Public Policy
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We are committed to ensuring the voices of our diverse small business community are heard. When it comes to policy-making decisions at the local and state levels, we are front and center, consistently advocating for our region’s small businesses.
How We Advocate for Small Businesses
Our small business advocacy comes in many forms. We help leverage partnerships such as our Sacramento Inclusive Economic Development Collaborative, develop regional strategies to ensure inclusive economic policies and investments, create conversations with policymakers, and connect our communities to their elected representatives through our Meet & Greet Series.
Our 2023 Legislative Priorities
Outlook for 2023
The signing of AB 2019 into law was a significant victory for CalAsian and part of a long fought battle for small and minority owned-businesses in California. However, the work doesn’t stop here. The CalAsian Chamber will continue to support the implementation of AB 2019 by working with the Newsom Administration and individual State agencies and their leadership and staff, partnering with them to activate the provisions in the law while holding them accountable in ensuring the success of the bill’s intent. Alongside this effort, CalAsian will seek out potential opportunities to advance legislation to bring our Equity in Energy program to life which will kickstart in the beginning of 2023.
CalAsian Equity in Energy Initiative
As California moves towards its ambitious 2030 climate goals, minority-owned small businesses face unique obstacles to transition their operations to meet the State’s standards and access new business opportunities in markets ushering a low carbon future. Effective pathways need to be created to ensure that all small business, but especially disadvantaged businesses in areas of high poverty and low investment in California, have access to the opportunities, resources, partnerships, knowledge, and enabling technologies necessary to start, build, and scale enterprises that create high-road jobs and essential community wealth building opportunities, from providing hands-on business assistance to advocating for inclusive and business-friendly state policies. In collaboration with Strategies360, the CalAsian Chamber will closely monitor legislation and regulations that would help our minority-owned small businesses make that just transition, to ensure that the transition is accessible, affordable, and achievable.
Business Finance
We support a business environment that offers support and makes it easier for businesses to grow and thrive. The Business Finance covers issues including the following: access to capital, transparency in lending, taxation, regulatory reform, procurement and contracting international investment. Funding vehicles such as CDFIs, traditional and non-traditional bankers, and tax credits are all mechanisms we should consider supporting.
State SB-TAP Program
The Small Business Technical Assistance Program (SB-TAP) provides $17 million each year through 2022-23 to expand small business services, such as free or low-cost one-on-one consulting and low-cost training. As a SB-TAP awardee, the CalAsian Chamber will work closely with Strategies360 to review the current status of SB-TAP in the budget and work closely with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to ensure small and disadvantaged businesses receive appropriate investment and that CalAsian is well positioned to support this initiative.
Tech and Privacy
CalAsian, along with Strategies360, is closely monitoring the issues of technology and privacy, especially as they relate to the implementation of the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) and the ongoing implementation under CPRA. We are following all CPPA updates and are involved in providing public comments to ensure all relevant legislation and privacy concerns are appropriately addressed.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that provides Federal investment to improve America’s highways, transit, safety, motor carriers, research, handling of hazardous materials, and rail programs of the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT). California expects to receive over $29.5 billion over five years for highways and bridges alone, in addition to additional funding for roadway safety, public transportation, electric vehicles, railways and airports. The Biden-Harris administration created the Justice40 Initiative to confront and address decades of underinvestment in disadvantaged communities. This initiative will bring resources to communities most impacted by climate change, pollution, and environmental hazards. Within the IIJA, federal agencies are adopting the Justice40 Initiative as part of a broader strategy to make sure that IIJA investment is directed toward these underinvested communities. CalAsian plans to renew its 2023 Equity Action Plan commitment and will advocate to ensure that the intent of the Justice40 Initiative is followed when regional and local investment decisions are made.
$600 million Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF)
We will continue to monitor legislation, policy, and regulation decisions identified as priorities by the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA). CCIA has been active in engaging legislative leaders and policy influencers around issues that affect the industry. The development of local and state policies to regulate this new industry has created high demand for knowledge and education, particularly from small businesses and entrepreneurs. SACC aims to provide a network of education, information, and resources that help to clarify the quickly evolving abundance of regulatory guidelines in California’s cannabis industry. It seeks to advocate on behalf of the API and small business community as the cannabis industry’s regulatory scheme continues to unfold, improve their understanding and compliance with cannabis regulation, and closely track legislation that may affect their ability to compete in this industry.
Combat Hate Crimes in California (AAPI Hate Funding)
The Department of Social Services (DSS) has announced their first round of award recipients that will receive funding to Combat Hate Crimes in California. The first round has already been distributed by DSS and the list of awardees can be viewed here. The $30M of funding was distributed to combat hate crimes as a result of the Caucus’ “API Equity Budget” passed last year. CalAsian will work on a request for proposal (RFP) to qualify in the next round of funding so that small businesses are represented and receive support.
Cannabis Education and Outreach Programs and Activities
Since 2016, the CalAsian Foundation has created pathways for marginalized communities to pursue business ownership and employment opportunities in the cannabis industry. Through business assistance and consulting, outreach and education, workforce development, and advocacy, we work to advance economic equity within California’s cannabis industry. Check out our website for upcoming program information, along with activities and events in the pipeline.
Small Business Advocates Alliance
Building our coalition of over 35+ organizations for AB 2019 was a key indicator that we create a larger impact when we all work together. The CalAsian Chamber will continue collaborating and partnering with small business advocates and organizations, such as CalChamber, that are aligned with our mission in supporting small and minority-owned businesses throughout California. We will continue to look for opportunities to collaborate through policy, advocacy, programs, events, and more.