and Electric Company were both ranked in the top 10 most innovated companies by Fast Company magazine. First Solar, a solar module manufacturer, ranks No. 6, while Pacific Gas and Electric Company ranks No. 7. Both companies are working locally on the Topaz Solar Farm project, a 550 megawatt solar power plant, proposed the Carissa Plains.

“These companies are known locally as leading-edge and inventive, but this ranking quite literally puts them in a whole new category,” San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce President Dave Garth said. “We’re very proud that not just one, but two, of our 1,400 members are listed among the top companies in the world."

Overall, Fast Company recognized 250-plus companies, including more than 75 non-U.S. businesses. The magazine analyzed information on thousands of businesses across the globe. The result identifies creative models and progressive cultures, as well as revenue growth and profit margins, to define the many forms of innovation that exist across the business landscape. 

Chamber staff joins Sunset Magazine, VCB and other major sponsors for Victory Garden Groundbreaking Ceremony

A Groundbreaking Ceremony kicked off major upscale food and wine event Sunset’s Savor the Central Coast last week.  

Sunset Magazine has partnered with the San Luis Obispo County Visitors & Conference Bureau on the creation of Sunset’s Savor the Central Coast, scheduled for Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, 2010. 

On February 26, the groundbreaking was situated at the Santa Margarita Ranch, located 10 miles north of San Luis Obispo, and the same location where the main event will be held in September. Sunset Magazine’s Editor-In-Chief, Katie Tamony, along with forty major sponsors, planted their shovels in the ground to celebrate the creation of a two-acre Victory Garden, which will include the planting of fresh fruits and vegetables.