Final Agenda - Economic Recovery of Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses (August 18, 2021)

Summary

Final agenda for the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy and the Assembly Select Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship joint informational hearing, Economic Recovery of Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses, on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 2:00 pm, in the Assembly Chamber of the California State Capitol. The agenda runs from welcome and opening statements through public comment and closing remarks. One part covers the El Pájaro Community Development Corporation retail incubator named Plaza Vigil and its Commercial Kitchen Incubator Program, which it says is supporting 33 food purveyors. The panel part lists Monica Ochoa, Nicole McDonald and Andy Madeira, and public comment allows up to 3 minutes per speaker.

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“Final Agenda - Economic Recovery of Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses (August 18, 2021).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-08-18-august-18-final-agenda-public-4fa9e2c876/, SHA-256 2cfb5b6aabd1733bbaf1a91c017b1104ba1246f77085bad266bb161678cb891e.

Full text

Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy
Assembly Select Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Economic Recovery of Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses
Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at 2:00 pm in the Assembly Chamber of the California State Capitol

FINAL AGENDA

The Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, and the Assembly Select Committee
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship are convening a joint informational hearing examining the needs of
women- and minority-owned small businesses during the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the
second in a series of hearings being held by the Select Committee, with future hearing topics focusing on workforce
development, access to capital, and regulatory hurdles. Information and recommendations received during the
hearing will serve as a foundation for oversight and evaluation of state programs and legislative proposals in the
coming Session.

I. Welcome, Introductions, and Opening Statements
Chairs and Members of the committees will give opening statements and frame the key issues to be examined
during the hearing.

II. Challenges in Reopening California
After 15 months of restricted commerce, California’s women- and minority-owned businesses face a range of
challenges in reopening and being successful in the post-COVID-19 economy. Remarks will be provided by:
 Eugene Cornelius, Jr., Senior Director, Center for Regional Economics and California Center, Milken
Institute [https://milkeninstitute.org/]
 Nancy Swift, Executive Director, Jefferson Economic Development Institute and Chair of California
Women’s Business Center Network [http://e-jedi.org/]
 Pat Fong Kushida, President & CEO, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
[https://www.calasiancc.org]

III. Case Study: Transforming Communities by Supporting Women and Minority Entrepreneurs
As part of its mission, in 1997, El Pájaro Community Development Corporation created a retail business
incubator in downtown Watsonville to assist low- to moderate-income, Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs with
starting and operating successful businesses. Named Plaza Vigil, this 16-space retail incubator has already
supported the opening and scaling of dozens of local businesses. Through the incubator, small businesses can
access training, business consulting, and administrative and marketing support. The recent addition of a
separate Commercial Kitchen Incubator Program is currently supporting 33 food purveyors to start or expand
their food businesses. In 2020, the El Pájaro Community Development Corporation was designated a Women
Business Center by the US Small Business Administration.
 Carmen Herrera-Mansir, Executive Director, El Pájaro Community Development Corporation and host to
the Regional Women’s Business Center serving Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
[https://www.elpajarocdc.org/about-us/]

IV. Deeper Dive into California Inclusive Economic Recovery
Panelists have been asked to provide specific examples and recommendations on steps that can be taken to
support women- and minority-owned businesses to be full participants in the California comeback. The
panelists include:
 Monica Ochoa, owner and operator of 1Day Cleaning, an early-stage microbusiness that overcame
business development challenges with the help of state, federal, and/or local programs and services.
[www.1DayCleaningServices.com]
 Nicole McDonald, owner of S.T.E.A.M. Academy, a mature small business that has survived 16 months of
COVID-19 restrictions and now requires capital, technical assistance, and additional staffing to reach the
next stage in their business development. [https://steameducate.com/]
 Andy Madeira, Chief Executive Officer, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, a community
development corporation that developed the COVID Commercial Tenant Resiliency Program for its
commercial portfolio consisting of over 100 small business and non-profit tenants, the majority of which
are minority and/or women owned business enterprises. [https://ebaldc.org/about-us/our-leadership/]

V. Public Comment
Anyone interested in addressing the committees may speak for up to 3 minutes during the public comment
period. Written comments are encouraged and may be submitted to ajed@asm.ca.gov through September 15,
2021.

VI. Closing Remarks
Assembly Members will make closing remarks and offer recommendations for further actions.

State Capitol - P.O. Box 942849 - Sacramento, CA 95814

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