The Paramount community started the Christmas season in style on November 30 at the well-attended annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, which included a free concert by the Milanés Brothers Latin Band. Santa and his helpers, as well as representatives of the LA Kings (new owners of LA Kings Iceland), joined the City Council and staff on stage for the gala event (see page 3). Our traditional Santa Train rolled out for the 53rd year on December 7, visiting Paramount neighborhoods for three days as Santa passed out 25,000 goody bags packed once again by our faithful MUSA volunteers.
From December 10 through 12, Paramount kids hit the slopes for Snowfest, which featured day and evening sled runs, snow play, photo opportunities and Santa’s Craft Village. Merry Christmas, everyone!
a
time
and
PULSE BEAT PULSE BEAT
At right: Mrs. Claus (aka Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings) greeted Paramount youngsters when the Santa Train visited their neighborhoods.
Youngsters had
great
sledding
playing in the snow an annual holiday treat in Paramount.
Vicky Uisprapassorn
Mayor’s Desk
MAYOR VILMA CUELLAR STALLINGS
City of Paramount awarded EPA grant for air quality monitoring efforts
The City has been awarded $319,754 by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Paramount’s community air quality monitoring program, which measures possible pollutants from metal-related businesses and ensures that they are not emitting toxins into the air at harmful levels.
The funding will cover the program’s costs for two years.
Some 20 entities in California were given similar grants; Paramount was the only municipal recipient.
In late 2016, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) launched “the most extensive hexavalent chromium air monitoring program in the world in Paramount” due to the discovery of spikes in the levels of the metal.
In 2021, concluding that the hex chrome levels had been “low and stable” for an extended period, the agency discontinued its monitoring.
During that five-year span, the City dedicated an unprecedented amount of time, energy and resources to meet the air quality issue head on. Partnerships were formed and communication and transparency were crucial. This work led to SCAQMD giving Paramount its Model Community Achievement Award.
Committed to the health and safety of residents, the Paramount City Council last year made the decision to maintain funding for ongoing air monitoring.
After a year of testing, the results continue to be very positive. Samples are taken every six days, and readings have averaged 0.2 ng. (According to SCAQMD, any reading under 1.0 ng is considered an acceptable level.)
Now, with this grant, the EPA has recognized the value and significance of our air monitoring and its indication of the City’s commitment to a healthy community.
All testing results can be found on SCAQMD’s website, aqmd.gov, and on ParamountEnvironment.org.
Christmas & New Year’s holiday schedule
For the Christmas holiday, there will be no street sweeping on Friday, December 23 and Monday, December 26 and no makeup. Trash pickup will remain on its regular schedule.
City Hall and the City Yard will be closed on Monday, December 26, while the Sheriff’s station will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For the New Year’s holiday, there will be no street sweeping on Monday, January 2, 2023. and no makeup. Trash pickup will be on its normal schedule.
City Hall and the City Yard will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2023, while the Sheriff’s station will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Recycle your Christmas tree
After the holidays, Paramount residents who have Christmas trees can place them out at curbside for pick-up. The trees will be recycled into mulch.
Athens Services, the City’s refuse hauler, will gather the trees at no charge after Christmas from December 26, 2022, through January 13, 2023, for single-family residential accounts.
Remove the stand and all decorations, lights and tinsel and do not wrap the tree or enclose it in a plastic bag. If the tree is less than four feet tall, you can put it in your green waste recycling barrel. For anything larger, set it curbside on your normal garbage collection day by 6 a.m. (trees over seven feet tall need to be cut in half). Flocked trees will also be picked up.
After January 13, 2022, your tree can still be taken away by scheduling a bulky item pick-up.
For apartments or condominiums, trees on the curb by 6 a.m. during the stated dates will be taken away for free on regular pick-up days. If it’s necessary to drive onto the property, there will be a $5 charge per tree and it must be ordered 24 hours before the regular pick-up day by the manager or owner who must have the account number for verification.
Also, commercial customers must call Athens before placing a tree out for collection so that a green waste truck can visit their location.
For questions, please call Athens at (562) 259-1239.
Clutter-Free Paramount: January 14
Clear out your post-holiday build-up at the City’s next Clutter-Free Paramount community-wide cleanup event on Saturday, January 14, 2023, from 8 a.m. until noon at Paramount Park. Please see City Scape on page 13 for all the details abut what to bring and not bring.
This event is for Paramount residents only. You must present a valid ID with a Paramount or 90723 zip code address.
Special thanks to Athens Services for providing containers, dropoff, pick-up and disposal at no cost, Los Angeles County Public Works Department for tire collection and Caltrans “Clean California” for funding.
Paramount Park is located at 14400 Paramount Blvd. For more information, please call (562) 220-2002.
The City Council and City Manager joined Santa and his helpers and representatives of the LA Kings (including their mascot Bailey) for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and concert.
PEP Talk
English as a Second Language (ESL) offered at Spane Park
In partnership with the Paramount Adult School, the Adult ESL program of the Paramount Education Partnership is designed to help students sharpen communications skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and numeracy in a competency-based format.
There are different levels available and the classes can help in preparation of citizenship tests. Classes are free.
The curriculum is designed to meet the diverse needs of students, ranging from the English of daily living to the language required for entry into vocational and academic programs. The content and instructional strategies of all courses reflect the California ESL Model Standards for Adult Education Programs.
Registration must be done through the Paramount Adult School at 14507 Paramount Blvd. or by calling (562) 602-8080. ESL classes are held at the Spane Park Community Learning Center, 14400 Gundry Ave., and take place Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Inglés como segundo idioma (ESL, por sus siglas en inglés) ofrecido en Spane Park
En asociación con Paramount Adult School, el programa de ESL para adultos de Paramount Education Partnership está diseñado para ayudar a los estudiantes a agudizar las habilidades de comunicación en escuchar, hablar, leer, escribir y aritmética en un formato basado en competencias.
Hay diferentes niveles disponibles y las clases pueden ayudar en la preparación de las pruebas de ciudadanía. Las clases son gratis.
El plan de estudios está diseñado para satisfacer las diversas necesidades de los estudiantes, desde el inglés de la vida diaria hasta el idioma requerido para ingresar a los programas académicos y vocacionales. El contenido y las estrategias de instrucción de todos los cursos reflejan los estándares modelo de ESL de California para programas de educación para adultos.
La inscripción debe hacerse a través de la Paramount Adult School en 14507 Paramount Blvd. o llamando al (562) 6028080. Las clases de ESL se llevan a cabo en el Spane Park Community Learning Center, 14400 Gundry Ave., y se llevan a cabo de Lunes a Jueves de 9 a.m. a 12 mediodía.
You can report loud parties anonymously
If holiday gatherings get a little too loud, creating a nuisance for neighbors, you can lodge a complaint. Paramount Sheriff’s Station has a special patrol unit that responds to resident complaints of this kind.
If a call for disturbing the peace comes into the Sheriff’s Station, there will be a visit to the location and a first-warning notice will be issued. If a return visit is made, the responsible party (property owner, tenant, etc.) will be issued a citation and fine.
A second visit within 30 days will produce a fine of $250. The third, fourth, and fifth visits within 30 days of the first call entail fines of $500, $750 and $1,000, respectively. In addition, the cost of extra resources involved (multiple deputies, helicopter, and so on) can also be assessed.
If such disturbances come from the same location over an extended period of time, deputies will focus on solving the problem with those who are causing it.
Deputies do not divulge the identity of any residents making complaints, so you can call in anonymously. For more information, call the Paramount Sheriff’s Station at (562) 220-2002.
Exchange online sales safely at Sheriff’s Station
If you’re selling or buying items through an online site or phone app, make the exchange at the Safe Internet Purchase Exchange Zone at the Paramount Sheriff’s Station.
There is a designated parking space in the public parking lot open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on holidays.
Although deputies do not validate transactions, the exchange space is directly in front of the station and located in a welllit area with surveillance cameras in place, making such exchanges safer for residents.
Vacation home checks
Going out of town during the holidays? Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station for a vacation home check. The City’s Public Safety Officers will periodically take a look around your home or property while you’re gone.
This free service is available throughout the year, not just during the holidays. It’s best to provide the Station with at least two weeks’ notice before you leave. Call (562) 220-2002 for more information.
City Council
Veteran support group recognized by City
IIncelebration of Veterans Day, the Paramount City Council highlighted the work of The Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN), which serves local veterans and their families, at its November 8 meeting. Bryan Palomero, the organization’s housing coordinator and a Marine Corps vet, led the Pledge of Allegiance at the meeting. Los Angeles County is home to the highest concentration of military veterans in the nation. VPAN staff members are veterans helping other veterans to receive the services they deserve in areas like mental health, substance misuse, housing, employment, healthcare, legal services, food, and much more. They can be reached at (800) 854-7771, from 9a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, or in person on Mondays and Fridays at the Paramount Park Community Center, 14400 Paramount Blvd. From left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Councilmember Annette C. Delgadillo, Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Palomero, Councilmember Peggy Lemons, and Councilmember Brenda Olmos.
Mayor’s Award to Paramount Library Manager
With November being National Family Literacy Month (see below), Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings presented the Mayor’s Award of Excellence to Andrea Crow, Community Library Manager for the Paramount branch. The first local library, known as the Clearwater Branch, opened over a century ago. The current building, across the street from City Hall on Jackson St., opened in 1968 and will receive a makeover after the first of the year. Today’s Paramount Branch is known for its variety of services beyond its collection of books. It provides resources for all ages, from story time for toddlers to computer classes for adults. You can check out Chromebooks, take courses on LinkedIn Learning, get resume reviews on BrainFuse, receive free COVID tests, obtain State park passes, and even earn a high school diploma if you’re 19 or older. Andrea has been with County Library since 2001, starting part-time shelving books. She was promoted to full-time in 2008 and has worked her way up ever since, becoming the Paramount Library Manager in 2018. “As a librarian myself during my career with Paramount Unified, it is my great pleasure to present Andrea with this award,” the Mayor said. “Our library is a wonderful place with a tremendous staff that does amazing work all year long.”
National Family Literacy Month
Paramount Unified School District Library Technicians joined the City Council and Andrea Crow to receive the City’s proclamation for National Family Literacy Month. The month promotes getting the whole family together to enjoy some reading. When you read to your children, you provide them with fundamental skills for success in school and life. When a parent reads with their kids, learning occurs, memories are created, and bonds are reinforced.
JROTC leaders honored
Colonel
Robert Guild and Sergeant 1st Class Dannie Brayboy were recognized at the Paramount City Council’s November 8 meeting for their work with the Paramount High School JROTC over the last 15 years upon their retirements from the program. During the tenure of the Colonel and the Sergeant, about 2,000 students enrolled in JROTC and performed 2,500 hours of community service. Graduation rates for their students have risen to 95% and the cadets have won recognition from the military and the community. From left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Councilmember Annette C. Delgadillo, Colonel Guild, Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Sergeant Brayboy, Councilmember Peggy Lemons, and Councilmember Brenda Olmos.
Thank you again, women of MUSA!
Unidas Sirviendo Activamente (MUSA), translated to Women United Serving Actively, came through again this year, filling 25,000 goodie bags with apples and candy canes for the Santa Train visits to our neighborhoods. Their ongoing devotion to the Paramount community is fantastic and very much appreciated.
Hyundai & Northgate food giveaway
Hyundai and Northgate Gonzales Markets teamed up on December 2 for a big drive-through food giveaway to benefit families in Paramount. In the photo above, Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo (in red coat) and Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings hold a gift check signifying the generosity of these two companies that have made the holidays brighter for so many in our community. See additional photos on page 7.
City Council
Mujeres
We had a great turnout for our annual Paramount Chamber of Commerce Holiday Mixer, and seasonal spirit was abundant throughout the evening. We sincerely thank all those who made the event such a success, including: Food donated by:
• Tropical Paradise
• Mi Lindo Sinaloa
• El Compa
• Gus’s Deli
• Mariscos Alas
• Doulbz
• Tacos el Guero Gil
• Casa Adelita
• Mariscos El Perihuete
• El Peri Sushi
• Aji Verde Peruvian Restaurant
• Mariscos Sol Y Mar
• La Espiga
• Delfin
• Casa Gamino
• Domino’s
• Café Corleone
• Enagic Water Systems
• Tacos Y Mariscos el Jefe Raffle prizes donated by:
• ACE Clearwater Enterprises
• Athens Services
• Corrine Galbez
• Dr. Max Martinez
• Lifegate Church
• Marukan Vinegar USA, Inc.
• Northgate Gonzalez Market
• Por Amor A La Humanidad
• LA Kings
• SC Fuels
• Total Western, Inc.
• Transcom Telecommunications
• Vicky Professional Services Inc.
• WaveFront Technology Inc.
• Weber Metals, Inc.
• Yeni Wellness
• World Energy Paramount
• 261 Fearless
• Fobi Pharmacy
• Advocates for Family and Unity
• Enagic Water Systems
• Farmers Insurance (Sam Kotob)
• UniAmerica Insurance
Paramount Chamber
Holiday Mixer
Dec. 2 at Progress Park Plaza
Our tireless Chamber Ambassadors.
Red Christmas hats were an obvious hit.
Four tickets to an LA Kings game!
A pile of toys for local kids! It
Challenging games!
Good food!
Many local families benefit from the generosity of these companies
Hyundai & Northgate Market team up for drive-thru holiday food giveaway
December 2 was damp and chilly in Paramount, but the spirits of volunteers from Hyundai Hope and Northgate Gonzalez Markets were filled with holiday warmth as they spent the day cheerfully passing our free food in a largescale, drive-thru giveaway that benefitted hundreds of local families in need.
The Paramount City Council expressed its gratitude to these generous companies (see page 5).
by
Above, center: Alicia Valadez, Northgate Market executive and former President of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce, helps load grocery bags for families.
Paramount Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo helps pass out food and spread some holiday cheer.
Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings offers her holiday greetings.
Many thanks to all those cheerful volunteers!
Photos
Brian Feinzimmer/Capture Imaging.
Shown at right (left to right): Barbara Crowson (Paramount Chamber of Commerce), Lauren Yokomizo (representing Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn), SolBejarano (representing the City of Paramount), Clarissa Cota (My Communidad Foundation), Jayro Sandoval (representing State Senator Lena Gonzalez), Gabriela Ballesteros (representing State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon) and Chamber of Commerce President Chris Rich (WaveFront Technology).
Max
562-634-5000 • 800-634-5000 fenicocastings.com • stran@fenicoinc.com 7805 Madison St., Paramount, CA 90723-4220
IBUSINESS CORNER
Nine low-cost marketing ideas
By Belle Wong
This article originally appeared November 21, 2022, on The Hartford Smallbiz Ahead: sba.thehartford.com
n today’s uncertain economic times, you may be considering cutting your small business marketing budget. But when sales are down and costs are rising, marketing can be essential to small business survival. The good news is that in today’s digital age, you can maintain a strong marketing effort—even if you have fewer marketing dollars to work with. In this guide, we’ll explain how to implement nine low-cost marketing tactics across your social media platforms, your business website and email.We’ll walk through tips across three categories: Your finances, your business relationships, and innovation. The first step in recession-proofing your business is to implement strategies that bolster your bottom line.
SOCIAL MEDIA
If it feels like most of the world is on social media, that’s because it is: 93.4% of total global internet users are social media users. A large portion of your small business market is likely active on social media. While you can spend money on social media ads to reach your target audience, you don’t need a big marketing budget to successfully promote your business on social media.
1. Create social media marketing videos—Before social media, small businesses usually didn’t have the kind of marketing budget necessary for producing videos. But social media platforms have leveled the playing field. Today, it’s easy to jump into social media video marketing on a shoestring budget. Here are a few ways to get started:
• Choose your social media platform. You want to be where your ideal client or customer spends the most time. Here are ways to decide which social media platform will work best for you: Check the social media profiles of your main competitors. If they have more than one profile, where are they placing the most effort?
Experiment on a few platforms and see where you get the most engagement. Ask your existing customers. Even a quick, informal poll conducted in-store or via email can help point you in the right direction.
• Brainstorm video marketing ideas. Consistency is important with social media, and it’s easier to stay consistent if you have a list of video ideas to work from. Not sure where to start? Spend some time on your target platform to get a feel for the videos that engage your customers.
• Explore free or low-cost video marketing tools. Your smartphone camera is a great tool for getting started with video marketing. But there’s also a wide range of apps that can make video creation much easier. For example, you can dive into animated videos using a tool like Wideo, while Canva offers a huge library of both free and paid video templates that you can personalize.
2. Grow your Google Business Profile reviews A Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly known as Google My Business, helps your business come up in local search results. Once a potential customer lands on your GBP, you want to keep them engaged. One key area to focus on: your reviews section. More than 63% of customers say they check Google reviews before visiting a business. But you don’t have to sit and wait for customers to add their reviews. Implement a Google reviews growth plan, and start asking for reviews:
• Add a QR code to all your print materials. With sites like QR Code Generator (www.qrfy.com), you can quickly create a QR code that brings customers to your GBP page to leave a review.
• Post a QR code in-store. Display the code on a sign asking customers to leave a Google review.
• Include a request for reviews in your emails. Sending out a promotional email or a newsletter? Make sure to include a link to your GBP page and ask your customers to leave a review.
3. Go interactive with a livestream on YouTube Live Livestreaming is a method of broadcasting a video while recording it, so everything happens in real time. And with over 2 billion users log in in each month, livestreaming on YouTube Live offers an incredible opportunity to expand your business’s reach. Here are some tips to get started on YouTube Live:
• Create and verify your YouTube channel. If you don’t already have a YouTube channel, you’ll need to create one and verify it.
• Brainstorm ideas for your livestreams. A brainstorming session will help you come up with ideas that are tailored to your audience. For example, the real-time chat tools available through livestreaming could enable you to stream live Q&A sessions with customers.
• Choose how you want to livestream. There are three main ways to livestream on YouTube Live: You can stream via webcam, on your mobile device, or by using an encoder. Choose the method that works the best for you. If you’re livestreaming a day-in-the-life or behind-the-scenes video, for example, creating livestreaming from your phone might be a good choice.
WEBSITE
Your company website is an important piece of online real estate, but simply having a website doesn’t mean you’ll attract visitors—after all, there’s lots of online content competing for your customers’ time and attention. Here are a few ways to increase traffic to your site.
4. Implement SEO techniques Search engine optimization (SEO) entails optimizing your website so it appears higher in search results for specific keywords. While technical SEO typically requires help from an expert to enhance your site’s infrastructure, you can tackle on-site SEO yourself by sprucing up your site’s content:
• Ensure that you’re publishing quality content. Google recently announced its helpful content update which is a strong signal that the search giant prioritizes quality content at the top of its search results. This means your content needs to speak to humans first. Keywords continue to be important for search rankings, but when you write helpful content that meets your visitors’ needs, you’ll usually find that your content naturally includes the keywords you want to target.
• Make your site mobile-friendly. More people than ever before browse from mobile devices, which means your website needs to function just as well on small screens as it does on laptops.
5. Get mentioned on other sites One of the best ways to build brand awareness for your small business is by being featured on other sites. And as a bonus, backlinks—links from external sites back to your website—can bolster your site’s SEO and give you a boost in Google’s algorithm. Here’s how to make your own luck and start getting mentions and links from external sites:
• Position yourself as an expert. You’ve got expertise in your area of business. Draw on this expertise by creating thought leadership content for your site and promoting it through your social media channels. Thought leadership content can also capture the attention of other business owners in your industry. If other sites refer to your content in their own blog posts, it can help you build brand awareness while racking up external links to enhance your SEO.
• Get press mentions. Find opportunities to share your expertise in news articles. Look into online services that connect journalists to experts for interviews. Sites such as HARO (www. helpareporter.com) and Qwoted (www.qwoted.com) let you pitch your expertise to journalists in search of expert sources.
Marketing via social media and mobile devices offers numerous low-cost ways to reach and engage potential customers for your small business.
• Submit guest posts on other sites. Many sites publish guest posts written by experts in other areas. If you have an idea for an article or post that would be suitable for a complementary industry or niche, search for sites that are open to guest posts. For example, if you run a bakery and you have an idea for a blog that would suit a hospitality site, you could reach out to hospitality businesses in your area to see if they’d be interested in a guest post. You could also search for “submit a guest post” hospitality on Google to find potential sites for your post (be sure to keep the quotation marks around the phrase “submit a guest post” to get the most relevant results).
6. Start a company blog These days, blogging often goes by other names. You might call your company blog a resource section or an article hub, for example. But no matter what you call it, the key to blogging is to post a steady stream of new content. Search engines like Google love fresh content, which means every post you publish can boost your site’s SEO.
• Check your website’s blogging capabilities. If you already have a business website, chances are the technical part of starting a blog will be easy. Most of the popular website platforms also offer blogging tools. For example, if you’re running your site using Wix, you can easily add a blog from your Wix editor. If you’re using WordPress for your site, many web hosts offer one-click installation to easily add another installation of WordPress if you want to set up a blog on its own site or subdomain.
• Decide on your content approach. A business blog doesn’t have to be all about company news or updates. Keep people interested by mixing things up. For example, you could invite customers to virtual tours of your business by sharing behind-the-scenes posts. You could also repurpose your social media videos by sharing them in blog posts with additional commentary.
• Create a content calendar. A blog without continuous content runs the risk of looking abandoned, which could deter potential customers. Once you know your content approach, brainstorm topics for a month or more worth of posts. You can manage and schedule content using a free content calendar template (influencermarketinghub.com/free-content-calendar-templates).
EMAIL
Marketers everywhere are finding the value in their email lists. Your email list gives you instant access to a group of people who have already shown interest in your products or services.
7. Grow your email list Growing a successful email list isn’t just about numbers—it’s also about engagement. You want subscribers who are actually interested in what your business offers. A list of 100,000 people who don’t want to buy from you is less valuable than a list of 1,000 who are interested in your products or services. Here are some ways to actively grow your email list:
• Feature your email subscription form prominently on your site. Make sure it’s easy for site visitors to subscribe to emails. You can add a small form to your site’s sidebar, so it shows up on every page, or include a highly visible link on your navigation bar.
• Ask existing customers to subscribe. Your existing customers are ideal subscribers for your email list. Ask them to subscribe by including a link (or a QR code) to your newsletter signup form on receipts, invoices and in purchase confirmation emails.
• Offer visitors an incentive for subscribing. Whether it’s a first-time-user’s discount code, a lead magnet such as a PDF guide or checklist, or anything else that appeals to your customers, create an incentive for people to sign up for your email list.
8. Start an email newsletter Newsletters are increasingly popular, and they can also be a cost-effective marketing tool. An email newsletter can help you create an audience of readers who are eager to read your content. Your newsletter might not drive sales like a promotional email, but each issue keeps you top-of-mind for your customers
• Decide what your newsletter will cover. People subscribe to newsletters for specific reasons. For example, they might want to receive recipes and product updates from a local bakery, or repair tips from a plumbing store. While you should keep your newsletter topic relevant to your business, there’s room for a creative approach that sets you apart from the competition.
• Choose an email service. If you’re already using an email service provider, check your current plan to see if you can add a new email list to house your newsletter. Newsletter services like Substack, Buttondown, and Beehiiv also offer free plans (as long as you aren’t charging your subscribers a fee).
• Ask for signups. Ask customers to sign up for your newsletter in-store, on your site and in your printed materials. QR codes are a great way to direct people from print content to an online newsletter signup form.
9. Set up a re-engagement email campaign There will always be a portion of subscribers who don’t engage with your emails. Your email service provider likely tracks both email open rates and the number of clicks your emails generate. Using this information, you can create a segmented list of subscribers who are no longer engaging with your emails. From there, you can create a targeted campaign to focus on getting those subscribers to re-engage with your brand.
• Get personal. Personalized emails make a difference. Use your email service provider’s merge function to personalize emails and speak directly to subscribers.
• Offer a discount code. Offering subscribers a discount code to get them back into your store or your online shop can sometimes appeal to a previously disengaged customer.
• Ask for their feedback. It’s difficult to know why a subscriber is no longer engaging with your emails. Consider asking them directly for their feedback. Are you sending too many emails? Are your emails no longer interesting? The answers can help you adjust your email strategy—plus, each time you receive an answer, you’re re-engaging a subscriber.
member-to-member discounts Paramount Chamber of Commerce
As a Paramount Chamber of Commerce member, these discounts are extended to you by your fellow members.
Attorney & Legal Services
Lerma Law Office (562-272-4353): 15% discount on initial retainer fee or flat-rate service.
Automotive
Herald’s Garage (562-633-2136): 15% discount on labor and a free engine light reset.
Rayvern Lighting Supply, Inc. (562-634-7020): 5% off fixtures and ballast orders (commercial distributor of lighting and fixtures).
To add your business to this section, please call the Paramount Chamber of Commerce for information:
RECEIPTS FOR REWARDS
• Customers can keep their receipts to enter drawings for cash and prizes.
• Customers can upload receipts to ExploreParamount.com or drop them off at the Chamber of Commerce office (15357 Paramount Boulevard).
• $50 or more in receipts per each entry.
• Enter as many times as you want. Call 562-634-3980 for more information.
Membership RENEWALS
Teacher’s Association of Paramount..........45 years
16209 Paramount Blvd. Ste. D, Paramount CA 90723
Vicky Professional Service, Inc.................32 years 15975-A Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Bianchi Paramount Theatres......................23 years 7900 All America City Way, Paramount CA 90723
Healthcare Career College.......................14 years 8527 Alondra Blvd., Ste. 174, Paramount CA 90723
Frize Corporation....................................13 years 16605 E. Gale Ave, City of Industry CA 91745
Rock Insurance..........................................9 years 15741 Downey Ave., Paramount CA 90723
United Steel Workers IUPIW-USW Local 1945....9 years 8131 E. Rosecrans Ave., Paramount CA 90723
El Peri Sushi Restaurant.............................8 years 16604 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Tax Solution Center......................................5 years 8402 Florence Ave. Ste. A, Downey CA 90240
Amrex-Zetron Inc......................................5 years 7034 Jackson St., Paramount CA 90723
Chase Bank Paramount.............................4 years 15359 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
RE/MAX College Park................................3 years 8527 Alondra Blvd. Ste. 141, Paramount CA 90723
Nature Cleaning Multi-Services LLC...........3 years Call for more information: 562-500-2284
369 MKTG.................................................2 years 5800 South Eastern Ave., Commerce CA 90040
Sylvan Learning Center..............................2 years 10801 Downey Ave., Downey CA 90241
ENTRY LEVEL MACHINIST/GRINDER —Operate machinery, including polishing & grinding equipment; grind workpieces to specification to ensure high quality end product; finish products by hand prior to being shipped; general housekeeping and clean up; assist machinists with set-ups, as needed; lubrication and cleaning of machines. Experience: high school diploma or equivalent; able to stand and lift up to 25 lbs.; 1-2 years experience preferred, but we will train if no experience in this field. Bison Engineering Co., Inc., 15535 Texaco Ave., Paramount, CA 90723. Call Oliver Fleck at 562-408-1525.
EPOXY COATING LABORER —Long-term, full-time (40+ hours per week). Will train. Install various flooring systems for commercial and industrial projects. Perform tasks involving physical labor; must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for long periods. Operate equipment (as instructed). Techcoat Contractors, 15720 Garfield Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723. Contact: Brenda or Jessica at 562-529-5700. Apply Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
WAREHOUSE MAINTENANCE WORKER —Long-term, part-time (20 to 25 hours per week). Will train. Staging equipment and materials for daily projects. Receive and process warehouse stock products. Maintain inventory. Operate and maintain warehouse vehicles and equipment. Run errands (as needed). Techcoat Contractors, 15720 Garfield Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723. Contact Brenda or Jessica at 562-529-5700. Apply Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
CREW WORKER —Specialty construction. Will train. Installation of epoxycoatings, including preparation of concrete floors and other structures using various equipment. Long-term, 30+ hours, including some weekends. Report in person to Techcoat Contractors, 15720 Garfield Ave., Paramount, California 90723; M-Th 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN —Full-time. Experience helpful, but willing to consider an excellent new graduate who can learn quickly. Call Martha at Fobi Pharmacy: 562-630-5700
SKILLED LABOR OPPORTUNITIES SkillsetGroup currently has these positions available for first, second and third shifts: Machine operator, sanitation, loading & unloading, forklift drivers, production line, and order pulling. Come in and apply today! SkillsetGroup actualmente tiene aperturas para puestos disponibles para Primer, Segundo y Tercer turno. ¡Ven y aplica hoy! Call us at 866-375-3094 or use Instagram (@skillsetgroup) or Facebook for weekly updates. 7300 Alondra Blvd., Suite 202, Paramount, California 90723.
STATE FARM AGENT —State Farm Agents help their customers protect what’s important to them, all the while making time to give back to their neighborhoods. Improve your career! Call David Maciel: 562-305-2111.
FULL-TIME SEAMSTRESS 5-Star Interior Services, Inc., needs a full-time seamstress with drapery-making experience. Contact Leroy at 818-845-4518.
CLEANING SERVICE JOB (Persona para limpiesa)—A&R Cleaning Multiservices. Please contact Yolanda MondayFriday at 562-500-2284.
Measure Y at Work Webpage
Measure Y was an initiative on the ballot in March 2020 to provide a stable source of income for City services, a ¾-of-one-percent increase in local retail sales tax in Paramount. That additional revenue can only be used for Paramount programs and services, and never be taken by the County or State. It was overwhelmingly approved by more than 70% of Paramount voters.
Since enactment in July of 2020, the City has received $14.2 million in Measure Y funding. Your tax dollars have been hard at work ever since.
The City has created a new page on our website to showcase the programs, services, and scheduled projects made possible by the voter-approved initiative. Visit https://www.paramountcity.com/community/measure-y-at-work.
SPEED NETWORKING WORKS!
The people shown here took part in a “speed networking” session held by the Paramount Chamber of Commerce on November 17. The event consists of short meetings with a specific, limited time frame between two people. During the timed conversation, you have a chance to introduce yourself and your business or product. When time is up, you just move on to another quick meeting and keep doing so until all participants have met. It’s a great way to do meaningful business quickly! Be sure to attend our next speed networking session.
