Inside this issue:

Letter from

the Director

1

Upcoming

Events

1

Annual

Dinner

2

Business of

the Month

3

Partner

Spotlight

3

City of

Brawley

4

HR Tip of

the Month

4

IVEZ 4

New

Members

5

Renewing

Partners

5

Renewing

Members

5,6

7...

Advanced

Meter

9

Brawley Chamber of Commerce

May 2013 Newsletter : Issue 5

Congratulations to Angel Morales of Fremont School in

Calipatria for the winning entry in this year’s Cattle Call

Theme contest! We had many entries from across the

Imperial Valley from students K-12, thank you to all the teachers and students who

participated! Angel will be the Junior Grand Marshall in the 2013 Cattle Call Parade

on November 9th. The theme for this year is “Cattle Call…Rodeo Dreams”.

Sponsorship forms are available on the Chamber website and this year’s sponsors

will receive advertising in our Official Cattle Call Directory and on the Brawley

Chamber website!

This month’s mixer will be held on Thursday the 23rd at the Brawley Inn Hotel and

Conference Center at 5:30pm. Come by and network with other Chamber

members as we get ready for the Memorial Day Weekend!

We look forward to seeing you at our Annual Dinner & Branding Iron Award

Ceremony Thursday, June 6, 2013.

Cocktails at 5:30pm, dinner and

opening remarks will begin at 6:30pm.

Don’t delay in reserving your tickets,

seats are limited.

Katie Figari, Executive Director

Upcoming Events

05/23/13 Chamber Mixer Brawley Inn

575 W. Main St. 5:30 - 7pm

06/06/13 Branding Iron & Annual Dinner

Stockmen’s Club 5:30pm

06/27/13 Chamber Mixer at the Elks Lodge

161 S. Plaza St., Brawley 5:30 - 7pm

07/25/13 Mega Mixer

Stockmen’s Club 5:30 - 8pm

TBD Teacher of the Year

08/22/13 Chamber Mixer

09/06/13 “Good Morning Brawley”

Breakfast

09/26/13 Chamber Mixer

10/19/13 Cattle Call Queen Coronation

11/02/13 Chili Cook-Off

11/04/13 Cattle Call Kick-Off Mixer

11/06/13 Mariachi Night

11/09/13 Cattle Call Parade

12/12/13 Chamber Mixer

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Business of the Month

Page 3 Brawley Chamber of Commerce May 2013 Newsletter

Chamber Partner Monthly Spotlight

Issue 4

Brawley Floral Co. provides beautiful

red ribbons for grand openings and

ribbon cutting ceremonies. For the

Best Flowers in Brawley, Choose

Brawley Floral Co.

At Brawley Floral Co., their reliable

staff is committed to creating beautiful

flower arrangements and gifts which

are perfect for any occasion. As a

trusted local florist, we offer flower

delivery throughout Brawley, CA and

surrounding areas, as well as

nationwide delivery through our

network of reliable florists. Brawley

Floral Co. also offers convenient same-

day floral delivery for all of your last

minute gift needs!

Fresh flowers can represent friendship,

sympathy, or love. From birthday

flowers to Mother’s Day flowers to

get well flowers, you can trust Brawley

Floral Co. to have just the right

bouquet. They can bring a smile to

your loved one’s face with anniversary

flowers and Valentine’s Day flowers or

show your sentiments with sympathy

funeral flowers. We have great floral

gifts in Brawley CA that fit any

occasion, style and budget, so

arrangements from Brawley Floral Co.

are guaranteed to brighten someone’s

day!

Brawley Floral Co. in Brawley,

CA provides flower delivery

service to the following areas and

zip codes in California: Their shop

serves the following areas in California:

Brawley, Calipatria, Imperial and

Westmorland.

157 N. Plaza St., Brawley,

The Sanitation Districts protect public

health and the environment through

innovative and cost-effective wastewater

and solid waste management and in doing

so convert waste into resources such as

recycled water, energy and recycled

materials.

ORGANIZATION

The Sanitation Districts function on a

regional scale and consist of 23 independent

special districts serving about 5.4 million

people in Los Angeles County. The service

area covers approximately 820 square miles

and encompasses 78 cities and

unincorporated territory within the county.

GETTING THE JOB DONE

The Sanitation Districts were formed in 1923 when a significant number of cities

were forming and it was clear that managing wastewater on a regional scale made

sense. The Sanitation Districts were created to construct, operate, and “maintain

facilities that collect, treat, recycle, and dispose of domestic and industrial

wastewater.” Individual districts operate and maintain their own portions of the

collection system.

Cities and unincorporated parts of the county are responsible for the collection of

wastewater through local sewers and for the collection of solid waste. In the 1950s, it

became apparent that solid waste management also needed a regional approach. At

that time, the Sanitation Districts were given the responsibility to provide for the

management of collected solid waste, including disposal and transfer operations, and

materials and energy recovery.

To maximize efficiency and reduce costs, the 23 Sanitation Districts work

cooperatively under a Joint Administration Agreement with one administrative staff

headquartered near the City of Whittier. Each Sanitation District has a Board of

Directors consisting of the mayor of each city, and the Chair of the Board of

Supervisors for unincorporated territory within the Sanitation District. Each

Sanitation District pays its proportionate share of joint administrative costs.

The Mesquite Regional Landfill is Southern California's first operating landfill that is

permitted to receive waste by rail. The landfill is located next to the Mesquite Gold

Mine, east of Glamis and near the Union Pacific Railroad mainline. A 5-mile rail spur

connects the landfill to the railroad mainline. The site is well suited to be a landfill

because of its desert climate, distance from groundwater, distance from residential

development, proximity to the railroad, and preexisting use for mining. The landfill will

be designed and operated as a sanitary landfill to meet all local, state and federal

requirements.

Maximum Tonnage: 20,000 tons per day of municipal solid waste, including 1000

tons from Imperial County

Landfill Capacity: 600 million tons

Project Life: About 100 years

Service Area: Permitted to receive nonhazardous (Class III) municipal solid waste

from Southern California Counties Click Here For More Info

http://www.lacsd.org http://www.brawleyfloral.net

Brawley Chamber of Commerce May 2013 Newsletter

The Imperial Valley Enterprise Zone is here to help you understand

and take advantage of the substantial tax credits available to businesses in

Brawley. Daniel Fitzgerald, the IVEZ Manager, can help you and your tax

professional better understand the tax credits, help you qualify employees

for the hiring credit, and identify other parts of your business that are

eligible for the Enterprise Zone tax credits.

Change with the Enterprise Zone Rules is Coming

The State of California, which governs the Enterprise Zone, is

undergoing a process to change a number of the rules and regulations that

affect how a business can claim the hiring tax credit. These new rules have

not been finalized, but will make it more difficult to certify employees as

eligible for the hiring credit. The first rule that will take effect is to shrink the

Targeted Employment Area (TEA) for the IVEZ. Currently residents of

Brawley (or Calexico) would qualify for the EZ hiring credit. Sometime this

summer, it will only be residents of a few parts of Brawley (or Calexico.) In

addition, other rules will also impact how an employee can be classified as

eligible. When these rules come out, the IVEZ will work with businesses to

understand them and still take advantage of the EZ tax credits.

“Take advantage of

the current rules

before they expire

later this year.

Learn from Daniel

Fitzgerald, IVEZ

Manager 12pm-1pm

on June 13 at the

Brawley Chamber of

Commerce!”

NOTICE

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

FOR THE VARIOUS CITY

COUNCIL APPOINTED

BOARDS-COMMISSIONS-

COMMITTEES

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

INFORMATION

Sun Community Federal Credit Union (Silver Partner) Website: http://www.suncommunityfcu.org Phone: (800) 404-3323

Credit Union: Anyone who lives, works, worships, or volunteers in the Imperial County is eligible to join Sun

Community Federal Credit Union! With 7 local branches, SCFCU is the largest locally-owned financial

institution in the Imperial Valley. Members are required to have a savings account with a $5 minimum balance.

There is no membership fee. Once a member, you qualify for all of Sun Community’s benefits, including high

savings dividends and low loan rates! For more information, please call our Call Center at (760) 337-4200.

Canergy, LLC Website: http://www.canergyus.com Email: jlr1@sbcglobal.net

Phone: (760) 344-6407 Fax: (760) 344-6491

Biofuel Company: Canergy is bringing to the Imperial Valley of California a cellulosic ethanol

project using energy cane. Canergy is a 2nd generation, commercial scale, advanced biofuel

company with a focus that encourages a healthy environment by combining efficient use of

sustainable non-food source energy crops with innovative cellulosic conversion technology

producing a very low carbon ethanol.

Graphix Sign Co. Phone: (760) 370-3032 Fax: (760) 540-7783 Email: sales@qgraphix.us

Sign Company: Environmental Friendly Printing Solutions. Services are Printing, Design and

Installation of: Vehicle Graphics, Windows, Graphics, Stickers, Promotional Items, banner Signs,

Business Cards, Flyers, Brochures, T-Shirts. They have made their it a priority to reduce impact on

the environment. Help them Provide an Eco-Green-Living for the Benefit of your Family and

Community. They use Eco-Solvent Inks, Recycled Media, Biodegradable Materials, Chlorine-Free Paper.

Planter’s Hay, Inc. Website: http://www.plantershay.com Email: Richard@plantershay.com

Phone: (760) 344-0620 Fax: (760) 344-2691

Hay Company: Full-service, grower-owned compress facility located in Southern California’s Imperial

Valley region. The Imperial Valley has over 500,000 acres of fertile farmland. The Valley’s climate make it

perfectly suited to grow a variety of crops year round. The Imperial Valley boasts the largest alfalfa

growing region in the world, with over 160,000 acres in production. The area and close proximity to

Los Angeles’ ports make Planters Hay the ideal choice for your pressing needs. Planters Hay offers a

variety of cut and wrap services for commodities including Alfalfa Hay, Sudan, Klein, and Bermuda Grass.

SolTek Renewables, LLC Website: http://www.soltekrenewables.com Email: contact@soltekrenewables.com Phone: (619) 252-3690

Solar Technology: Commercial Solar Street Lights/ Parking Lot / Security & Bollard Lights and

rechargeable batteries.

Alford’s Distributing Co. Website: http://www.alfordbevs.com

Beverage Distributor: Budwieser, Busch, Natural Family, Model Brands, Michelob, Imports,

Shock Top, Craft Beers, Regional, Specialty Beers, Malts, Goose Island, Wine & Spirits, Non-Alcoholic,

Monster, Tea, Crystal Geysers Water, &.Nesquick. For more information contact (760) 355-7880

ALSCO Website: http://www.alsco.com Phone: (760) 352-3185

Linen Supplies & Uniforms: Focus on what you do best: In your business, time matters. And time spent

away from your core business is time lost. Alsco takes care of your linens, uniforms, floor mats, washroom

supplies, and more so you can stay focused on what matters most – your customers. Our industry leading

services ensure you always look good and always have a ready supply of clean, fresh products.

Aramark Uniform Services Website: http://www.aramark.com Phone: (760) 344-1754

Professional Services & Uniforms: ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing

award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care

institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world.

Best Western Main Street Inn Website: http://www.bestwestern.com Phone: (760) 351-9800

Hotel: Amenities: Outdoor pool, Spa, Exercise facilities, Interior corridor, 24-hour front desk, Multilingual

staff (English, Spanish), Guest laundry, Cable or satellite television 72 Channels, Business center, Printer

available, Fax services, Fax machine, Computer available, Dataports, Sunbathing, Air-conditioning, Elevator,

wheelchair accessible, Parking for the physically challenged, Ice/vending machines, Outdoor parking, Truck/RV

parking, High-speed Internet access, Bbq grills, Complimentary newspaper at front desk, Safe deposit box.

Bill Wiest Ranches Carmel, CA Phone: (831) 625-6777

Farms & Ranches

Brawley Inn Hotel & Conference Center Website: http://www.brawleyinn.com Phone: (760) 344-1199

Hotel: Amenities: Complimentary Hot Breakfast, Onsite Restaurant, Outdoor Pool, Airport

Transportation, Complimentary High-Speed Internet Access, Meeting/Conference Rooms, Banquet

Facilities, Event catering, Audio/Visual Equipment, Activity Desk Fitness, Center, Complimentary

Newspaper, 24-hour Front Desk, Business Center, Room Service (Limited), Cleaning Service, Laundry

facilities, Television (Lobby), Wake-up Calls, Guest Parking.

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. 126 South 3rd Street, EL Centro, CA Phone: (760) 352-1561 Website: http://www.coca-cola.com

Coca Cola Products Distribution: 3,500+ products worldwide. The Company's goal is to provide magic every

time someone drinks one of its more than 500 brands.

Community Valley Bank 310 Main Street, Brawley, CA

Phone: (760) 344-7771 Fax: (760) 351-2377 Website: http://www.yourcvb.com

Bank & Lending Institution: CVB was organized to deliver basic business banking products, primarily to

Imperial, Riverside and San Diego counties; headquarted in Imperial County; as the only locally owned,

locally managed community bank. We value our customers' input and suggestions on ways to improve our

products and our services. As market conditions and the economy changes, you can depend on Community

Valley Bank to adapt and respond promptly to your financial needs.

D’Arrigo Brothers Co. of California PO Box 239, Brawley, CA Phone: ((928) 726-6052 Fax: (760) 344-7691

Farms & Ranches

Cal-Grade Inc. 1610 East Main Street, Brawley, CA Email: calgrade@sbcglobal.net Phone: (760) 344-9500

Grading Services: Trucking, Sand and Gravel, Grading.

Claypool Distributing Company Website: http://www.claypooldistributing.com Phone: (760) 355-1166 Fax: (760) 355-0975

Beer & Liquor Distribution:

Coni Stokely Insurance Services 229 Main Street, Suite 111, Brawley, CA Email: coni@cssins.com

Phone: (760) 344-1700 Alt: (888) 966-1700 Website: http://www.cssins.com

Insurance Services: Providing quality and reliable services including employee benefits, life, home, disability, medi-

care supplements, long-term care, life insurance, Aflac supplemental benefits, individual health insurance

Developers Marketing Associates, Inc. 1415 West State Street, Suite B, El Centro, CA

Phone: (760) 550-3998 Alt: (760) 300-3215 Website: http://www.iv4sale.com

Real Estate: Garrett Thill, owner of Developers Marketing Associates in Imperial Valley, has built the

knowledge and experience to work with homebuyers and sellers to assist to in making the process

as personal and effortless as possible. He has worked in all aspects of the real estate industry including

project management of new home construction, lending, and real estate sales.

Five Crowns Marketing

Phone: (760) 344-1930 Website: http://www.fivecrowns.com

Produce: As a grower, packer, and shipper of fresh fruit and vegetables, Five Crowns Marketing is

passionate about their faith, family and the farm. They choose to work ethically and diligently to

grow, pack and ship quality product. They accomplish this through hard work and a commitment to

excellence. They have always been, and will always be, about relationships.

Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort 1500 Spa Road, Niland, CA Website: http://www.pmhd.org/Foundation/index.html

Phone: (760) 354-1340 Alt: (888) 800-0772

Spa RV Resort: Facility & Amenities include: Friendly & Helpful Staff ~ 2 large pool areas with 2 swimming

pools, a rejuvenating artesian mineral water hot spa, 3 fresh water hot spas, including an oversized

waterfall spa ~ His & Hers natural steam rooms ~ 4 spacious, clean restroom & shower facilities, plus 4

additional restrooms throughout resort and MORE!

Girl Scouts - Imperial Valley Service Center 1745 South Imperial Avenue, Suite 105, El Centro, CA

Phone: (760) 353-2840 Website: http://www.sdgirlscouts.org

Non-Profit Organization: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a

better place.

Imperial County Association of REALTORS® 1850 West Main Street, El Centro, CA Phone: (760) 352-6010 Website: http://www.icaor.com

REALTOR®: All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the

REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to

treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to

maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey

reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.

Imperial Valley Family Care Group 516 West Aten Road, Imperial, CA Phone: (760) 355-7730

MD Walk in Clinic: 1520 South Imperial Ave., El Centro

Mary Kay Klockmann, Family Nurse Practitioner: 608 G Street, Suite 1A, Brawley, CA

Healthcare: Family Medicine, Adult Care, Pediatric. Licensed physicians and physician assistants on duty: Walk In

Acute Care, Sport Physicals, Tdap Vaccines– Available, Flu Vaccines-Available, DMV/CDC Exams, EKG Services,

First Aid/Wound Care Services, Pulmonary Function Testing, Preventative Health Exams & Screening, Free Blood

Pressure Check, and more.

Jordan Central Implement 1280 East Main Street, Brawley, CA

Phone: (760) 344-3322 Website: http://www.jordanimplement.com

Tractor & Implement Parts, Repair, Service, Rental, and Sale: Sale or Rental of New & Used Equipment. Order

parts or have their certified technicians repair your equipment with very little down time, both in shop and 24-

hour field repairs available. They specialize in major overhaul, laser equipment repair, laser equipment repair,

irrigation pump units, and more...

KECY-TV, KESE-TV, and ABC 5 1560 Ocotillo Dr., Ste. G, El Centro, CA

Phone: (760) 336-2500 Website: http://www.myfox9online.com

Local TV: Your TV Family is the home of 4 local broadcast affiliate stations in the Desert Southwest.

They entertain areas including Yuma & Imperial counties with FOX 9, ABC 5, CW 6, and Telemundo 3.

Masters Construction 1610 East Main Street, Brawley, CA Phone: (760) 344-7400

Construction Company: New Commercial and Residential Construction. Remodels & Repairs.

Nielsen Construction 1745 South Imperial Avenue, Suite 105, El Centro, CA

Phone: (760) 353-2840 Website: http://www.nielsencc.com

Construction Company: Providing construction management and general contracting services

throughout Southern California. Industries served span education, hospitality, healthcare, public works,

redevelopment, and emerging industries such as alternative energy.

North County Coalition of Arts PO Box 1253, Brawley, CA Phone: (760) 344-2984 Website: http://www.nocca.org

Association: Bringing performing/visual arts and artists together with the diverse communities of Imperial

Valley; to educate, enlighten and inspire. We exist to specifically address the cultural needs of the northern

areas of Imperial County, while serving the entire Imperial Valley community.

Otis Kramer Ranch PO Box 192, Brawley, CA Phone: (760) 344-6690

Farms & Ranches

Prince & Associate Realtors Inc. 1503 N. Imperial Ave., Suite 101, El Centro, CA Phone: (760) 337-4022 Website: http://www.princerealtors.com

Realtors: Every one of their agents is a long time real estate professional in our unique community. Robert

Prince, Broker/CRB® has been actively involved in real estate for over 30 years. Their family owned business

is dedicated to providing clients with the best customer service available while breaking new ground in the

areas of customer service and information via the internet and other technological platforms.

Pro Record Storage & Shredding 508 Industry Way, Imperial, CA Phone: (760) 355-7998 Website: http://www.pro-records.com

Record Storage & Shredding: A group of professionals that can store all of your business records, give you

complete and managed access to all your data containers, provide convenient pickup and delivery on demand,

track and manage all your retrievable inventory utilizing a state-of-the-art computerized bar-coding software

system. You can be sure your records are safe and secure.

Spruce Farms LLC 4605 Highway 111, Brawley, CA Phone: (760) 344-1366

Farms & Ranches

Stills Electric PO Box 1245, Brawley, CA Phone: (760) 344-1089

Electrician

W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital 314 N. 8th St., Suite 2, El Centro, CA Phone: (760) 337-8100 Website: http://www.jpotts.com

Mortgage Loans: In partnering with CalPacific, W.J. Bradley has the best of boutique brokerage and the best of

the national lenders to become one unique boutique lender. This merger provides the strength and stability

of a national company, while allowing us to retain our special interest in Southern California.

William Brandt Ranches Farms & Ranches & Livestock PO Box 118, Brawley, CA Phone: (760) 344-3430

Join us for our next Chamber Mixer

Thursday, May 23, 2013 5:30 - 7:00pm

Brawley Inn Hotel & Conference Center

575 West Main Street, Brawley

Bring your Business Card & Enter

for your chance to be Business of the

Month which includes a month

advertisement on our website!

Page 9 Issue 4

Brawley Chamber of Commerce May 2013 Newsletter

www.brawleychamber.com

April Chamber Mixer

Brawley Chamber of Commerce

204 South Imperial Ave. ~ P.O. Box 218 ~ Brawley, CA 92227

Phone: (760) 344-3160 ~ Fax: (760) 344-7611 ~ Email: Katie@brawleychamber.com

Thank You To Our Chamber Partners

Advanced Meter Update Photo

By: T

he D

ese

rt Revie

w

Thank you to all of our

Gift Sponsors

And to all who attended

Once your advanced meter has been installed and verified that the

read is accurate, you can access your information in several ways. The

easiest way is online through My Account. If you’re not yet one of the

nearly two million customers who already enjoy the convenience of the

online billing, payment and service offerings of My Account, sign up now.

You’ll have access to view hourly, daily and weekly gas usage, as well as up

to 13 months of monthly data (depending on how long you’ve been

enrolled in My Account). By better understanding how much gas you’re

using and when, you can better identify ways to save. With a few easy

steps, you can personalize the data that comes from the advanced meter

to create an action plan to save. By adding the square footage of your

home, the number of people who live there, and your aptitude for

handiwork around the house, you can set a goal to save. With the online

tools, you can discover how much you can save -- in both dollars and

energy -- by changing your habits or making

modifications to your home. This can range from

reducing your thermostat to weatherizing your

home. Find all sorts of ways to make a positive

impact on both your budget and the environment.