Business roundup: Local economy news and information
| Monday, Apr 06 2009 04:30 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Apr 07 2009 06:01 PM
Valley Republic Bank, Bakersfield’s newest bank, will celebrate its grand opening April 13 to 17 with a series of free luncheon business seminars; an art show featuring scenes from local artists; and product demonstrations aimed at improving your cash management.
The festivities will begin at 11 a.m. Monday with a ribbon cutting with Mayor Harvey Hall and the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.
The luncheon seminars will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, at the bank at 5000 California Ave. Suite 110 and are scheduled as follows:
• Tuesday, “New SBA Stimulus Programs,” presented by Keith Brice-Mid-State Development Corp.
• Wednesday, “Estate Planning on Purpose,” presented by David Nicholas, CPA
• Thursday, “Outsourcing Technology,” presented by Rick Kreiser, Carney’s
“Valley Visions” art show and reception featuring scenes from local artists Bonnie Hineline-Kempner, David Gordon, Laurie Meinke and Keith Wicks will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16.
The “Banking Tools for Better Cash Management” product demonstrations will be presented daily from 3 to 5 p.m.
In addition, the bank will serve gourmet coffee and cookies from Smith’s Bakeries throughout the week.
To register for the free luncheon seminars, call 371-2002.
— Valley Republic Bank
In-home care certification
Around The Clock Companion Care, a Bakersfield provider of in-home health care and assistance, has been designated a Certified Home Care Organization by the California Association for Health Services at Home.
The designation certifies that Around The Clock has met standards including general and professional liability insurance and various background screenings for all its employees, and that its fees are specified in service agreements.
Around The Clock has been operating for more than 20 years. It is owned locally by Mary and John Vasinda.
— Californian staff
Disaster assistance
California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura is reminding farmers who suffered agricultural losses last year that the deadline for several disaster assistance programs has been extended to May 18.
The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 authorized several disaster assistance programs including the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish and the Tree Assistance Program.
Producers who did not have crop insurance or Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage for 2008 can pay a buy-in fee to become eligible for assistance — but they must do so by May 18.
For information, go to www.fsa.usda.gov/ca.
— Californian staff
SCORE workshop
The Bakersfield chapter of Service Corps of Retired Executives, or SCORE, will hold a workshop for entrepreneurs on how to get financing from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The free workshop, co-sponsored by Mid State Development Corp. and San Joaquin Bank, is at 9:30 a.m. April 30 at 1731 Chester Ave.
Guest speaker will be Kay Mardon, SBA Fresno District Office lender relations specialist. The program will cover small loans for everything from home-based businesses to multimillion-dollar real estate and manufacturing transactions.
To register, send your name, e-mail address, mailing address and phone number to Paul Leung at paulleung@earthlink.net.
SCORE is a nonprofit volunteer organization that offers free counseling to aspiring and new entrepreneurs. Counseling appointments may be scheduled through the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce by calling 861-9249.
For more information, go to www.score.org.
— Californian staff
Senior discounts at CALM
Beginning April 13, each Monday throughout 2009 is Senior Discovery Day at the California Living Museum for those age 60 and older. Seniors will receive a 50 percent discount on their admission and a 10 percent discount in the gift store. Regular senior admission is $5.
CALM’s animal keepers have scheduled, especially for Senior Discovery Day, a birds of prey presentation each Monday at 10 a.m.
Director Tom Anspach said, “We already offer special days for the children and this was something we wanted to offer senior citizens in our community.”
CALM is home to native species of plants and animals. The zoo and botanic garden is at 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway.
For information, call 872-2256 or visit www.calmzoo.org.
— CALM news release
Connect 4 Lunch
The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Connect 4 Lunch to provide members only with a new and exciting, focused networking program.
Through the Bakersfield Chamber’s association with Connect 4 Lunch, chamber members can spend over an hour with three different chamber members each week at a varsity of local chamber member restaurants. During lunch, you’ll make personal connections with these members, build trust, swap referrals and learn about each other’s businesses.
Over time, you’ll become known to more and more members in the chamber community on a personal as well as a business level. In the course of a year, with Connect 4 Lunch you can make personal business connections with up to 150 different chamber members.
Read more about the program, including specifics on how it works, on the chamber Web site at www.bakersfieldchamber.org.
— Chamber Metro Business Journal
