Latest News from the Santa Ynez Chamber

The Santa Ynez Chamber, in partnership with the SB Foundation, is offering grant funds to microbusinesses. There is no repayment requirement of any kind. You must have been in business in Santa Barbara County in 2019 and not previously received a California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant. You must have had $50,000 or less in revenues in 2019. Click the Grant Details button below, for more information. You can also register for an upcoming workshop to help clarify questions you may have.

Feel free to share this information to any small business you may be aware of that may not be part of a chamber.

Grant Details

CDPH UPDATED MASKING GUIDANCE IN EFFECT BEGINNING THIS WEEK

Effective March 1, 2022 , the requirement that unvaccinated individuals mask in indoor public settings will move to a strong recommendation that all persons, regardless of vaccine status, continue indoor masking. Universal masking shall remain required in specified high-risk settings.

After March 11, 2022, the universal masking requirement for K-12 and Childcare settings will terminate. CDPH strongly recommends that individuals in these settings continue to mask in indoor settings when the universal masking requirement lifts. Check in with your school or childcare facility to understand how these changes will be implemented locally.

CDPH Masking Guidelines 2/28/22

Order Free At Home COVID Test Kits

Know Your Community Levels

Third District Supervisor, Joan Hartmann, has offered the following updates, and requests for information below.

Share Your Thoughts About County Road Improvements

County Public Works will hold public workshops for the 2022-2023 ROAD MAINTENANCE ANNUAL PLAN (RdMAP) this month. These are annual meetings where the public can provide input on County road maintenance and learn about maintenance activities in their area, the County’s approach to pavement preservation, current and ongoing projects, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.

North and Central County workshop will be held virtually on Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 7pm to 8:30pm

South County workshop will be held virtually on Thursday, March 24, 2022 from 7pm to 8:30pm

To RSVP for this event and receive the Zoom link, visit https://bit.ly/SBCRdMAP and pre-register. If you have questions about the meetings, please contact Lael Wageneck, Public Information Officer Santa Barbara County Public Works Department at lwageneck@countyofsb.org.

Share Your Thoughts About Broadband Infrastructure

A Countywide Broadband Strategic Plan is one of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments' (SBCAG) top priorities in 2022. SBCAG is working with the Broadband Consortium of the Pacific Coast (BCPC), regional economic development organizations, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians on this collective effort. The purpose of the Strategic Plan is help successfully secure federal and state funding for improving infrastructure, increase digital inclusion and access high-performing internet in homes, schools, healthcare, libraries, and businesses.
If you would like to engage in this effort, please send an email to info@sbcag.org or call (805) 961-8900. For more information visit this website.

Santa Ynez Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plans Approved

Water conservation along the Santa Ynez River took a significant step in January when three agencies unanimously approved groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs). These plans will be the basis for groundwater management in the area through a 20-year implementation period.
In 2014, the state Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) created a
framework to help conserve groundwater throughout California. Poor management of groundwater resources can increase pumping costs, dry water wells, degrade water quality, and deplete connected surface water. SGMA requires local agencies to form groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and implement GSPs to manage groundwater sustainably over the long term. Public agencies in the Santa Ynez Basin formed three GSAs (Eastern, Western, and Central) that cover the area from Lake Cachuma to the Pacific Ocean. These GSAs have been working since 2015 to prepare GSPs that describe the area's geology, how much water is in the basin, how it moves through the basin, and how it is used. The GSPs also identify projects and management actions the GSAs will undertake to ensure the basin is managed sustainably.
I am so pleased that the years of hard work put in by the public agencies, groundwater experts, and members of the public have resulted in three Groundwater Sustainability Plans being completed and submitted to the Department of Water Resources. The next step will be implementing the measures determined in the plans so we can ensure continued sustainable groundwater use for all water users.
Read more about the process here.

Joan Hartmann's office also shared that on March 1, 2022, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution formally recognizing Santa Barbara County being named Wine Enthusiast's 2021 International Wine Region of the Year. Watch the video if you have a moment here.

The first Santa Ynez Chamber networking mixer of 2022 will be on
Thursday, March 17, at 5:30pm,
hosted by Kevin and Mia Murphy at
K J Murphy's
3569 Sagunto Street
Santa Ynez
Come and see the new large retail space on Sagunto,
there is plenty of room both inside, and outside in the courtyard.

More Information

Thursday, March 24th
at the Chumash Casino Resort

Buy Tickets

Consider taking your donations of clothing and housewares that are in good, usable condition to the Old Mission located at 1760 Mission Drive in Solvang, just off Hwy. 246. Trucks will be there from 8:30am-12pm on March 27.

Allan Hancock College's talented fine arts instructors are showcasing a wide range of creative work during the college's Fine Arts Faculty Art Show open now and running through March 31. The show is located in the Ann Foxworthy Gallery located in the Academic Resource Center, bldg. L, on the Santa Maria campus. It is free and open to the public. The gallery will host a closing reception for the exhibition on March 10 from 5-6:30 p.m. Above photo caption: Patrick Trimbath "Good Will".

Meet Elizabeth Breen, Association Executive for the Santa Ynez Valley Association of Realtors.

Elizabeth wants you to know the following facts about the local Santa Ynez Valley Association of Realtors:

The Association has been chartered through the National Association of REALTORS® since 1974. They are part of the National Association of REALTORS®, and the California Association of REALTORS®. The Associations of REALTORS® represent the “Realtor Party” and work with legislators to ensure private property rights, advocate for Fair Housing laws, and advocate for obtainable housing.

The term REALTOR® can only be used by a member of an association and indicates that the real estate agent is held to a higher ethical standard.

The Santa Ynez Valley Association of REALTORS® consists of local agents who are involved in their own community.

The Association is heavily involved at the local level in the conversation regarding the lack of housing inventory in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Elizabeth sits on the General Planning Advisory Committee for the City of Solvang. That Committee is working with the city and their consultant on possible land use and zoning alternatives including a housing element update in order to try to address the severe housing shortages.

The Santa Ynez Valley Association of Realtors are members of all three Chambers of Commerce in the valley and many of their individual REALTOR® members are also Chamber members and are involved in community service throughout the valley. The Association is sponsoring a FREE shred day for the public on April 2, see the flyer below for details. They also award two $1,000 scholarships to students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School every year and sponsor voter registration drives from time to time.

Elizabeth has been instrumental in coordinating food donations for drive through food distributions at Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road. This effort began in March of 2020 at the very onset of the pandemic with a team of volunteers. Food distribution still continues each Tuesday from 5:15pm to 6:45pm.

Elizabeth is also responsible for the "blessing box" a free mini food pantry located right outside of the church. You may leave non-perishable food donations in the box or take what you may need from it. Donations of food, funds or volunteer hours are welcomed for this ongoing effort. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, contact Elizabeth at assocexec@syvaor.com

Thank you Elizabeth for being a valued member of the ever so busy Santa Ynez Valley Association of Realtors and for the countless hours of community service. You are appreciated!

SB 9 Information Here

Save the Dates

Saturday, April 30, 2022, Shred 2 You trucks will be in the Santa Ynez Valley
$6 per banker sized box 8:00am-9:30am in Buellton 10:00am-11:30am in Solvang 12:00pm-1:30pm in Santa Ynez Thursday, May 19, 2022 Santa Ynez Chamber Mixer CrossHatch Winery 1090 Edison Street in Santa Ynez 5:30pm-7:30pm Friday, June 3, 2022 Santa Ynez Union High School Graduation Thursday, July 28, 2022 Santa Ynez Chamber Mixer Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum hosted by the Radius Group and the SYV Historical Museum 3596 Sagunto Street in Santa Ynez 5:30pm-7:30pm Thursday, September 15, 2022 Santa Ynez Chamber Mixer New ForFriends Inn Village Sagunto Street in Santa Ynez 5:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday, November 17, 2022
Santa Ynez Chamber Mixer
Chumash Museum and Cultural Center
5:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday, December 1, 2022
Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting
Sagunto Street
4:00pm - 6:00pm

The Santa Ynez Chamber turns 10 years old in 2022
and the Township of Santa Ynez turns 140 years old.
You can bet there will be a celebration!

First, we've placed an ad in the upcoming issue of Westways Magazine. Watch for the issue due out at the end of March. We will encourage shopping, dining, wine-ing and doing business with any of our chamber members (in good standing) for a chance to win an overnight stay (and more) in Santa Ynez!

Updates and details will be on SantaYnezChamber.org in the next week so stay tuned.

Daylight Savings begins on Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 a.m.

Get ready to Spring Forward!

Join the Chamber

If you are a current member, please be sure to check your link on our website and send any changes or updated photos before March 15 so we can take care of updates immediately. Thank you!