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Helping Businesses Prosper and our Community Thrive!
Your investment in the Oceanside Chamber is making a difference in our community! The Chamber's mission is to "stimulate economic prosperity and foster a vibrant community." Here's a quick overview if what your investment in the Chamber allowed us to accomplish in the recent weeks...
Public Policy & Business Advocacy
- Chamber-supported AB 1588 (Gloria/Gray), was signed into law. This is a bill that will ensure military veterans transitioning into civilian water and wastewater operator occupations receive appropriate credit for their experience and education during military service. The bill has received unanimous support through both the state Assembly and Senate.
- Sent a letter to City Council in support of amending the City’s Capital Improvement Budget to include a beach sand retention project design, environmental review and permitting. The City Council voted unanimously to direct staff to come back with an amendment to the CIP to include a project to prepare a preliminary design and appropriate studies for a beach sand retention project.
- Held 2nd “City Council and Business Leaders Roundtable”, providing Chamber members an opportunity to discuss issues of importance with City leaders. In the first two sessions, the main issues of concern were crime associated with transients and the efficiencies of city’s internal processes for business permitting, etc.
Economic Development
- At the Chamber’s Emerging Issues Forum, Zephyr Partners presented their proposed project for the old Oceanside “Drive-In” site. The mixed-use project would include a resort, conference space, commercial and residential components.
- Continued work with Unite North County on messaging related to criminal activity associated with homelessness/transiency. This will be used to ensure that the full scope of the problem, and its impact on business, is being considered and discussed.
- Chamber staff participated in at North County Transit District stakeholder interview to provide input on transit services in our community.
- Wrote a letter of support for the City's application for Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Water Recycling Funding through the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) for the Upper Recycled Water Conveyance System. This project would improve reliability and cost stability through delivery of recycled water that will benefit the agricultural industry in Oceanside, which is part of the larger $2.88 billion farming economy of San Diego County. The project would benefit the agricultural industry by reducing reliance on groundwater pumping and purchased water supplies by putting reclaimed water to beneficial use.
Strategic Planning
- Chamber staff and board members participated in an annual strategic planning session to develop the Chamber’s program of work for 2020. Key items include continued involvement in the Beach Sand Issue, positively impacting Oceanside’s 2020 Elections, deeper engagement in Business Advocacy and Workforce Development with an emphasis on career exploration for younger students. Full details of the 2020 Program of Work will be included in the Oceanside Quarterly Journal in January.
- In 2020 the Chamber will conduct extensive outreach in developing a 5-Year strategic plan. Chamber members and various community stakeholders will be invited to participate in the process of identifying key issues for the Chamber to focus on during the 5-year period.
Political Action
- The Chamber’s Business and Community Political Action Committee (BACPAC) continued planning and fundraising outreach in preparation for its endorsements in Oceanside’s 2020 elections.
Military Outreach
- Delivered 121 Military Bags to newly stationed servicemembers containing promotional materials from over 30 Chamber members during weekly Welcome Aboard Briefings.
- Assisted several transitioning servicemembers who inquired about our Associate Member program
Professional Development
- On Wednesday, October 23rd the Oceanside Young Professionals met at Kilowatt Brewing for a downtown district update with MainStreet Oceanside. Kilowatt is a small batch brewery based in San Diego. Their CEO, Steve “Scones” Kozyk shared the story of their Oceanside location, which opened earlier this year and features creative lighting, interactive art, and games which pair perfectly with their small batch, uncommon ingredient brews. Gumaro Escarcega, with MainStreet Oceanside offered an inside look into future downtown developments and recently completed projects. He also shared details on the Oceanside Mural Initiative, a community driven program with goals to help our city become a destination for public art while improving the image of our downtown district. For more info, visit www.OceansideYoungProfessionals.com.
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