Greetings

Mayor Victor Gordo

The City of Pasadena is resilient.

We have weathered earthquakes, economic catastrophes, political and social upheaval, and a global pandemic. Pasadena is proud to support its residents and businesses in times of need, and we continue to steadfastly protect the quality of life, vitality and economy of our City. Pasadena is also a city that fights back from hardship and loss. Pasadena enjoys a very diverse economic base, from world-renowned educational institutions to cultural institutions, healthcare providers, financial services, and hospitality. We have always enjoyed a stable economic base that supports the quality of life in Pasadena. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Pasadena hard, and the City responded with grants to local small businesses, expert technical advice and a determination to maintain the Pasadena we all know and love. Pasadena is very fortunate to have its own Public Health Department, which worked diligently to ensure Pasadena was as safe as possible from the coronavirus. Along with our Planning and Community Development, Transportation and Public Works departments, our Public Health staff helped facilitate quick adjustments to codes and requirements so that we could quickly and safely get our businesses re-opened. The City is committed to rebuilding our tourism and hospitality industries, and returning Pasadena to prosperity as quickly as possible. The Rose Bowl and Convention Center will again host visitors from around the world, our museums, galleries and cultural institutions are already welcoming guests, and our restaurants are maintaining their outdoor dining spaces as they reopen for indoor service. Please join me, the City Council, City staff and the Chamber in supporting our local business community, our residents and workers as we re-establish Pasadena as a center for commerce, hospitality, fun, and enjoyment for all. Thank you for continuing to love and support our great City of Pasadena. Victor M. Gordo, Mayor

John Leano, Chair of the Board

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association has always been a vital resource for our

members. Before 2020, we provided networking events, informational seminars, workshops, and fun events highlighting our members and businesses. As a result, our 1,400 members could take advantage of our accessible staff and their expertise and connections in the community. When COVID-19 arrived in the United States, our work and efforts to support our members changed dramatically. Despite a significant drop in revenues, the Chamber was able to work with our members to help them access emergency funds and find resources. We provided daily updates via informational email blasts throughout March, April, May, and June 2020. Those became weekly email updates with information about infection rates, closure orders, pandemic safety protocols, and funding sources to keep businesses going. The Chamber provided information to our members about Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans. We helped many find financial institutions and fill out forms to access funding. We also helped our members apply for Los Angeles County and State of California grants and loans. As a result, we grew to be the trusted source of information and support for our local business community. The Chamber is a strong and effective advocate for our members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our continued efforts prodded the City of Pasadena to create a Small Business Relief Fund that granted $10,000 to 50 local small businesses. What followed was a round of microgrants for our most vulnerable companies. In addition, we worked closely with City staff to devise and implement outdoor dining plus food and beverage take-out service in Pasadena. As we continue to weather the pandemic and slowly recover, the Pasadena Chamber provides information on re-opening protocols. In addition, we continue to link our members and our business community to the resources necessary to re-open safely and within the guidelines of the state and local health authorities. Though our focus shifted in 2020 and 2021, the Chamber continues to aggressively support the prosperity of our members and the economic health of our city, region, state, and nation. Thank you for your ongoing loyalty and support. John Leano , Chair of the Board, 2020-21