Pulse Beat February 2022 by City of Paramount

Governor Gavin Newsom visits Paramount Park

Mayor Brenda Olmos welcomed Governor Gavin Newsom to Paramount Park on January 12.

The governor (at the right with his hands spread) voiced his support for the mobile COVID-19 test site in the park and shared his plans for expanded testing across California and other pandemic-related efforts.

Joining the governor and mayor were Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency (wearing glasses at left in the photo) and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (next to the governor). Mayor Olmos is shown standing to the left of Supervisor Hahn.

Mayor visits White House, meets with the First Lady

While attending the United States Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., during the week of January 17, Paramount Mayor Brenda Olmos joined 16 other Latino mayors from across the country in meeting with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden before a reception at the White House.

Mayor Olmos spoke with Dr. Biden about the amazing job that local healthcare workers have done during the pandemic and the exhaustion that so many are feeling.

President Joe Biden stopped by to say hello to the group and playfully told them: “I’m Jill’s husband.” He thanked the mayors for the job they do as members of “the front lines.”

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is in the center of the first row, and Mayor Brenda Olmos is the third one to the right of her.

Vicky Uisprapassorn

Mayor’s Desk

A look back at 2021

While 2021 was another challenging year in many respects, the City of Paramount continued its efforts to help and support our residents and businesses. Here is a sampling of our positive progress from last year:

C ommunity engagement The City brought back in-person holiday events while following all L.A. County Health Department protocols.

The Community Services Department started new Halloween Hootenanny event.

The Public Works Department held a virtual Eco-Friendly Fair with 200 free fruit trees given to residents with the Tree People.

The Mayor’s Award of Excellence was created to recognize those who contribute exceptionally to our community.

The City expanded the Dia de los Muertos with Latinas Art Foundation and Tepic Sister Cities.

Based on popular demand, the Community Services Department initiated a Walking Club for seniors.

E nsuring the public ’ s safety The Public Safety team launched a street racing task force that resulted in 63 vehicles impounded and 19 administrative citations issued for spectator violations.

We improved crime prevention efforts by issuing 84 rebates to residents for the purchase of home security systems worth $15,700.

The City conducted two catalytic converter theft prevention events with 59 etchings done.

A dvocating for the community The City submitted a 22page letter to Metro with comments, concerns, and questions about the proposed light rail through town and its impact on residents.

K eeping financially strong The City took the following actions:

• Increased its Reserve (“rainy day”) Fund to $14.81 million, representing 48% of City’s fiscal year 2022 General Fund;

• Issued municipal bonds to pay off pension debt saving $4.9 million;

• Continued with pension reform measures by having employees pay a share of retirement.

P reserving our infrastructure Our water utility started construction on a fourth water well to ensure safe and affordable drinking water for years to come.

The Community Services and Public Works departments built a new mini-pitch soccer court at Dills Park, new running track at Salud Park, and resurfaced basketball courts and remodeled public restrooms at other parks.

Public Works repaved seven separate segments of roadway covering two miles, including several neighborhood streets, and replaced 4,250 square feet of sidewalk, 1,000 feet of curb and gutter, and 1,800 square feet of driveway aprons.

The Planning Department arranged for six utility box and one building wall murals using seven local artists under the Paramount Paints program.

The City was selected by Sacramento to participate in a $6 billion statewide project to improve broadband infrastructure and bring full internet access to our community.

I nvesting in our youth Community Services hosted a Back to School event that provided nearly 400 Paramount families-in-need with backpacks, school supplies, shoes, sweaters, and haircuts.

The City issued 36 PEP scholarships to graduating PHS students and installed Little Library Boxes at three parks.

Public Safety started a Youth Activities League in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Department.

S upporting our local businesses The City took these actions:

• Issued $470,000 COVID-19-related assistance grants to 47 businesses;

• Kept Al Fresco Dining operational to help restaurants stay afloat during the pandemic; provided support to help businesses navigate pandemic-related restrictions established by the Los Angeles County Health Department;

• Created a new “shop local” program, Explore Paramount, aimed at jump-starting the local economy.

B uilding a more sustainable environment The City:

• Was named Tree City USA for third year in a row;

• Adopted a Climate Action Plan, one of only three cities in the region to do so;

• Replaced older vehicles with all-electric vehicles;

• Worked with SoCal Edison to convert all street lights to brighter, more energy-efficient LED bulbs;

• Started a parking lot litter abatement program;

• Hosted Clutter Free Paramount with nearly 300 residents dropping off bulky items.

• The Planning Department implemented an air monitoring program with City-owned monitors and City-hired consultant and collaborated with Starbuck’s on Alondra/Colorado to help them become LEEDcertified, a nationally recognized “green building” designation.

R esponding to the pandemic Paramount was the first city in Los Angeles County to host a mobile COVID-testing bus. The City also:

• Coordinated on-going testing at Paramount Park and Progress Park;

• Conducted and coordinated mass vaccination events at Paramount Park and mobile vaccine clinics at four parks and various special events;

• Paid for taxi rides to vaccination sites and helped make online appointments for seniors;

• Held a COVID Memorial to recognize Paramount residents who lost their lives to the pandemic;

• Produced and assisted with four food distribution events;

• Gave away 50,000 face masks and thousands of hand sanitizers, with thanks to Jayone Foods and Assemblymember Anthony Rendon for their generous donations;

• Distributed 1,500 free COVID at-home test kits.

S tate grants awarded :

• $582,000 for traffic improvements.

• $1.25 million for general park improvements.

• $1 million for improvements specifically at Dills Park.

C aring for our homeless We continued initiatives that led to a 19% decrease in homelessness in Paramount, found shelter for 19 homeless individuals, offered services to 72 unique individuals experiencing homelessness; and safely/legally stored belongings of 22 homeless individuals.

In line with that list of accomplishments, I want to share with you two homeless success stories, examples of our ongoing efforts to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness:

• The City partners with the non-profit Family Promise of the South Bay using Federal grant funds to assist families in these dire situations, many of whom are referred by Paramount Unified School District counselors. Here are a pair of the latest success stories.

A mother of two young children lost her job. They were forced to leave their apartment. The family stayed in a motel when possible but otherwise slept in their car.

City staff connected them with Family Promise, and the family received hotel assistance, later moved into the organization’s Transitional Housing Program, and were linked with more resources. Three months after entering the transitional house, the family was able to again live in their own apartment.

• Another family, with four young children, was sleeping in their car after the lease on their apartment ended and they could no longer afford to stay. With the funds we provide to Family Promise, the family checked into a hotel. Family Promise was able to mediate on the family’s behalf, clear their negative rental history, and get them into permanent housing.

If you see someone experiencing homelessness or notice a homeless neighbor who is struggling with their physical and/or mental health, you can complete an outreach request form to help. You’ll find the form at lahsa.org/portal/apps/la-hop

Mayor Brenda Olmos

Paramount Education Partnership

Paramount teachers’ achievements recognized with Mayor’s Award

At the January 4 Paramount City Council meeting, the Mayor’s Award of Excellence was given to the teachers of the Paramount Unified School District who are so influential in the lives of the community’s children.

PEP Talk WORKS

The City and PUSD have had an extremely close working relationship and a shared sense of purpose for many years. “As part of that alliance, we feel that the District’s teachers are partners with us,” said Mayor Brenda Olmos.

The District’s educational standards have improved dramatically at every level over the last 20 years. Graduation rates have increased. Test scores have advanced. Many campuses have gained state and national recognition. And the number of students going on to college has grown substantially.

“The Board of Education and the District staff are, of course, major contributors to these successes,” Mayor Olmos said. “But it’s our teachers who are always on the front line, and even more so in the age of COVID.”

The Mayor added: “TV’s beloved Mr. Rogers once said: ‘Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.’ So in that spirit, we are pleased to honor the heroes of PUSD.”

College scholarship application deadline is March 11

Applications for the 2022 PEP college scholarships are available at Paramount High School, Paramount City Hall (16400 Colorado Ave.), and the Community Services office (15300 Downey Ave.). Copies can also be downloaded at paramountcity.com/community/ pep. Applications should be addressed to: Attention: PEP Scholarship Committee, Paramount Education Partnership, Inc.

Completed applications should be turned in by 5 p.m. on March 11 in the following ways:

• Mail to 16400 Colorado Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

• Hand-Delivered to 15300 Downey Ave., Paramount, CA 90723

• Email to PEP@paramountcity.com

PEP scholarships of $1,000 are awarded to students attending a community college and $3,000 to students attending an accredited four-year state university within the U.S, including vocational, trade and technical schools. Scholarships are $4,000 if attending a University of California campus or a private four-year university in the U.S. These scholarship funds may only be used to pay tuition, fees, books, and supplies for the 2022-2023 school year.

Donations make it all possible—Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals, 451 scholarships worth nearly $1.4 million have been awarded to local students through the program since 2004. For some of these students, it has made the difference in whether or not they could continue their education. For all recipients, it has been important assistance. Donating to the fund offers advantageous ways to promote businesses to the Paramount community.

Public Safety Public Safety

Paramount Works is a mobile phone app that can be used to report a variety of issues around town: graffiti, potholes, shopping carts, street light outages, debris on the road, dumping, illegal fireworks, and air quality and storm water violations.

It is also a way to alert the Public Safety Department about certain concerns. Here’s a related community policing success story: Recently, the Department received an anonymous tip through the app about a homeless individual squatting inside of a vacant property.

According to the complaint, the individual was harassing people and making them feel unsafe as they walked by the property.

The City’s Special Assignment Team investigated. That same day, a Sheriff’s deputy went to the location and arrested the individual for possession of narcotics.

This is a great example of community public safety involvement and quick response. Get and use the Paramount Works app! Get it on the App Store or from Google Play.

“Special Alert” Notifications

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has a “Special Alert” program for residents to let the Department know about individuals living in their home who have intellectual, mental or physical disabilities that might require special considerations in the event that law enforcement officers interact with these individuals.

By volunteering this information, residents give law enforcement officers who might be responding to a call for service valuable knowledge in deciding how to best approach a situation and determine what resources are needed.

Register oline at lasd.org/specialalert in English or Spanish or fill out a form available at the Paramount Sheriff’s Station, 15001 Paramount Blvd.

The information is entered into the Department’s computer dispatch system and deputies will receive details when responding to the specific address.

This information will not be used to enforce laws against any of those involved.

To learn more, please contact the Paramount Public Safety Department at (562) 220-2002

For more information about how the Paramount Public Safety Department has been working to ensure the safety of our community, please see “From the Mayor’s Desk” on page 3 of this issue of the Paramount Pulse Beat

City Council

Corsairs lead Pledge of Allegiance

At the January 4 Paramount City Council meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was led by members of the Corsairs, a service club from Paramount High School. The club, which has been a major component of PHS since the campus opened in 1953, is a dedicated group of young people who are an important part of the Paramount community. Their activities include volunteering at many City holiday events, serving the meal at the Seniors Thanksgiving lunch, and helping out at the Veterans Celebration. Back row, from left: Vice Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Mayor Brenda Olmos, Councilmember Isabel Aguayo, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons. Front row, from left: club advisor Lourdes Aguayo and members Andrea Perez and Melanie Cabrera.

City awarded for sustainability efforts

The City of Paramount received the Gateway Cities Council of Government’s Energy Action Award at its January 4 City Council meeting. The award is intended to acknowledge cities in the region who are leaders in energy efficiency and sustainability. Of the 27 Gateway cities, Paramount is one of only three to reach the top Gold level. Among the City’s recognized achievements were the completion of a Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and efforts to increase the use of electric vehicles throughout the community. From left: Vice Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Gateway Cities COG Executive Director Nancy Pfeffer, Mayor Brenda Olmos, Councilmember Isabel Aguayo, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons. West Coast Rebels recognized

Two Paramount City Council seats will be on the ballot for the General Municipal Election on June 7, 2022

Two Paramount City Council members will be elected during the next City of Paramount General Municipal Election that will be held on June 7, 2022. Please mark your calendar, save the date and be prepared to vote.

Nomination papers and candidate packets will be available during the nomination period from February 14 through March 11, 2022. If you are interested in obtaining information about running for office, please contact City Clerk Heidi Luce by telephone at 562-220-2225 or by email at hluce@paramountcity.com.

The City of Paramount election is being held in conjunction with the statewide California primary election, and the Los Angeles Registrar Recorder/County Clerk is the primary source for voter registration and local election information, including voter information guides, voting by mail, and finding vote centers and vote-by-mail drop box locations and hours. For complete election information, visit www.lavote.gov.

Also see the latest issue of CityScape on page 12.

Dos escaños del Concejo Municipal de Paramount estarán en la boleta electoral para las Elecciones Municipales Generales el 7 de junio de 2022

Las próximas elecciones municipales generales de la ciudad de Paramount se llevarán a cabo el 7 de junio de 2022 para dos escaños en el Concejo Municipal. La elección de la Ciudad se lleva a cabo en conjunto con las elecciones primarias estatales y el Registrador/Secretario del Condado de Los Angeles es la fuente principal para el registro de votantes y la información de las elecciones locales, incluidas las gufas de información para los votantes, la votación por correo y la búsqueda de centros de votación y ubicaciones y horarios de buzones para depositor la votación por correo. Visite www.lavote.gov para obtener información completa sobre las elecciones.

Los documentos de nominación y los paquetes de candidates estarán disponibles durante el período de nominación del 14 de febrero al 11 de marzo de 2022. Comuníquese con la secretaria de la ciudad Heidi Luce por teléfono al 562-220-2225 o envfe un correo electrónico a hluce@paramountcity.com si está interesado en obtener más información sobre cómo postularse para un cargo.

Consulte también el último número de CityScape en la página 12.

The Paramount City Council welcomed the Paramount West Coast Rebels 13U football team to its January 4 meeting. The boys won the Super Bowl in their division and were to represent the City at the National Championship in Las Vegas.

Healthcare Career College holds free vaccination events

Healthcare Career College vaccinated nearly 500 local residents against COVID-19 at its facility in Paramount (8527 Alondra Blvd., Suite 128) at free vaccination events on two days in December and two more in January.

First and second doses and booster shots were offered to the public. The HCC staff and a dedicated group of volunteer students handled logistics and administered shots, including the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and up, the Moderna vaccine for ages 18 and up and booster shots of both vaccines.

The high turnout for these free events was especially important because the highly contagious Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is still very active in Los Angeles County. Although the number of new infections has been declining recently, the number of deaths has remained high, and the vast majority of those who have died have been unvaccinated. People with pre-existing medical conditions and those who are immunocompromised are particularly at risk for severe infections that could lead to hospitalization and possibly death.

HCC has been partnering with Dr. Dipti Doshi, a board-certified rheumatologist of the American Board of Rheumatology, for its vaccination events. Dr. Doshi strongly encouraged people to get booster shots after receiving their initial two-dose vaccinations. “The booster shot is very important for everyone to take after receiving their first and second vaccine doses,” he said. “Your body has already started developing immunity. After some time, however, that immunity will not be sufficient to fight against a new COVID-19 strain. You should always take the booster dose to build up your immunity again so that you can fight against an infection in case you come across it. That will make you safer and healthier.”

HCC Career Services Advisor Cruz Juarez, who has a background in medical assisting, and a team of advanced

medical assistant students collected the patients’ vaccine cards before administering the vaccines. Safety protocols, including social distancing and allowing only a few patients at a time, were strictly followed at all events.

After receiving their vaccinations, participants were escorted to a separate room, where they were observed for a total of 15 minutes for any side effects—especially dizziness—that could prevent them from resuming normal activities, including driving. Common side effects are mild and may include arm soreness, redness, swelling, fatigue, headache, chills, nausea, mild fever or joint and muscle aches. If they experienced no side effects, patients were free to go with the vaccination date noted on their proofof-vaccination cards for future reference

Student volunteers said that they received positive feedback from many patients, most of whom were surprised at how fast and relatively painless their shots were.

Healthcare Career College, a member of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce, offers training courses for a wide variety of medical positions, including vocational nurse, medical assistant, nurse assistant, dental assistant, patient care technician, ultrasound technician, phlebotomy technician, medical billings and coding and healthcare management, among others.

For more information about HCC, visit their website at healthcarecareercollege.edu

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. Visit the following businesses to receive the discounts listed below. But remember, these offers are available only to Paramount Chamber 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.

Beauty

Marali Beauty Salon (562-964-1126): Free haircut & treatment with purchase of any chemicals.

Communications

Transcom Telecommunications (562-630-1200, ext. 221): 10% off equipment (business phone services).

Contractors

Jones Scaffold Co. (800-266-3864): 10% off net rental of scaffold equipment.

Financial Services

SG Tax Services (562-630-4004): $25 off tax preparation for Chamber members and their employees.

Vicky Professional Services (562-634-1178): 20% off bookkeeping and accounting service.

Flowers

Diana’s Flowers (562-529-5045): Free local delivery and free balloons.

Funeral Services

Palacios Funeral Home (562-972-5429): 5% off services.

Hotels & Motels

Embassy Suites Hotel (562-861-1900): 15% off best available room rate (subject to availability). Ask for “Chamber rate.”

Insurance

2000 Insurance Service (562-602-0001): 25% off new business.

Medical

Clínica Médica Hispana (562-630-1991): 25% discount.

Plumbing & Heating

Downey Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning (562-861-1234): 10% off HydroJet service and/or 10% off material.

Production (Events)

YSL Production (323-490-6315): 20% any event services: Sound, lighting, stage, LED video, wall & truss equipment.

Printers

Source Graphics, Inc. (562-408-2734): 10% discount on all printing.

Real Estate

GM Properties (562-696-0200): 5% of gross commissions on closed deals will be sent to the charity of our choice in your name. Ask for Matt.

Penta Pacific Properties (562-699-1922): Free market value opinions on commercial and industrial properties.

Restaurants

Café Corleone (562-408-6100): 10% discount on all food purchases.

Casa Adelita (562-408-2360): 10% off (may not be combined with other specials).

Casa Gamino (562-634-6225): 10% discount on food purchases.

Pulse Beat available only online until further notice

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Directors of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce has decided to suspend hard-copy printing and distribution of the Paramount Pulse Beat until further notice.

However, the full text of each new Pulse Beat will be available online each month on the Paramount Chamber of Commerce website at paramountchamber.com

If you would like to have a printed copy of the Pulse Beat, contact us and we can mail it to you, or you can pick it up at the Chamber office. If you have questions, please call the Chamber of Commerce at 562-634-3980

We at the Chamber thank you for your continued support and understanding during these difficult times for our community, and we will keep you informed about our future plans for the publication.

Delfin Seafood & Market (562-630-1928): 10% off any order.

El Compa Restaurant (562-630-1068): 10% discount on all food purchases.

Gus’s Deli, BBQ & Grill (562-630-2802): 10% off all food purchases.

Mariscos Alas (562-633-1348): 10% Chamber member discount. 15% discount for law enforcement & City employees.

Mariscos El Perihuete (562-408-1661): 10% off on food purchases over $10.

Mariscos Mi Lindo Sinaloa #1 (562-529-5110): 10% discount on all food purchases.

Pika Tortas Ahogadas (562-529-5787): 10% discount on all regular-priced food items (excludes combo deals).

El Sinaloense Restaurant (562-363-3011): 10% off on food purchases.

Roofing

One Coat Roof Seal LLC (833-232-8121): 20% off each can.

Wellness & Health

Enagic (562-833-3823): Free ionized alkaline water.

Wholesalers & Distributors

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: 562-634-3980

Max

147 S Beach Blvd

La Habra, CA 90631

CA License 0L68077

Cell: 714-932-9656

Fax: 562-691-9113

skotob@farmersagent.com • 562-691-9100

562-634-5000 • 800-634-5000 fenicocastings.com • stran@fenicoinc.com 7805 Madison St., Paramount, CA 90723-4220

Membership RENEWALS

Gus’s Deli, BBQ & Grill

8320 Alondra Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

46 years

Options In Design......................................................37 years

15138 Downey Ave., Paramount CA 90723

Mattco Forge, Inc. .......................................................24 years

6443 Minnesota Ave., Paramount CA 90723

Downey Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.......23 years

11829 S. Downey Ave., Downey CA 90241

New Commandment Baptist Church.........................20 years

15548 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

Reach Christian Church ............................................19 years

8024 Somerset Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

Para Latino Medical Center.......................................18 years

15717 S. Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

Big Ben Car Wash .....................................................16 years

16482 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

Marukan Vinegar USA..............................................16 years

7755 E. Monroe St., Lakewood CA 90712

RMI International 16 years

8125 Somerset Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

M.B. Herzog Electric....................................................15 years

15709 Illinois Ave., Paramount CA 90723

Ink Head Designs & Prints........................................11 years

7310 Adams St., Suite D, Paramount CA 90723

Rock Insurance..........................................................10 years

15741 Downey Ave., Paramount CA 90723

Firefox Insurance Services.........................................10 years

9410 Alondra Blvd., Bellflower CA 90706

White House Florist.....................................................9 years

9855 Flower St., Bellflower CA 90706

American Legion Post #134 ...........................................6 years

7550 E. Somerset Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

SkillSet Group 6 years

15737 Downey Ave., Paramount CA 90723

Tax Solution Center.....................................................6 years

8402 Florence Ave., Downey CA 90420

American Cancer Society..............................................5 years

444 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach CA 90802

West Coast Aborists.....................................................5 years

2200 Via Burton., Anaheim CA 92806

Farmers Insurance – Kurt Wolff Agency..........................4 years

8040 Alondra Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

5-Star Interior Design..................................................4 years

6840 Walthall Way., Paramount CA 90723

DigiCal Inc...................................................................4 years

14525 Valley View Ave., Santa Fe Springs CA 90670

Diana’s Flowers 3 years

15505 Minnesota Ave., Paramount CA 90723

Calhomes Realty..........................................................3 years

15740 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723

MSM Catering Trucks Mfg...........................................3 years

15702 Illinois Ave., Paramount CA 90723

D & T Recycling...........................................................3 years

14113 Garfield Ave., Paramount CA 90723

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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 —Longterm, 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 Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.-2 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.

BARTENDER —Part-time, including evenings and weekends. Call Leroy: 562-634-9001.

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.

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, 15720 Garfield Ave., Paramount, California 90723; M-Th 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

CLEANING SERVICE JOB (Persona para limpiesa)— A&R Cleaning Multiservices. Please contact Yolanda Monday-Friday at 562-500-2284.

WBUSINESS CORNER

Does cash flow mean profit?

By Kelly Spors (This

hen it comes to business financial terminology, it’s easy to confuse cash flow with profit. After all, both terms mean you’re making money, so what exactly is profit versus cash flow?

While they are related—and you certainly want both of them to be in positive territory (“in the black”)—they are actually very distinct measures of your small business’s success. And knowing the difference is important to understand your business’s true financial performance.

What is the difference between cash flow and profit?

Cash flow and profit are both important to a business’s health. The difference between cash flow and profit includes unique ways of assessing your performance and can help you determine how you look at your total financial picture in a given time period.

Cash flow, for instance, is how much money (cash and cash equivalents) your business has available to it at any given time. Measuring your cash flow balance involves subtracting your outflows of cash from your inflows. It gauges how much cash is available to your business at one particular time.

Profit, on the other hand, looks at the total financial gain or loss a business experiences over a more extended period—not simply one moment in time. It measures how much money is left after all expenses are deducted from business revenue.

For example, a small business may be incredibly profitable because, say, it developed a product that it’s selling for a hefty financial gain—such as double the product’s manufacturing cost. However, the business also might be swimming in debt and using every dollar of free cash it has to pay off that debt and cover its expenses. In other words, profits are high, but cash is low. So, is cash flow profit? In this case, no.

Cash flow vs profit: What is profit?

When it comes to cash flow vs profit, the reality is that just because you have cash flow, this does not mean you are making a profit. At a basic level, profit is also known as “net income” and is a key metric businesses use to measure their financial success. To calculate it, you simply subtract all expenses from business revenue— and hope you have a surplus. If you don’t, then your business isn’t profitable. (Keep in mind that companies generally pay taxes on their profits—not on their revenue.)

Here’s a simple example: If your monthly revenue is $50,000, and you spend $20,000 to produce that revenue, then your profit for the month is $30,000.

Profitability is an important financial metric because it answers an overarching and quintessential question: Is my business model financially viable? If you’re eking out low profitability, you may need to consider taking steps to improve it, such as raising your prices or reducing your ongoing expenses.

For example, if a product maker is selling its product for $10 and only making $1 in profits after all expenses are paid, it could consider raising its price to $12 or look at ways to lower its production costs.

In order to understand the full extent of their profitability, most companies also use profitability ratios. The most common one is profit margin, which looks at the profitability of a business, product, or service in relation to its overall revenue—and is expressed as a percentage.

To calculate your profit margin, you:

• Calculate your net income (by subtracting total expenses from total revenue).

• Then divide your net income by your total revenue.

• Finally, multiply the number by 100 (to calculate the percentage).

Therefore, in the monthly revenue example given above, the profit margin is 60%: 30,000 / 50,000 = 0.6, x 100 = 60.

Put simply, your profit margin shows how many cents of profit the business generates for each dollar of revenue. It also allows a business to easily see how its profitability changes over time. For instance, if your profit margin is 10% one year, and 17% the next, your profitability is improving.

Profit vs cash flow: What is cash flow?

Cash flow, on the other hand, is how much free cash (or cash equivalents) a business has at any given time, due to how much money is flowing in and out. Unlike profitability—which is purely financial gain on paper—cash flow looks at how much money the business has immediately available and directly affects its spending power. For example, you may have had $100,000 in profits last year, but if only $5,000 of those profits are left, your spending power is far less impressive.

When a business reviews its profit vs cash flow, low cash flow can restrict a profitable business by limiting its options and growth opportunities. For instance, if a business looks to expand and needs to buy new equipment in order to do so,

Don’t confuse your cash flow with your profit.

expansion may not be possible if the cash to buy that equipment isn’t available. Low cash also can make a business less financially stable because it may not be able to pay bills or take advantage of other opportunities that come its way.

Positive cash flow, on the other hand, suggests a business is performing well because it has the cash on hand to easily pay expenses. It also has the financial flexibility to take proactive steps such as paying off debt, building cash reserves for an emergency or economic downturn, or returning money to shareholders. It means the business has the flexibility to take advantage of attractive opportunities instead of being restrained by low liquidity.

Financial experts often consider cash flow a better measure of a small business’s financial performance than profitability because of the flexibility and freedom it affords. When a business has cash, its actions are far less constrained than those of a business with little or no cash.

Because of the importance of cash flow, companies should consider putting together a cash flow statement that details their cash flow status. An important cash flow metric is what’s called free cash flow, or FCF. To calculate your FCF, you:

• Calculate your operating cash flow (which you can find on your cash flow statement).

• Then subtract your capital expenditures.

• Finally, subtract your dividends. (Note: Some companies don’t subtract dividends because they are considered discretionary.)

Profit vs cash flow: It’s important to keep tabs on both

Understanding the difference between cash flow and profit is important because profit and cash flow are both instrumental to a small business’s success, so it’s important to understand the differences between them and to use them both as you track your business’s financial performance.

While profitability may be more indicative of a business’s long-term success, cash flow can indicate how well the business is maintaining and spending those profits on a day-to-day basis. Profits won’t help a business if they are not preserved or spent wisely.

WIC is a nutrition program for women, infants and children. WIC es un programa de nutricion para mujeres, bebes y niños.

You may qualify if you:

• Are pregnant, breastfeeding or just had a baby

• Have a child under age 5

• Have a low to medium income*

• Receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) or CalFresh (Food Stamps) benefits

• Live in California Usted puede calificar si:

• Está embarazada, está dando pecho o acaba de tener un bebe

• Tiene un niño menor de 5 años

• Tiene un ingreso bajo a mediano

• Recibe beneficios de Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) o CalFresh (Estampillas de Comida)

• Vive en California

WIC provides:

• Nutrition education and health information

• Breastfeeding support

• Food benefits

• Referrals to medical providers and community services

WIC proporciona:

• Educación sobre nutrición e información de salud

• Apoyo con la lactancia

• Beneficios de comida

• Referencias a proveedores de servicios medicos y servicios

*Income levels change annually. Niveles de ingreso cambian anualmente. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Está institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

South Los Angeles Health Projects WIC Program