Corona Business News November/December 2022

CORONA Chamber Fights for Businesses in D.C.

Fighting for you in Wash ington DC over this past month, we capped our ef forts by leading the most significant and successful National Corona Policy Summit in the Chamber’s history.

Working personally with US Representative Ken Calvert (R-Corona), US Representative Mark Takano (D-Riverside) along with the senior policy staff of California’s Senior Sen ator Dianne Feinstein and US Representative Dar rell Issa (R-Temecula), the

By Jeff Miller

CORONA Chamber advo cated for local, regional, and important national policy changes that will help you develop your op erations, help empower you to make the decisions

you need to make, pro tect your employees and our community from over regulation, and fight the prolonged inflation each of us face. Our County

A Unique Financial Partnership with Corona is Helping Norco Reduce Homelessness

By Karen Roper, City of Corona Homeless Solution Manager

The League of California Cities wrote a two-part story on the successful Homeless Solutions Part nership between the Cit ies of Corona and Norco. The first story focused on the City of Corona’s 33% reduction in street home lessness since the imple mentation of its homeless strategic plan. The second story focused on Norco’s Homeless Solutions Part nership with the City of Corona and the edited highlights are below:

Workforce Development In Action

As a Chamber of Com merce, it is key to focus on workforce development programs that connect peo ple to jobs and trainings. Recently, Riverside Coun ty Supervisor Jeff Hewitt selected our CEO, Bobby Spiegel to serve on the Riv erside County Workforce Development Board. The regional and national Work force Boards are transform ing the nation’s workforce system to be responsive to the demands of a global economy. Through strong strategic partnerships with

private-sector businesses, local government, commu nity-based organizations, institutions of higher edu cation and K-12 education, WDBs remain in a prime position to serve as the pipeline for a skilled labor force necessary for eco nomic recovery and longterm growth.

To further our Work force Development efforts, the CORONA Chamber is proud share its partnership with neighboring Cham ber for a three-county ef fort (Riverside, Orange,

and San Bernardino).

The CORONA Chamber is very pro-military, and we are looking forward to working with the U.S. Army South ern California Battalion Re cruiting Company and the surrounding Chambers on

filling jobs and providing training to students, veter ans, and anyone that wants to serve our country. If you want more information for supporting Reservists or mil itary, connect with Bobby@ MyChamber.org

CORONA Chamber helps Employers Secure $200K

REIMBURSEMENT

In March of 2021, the CO RONA Chamber embarked on a new program to benefit you, the business owners! In coordination with Training Refund Group, we received approximately $200,000 from the State of California to help companies pay for employee training.

This program, funded by the Employment Training Panel, has provided over $1.6 billion in the last 40 years to companies with employees in CA. Most in dustries can be a part of the program, but the priority in dustries include manufac turing, construction, health care, information services,

FOR TRAINING

and farming. The funding for this program comes from the Employment Training Tax which is $7 per year per employee. Every company pays this tax as part of their unemployment insurance. Almost any type of train ing can qualify for the pro gram. For example:

• Business skills include all the soft skills necessary to run a business

• Commercial skills training includes almost anything necessary to produce a product or service

• Computer skills training includes all software necessary to operate

your business

• OSHA 10/30

The money is not a grant but “earned” based on the amount of training that you do. Most companies use internal staff to do their train ing. For example, a 1-hour class attended by 10 peo ple would be 10 hours of training and the reimburse ment rate is $23/hour. So, this class is worth $230. The

attendance must be docu mented through a sign-in sheet in order to qualify.

In the program we just completed, the range of re funds is from $120,000 for a construction company with 600 employees to $4,500 for a 30-person company. The smallest reimburse ment was just under $700. How much you receive de pends on how much train ing the company provides to its employees.

If you have an interest in learning more about this benefit the Chamber is bringing to you, please contact Deserie Ramirez, VP of Operations at the CO RONA Chamber (Deserie@ MyChamber.org).

California’s homeless crisis is affecting cities of all sizes. Smaller cities must contend with unique challenges, such as how to deliver services over a larger geographic area with much less money. Consequently, homeless ness is rising in smaller communities and in some cases, outpacing larger, nearby urban centers.

The small city of Norco has found a way to buck this trend. Dubbed

The picture shows Multi-Cham ber Workforce Development Meeting in collaboration with LTC Matthew Upperman of the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Southern California and Bridget Blehm (Civilian Aide to the Sec retary of the Army).

CHAMBER STAFF

Bobby

Nathan

Trisha Yontz

Town Hall Dos Lagos

On a cloudy evening, Mayor Wes Speake brough sunshine into his presentation and update about The Shops at Dos Lagos. Sharing from the amphitheater the mayor and owners of Dos Lagos (Scott Ostlund and Barrett Woods) announced they are providing ad ditional investments over $10M into the center.

Some great additions that will be brought into the vacated spots include:

• Reunion Kitchen - Citrus City Grille location

• Tempo Urban Kitchen - Old Papaya Space

• Odyssey VR/restaurant - Old Beverly Hills Bridal Exchange

They are currently in negotiations

with additional restaurants:

• Breakfast restaurant

Cajun themed restaurant

• Chicken restaurant

• Sandwich place

There are plans to build out about 20-30,000 additional sq ft to activate additional space between TGI Fridays and Trader Joe’s on the front side facing Temescal Canyon.

Included in this construction plan is a new entrance look.

We are grateful for business es that continue to invest in our community. If you are interested in learning more about Dos Lagos, connect with Ali Ghassemzadeh who manages the center: Market ing@ShopsDosLagos.com

CORONA Chamber of Commerce 904 E. 6th Street, CORONA, CA 92879 (951) CHAMBER | My Chamber.org

CORONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2022 OFFICERS

Board Chair

Palbinder Badesha Express Employment Professionals

CEO’S CORNER Bobby Spiegel

California’s War On Employers Must End

In 1989, a Corona resident and long-haul trucker named Forrest Lucas began to make his own en gine and truck lubricants in order to take better care of his rig and avoid costly repairs that could be critically expensive to an indepen dent trucker.

Over the last several decades, that drive to save independent businesses money on automotive repairs has saved hundreds of thousands of tons in automotive waste through avoided repairs and trillions of tons of pollution by making engines more efficient and made Lucas Oil a national brand recognized for excellence as an employer, innovator, and community member.

As a private company, Lucas Oil has created more positive change for the environment than any bu reaucrat or agency has ever specif ically accomplished, and they did it while giving back to their commu nity and employing hundreds of talented and well-paid individuals who call our community home.

Excuse me, they did call our community home.

Because of the destructive

march from Sacramento through damaging legislation and ob structive regulation, Lucas Oil has made the incredibly difficult de cision to leave California perma nently and completely just like the more than two million California taxpayers have made since Janu ary 2020 in the largest migration of employed people in peacetime history. California is making it hard for small and large companies to operate in this state anymore.

There will be dozens of fingers pointed at what composed the fi nal straw.

Was it the ever-changing reg ulatory environment forcing em ployers to react due to a lack of consistency and understanding from policy makers? Was it the continued increase of the cost of doing business in California and an unstable tax climate, making it nearly impossible to plan for fu ture investments?

Was it the all-electric vehi cle regulation by 2035, despite no long-haul trucks even being close to demonstration, much less having an explanation about how California would expand

electricity production upward of 70% by 2035 to reach that goal?

For reference, in my lifetime, energy production in California has increased by nearly the same amount required to accommodate a 2035 deadline of near replace ment of gas and diesel engines.

As the CEO of Toyota stated in ear ly October, it is nearly impossible to see California even agreeing to add one new major generation source, much less a generational expansion of the electricity grid. What unknowns will continue to come in the future? Whatever the reason for Lucas Oil consolidating all of its jobs and operations in In diana, it is clear they will not have nearly the challenges California has foisted on itself in the name of political agendas.

At the Corona Chamber of Com merce, we have been proud to travel with Lucas to Sacramento, Indiana, and Washington to seek out our political leaders and en gage in policies that helped all of California’s employers thrive and

provide career-building jobs for their employees while building healthy environments to share with their neighbors and the com munity at large.

That is the California dream. To build a better community and future through career-building opportunities in a state that cele brates innovators in the bright and warm sunshine.

California was built by laborers, dreamers, and innovators who built industries that have all been chased out by “rule-makers” who only do that... make rules.

We at the Chamber will work ev ery day to protect your organiza tion from having to make a call like Lucas Oil.

There are (as of this writing) ninety-three employees that will be seeking new employment in the greater Corona area. The CO RONA Chamber is focused on helping these individuals locate to existing businesses within our region.

Supervisor, Karen Spiegel, also participated in some of the meet ings including with Representa tive Issa’s staff to discuss further funding for road infrastructure and other issues.

Ten business leaders on our summit, all traveled using their own funds. The group that rep resented your business and our community in Washington, D.C. included our board chair Palbinder Badesha (Owner, Express Employment Profession als), Chamber Board Member Jim Gore (Vulcan Materials), Cham ber Board Member Jan Steiner (Make Dust), Chamber Board Member Ruth Jaffe (Kaiser Perma nente), Chamber Board Member Mike Quraishi (Aladdin Cleaning Services, Inc.), Chamber Board Member Barry E. Knight (BEK Impact), Chamber Board Member Lea Petersen (Gas Co.), Chamber member Shelly Gore (Riverside National Cemetery Support Com mittee) and Chamber President Bobby Spiegel along with our leg islative consultant Jeff Gibson.

“Our meetings in Washington D.C. with our elected officials were very productive in handling chal lenges to employers large and

small in our communities,” said Palbinder Badesha, 2022 Cham ber Board Chair. “It is extremely important to have employers like you on these trips so that you can explain exactly what your needs are and how often small changes in government policy can have a large impact on your ability to hire or expand.”

In addition to working with elected officials from our region, we had in-depth meetings on national security and technolo gy development with the Naval Surface and Underwater Warfare

Command with Commanding Of ficer Rear Admiral Eric VerHage, a national security policy briefing with the Heritage Foundation, an economic policy briefing with the National Federation of Indepen dent Businesses, and a climate change policy briefing from the data science team from Heritage Foundation and former Adminis tration advisor Katie Gorka.

“Hearing from experts in their field on a wide range of issues prepared us with the data and background we needed to con duct effective discussions with

our elected representatives on Capitol Hill,” said Chamber Board Member Barry E. Knight. “The en tire three days had us discussing a wide range of topics that face our community and individual em ployers and we had a great deal of success.”

The National Corona Poli cy Summit held meetings from Monday, September 19 through Wednesday, September 21. In addition, Palbinder Badesha and Jim Gore had the honor of laying a memorial wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday, September 18.

“Being able to honor our mili tary and the sacrifices of so many for our freedoms and liberty is an honor I will always remember,” said Chamber Board Member Jim Gore. “Laying that memorial wreath really deepened our mis sion to make sure that every res ident in the greater Corona area has the support and freedom re quired to fulfill their American suc cess story.”

Martin T. Ahn, MD

1781 Third St. Norco, CA 92860 1-951-279-4900

26 excellent reasons to choose Optum Care Network– Corona

Jesse Dominguez, DO

12442 Limonite Ave. Ste. 205 Eastvale, CA 91752 1-909-429-2864

Farah Almudhafar, MD 4244 Riverwalk Pkwy. Ste. 150 Riverside, CA 92505 1-951-781-6335

Naser W. Azar, MD 2071 Compton Ave. Ste. 102 Corona, CA 92881 1-951-549-0900

Eric C. Bekemeier, DO 12442 Limonite Ave. Ste. 205 Eastvale, CA 91752 1-909-429-2864

Kimberly Bekemier, DO 12442 Limonite Ave. Ste. 205 Eastvale, CA 91752 1-909-429-2864

Sameer Ohri, MD 818 Magnolia Ave. Ste. 201 Corona, CA 92879 1-951-356-9991

Benjamin Mahdi, MD

4244 Riverwalk Pkwy. Ste. 150 Riverside, CA 92505 1-951-781-6335

Imran Hasnain, MD

720 Ramona Ave. Ste. 105 Corona, CA 92879 1-951-737-3855

Cornelia Holmes, MD 2071 Compton Ave. Ste. 102 Corona, CA 92881 1-951-549-0900

Ana Ivanova, MD 4244 Riverwalk Pkwy. Ste. 150 Riverside, CA 92505 1-951-781-6335

Talat Khan, MD 2071 Compton Ave. Ste. 105 Corona, CA 92881 1-951-549-0200

Kacie Paik, MD 4244 Riverwalk Pkwy. Ste. 150 Riverside, CA 92505 1-951-781-6335

Sanjeev Puri, MD

1820 Fullerton Ave. Ste. 260 Corona, CA 92881 1-951-356-4009

Tarek Mahdi, MD

4244 Riverwalk Pkwy. Ste. 150 Riverside, CA 92505 1-951-781-6335

Vicky Mai, DO 4244 Riverwalk Pkwy. Ste. 150 Riverside, CA 92505 1-951-781-6335

Mirelle Ann Marquez-Ignacio, MD 12442 Limonite Ave. Ste. 205 Eastvale, CA 91752 1-909-429-2864

Muhammad R. Mowjood, DO 12442 Limonite Ave. Ste. 205 Eastvale, CA 91752 1-909-429-2864

Hitesh Patel, MD 127 N. McKinley St. Ste. 101 Corona, CA 92879 1-951-278-2600

Brandon Tong, DO 12442 Limonite Ave. Ste. 205 Eastvale, CA 91752 1-909-429-2864

Samer Sannofi, MD 6900 Brockton Ave. Ste. 200 Riverside, CA 92506 1-951-682-6263

Anuradha (Anu) Sathya, MD 2071 Compton Ave. Ste. 105 Corona, CA 92881 1-951-549-0200

Rupal Shah, MD

770 Magnolia Ave. Ste. 1K Corona, CA 92879 1-951-738-0303

Kyle Smart, DO 12442 Limonite Ave. Ste. 205 Eastvale, CA 91752 1-909-429-2864

George Soliman, MD 1820 Fullerton Ave. Ste. 260 Corona, CA 92881 1-951-356-4009

Jun Yuan, MD 1810 Fullerton Ave. Ste. 102 Corona, CA 92881 1-951-808-8863

Call your health plan to become a member of Optum Care Network–Corona and to choose one of our doctors. For more information, visit our website Optum.com/Primecare or call us at 1-888-313-7929, TTY 711.

Optum® is a registered trademark of Optum, Inc. in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Because we are continuously improving our products and services, Optum reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. Optum is an equal opportunity employer. © 2022 Optum, Inc. All rights reserved. 21553 09/22

Celebrate!

Thank you to our members who recently renewed their membership with us. The businesses featured below are celebrating Chamber milestone anniversaries. Your partnership in our organization makes a difference in our community. Join us in celebrating these members for their ongoing investment in our community.

35 years Downs Energy (951) 737-9866

1095 Montecito Dr. Corona, CA 92879

For more than 80 years, Downs Energy has been providing fuel and lubricant products and services to thousands of businesses throughout Southern California. We are a third-generation, familyowned and operated Petroleum Marketing business. We are big enough to out-service our “more corporate” competitors but small enough to care. Our mission is to seamlessly fulfill our customers’ fuel and lubricants needs. We strive to provide excellent compensation to our employees, exceptional value to our customers, and generous support to our partner charitable organizations.

20 years Calvary Chapel Corona (951) 278-0600

130 W. Chase Dr. Corona, CA 92882

Here @ CCC, we want you to be equipped with resources to help you get deeper into God’s word. Mike Rodriguez is the founding Pastor of Calvary Chapel Corona. He considers it an honor to serve as the main teaching pastor and shepherd of the flock. Pastor Mike has a weekly radio broadcast, “Living By His Word,” currently on KLHT radio in Honolulu. He is also an author and writes a weekly devotional “The Pastor’s Desk.” We hope you will plan a visit soon!

10 years

PrimeLending

(951) 273-8500

1250 Corona Pointe Ct. Ste. 102 Corona, CA 92879

We take pride in being a premier lender offering a wide array of loan products that cater to the specific needs of each individual and provide every client with unsurpassed quality service. When you call us, we will connect you with one of our 2,500 dedicated loan experts who can answer any questions you have and help you decide which of our 400 loan options is the best fit for you. You will see first-hand why PrimeLending continues to rank as a top-10 purchase lender by Scotsman Guide magazine.

50 years

Pavez Family LLC

(951) 735-2800

2275 S. Main St. Ste. 104 Corona, CA 92882

CPI, our brand name, is a full-line insurance and financial services agency, serving the Inland Empire and surrounding areas for over 30 years. We offer group, as well as individual insurance products, and have over a century of combined experience. We value our customer relations and consistently strive to take that extra step to go beyond the normal “insurance” experience for our customers. We recently opened an office in Palm Desert to better serve the desert communities.

McFadden-Dale Industrial Hardware (951) 734-3620

129 N. Maple St. Corona, CA 92878

When you need to get the job done right you need the right tools. Rely on McFadden-Dale Hardware for quality! We carry the tools you will want, plus safety products, paint and accessories, electrical supplies, lawn and garden, fasteners and so much more! Best of all we have convenient locations to serve you, so you do not have to go far to find the quality you deserve. Call or stop by - we will have just what you need.

Crossroads Christian Church (951) 737-4664 2331 Kellogg Ave. Corona, CA 92881

We exist to create a passionate commitment to Christ, His Cause, and His Community. We present Jesus without apology, creating epic moments that help people hear the Gospel. We invite people forward, inspiring their next step toward God’s extraordinary purposes. We maximize all we have to see the lost come home. Our Senior Pastor is Chuck Booher. On any given weekend, you are sure to be energized by his passionate commitment to teaching the Bible in a way that inspires newcomers to desire more of Jesus, and challenges everyone to take the next step.

Riverside Community Hospital (951) 788-3000

4445 Magnolia Ave. Riverside, CA 92501

Founded in 1901 and right in the heart of the Inland Empire, Riverside Community Hospital is proud to be recognized as a Top Performing Hospital. With over 500 physicians on staff, representing over 200 specialties, and over 1,900 employees, Riverside Community Hospital is an Inland Empire leader in providing advanced, comprehensive health care to the Inland region. We house the largest Emergency Room and Trauma Center in the Inland Empire with an average wait time of only 15 minutes.

HobbyTown

The Inland Gateway Association of REALTORS ®

(951) 735-5121

321 E. 6th St. Corona, CA 92879

It is the mission of The Inland Gateway Association of REALTORS® to pursue nothing short of the highest standards of excellence in supporting and enhancing our members’ abilities to pursue their real estate professions successfully and ethically. We always reach out to the community at large and provide and encourage active legislative advocacy at every level in pursuit and defense of the rights of property ownership for all.

Peppermint Ridge (951) 273-7320

825 Magnolia Ave. Corona, CA 92879

Since 1959, it has been our mission to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities. Peppermint Ridge operates a variety of living environments to meet the needs of residents in its care. Residents are loved and cared for just as they are. From sharing a smile to learning a new skill, each day is filled with opportunities that enable adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their greatest potential. Our goal for our residents is to achieve greater independence, freedom, and their rightful place in society.

(951) 272-4020 340 N. McKinley St. Ste. 107 Corona, CA 92879

HobbyTown is your destination for beyond ordinary, #beyondfun! We carry RC Cars, RC Planes, RC Boats, Electric Trains, Plastic Models, Gundam, Bandai, Puzzles, Model Rockets, Warhammer, S.T.E.M., Metal Detectors, Toys, Hot Wheels, Slot Cars, Games, and much more. Come check us out at our new location! In 2022 we relocated our store to a larger facility enabling us to provide a wider range of products for immediate purchase. Our staff is well educated and can assist you find the perfect gift for that someone special. We are off the 91fwy and McKinley in the Costco Shopping Center, next to Lazy Dog Restaurant.

Allied Pest Control

(951) 734-5922

Corona, CA 92882

Started in 2001, Allied Pest Control is proud to be one of the best pest control businesses in the Union. Since the very beginning, protecting your home, family, and pets from the activity of insects and mammals has been our number one priority. We genuinely care about our customers and are always looking for new ways to deliver quality services at a fair and affordable price. We are a child-friendly and family-conscious pest control company that holds your family’s safety as the top priority.

Carter Bradley Insurance Solutions

(951) 547-4240

1750 California Ave. Ste. 101 Corona, CA 92881

We are an insurance agency whose team is solely focused on your unique needs to find the best prices and coverage you require for your business, home, auto, and life insurance. Our team is available to provide information and advice on the best insurance packages. We also may group packages and different coverages together for an even greater discount. Our job is to give you the best rate and keep your business year after year by continually searching for the best policies for you.

Atlas Pet Hospital

(951) 737-1242

1560 Hamner Ave. Norco, CA 92860

We at Atlas Animal Hospital in Norco CA have assembled an expert team of veterinary professionals to bring you the best possible healthcare for your pet. We have a state-of-the-art veterinary facility that is clean, comfortable, and efficient. We recommend annual pet checkups, which include a full physical exam and may include teeth and gum cleaning if needed. Dr. Ola Ebeid and Dr. Manal Hanna will check the health of your pet from head to tail!

Futurelink Inc. (951) 291-9211

4160 Temescal Canyon Rd. Ste. 401 Corona, CA 92883

At Futurelink, we provide leading technology training, career development, and STEM education services for ages 6+. You can obtain guidance for your future career and vocational direction from our qualified and certified career coaches. They will help you develop insight into your work values, personality, and interests to match you with recommended occupations. Receive industryfocused advice from mentors who can recommend beneficial workshops and assessments. Ultimately, our goal is to inspire successful choices for adults, kids, and corporations.

HomeStart Realty and Loans, a Division of Hartford Financial Solutions, Inc. (951) 547-4494

4193 Flat Rock Dr. Ste. 200 Riverside, CA 92505

We are a realty and loans service business with a focus on the customer’s needs, equity position, and experience to create a financially secure plan. Many consumers are not sure if they qualify, and here at HomeStart, we recognize that each scenario is different, so we work with you to find the right solution for your loan. HomeStart Realty is proud to have an A+ accreditation with the Better Business Bureau.

Riverside County TreasurerTax Collector (951) 955-3999

4080 Lemon St. 4th Fl. Riverside, CA 92501

The Riverside County TreasurerTax Collector is responsible for the billing and collection of property taxes, and, for the receiving, processing, investing, and most importantly, safeguarding of public funds, as mandated by the laws of the state of California. The combined office is led by Matthew Jennings, a countywide, publicly elected official serving the fourth-largest county in California by landmass and by population. Established May 9, 1893, Riverside County encompasses 7,303 square miles, 28 cities, and a population of nearly 2.3 million.

LuLaRoe (951) 737-7875

4160 Temescal Canyon Rd. Ste. 101 Corona, CA 92883

At LuLaRoe, we believe every individual is beautiful, unique, and most of all, powerful. And through these attributes, we believe anyone can create and live a life of purpose and gratitude. These beliefs are why LuLaRoe was created; they bind us together like threads, sewing us into a community of lasting love and fellowship. Start your own business with the flexibility to reach your goals on your schedule. Become a LuLaRoe retailer and combine your passion for fashion with a purpose for building a business.

Provident Bank (951) 270-2926

487 Magnolia Ave. Ste. 101 Corona, CA 92879

At Provident Bank, our goal is to provide cost-effective financial solutions to our customers with the kind of service immediately recognized as unique to Provident Bank: It is our brand. Having meaningful conversations with our customers where we listen as much as we talk is simply a core principle of who we are. In this way, we are committed to the belief that our communities are better served when decisions about financial products and services are made locally by people who know the markets.

Serendipity Payroll Inc. (949) 216-7777

387 Magnolia Ave. Ste. 103-641 Corona, CA 92879

We offer professional payroll services with the goal of bringing a personal level of attention to payroll. Owner and Founder, Tara Neja, started Serendipity Payroll to provide a level of service to small business owners that they struggle to get from large payroll providers. With over 17 years of experience working for two large payroll providers, Tara listened to feedback from clients. Since she understood their pain and frustration, Tara felt confident she could provide a solution to their needs. Thus, the creation of Serendipity Payroll.

Welcome the 2022-2023 Executive Leadership Roundtable Class

Annually, the CORONA Chamber hosts the Ex ecutive Leadership Round table (ELR) program, which is compiled of leaders and decision makers in areas of business, services, gov ernment, and education throughout the area. The nine-month program will help these decision makers to expand their knowledge of the vast resources that

the greater Corona area offers while building mean ingful relationships with participant cohorts. Ses sions include topics such as public safety, health care, local government, manufacturing, and so much more. Featured are the individuals participat ing in this year’s program. If you would like more infor mation on the program or

if you are interested in the 2023-2024 Executive lead ership Roundtable, contact Anthony Maldonado at An thony@mychamber.org or visit bit.ly/ELRPROGRAM.

Jennifer Bauserman City of Corona, Community Services

Roger Bradley City of Corona

Tyler Byrne

Jurupa Valley Chamber of Commerce

Justin Detmer Corona Fire Department

Rob Ibbetson Corona-Norco Unified School District

Dr. Sabrina Kaspar Corona-Norco Unified School District

Magali Melchor M&J Pallet Recycling

Denisse S. Olguín

Corona-Norco United Way

Rogelio Padilla

Corona-Norco Unified School District

Dr. Jason Parks Norco College

Rebecca Spiegel ABC Hopes

Diane Summers Kaiser Permanente

Kathy Thayer

Altura Credit Union

Janet Thomson Wordstroker Mobile Notary

BJ Walker 100 Mile Club

Matt Windish Corona Police Department

2022-2023 ELR Chair Dr. Alia Rodriguez Corona-Norco United Way

CORONA Chamber saved businesses over $50,000!

The CORONA Chamber takes its role in Advocacy very seri ously. Through our Advocacy ef forts, the CORONA Chamber has worked with elected officials, deci sion, and policy makers to under stand the need of common-sense

legislation. The CORONA Cham ber continues to reach beyond party lines and build consensus to help businesses succeed. Listed below is a snapshot of some of our work, there is a ‘Report Card’ with highlighted areas, and a ‘Chart of

Successes’. It is often stated, if you are not at the table, you are prob ably on the menu! The CORONA Chamber works on YOUR behalf. If there are issues and regulations being introduced that impact your industry, please let us know.

The CORONA Chamber also conducts a Business Briefing every Wednesday, at 10AM – on Zoom. Questions on our Advocacy Out reach, please email Anthony Mal donado at Anthony@MyCham ber.org

Help Us Welcome Our New Members

one of the best workout facilities in Corona, we take your fitness and boxing journey to the next level!

Embark

(818) 859-3029

3740 Via Zumaya St. Corona, CA 92881

Embark is a digital marketing agency focused on combining technology, creativity, and storytelling to empower leaders with custom-tailored solutions.

Healing Care Hospice

(323) 988-1245

All American Pressure Washing Inc.

(951) 310-1221

Corona, CA 92883

All American Pressure Washing is a family-owned and operated business. Our aim is to go above and beyond to make our customers happy. Contact us TODAY for all your home or business pressure washing needs! Thank you for giving us an opportunity to serve you and make your property SHINE!

Anytime Fitness

(951) 475-1299

2641 Green River Rd. Ste. 102 Corona, CA 92882

At Anytime Fitness, we offer 24/7 access to a full-functioning gym with group classes and personal training options available.

Big Gun Exhaust

(714) 970-0423

190 Business Center Dr. Ste. B Corona, CA 92880

With one of the largest 4-stroke exhaust product lines available, Big Gun Exhaust caters to the MX, Sport ATV, Utility ATV, Side x Side, Street and Scooter markets. We emphasize great customer service and satisfaction, manufacture

high quality products here in the USA, and are proud to boast one of the fastest lead times in the industry. Come check us out!

Care Plus Pharmacy

(951) 324-1610

4990 Arlington Ave. Ste. A Riverside, CA 92504

At Care Plus Pharmacy, we know how important it is to feel confident in your pharmacy. Our number one priority is making sure you are getting the correct prescription and we go the extra mile to make sure you understand how and when to take your medication.

Circle MSP (949) 298-1591

11801 Pierce St. Ste. 200 Riverside, CA 92618

We are a technology consulting firm, and we focus on your technology so you can focus on your growth. Look to us for your IT managed services, phone systems, managed print services, and printer and copier services

City of Corona - Economic Development Department

(951) 736-2295

400 S. Vicentia Ave. Corona, CA 92882

The City of Corona’s Office of Economic Development is positioned within City Hall to be a liaison between the city government and the business community. Our team understands business and our goal is to get your business open faster!

Corona Hills Boxing and Fitness (951) 268-6351

4300 Green River Rd. Ste. 109A Corona, CA 92878

Corona Hills Boxing and Fitness is more than just your friendly neighborhood 24-hour gym. As

8255 Firestone Blvd. Ste. 403 Downey, CA 90241

At Healing Care Hospice, we are mission-oriented and invest in making a positive impact on the families we serve, the professionals we hire, and our healthcare partners. We are founded on the belief that quality hospice care can promote emotional and spiritual healing, and we are great believers in the power of presence and mindfulness.

HR Green Inc.

(855) 900-4742

1260 Corona Pointe Ct. Ste. 305 Corona, CA 92879

Founded in 1913, we provide engineering and technical management consulting to clients in diverse geographies and markets. We have a healthy balance of private sector and public sector clients and understand the nuances and specific knowledge that is required to serve both successfully.

iCareMore Pharmacy

(951) 299-7100

9493 Garfield St, Riverside CA 92503 Riverside, CA 92503

Our pharmacist personally attends to each prescription, checking for accuracy, and any potential interactions. We know you have many choices when it comes to where you get your medication, and we are proud to be the premier pharmacy in our area.

Jurupa Valley Chamber of Commerce (877) 582-5822

PO Box 3798

Jurupa Valley, CA 92519

Jurupa Valley Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1963. We support the businesses in our area and focus our efforts on three pillars – advocacy, business development, and economic development while also delivering events, programs, and initiatives to boost economic success for a better Jurupa Valley.

Merrick Engineering, Inc

(951) 737-6040

1275 Quarry St. Corona, CA 92879

In business since 1973, Merrick International is one of the leading and trusted manufacturers of a variety of plastic hangers, storage, home goods, and more to the largest retailers in the USA, Canada, and Latin America.

Opsmosa Consulting

(323) 736-0190

235 E Broadway Ste. 800 Long Beach, CA 90802

Opsmosa Consulting specializes in process improvement, growth planning, structuring, root cause analysis, and cross-functional teams in startups, small, and midsize companies.

Secure E-Waste Management

(909) 517-9148

5220 Edison Ave. Chino, CA 91710

We are an E-Waste Recycling Company. We specialize in data wiping and data destruction. We offer pickups of any devices that you cannot throw out, I.E batteries, and other dangerous electrical parts.

Southern California Edison

(909) 930-8495

1351 E. Francis St. Ontario, CA 91761

An Edison International company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities providers. We serve a population of nearly 14 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal, and Southern California.

Sundown Window Tinting and Shades

(951) 688-2161

9840 Indiana Ave. Ste. 2 Riverside, CA 92503

Sundown Window Tinting and Shades has solutions for heat, privacy, safety/security, and even just a touch of style. Whatever you need, we have you covered! Providing a cooler experience to everyone with one room, house, business, or car at a time.

The Business of Young (951) 751-9984

Corona, CA 92881

The Business of Young is your resource for Entrepreneurial, Leadership, and Early Career coaching for young and emerging adults. We also offer leadership and program

The Grotto Menswear

490 N. Main St. Ste. 105 Corona, CA 92878

The Grotto was originally founded on the belief that the groom and his wedding party deserve something better than a poorfitting rental or an overpriced, “off the rack” suit. Founders Matt Scord and Nick Meade aligned on a vision that would forever shakeup the industry and change the way men shop for their big day.

Tillema Veterinary Clinic

(951) 547-1675

708 N. Main St. Ste. 708 Corona, CA 92878

At Tillema Veterinary Clinic in Corona, California, we love animals and use our knowledge and compassion in the treatment of every patient we see. Helping your pet live a happy and healthy life is why we come to work each day.

V&G Charcuterie

(951) 223-8389

2795 Cabot Dr. Ste. 6-135 Corona, CA 92881

Stacey fell in love with creating charcuterie boards for friends and family over the years and enjoyed bringing everyone together over a beautifully presented board.

V&G Charcuterie is a Riverside County licensed and fully insured catering business specializing in lavish grazing tables and custom charcuterie boards.

On behalf of the CORONA Chamber, we thank the community for coming together and supporting our 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony. The many volunteers who helped in numerous ways, from prep work, affixing names to flags, set up, to reading of names, speaking during the ceremony and those attending.

Our grateful thanks and appreciation to those businesses and organizations listed below who assisted in financial resources that made this event possible.

development consulting for youth-centered organizations.

Horsetown USA, Norco hitched its wagon to its larger neighbor, Co rona, in 2021. The two cities share a set of strategies, the same sup portive services provider, and a single staff position that manages both homelessness programs.

So far, the results are promising. The number of homeless Norco residents has stayed relatively sta ble despite a turbulent economy and rising housing costs. Addi tionally, 26% of the program’s par ticipants have moved into perma nent housing. Most are sheltered and 93% are willing to engage in case management support.

“In Corona and Norco, we are putting something together that hasn’t really been done,” said Norco Council Member Kevin Bash. “We are trying to find a way to affect a regional homeless issue and we are investing big bucks.”

Before 2021, Norco residents viewed homelessness as an issue with limited impacts. Although the city had policies like safe parking, its primary supportive services provider was the Riverside County Sherriff’s Department.

Norco Mayor Pro Tem Robin Grundmeyer wanted to change things. Her desire took on new urgency when she realized that

one of her former students had become homeless. “Having a for mer student become one of our homeless neighbors had a huge impact on me as far as trying to look at what we can do to help folks,” Grundmeyer said.

However, the small city did not have the resources or staffing ex pertise needed to develop perma nent, long-term solutions.

In 2019, the seeds for a part nership were planted. Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel had developed a collaboration between county agencies and several cities. A year later, Corona established its own goal of cre ating a sub-regional partnership with a neighboring city.

The two cities formed a partner ship after a series of meetings in 2021.

Like Corona, Norco maintains its own motel shelter, provides sup portive services through City Net, and has a clear pathway to per manent housing that bridges into existing county systems. In two weeks, Norco’s motel shelter was at capacity and most of its unshel tered residents were engaged in case management.

Despite their shared progress, Corona and Norco have steep hills to climb. COVID-19 and infla tion devastated many households and vacancy rates are almost zero. This has led to a spike in newly — often working— unhoused resi dents. In fact, Riverside County’s overall homeless population has increased by 18% since 2019.

Additionally, both cities have a significant number of chronical ly homeless residents who suf fer from co-occurring diagnoses, such as mental illness, addiction, and various chronic health issues.

The increased focus on out reach means that both Coro na and Norco are now serving people that might not have been reached previously, such as residents sleeping in cars or couch-surfing students. They must also manage over lapping local, state, and federal jurisdictions in the Santa Ana River area, which has some of the largest encampments in Riverside County.

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FLWR CO Your new favorite dispensary in Corona!

At FLWR CO we take pride in offering high quality canna bis products you can trust. We have something for everyone, from beginner to experienced. When you step foot into FLWR CO a fully-compliant and li censed facility, you can expect a state of the art shopping ex perience, even if you aren’t sure where to start. Whether you are a medical patient or a recreation al customer, our passionate and trained staff are ready to guide you. Upon entering you will find in-store kiosks and online order ing for express pick up.

At FLWR CO, we thrive on working with and building rela tionships within our communi ty. We want it to be known that the first dispensary in Corona is locally owned. SO it’s important

that we let our neighbors know we are here to stay and be a con tributing member to our com munity.

We are conveniently located off Main Street and the 91 Free way in Corona.

FLWR CO –Cannabis Never Felt So Good.

Corona Chamber Members can Benefit from New Energy Efficiency Programs

Southern California Edison (SCE) has contracted with cer tain businesses to implement two new energy efficiency programs for industrial and commercial cus tomers in the SCE territory. There is no cost to enroll and discover the energy efficiency options for your business. These programs replace the traditional utility ener gy efficiency incentive programs you may have used in the past.

You are eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria:

• You are an SCE customer in good standing

• You have a minimum monthly demand charge of 20 kW

• You contribute to the Public Purpose Program Fund via a monthly charge on your utility bill

The programs provide full tech nical and engineering assistance

President Biden signs Congressman Calvert’s H.R. 5809

NORCO POST OFFICE TO HONOR LANCE CORPORAL KAREEM NIKOUI

House of Representatives on July 12, 2022, and subsequently passed by the U.S. Senate on Sep tember 20, 2022.

to SCE customers help ing you access incentives and rebates for your proj ects. The programs will help you create a roadmap to low er your utility costs and achieve your environmental goals.

Please contact (855) 390-7348

or visit www.willdanefficiency. com for more information.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Octo ber 12, 2022, Congressman Ken Calvert announced that his leg islation to name the Norco Post Office in honor of Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui (H.R. 5809) was signed into law by the President.

Lance Corporal Nikoui, a Norco resident, was killed during the Au gust 26, 2021, Kabul terror attack while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. The bill will officially desig nate the U.S. Post Office located at 1801 Town and Country Drive as the Lance Corporal Kareem Nik oui Memorial Post Office. The bill was passed by the U.S.

“Our community is incredibly proud to honor Lance Corporal Nikoui, who in his short time with us displayed remarkable brav ery and selflessness,” said Rep. Calvert. “With my legislation now signed into law, we know Norco’s Post Office will always pay hom age to one of the city’s true he roes. Any time I think about Lance Corporal Nikoui I am mindful of his family, friends, and anyone for tunate enough to know him. His bright soul illuminated so greatly that it continues to shine upon us after his passing. I pray that these modest steps of recognition, in some way, give them comfort in knowing that we will never forget his sacrifice and courage.”

Article submitted by

Futch of Willdan

Ralph

MILE MARCH

From a Horrific Upbringing to a Bright Future

This update is long overdue, but we are happy to report….the funds initially donated through the gener osity of so many, to the CORONA Cham ber Foundation to the “Magnificent 13” … has grown to almost $500,000 from other bene fits and funding! At the Corona Rotary Club’s Friday, Octo ber 7, 2022, meet ing, guest speaker Melissa Donaldson (with SAFE Fam ily Justice – run through the River side County DA’s office) shared her passion about Domestic Violence Month. More cases of abuse from all demographics are rampant not only throughout our nation, but also in Riverside County. SAFE Family Justice stays prepared to treat domestic violence victims. Melissa presented some of the obvious signs, but also educated us on how impactful domestic vi olence is for young people. For in stance, a child sees their father hit their mother and the child proba bly grows up believing this is nor mal acceptable behavior

We met Melissa through the “Magnificent 13” fundraising (I re fused to use their parent’s name, as I selfishly did not want these in nocent victims to be reminded of their abuse). Melissa, as the repre sentative of SAFE Family Justice became our Foundations con tact, after, through a long inter view process, SAFE was selected as the vehicle to handle our do nations. The process culminated in the Foundation Board present ing a check for over $210,000 for the “Magnificent 13”. Melissa announced that the community of Corona was the largest finan cial donor of funds for these chil dren. She added that just under $100,000 still remains. Because of the local fundraising success, other charities and outreaches felt compelled to join the effort resulting in the total in excess of $500,000. Furthermore, donors have stepped forward to pro vide housing, vehicles and much more.

Just as we were thinking, how could the Rotary meeting be bet ter…Melissa introduced Jordan, the young daughter who escaped from her abusive parents’ home in Perris

CA. For the next several months, what authorities found at the home became the headline news.

Jordan a beautiful 22 year old with style and grace took the mi crophone and shared words of encouragement. Though it was agreed with Melissa prior to the meeting that no questions would be answered by Jordan, the con fident young woman felt com pelled to answer a few questions, with most pertaining to how and what she is now doing. As she spoke, it was almost unfathom able to think of the conditions she survived, shackled to her bed along with her siblings, denied the necessities of daily life. It was inspiring to see her proudly stand ing in front of us sharing thoughts of her bright future through the lens of her innocent life.

Sadly, Jordan was forced to escape again, this time from the Foster Care family that housed her. Again, she provided authori ties details that led to the arrest of that family and other Foster Care families that were also abusing her siblings. The investigations grew to include other children that had been placed in these homes. Needless to say, Jordan is smart, and determined to live a better life…one that she has dreamt of for years…and now it appears to be a reality.

The CORONA Chamber has a policy for charging a manage ment fee of 10 percent, when collecting funds for charities, other non-profits etc. Through the direction of the Chamber’s President / CEO and full support of the Officers and Board of Di rectors, the Chamber waived any and all fees.

At Corona Regional, we are thankful for the many people who choose us and we take pride in the quality care and service we provide to the community. We appreciate your confidence in us to be there when you need us the most.