Enterprise Zone Information Breakfast
Learn how you may save your business thousands in tax dollars! 

According to the Los Angeles Community Development Department as many as 30,000 businesses in Los Angeles are eligible for thousands of dollars in tax savings within the Los Angeles Enterprise Zone. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is holding another in its series of Enterprise Zone information breakfasts on Wednesday May 14^th.  Hosting the breakfast will be Chamber member and Enterprise Zone consultant Nojan Boloorchi, President of Tax Incentive Solutions.  Mr. Boloorchi will co-present with L.A. Community Development Department Business Development Manager, Patricia Spinneberg. Some of the tax incentives available to businesses through the Enterprise Zone program include employee hiring tax credits, sales or use tax credit for the purchase of equipment, accelerated depreciation deductions, net interest deduction, and reduction in DWP electrical rates. The breakfast will be held at the Hollywood Chamber, 7018 Hollywood Boulevard, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday May 14^th. Admission is $10 for members / $25 for non-members.  Reservations are limited to the first pre-paid reservations.  Discounted valet parking ($3.30) is available at the Roosevelt Hotel. Please RSVP to Vivian@hollywoodchamber.net or call (323) 469-8311 extension 11.

Hollywood Leads City in Crime Reduction

LAPD Captain Clay Farrell reported this week that Hollywood leads the entire City in Part 1 Crime reduction year-to-date.  For all Part 1 crimes, Hollywood is down 17 percent as compared to the City average being down 6.7 percent.  (Part 1 crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assaults, burglary, auto theft, burglary from motor vehicles and personal thefts.)  Hollywood is down 14.5 percent in violent crimes compared to the City being down 4.7 percent.  For property crimes, Hollywood is down 17.6 percent, while the City is down 7.3 percent.  We have experienced 27 percent fewer shots-fired incidents than in 2007.  Gang-related crime is down 28 percent.  Of note when comparing year-to-date Part 1 crime from 2003 to 2008, crime in Hollywood is down a significant 40 percent.  Congratulations to Captain Farrell and all of our officers at Hollywood Division for these amazing numbers!

KBKG reduces taxes with Enterprise Zone Tax Credits

CRA Schedules Five-year Plan Meeting

The Board of the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles will meet in Hollywood on Thursday, May 15 to review the proposed five-year implementation plan for the Hollywood Redevelopment District.  The 10 a.m. meeting will take place at the Music Box Theatre, 6126 Hollywood Blvd.  Chamber members are invited to attend for a briefing on plans and priorities for the agency over the next several years.   There will also be an opportunity to comment on the proposals. The Hollywood Project Area is one of the most active in the City and a showcase on how a CRA can successfully turn around a neighborhood.

Talk to Marty: Addiction Counseling Services (213)500-8865

Foundation Plans 15th Annual WOD Fundraiser

The Hollywood Chamber Community Foundation will be honoring Amy Wakeland, Carolyn Dye, Hilary Royce and Laura Dodson at the 15th Annual Women of Distinction fundraiser which will be held at The Globe at Universal on May 8, 2008. Michael Taylor will be honored with the Golden Award and former Miss America and actress Lee Meriwether will be honored with the prestigious Mary Pickford Award. This is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Hollywood Chamber Community Foundation, which raised more than $100,000 last year. Presenting sponsors are Argent/Millennium and Gerding Edlin. Gold sponsors include Allen Matkins, CRA/LA Hollywood, Kaiser Permanente, Luxury Collection - Starwood Hotels and Resorts, NBC Universal and Universal Corporate. Silver Sponsors include Apollo Molasky, AsiaSF HOLLYWOOD, Author Services Inc., Bank of America, Capitol Records, Clarett Group, Honda of Hollywood, Iron Mountain, Paramount Pictures, Selma Hotel, Universal Studios Hollywood. Bronze sponsors include Alliance Residential, Andrews International, Briggs Law Office, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, NCA Hollywood, The Original Farmers Market, Paramount Contractors, The Post Group, Ramsey Shilling Commercial Real Estate Services Inc., Wells Fargo Bank and Yamashiro. For sponsorship, tables or tickets contact Mick Barrett or register online at Event at www.hollywoodchamber.net.

Members Take 15-20% Off with I&A Dry Cleaners: Call 323-953-9988

Click here for Chamber Member News, Events and Discount Offers

Members Make-Up at Chamber Mixer

Photo by Marlene Panoyan

Chamber members were treated to demonstrations of make-up skills at last week’s Business After Hours Mixer at the EI School of Make-up.  Some chamber members, such as past chair Jeff Briggs, even volunteered to be “made up” for the occasion.  Members were impressed with the school that trains its students for careers in the make-up and entertainment industries.  The Chamber also took the opportunity to recognize new Chamber members: Ricky Kagasoff, Advent Visual; Tracy Luebbers, Chris Boland, Tammy Sobel, Boland Building & Renovations; Carole Sarian, The CrisCom Company; Kristin Kendall, Ashley Hall, Out of the Box Events; Mike Bolasna, Property Service & Development Inc.; Ryan Kirby, Smart Source; Liana Maneese, Armen David, Anthony Wiktor, Starmen Design Group; Jim Shahrokh, Marie-Louise Grigorian, Trust Deed of California, Wendy Gariott, Il Fornaio Restaurant.

Sean Combs Receives 2,362^nd Star on the Walk of Fame

Photo by Bob Freeman

Sean Diddy Combs was honored last Friday with his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the music category.  A large and enthusiastic crowd was on hand for the ceremony to honor Combs.  Signs were waved that read “From Harlem to Hollywood” to recognize the star’s achievements as a self-made entrepreneur.  His achievements have ranged from music to television to movies and fashion. Actor Jamie Foxx was also on hand to help Combs celebrate the occasion.

Learn about Streetcars at Los Angeles National Workshop

The Rifkin Transportation Planning Group will be holding the “Los Angeles National StreetCar Workshop” on Thursday, May 22, 7:30am-5:00pm at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. The tremendous success of the Portland streetcar has revolutionized the way cities think about transit and economic development, stimulating $3.5 billion in investment in a hugely popular new downtown neighborhood called the Pearl. Streetcars are uniquely suited to serve all the high-density development underway in downtowns across the U.S. Find out how streetcar systems are revitalizing cities, and what a streetcar could do for downtown L.A. — by providing sustainable transportation, walkable neighborhoods and greener lifestyles. Based on the award-winning book “Street Smart: Street Cars and Cities in the 21st Century,” the workshop topics include: the most robust new streetcar systems, benefits and comparisons to other transportation modes, political and funding strategies, economic development, and sustainable urban living.
Admission is $75 for the general public (includes free Street Smart Book);
$25 for City of L.A. Residents, businesses, property owners thanks to generous sponsors (Book not included)
Workshop includes Continental breakfast, lunch and reception provided for all!
For more information, please call 323-304-2304; or register online at www.theseasideinstitute.org

Reach 30,000 Local Residents with Hollywood Shopper

Advertising space is now available for those looking to get their message out to 30,000 local residents. The November issues of the Hollywood Shopper brought in 70 customers for the Farmers Market, 21 reservations for the Holiday Inn, and Universal Studios is still receiving customers from their ad!  Space is limited so sign up now to reserve a ½ page ad ($699) or a full page ad ($1200) and we will take care of the rest!  All ads are full color, full bleed on glossy paper and will be in 30,000 Hollywood homes by mid-May! Contact kaylee@hollywoodchamber.net for more details.

Free business counseling at the Hollywood Chamber
Offered by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Richard Krelstein, a retired business turn-around specialist
Consulting services will be available most Fridays 9:30 - 11:30am 
To schedule an appointment, call Vivian at (323)469-8311.

The WaMu Breakfast Series: Big Ideas for Small Business

Is your small business ready for its close up? Join WaMu, KFWB News & the Chamber for the next in a continuing series of events designed to give small business owners and operators tips and advice to take business to the next level. Moderated by KFWB NEWS 980's midday new anchor Larry Carroll, other guest speakers will include: Radio DJ Danny Bonaduce; the creator of Flip This House, Richard C. Davis; and the Host, co-creator & Exec. Producer of Endurance on Discovery Kids, JD Roth.
KFWB News 980 and the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend a seminar on Big Ideas for Small Business.The cost to attend has been waived for Chamber members (tickets are usually $25)
To attend the May 16 Seminar, please visit www.kfwb.com/wamu/20065789.

Date: May 16, 2008
Time: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Location: CBS Studio Center "New York Street Set", 4024 Radford Ave., Studio City

Wireless Telephone Laws Takes Effect July 1, 2008 Learn more