Information for Members

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: ADA Lawsuit Abuse

Dear Merchants, Many of you have called the office after you have been hit with a lawsuit from one or two infamous ADA lawsuit attorneys. Lawyers Against Lawsuit Abuse,APC has put out a comprehensive paper on how small businesses can comply with the complex ADA regulations. Please click here. I urge all of you to read this report and help us help you fight the current ADA lawsuit abuse that is happening all over California.

Click here for the latest information regarding this issue.

OB Recycles

As of January 1, residents, businesses, and special events in San Diego are required to recycle in order to extend the life of the Miramar Landfill, estimated to close in 2012.

While the City provides residents with recycle bins, businesses and special events must fend for themselves, and have until February 11 to comply with this new law or face heavy fines. The private sector, however, offers many resources to recycle and get rid of hazardous materials, ink cartridges, cell phones, and packing materials:

Edco Disposal: regardless of size, services cost $35 per month for weekly pick-up, and $20 per additional arranged pick-up. Call Maggie Eggers at 619-287-5696 ext. 4207 or email her at meggers@edcodisposal.com.
Waste Management: offers similar services, but is hesitant to offer a direct quote and charge by container size. John Baer, at WM, did quote $30 per month for a dumpster with a provided padlock and $20 per month for a 96-gallon toter (similar to the residential blue bins). However, be sure to request a 1-year contract with renewal. Mr. Baer can be reached at 619-726-5983 or jbaer@wm.com.
Hazardous Materials: Waste Management's LampTracker program offers safe solutions. Call Nick Castaneda at 866-964-2217 ext. 2 or visit www.wmlamptracker.com for more information. Prices can be found on the Order LampTracker Containers tab on the left.
Packing peanuts and bubble wrap: not recyclable, but Saffran Packaging, on Santa Monica Ave., will be happy to take them.
Used ink cartridges and cell phones: can be dropped at Ocean Beach MainStreet Association, 1868 Bacon St.; Bone Appetit, 4845 Newport Ave.; or Jungle Java, 5047 Newport Ave.

MERCHANTS : The Greene Vase Interiors RETAIL REFRESHER Summer Savings!

OB Merchants: tired of you same old displays and front windows?

Looking for some new ideas to refresh and revitalize your space?

Let our designer's eye develop a new space for you just in time for our OB Summer!

Call 858-837-0562 today to schedule your design time at 50% OFF - 5 hours for only $125.

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT FORM ONLINE

Ocean Beach MainStreet Members... Are you having a big sale? Did you or one of your employees receive an award? Are you making a big change? Promote something special about your business by using our Member Announcement Form. Please print a copy of the form, fill it out and fax it to OBMA at 619-224-4976 or drop it by the office at 1868 Bacon Street.

For those who have questions or concerns about the Association and its activities, please print out the applicable form (Financial Clarification Request Form or the Member Questions/Concerns Form) and fill it out and fax it to the office at 619-224-4976.

Member Announcement Form
Member Question Form
Financial Clarification Request

ACCION - DO YOU NEED A SMALL BUSINESS LOAN?

Are you looking for a loan to start or expand your small business? If so, ACCION San Diego can help! We are a non-profit organization that provides loans ranging from $300 to $35,000 to business owners who may not qualify for a bank loan. Money can be used for inventory, expansion, equipment, cash flow and more. It's simple to apply; the application can be found on our website at www.accionsandiego.org and the process takes less than 2 weeks. If you are looking for a small loan under $2,000, ACCION San Diego also offers a Quick Loan with a turnaround time of 48 hours. If you have questions or need more information, please call (619) 685-1380. Let ACCION San Diego help you build your credit and make your small business dreams come true!

SBA Launches New 100% Guarantee ARC Loan Program

Release Date: May 18, 2009

Release Number: 09-30

Contact: David J. Hall (202) 205-6697

Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

SBA Launches New 100-Percent Guarantee ARC Loan Program to Help Struggling Businesses

WASHINGTON – Small businesses suffering financial hardship as a result of the slow economy may be eligible to receive temporary relief to keep their doors open and get their cash flow back on track through to a new loan program announced today by SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills.

Beginning on June 15, SBA will start guaranteeing America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) loans.

ARC loans are deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 available to established, viable, for-profit small businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing qualifying debt.

ARC loans are interest-free to the borrower, 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA, and have no SBA fees associated with them.

“These ARC loans can provide the critical capital and support many small businesses need to make it through these tough economic times,” said Administrator Mills.

“Together with other provisions of the Recovery Act, ARC loans will free up capital and put more money in the hands of small business owners when they need it the most.

This will help viable small businesses continue to grow and thrive and create new jobs in communities across the country.”

As part of the Recovery Act, the ARC program was created as a no-interest, deferred payment loan to help small businesses that have a history of good performance, but as a result of the tough economy, are struggling to make debt payments.

ARC loans will be disbursed within a period of up to six months and will provide funds to be used for payments of principal and interest for existing, qualifying small business debt including mortgages, term and revolving lines of credit, capital leases, credit card obligations and notes payable to vendors, suppliers and utilities.

Repayment will not begin until 12 months after the final disbursement.

Borrowers don’t have to pay interest on ARC loans. After the 12-moth deferral period, borrowers will pay back the loan principal over a period of five years.

ARC loans will be made by commercial lenders, not SBA directly.

For more information on ARC loans, visit www.sba.gov.

Merchant Newsletters

July, 2009
June, 2009
May, 2009
April, 2009
March, 2009
February, 2009
January, 2009
December, 2008
November, 2008
October, 2008
September, 2008
August, 2008

CITY CARE BENEFITS

Looking for affordable health, dental, vision, and life insurance tailored specifically for San Diego small business owners and their employees? Then consider CITY CARE BENEFITS:

Large group rates and benefits for employers with a City of San Diego business license
Guaranteed issue for employers with 2 or more eligible employees
No health questions
Low employer contribution requirements
Domestic partner coverage
Available through your health insurance agent

Please contact MVI at (619) 260-2660 or citycare@mvi.net regarding the health insurance plan offered by City Care Benefits.

The BID Council surveyed 50,000 San Diego businesses and found that most lacked health insurance due to prohibitive costs. In response, the BID Council created City Care Benefits, a health insurance program that provides a full range of health, vision, dental, chiropractic, and acupuncture to San Diego's small business owners and their employees. The City Care Benefits plan is a collaboration between the City Care Benefits Board of Trustees and Pacificare. The BID Council is proud to be the first in the nation to create such a program that collectively bargains for all small businesses, bringing health care to people that otherwise may have been fiscally prohibited from these benefits. For more information, please contact MVI, the plan administrator, at 619-260-2660.