San Bernardino County Economic Development Weekly Newsletter

2020 has impacted everyone – at a personal level and in the workplace. Destiny Frye is CEO and Cofounder of Grounded Self Care Studio, which provides artistically therapeutic experiences that cultivate healing, human connection and transformational moments. Frye notes that she chose San Bernardino for her space “to create something that the community feels it owns, and to give back to a community that helped me become the person I am today. I see so much potential and light here in San Bernardino,” she shared.

While the physical space is still being completed, Frye is providing a number of healing and wellness programs, including corporate wellness programs, virtually due to COVID restrictions. As she notes, “a corporate wellness program is a great way to invest in your greatest asset – your employees.”

One example of an organization focused on wellness is the California WIC Association, a non-profit organization formed in 1992 by directors of local agencies administering the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Supporting whole person wellness for WIC staff is vital to their health and well-being.  That is why the California WIC Association welcomes the partnership of diverse wellness experts such as Grounded Self Care Studio for its WIC Worksite Wellness. For WIC, Frye’s expertise in emotional and spiritual wellness is especially important during this time of a pandemic and numerous other threats and emergencies. Frye has helped to implement wellness activities at WIC conferences. They are not only an important part of the event, but also introduce attendees to new ways to stay healthy. Here, Frye provides advice to employers and employees dealing with uncertainty and wellness impacts of this national health crisis.

Why is a corporate employee wellness program important?
It’s hard for employees to be engaged and productive if they’re not healthy. Disengaged and unproductive employees impact the bottom line. Employers often only focus on the service that their employees provide not realizing that employees become devoted to a company when they know their employer cares about them, and not just what they can produce. Employees are a business’ greatest asset and implementing a wellness program is a great way to invest in those assets.

What does it entail?
Corporate wellness covers physical, mental/emotional, and community well-being. It is designed to support and encourage a holistic approach to the well-being of employees.

How can an employer best help employees now in light of COVID?
There is a quote by William H. Lever, founder of Lever Brothers, that speaks to this issue, “If we leave the human factor out of our business calculations, we shall be wrong every time.” The best thing an employer can do is recognize that every single one of their employees is personally impacted by COVID-19 in some way. By focusing on the humanity of their employees they can create an empowering work culture. The investment has to reach beyond job title training and into the personal well-being of the employee.
Employers can focus on the following three components:

Physical Well-being

• Post prompts around the office to encourage physical activity such as «Take the long way to your desk… add a few extra steps for better health!»
• Offer physical classes to employees such as yoga and aerobics
• Offer discounts to health & wellness clubs

Mental & Emotional Well-being

• Offer classes that promote mindfulness, such as meditation and deep belly breathing
• Take an artistic approach to healing by offering art therapy
• Create a relaxation wellness space for breaks

Community Well-being

• Be intentional about creating company bonding opportunities
• Post get to know your teammate challenges around the office such as «Find out someone’s biggest dream this week»

What are ways we can relieve some of the stress and anxiety in light of COVID?
·         Go outside and get some fresh air!
·         Practice mindfulness, using tools such as deep breathing, yoga and meditation
·         Practice gratitude – everyday write down 3 things you are grateful for
·         Reach out and seek professional help if necessary

Dear Business Leaders,

The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters is seeking additional community support and partnership in the upcoming November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election.

The Economic Development Department is helping the Registrar of Voters by sharing their critical need to recruit additional election workers this month. They have already started recruiting and training election workers, but are looking for new sources to help them “hire” more than 2,500 people available to work for four days  ̶  Saturday, October 31 through Tuesday, November 3. We ask that you consider allowing some of your employees to help manage polling places on Election Day.

Volunteering in one’s own community helps establish strong relationships and build a sense of purpose. Election workers play an important role in assisting their neighbors with exercising their right to vote. Your employees can also gain beneficial experience working in a new environment while sharing their knowledge and skills to help ensure the polling places are operated professionally.

The Registrar of Voters created a toolkit to make it easier for you to assist them with election worker recruitment. Click here to view the toolkit.

• Election Worker flyer and application
• Email script to send to your employees/members
• E-flyer to email and post to your website
• Sample social media posts
• Social media and website graphics

If you have any questions, please contact the Registrar of Voters at 909-387-8300 or email them at Communications@SBCountyElections.com.

Thank you, in advance, for supporting efforts in your community to ensure everyone counts.

Sincerely,

Soua Vang
Interim Director
County of San Bernardino Economic Development Department

The County of San Bernardino is now accepting applications from ALL Non-Profit organizations. To apply for this grant please CLICK HERE.
If you have recently been denied please email sbcovidbusiness@eda.sbcounty.gov or call 909-387-3911.

$1200
GRANT

To businesses that relocated their operations outdoors

Businesses eligible for this grant
include but not limited to:
Restaurants, Shopping Malls, Nail Salons, Hair Salons, Barbershops, Religious Services/Churches, Fitness Facilities, Service Businesses, etc.

What is the COVID Compliant Business Partnership Outdoor Operations Program?
To further support local small businesses and nonprofits that have incurred expenses moving their operations outdoors

Who do I contact with questions?
Email: sbcovidbusiness@eda.sbcounty.gov
Phone: 909-387-3911

Thank you for joining the Travel & Tourism Industry Webinar.  We appreciate your participation and hope that you found value in this informational session. 

Dr. Angelo Farooq, chairman of the California Workforce & Development Board, will kick-off the first in a series of three sessions held in October.  His presentation on the “Jobs & Climate Action Plan for 2030” will provide insights into a statewide blueprint addressing our most pressing challenges.

In this webinar you will learn how your business can be more competitive, expand your customer base, enter more markets and how to save time and money establishing a presence in a new market.

Discussion will include:

•Why Export
•Export Readiness Assessment
•Market Entry Strategy
•How to Identify Opportunities

Exporting doesn’t have to be difficult. Allow us to guide you through the process of understanding and implementing exporting.

This webinar will address the strategic steps needed to expand your international presence. It will also provide tools for reviewing your current export strategy in order to build upon it and develop an optimized market entry strategy for new markets.

Discussion will include:

•Global Footprint Expansion Market Analysis
•Match your capabilities to New Markets
•Identifying Specific Opportunities in New Markets

Expanding your global footprint can be a simple process. Let us help you, develop a Global
Strategic Expansion.

San Bernardino County’s Workforce Development Board has partnered with regional business experts to provide employers in San Bernardino County access to free and informative business webinars.