Breaking
PAC Fundraiser
Walk of Fame
Bankers Tour Hollywood
Each month, the Chamber emailed out Hollywood Hot Deals and Businesses You Need to Know, to help our members generate business with other members. Speed Leads, our popular networking luncheon, was held bimonthly and helped members gain new leads and friends in a nonthreatening business environment. The Chamber launched a monthly Tech 101 series of seminars to educate members on the latest technology, with information on such topics as Gameification, how to be found online, Microsoft One Note, CRM and Social Media, etc. Hundreds of Chamber members had an opportunity for involvement and to make new connections at the dozens of Chamber committee meetings held throughout the year. The Chamber outreached to the Millennial generation through HYPE (the Hollywood Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs).
The Chamber is Representing the Interests of Business With Government Chamber representatives met individually with members of the L.A. City Council urging sensitivity to the needs of small businesses and nonprofit organizations in considering a hike in the minimum wage. Despite Chamber efforts, the City enacted an increase in the wage to $15 an hour by 2020, although an extra year was approved for businesses with 25 or fewer employees. Chamber members testified at hearings across the City on the proposal to allow street vending in Los Angeles. The Chamber urged that an “optout” alternative be approved to allow business improvement districts to decide whether street vending should be allowed within their boundaries. The City delayed action on the proposal as a result of the reservations that were expressed by the Chamber and other organizations. CEQA reform of the California Environmental Quality Act was encouraged by the Chamber. A meeting was held with State Senate President ProTempore Kevin DeLeon to discuss steps that might be taken to fix some of the most egregious problems with CEQA.
Hollywood Chamber Community Foundation Beth Marlis, Chair 2016-17
HOLLYWOOD
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
One of the unique features of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is its efforts to support local community non-profit organizations. As a 501c3 nonprofit association, contributions to the Chamber Foundation are tax deductible. Checks should be written to the “Chamber Community Foundation” and sent to the Chamber. The Foundation holds two fundraising events annually – the Heroes of Hollywood Luncheon (formerly called the Women of Distinction Luncheon) and the All Hallows Eve Party at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. All net proceeds go to charity. Since its inception in 1996, the foundation has given out $799,160 in grants, and this past year awarded $52,250. In our most recent fiscal year, the Chamber foundation assisted the following local organizations: ArtworxLA Assistance League of Southern Cal. Blind Children’s Center Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood Childhelp, Inc. Greenways Arts Alliance Hollywood Fringe Festival Hatchery Arts Hollywood Wilshire YMCA L.A. City College Foundation L.A. Contemporary Exhibitions Let’s Play Hollywood Foundation Los Angeles Youth Network LOVE Foundation My Friend’s Place National Night Out New Filmmakers L.A. Oasis of Hollywood St. Barnabas Senior Services Streetlights The Center at Blessed Sacrament The Gabriella Foundation Theatre West We Can Pediatric Tumor Network
The Chamber testified in support of the proposed Crenshaw Line extension to Hollywood as part of the Metro long-range transit plan and voiced support for Metro’s November 2016 initiative to expand the Metro transit system. Numerous public officials met with the Chamber throughout the year to discuss public policy issues, including State Senators Kevin DeLeon and Ben Allen, L.A. City CAO Miguel Santana, City Attorney Mike Feuer, City Councilmembers Mitch O’Farrell and David Ryu, and others.
Foundation Grant Presentations