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TKHCC urges you to protect yourself, your family, and neighbors.  We all look forward to all businesses and shops being open again. Meanwhile, wherever possible, shop local and shop small. Together we can open Tulare and Kings counties! So please mask up, wash hands, and keep a safe distance.

In December 2019, we had a full house join us at the Visalia Convention Center for the Business Awards and Installation of Officers Dinner. This year, due to Covid-19, we had to make some major changes. The Installation of Officers will be virtual. This Friday, December 4^th, please follow us on Facebook at “Tulare Kings Hispanic Chamber” and watch our stream at 6PM.  And if you have not already done so, please “like” the page to keep abreast of TKHCC activities.

Additionally, our highly anticipated Annual Auction is going virtual. It has already started and runs through Sunday, December 13 at 8:00PM. Please check our FACEBOOK site or our December Edition of our Newsletter  for a direct link. An instructional video on how to use our auction website is also located on FACEBOOK. Our website will continue to be updated with additional items, so make sure to check back constantly! I want to personally thank our great donors! None of our work could be possible without their support.

On behalf of the Tulare Kings Hispanic Chamber Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and staff, we wish you all a very happy, healthy and safe Holiday Season and hope to see you at our events in 2021!

Feliz Navidad , Happy Hanukkah and a Happy Gurpurab to all!

For questions or additional information please contact the Chamber at 559 734-6020 or email daniel@mytkhcc.org

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“Small business owners need our help and support,” stated Director Nick Maduros. “The Governor’s action provides immediate assistance for businesses impacted by COVID-19. We recognize that many of our taxpayers are facing extreme challenges due to the pandemic, and our hope is that these relief efforts will enable businesses to weather this difficult storm.”

Automatic Filing Extension

Taxpayers filing CDTFA returns for less than $1 million tax will automatically be granted a three-month extension on payments and returns originally due between December 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. For example, 4th quarter 2020 returns and payments will now be due in April 2021. Eligible taxpayers are not required to make a request to take advantage of this extension.

Interest-free Payment Plans

Qualified small businesses can apply for a 12-month, interest-free payment plan to defer payment of up to $50,000 for 4th quarter 2020 and the 1st quarter of 2021 in sales and use tax liability. The deferred tax would be paid in twelve equal monthly installments, with the first payment not due until April 2021. Any business with annual taxable sales of $5 million or less will be eligible for the new payment plans, including those taxpayers already in existing payment arrangements with the CDTFA. All existing interest-free payment plans will remain in place. Businesses with sales greater than $5 million in sectors particularly impacted by operational restrictions due to the pandemic may also apply for an interest-free payment plan. CDTFA will extend these payment arrangements to all businesses demonstrating a significant drop in sales, regardless of annual sales volume.

More information on extensions and payment plans will be available soon on CDTFA’s COVID-19 webpage or you can contact CDTFA’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-400-7115 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time).

Small Business Hiring Tax Credit

Beginning today and continuing through January 15, 2021, CDTFA is accepting applications, through its online reservation system, for qualified small business owners to reserve up to a $100,000 hiring tax credit. The small business hiring tax credit provides a credit that a small business employer can use to offset their income taxes or their sales and use taxes when filing their tax returns. The tentative credit reservation is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Within 30 days of receiving an application, CDTFA will notify each applicant via email whether a tentative credit reservation has been allocated to them and the amount. To learn more about qualifications and how to apply, view the Frequently Asked Questions available on the CDTFA website.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) administers California’s sales and use, fuel, tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis taxes, as well as a variety of other taxes and fees that fund specific state programs. CDTFA-administered programs account for over $73 billion annually, which in turn supports local essential services such as transportation, public safety and health, libraries, schools, social services, and natural resource management programs through the distribution of tax dollars going directly to local communities.

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According to ACEC California, the Engineering Excellence Awards competition has become an effective tool for engineering and surveying recognition for projects that benefit local communities and California as a whole.

“We are honored to be recognized by ACEC California with an Engineering Excellence Award for the seventh year in a row,” said Ronald Samuelian, president of Provost & Pritchard.  “Our staff work diligently to provide our clients with innovative projects that meet their specific needs, and we are proud of how the two ACEC California projects recognized this year demonstrate that innovation.”

The McMullin On-Farm Flood Capture and Recharge project implemented large-scale flood flow capture to recharge water onto 5,000 acres of actively farmed land to provide groundwater recharge and mitigate chronic flooding of downstream areas, including Disadvantaged Communities.  In addition to flood protection, the project helps to mitigate groundwater overdraft by percolating high quality surface water in an area without surface water supply.  The merit award from ACEC follows up awards previously won by the project, including awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Fresno and San Francisco chapters.

“Working with Provost & Pritchard on this project has been an excellent experience and exceeded our highest expectations,” said Paul Peschel, general manager for the Kings River Conservation District.

The Main Canal Reservoir is a regulating reservoir at the head of Lateral 3.  The bifurcation of Lateral 3 from the Main Canal is the first major diversion off the Main Canal, where approximately one-third of the flows within the Main Canal upstream are diverted into Lateral 3.  The objective of this project was to better manage the water supplies distributed through the MID Main Canal by more closely matching the supplies ordered from Modesto Reservoir with the actual demands in the irrigation system.  Re-regulation of the flows in both facilities allow flow fluctuations to be captured and the system’s operations to be better coordinated.

“We were very pleased with our experience with Provost & Pritchard and the final project that will better manage the water supplies distributed through the Main Canal,” said Chad Tienken, civil engineering manager for Modesto Irrigation District.

Established in 1968, Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group has a strong tradition of engineering and consulting excellence throughout California.  With office locations in Fresno, Clovis, Visalia, Bakersfield, Modesto, Los Banos, Chico and Sacramento, the firm features a mix of seasoned professionals, complemented by younger staff with fresh ideas. Provost & Pritchard specializes in civil and agricultural engineering, environmental and land use planning, hydrogeology and geology, surveying, and construction management services in the areas of water resources, municipal infrastructure, agriculture, site development, and environmental compliance.  For more information, visit www.provostandpritchard.com or email info@ppeng.com.

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The initiative, Proposition 15, would have allowed reassessment and higher property taxes on a variety of business properties, including agricultural structures and improvements such as barns, dairies, wineries, processing plants, vineyards and orchards. Nearly 52% of voters rejected the measure in votes counted to date; the Associated Press projected its defeat last night.

“Farmers can breathe a little easier today, knowing their hard work made the difference to turn back the largest property tax increase in California history, which would have created havoc for family farmers and ranchers across our state,” Johansson said during a virtual news conference conducted today by the measure’s opponents.

“For months, we’ve said Prop 15 would hurt farmers, ranchers and ultimately all families, through higher food prices,” Johansson said. “What’s clear from these results is that more than 8 million California voters recognized this reality and agreed with our efforts to stop this ill-advised initiative.”

CFBF, Western Growers and the Agricultural Council of California formed a coalition, Family Farmers Against Prop 15, which mobilized rural voters to reject the tax measure. Johansson thanked the more than 1,000 family farmers who contributed $250 or less to the campaign and who recognized how damaging the measure would have been to rural communities.

“Many California voters were already struggling with the affordability crisis facing our state before COVID-19, and even more are struggling now,” he said. “The defeat of Prop 15 can be seen as a rejection of this specific, harmful measure, but also as a broader call to our elected officials to stop enacting costly policies that hurt farmers, consumers and businesses.”

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 34,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 5.6 million Farm Bureau members.

The post Farmers, ranchers celebrate defeat of split-roll tax measure appeared first on Valley Voice.

SVIC chairman of the board Bruce Nicotero announced that speakers scheduled to date include keynote speakers Melanie Hellwig-White, president of Hellwig Products, and Lance Hastings, president of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association.

Attendees will be able to choose from 10 breakout sessions during the event and can watch them online later at their convenience. Break-out session speakers include Assemblyman Devon Mathis; Brett Sutton, managing partner of Sutton Hague Law Corporation; Eric Osterling, general manager of the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency; and Shelly Little, president of Personnel Solutions Unlimited, discussing best practices of recruiting during COVID. 

“We have been pleased to see our Summit draw more attention each year and offer discussion topics that educate and inform,” Nicotero noted. “The virtual aspect is new and challenging, but making the presentations available online means we reach more people at their convenience, which is a plus.”

There is no fee for participating via Zoom, but organizers are encouraging sponsorships of the sessions to cover expenses. Sponsors will be given the opportunity to speak briefly at the beginning of their sponsored session.

To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/E/south-valley-industrial-summit-tickets-125078181207. For further information about sponsorships, contact Bruce Nicotero at southvalleyindcollaborative@gmail.com or visit www.southvalleyindustrialcollaborative.org.

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 October 9, 2018 Susanne T. Stirling

California’s merchandise export trade maintained a growth trajectory in August despite a fall-off in farm exports, according to a Beacon Economics analysis of U.S. trade statistics newly released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Foreign shipments by California businesses totaled $15.18 billion for the month, a nominal 3.3% gain over the $14.69 billion recorded one year earlier.

Although exports of manufactured goods were up 4.6% to $9.99 billion from $9.55 billion in August 2017, exports of non-manufactured goods (chiefly agricultural products and raw materials) dropped by 6.3% to $1.54 billion from $1.64 billion. The value of re-exported goods rose by 4.4% to $3.65 billion from $3.50 billion.

The Golden State accounted for 10.9% of the nation’s overall merchandise export trade in August, down from 11.4% last year.

California exports in the first eight months of 2018 amounted to $119.01 billion, 6% higher than the $112.26 billion at the same point last year.

California Imports

The Census Bureau reports that California was the state of destination for 16.9% of all U.S. merchandise imports in August, with a value of $37.71 billion, down 0.8% from the $38 billion in imported goods in August 2017. Manufactured imports totaled $33.10 billion, a decline of 3.8 % from the $34.41 billion recorded one year earlier. Non-manufactured imports in August were valued at $4.61 billion, 28.1% higher than the $3.60 billion reported in August 2017.

A Closer Look At The Numbers

As always, Beacon Economics cautions against reading too much into month-to-month fluctuations in state export statistics, especially when focusing on specific commodities or destinations. Significant variations can occur as the result of unusual developments or exceptional one-off trades and may not be indicative of underlying trends. For that reason, Beacon Economics compares the latest three months for which data are available (i.e., June–August) with the corresponding period in the preceding year.

Leading Export Commodities

California’s merchandise exports during June–August totaled $44.6 billion, a nominal gain of 3.4% from the $43.14 billion in the same three months one year earlier.

On the plus side, shipments of Computer & Electronic Products (computers and peripherals; communication, audio, and video equipment; navigational controls; and electro-medical instruments) inched up by 1.3% to $11.64 billion from $11.49 billion. The state’s exports of Transportation Equipment (automobiles, trucks, trains, boats, airplanes, and their parts) remained essentially unchanged at $4.71 billion. Exports of Non-Electrical Machinery (machinery for industrial, agricultural, and construction uses as well as ventilation, heating, and air conditioning equipment) rose by 5.3% to $4.37 billion from $4.15 billion.

Shipments of Miscellaneous Manufactured Commodities (a catchall category of merchandise ranging from medical equipment to sporting goods) edged higher by 2.7% to $4.25 billion from $4.14 billion. Chemical exports (including pesticides and fertilizers; pharmaceutical products; paints and adhesives; soap and cleaning products; and raw plastics, resins, and rubber) gained 11.8% to $3.63 billion from $3.24 billion.

Shipments abroad of Food & Kindred goods edged ahead by 2.3% to $2.22 billion from $2.17 billion. Exports of Electrical Equipment and Appliances improved by 6.1% to $2.02 billion from $1.90 billion. Exports of Petroleum and Coal Products surged by 46.6% to $1.33 billion from $911 million. Waste & Scrap exports jumped 21.7% to $1.17 billion from $964 million. Exports of Fabricated Metal Products grew by 6.5% to $1.16 billion from $1.09 billion.

On the minus side, exports of agricultural commodities fell by 7.8% to $2.64 billion from $2.86 billion, as shipments of fruits, nuts, wines, and dairy products all faced higher tariffs abroad.

Export Destinations

Mexico retained its status as California’s most important export destination during the latest three-month period. Shipments south of the border grew by 14% to $7.85 billion from $6.89 billion.

Canada claimed second place among the state’s leading export markets by increasing its purchases of California products 4.1% to $4.50 billion from $4.32 billion.

China placed third with $4.07 billion in imports from California, down 0.9% from $4.10 billion.

Japan came fourth with imports of California goods totaling $3.20 billion, a gain of 2.4% from $3.12 billion during the same period one year earlier. Exports to fifth-place Hong Kong plummeted by 19.6% to $2.28 billion from $2.84 billion.

California exports to the East Asian economies slipped by 1.2% to $15.54 billion from $15.7 billion. Meanwhile, California’s exports to the European Union increased by 3.8% to $8.11 billion from $7.81 billion.

California’s stake in the future of the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement is clear in that Mexico and Canada together accounted for 25.1% of California’s entire merchandise export trade in the latest three-month period. Exports to the two neighbors leapt in value by 10.2% to $12.35 billion from $11.21 billion.

Mode of Transport

The latest three-month period saw 49.6% of the state’s $44.60 billion merchandise export trade depart by air, while waterborne transport carried 25.7% of the outbound trade. The balance of the state’s exports moved overland to Canada and Mexico.

The Outlook

Now that an agreement has apparently been reached in revising and updating the rules by which the United States, Canada, and Mexico trade with each other, experts at Beacon say they are “more sanguine” about export opportunities with these two nations that alone account for one-quarter of California’s export trade.

Beacon economists are not nearly as optimistic about trade with China, which, until a few months ago, stood ready to nudge Canada aside as our second most important export market. Attitudes in both Washington and Beijing have hardened lately, Beacon states.

A concern affecting Beacon experts’ longer-term trade assessment involves one of President Trump’s oft-stated rationales for raising tariffs—that the higher cost of importing goods from abroad would force companies to locate some or all of their manufacturing operations in North America, preferably of course in the U.S. heartland.

For this strategy to work, however, the tariffs the President has imposed would have to be permanent. Otherwise, there would be no compelling reason for companies to invest millions or perhaps billions of dollars in new manufacturing facilities in America if there is any reason to suspect that the new tariffs—the chief incentive for moving operations to the United States—would be summarily removed in a future round of trade negotiations.

“Put differently,” the Beacon report states, “while the Administration has pledged to reverse decades of job losses in manufacturing by ‘bringing the jobs home,’ the present tariff strategy may limit the options available to trade representatives.”

Staff Contact: Susanne T. Stirling

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Jerome Coelho, 22, is the youngest person to run the Kings Fair in recent memory, but he feels confident that his youthful energy will help infuse life into the local fair. He is replacing Angie Avila, his grandmother, who worked for the fair in various capacities for 30 years.

Since childhood, Coelho spent time helping out at the fairgrounds under his grandmother’s watchful eye, performing tasks like weeding flowerbeds. After graduating from Lemoore High School, he took on a paid position at the fair while attending Fresno State.

For the past two years, he’s been working for the fair full-time, while also taking full-time college classes. He admits that the CEO position is one that he’s been working towards since his first volunteer position in the Kings Fair’s livestock department in 2014. To increase his knowledge of the fair industry, he spent time working for the Tulare County Fair, and five summers working for the Napa Town and County Fair.

“I grew up at the fairgrounds,” Coelho said. “I’ve always loved the fair industry and the unique challenges and experiences that come with it.”

He graduated from Fresno State with a degree in ag business in December, just before assuming his role as the fair’s new CEO.

Coelho has big dreams to make the Kings Fair an event the entire community will enjoy and support. There are plans in the works to implement some new year-round events that will bring people out to the fairgrounds, but for now, his focus in on the 2018 Kings Fair, which is only three months away.

“We’re working on some new ideas that should make this year’s fair one of the best ever,” Coelho said. “My goal is to maintain the traditions that fair-goers have come to know and love, while at the same time implementing changes that will help successfully move this unique community event forward.”

For more information about Coelho’s role or the 2018 Kings Fair, taking place June 7-10, please call the Kings Fair office at (559) 584.3318, or email jerome@kingsfair.com.

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“At Tucoemas, we believe being local means being better. We get to know you and your family, provide solutions for your needs, and keep your money here in our community, doing good things for good people,” says Brice Yocum, CEO.  “In 2017, we launched our new look. We believe it’s a true reflection of our valley roots, and exemplifies the bright future we’re working toward for our members and our community. We are working hard to improve our service, tailor solutions and provide the kind of value that can only come from our local team working for our local members,” Yocum says.

Tucoemas encourages growth and leadership opportunities for all staff to optimize employees learning and
development.  TFCU announces the following staffing changes and promotions:

Lisa Quintana and Evie Garcia have accepted Loan Officer positions at the Whitendale branch office.
Joanna Ruelas, Irma Vasquez, and Ronda Mendes have accepted Loan Clerk positions.

Alicia De Leon accepted the Service Center Specialist Team Lead and Branae Hestily has accepted the MSR Team Lead at the Whitendale Branch. Kathy Miller accepted the Teller Department Team Lead position and Tara Chavira accepted the Service Specialist position at Whitendale branch.  Additional new staff has been hired at the Cypress, Whitendale and Tulare branches.

In addition, the TFCU team has welcomed Meredith Ritter as their new VP of Finance.  Meredith has worked in the Credit Union industry for over ten years. She has held multiple roles in leadership operations, lending and finance. Meredith has completed her Bachelor degree from Sonoma State University and she is a 2008 Western CUNA Management School graduate. In 2017, Meredith completed her MBA from Fresno State.

Sonia Smalley has accepted the VP of Lending position. Sonia joined the Tucoemas family 29 years ago. In 1991, she became part of the Lending team where she progressively advanced through increasingly responsible positions within the department. Sonia was promoted to Loan Supervisor in 2006 and Loan Manager in 2012. Sonia graduated from Western CUNA Management School in 2015.

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