Local Buzz

Made in Ontario: AmPac Business Capital

The "Made in Ontario" Series provides our community an opportunity to get to know the businesses and organizations that call Ontario home. In its most recent highlight, Hilda Kennedy, Founder/President of AmPac Business Capital, and Brian Kennedy, Entrepreneur Ecosystem Executive Director, participated.

For more information about AmPac Business Capital, visit www.ampac.com.

A Day in the Life of the Ontario Convention Center Executive Chef

Daly Cruz, executive chef of Ontario Convention Center (OCC) and Toyota Arena, started working in the culinary field at 14 as a dishwasher. At the end of every shift, Cruz found himself staying extra hours to observe the restaurant’s chef, learning about food and the different ways it could be prepared. Today, Cruz turns to food as a way of showing love and entertaining his family and friends, and living out his passion for cooking as executive chef of OCC and Toyota Arena in Southern California... continue reading.

Downtown Ontario Retail Pop-up Program

The City of Ontario is looking for two qualified businesses looking to grow into brick-and-mortar stores to participate in the Downtown Ontario Retail Pop-up Program. Qualified applicants will be offered a short-term rental of City-owned commercial tenant space for $1.00 a month for up to six (6) months in the heart of downtown. 

For detailed program guidelines and the application, click here.

Mixed-Use Development Breaks Ground in Downtown Ontario

On October 7, the City and developers, Hutton Companies, and Kendrew Development held the official groundbreaking ceremony of the C-Block Mixed-Use Project, located on Euclid Avenue and Lemon Street. This significant milestone project is one of many efforts to revitalize downtown and bring much-needed housing and new commercial space. The project will consist of approximately 5,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial retail and service space and 144 market-rate housing units. On-site construction is slated to begin in the next few weeks. Stay tuned as this development unfolds!

2023 State of the City

Mark your calendars for State of the City 2023!

The City of Ontario is proud to highlight its latest development projects, thriving logistics sector, and new public amenities. The 2023 State of the City Business Address will take place at the Ontario Convention Center on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 5:00 PM. It will be followed by a community event at Ontario Town Square on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 1:00 PM. This event is the perfect opportunity for businesses and stakeholders to learn why Ontario is the ideal place to thrive, underlining it as the Premier Community of the Inland Empire.

Keep an eye out for more information in the coming months!

Industry Alerts

Ontario Integrated Waste Commercial Trash & Recycling Updates

The newest quarterly Public Works Integrated Waste Newsletter is out, and it is packed with updates on trash, recycling, and organic waste collection! Important updates include:

• Holiday Refuse & Recycling Schedule
• Organic Waste Collection Requirements (SB 1383)
• Recycling Requirements (AB 341)

To view the entire newsletter and to learn more about refuse and recycling, click here.

Ontario Commercial Sign Abatement Program

Beginning January 1, 2023, Ontario's Community Improvement Department will address unpermitted and prohibited signage throughout the City. All business owners and landowners are responsible for ensuring that all signs meet the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Ontario Development Code.

Examples of these types of signs include, but are not limited to:

To view Chapter 8.0 Sign Regulations of the Ontario Development Code, click here.

Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) License Fee Waivers

ABC reminds licensees with on-sale privileges to check if they are eligible for Renewal Fee Waivers.

ABC was approved to provide fee waivers for two years to approximately 59,000 businesses heavily impacted by health and safety restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Restaurants, bars, and other specified licensees with on-sale privileges are eligible for fee waivers of licenses with expiration dates between March 1, 2021, and February 28, 2023.

California Employee Harassment Training Requirement

Effective January 1, 2019, California businesses with five or more employees must provide harassment prevention training every two years (SB 1343). San Bernardino County Workforce Development and America's Job Center of California have partnered with the California Employers Association to help with online Harassment Prevention Training to meet the State's legal requirements.

Participants will learn to recognize problems and their responsibility in preventing harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and abusive conduct. Topics include reporting, bystander intervention, and practical tips on keeping the workplace harassment-free.

December 15, 2022, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Online

Resources & Funding

Downtown Ontario Façade Improvement Program

Are you a business or property owner within the Downtown Ontario Improvement Association (DOIA) jurisdiction? Are you interested in revamping the frontage of your building?

The City’s Downtown Façade Improvement Program is here to help! This federally funded program offers business owners up to $25,000 of grant money for exterior improvements to their building, such as paint, windows, awnings, and signage. This reimbursement-based program is a one-to-one match meaning that whatever is invested by the business or property owner will be matched by the City up to $25,000. 

For more information, please email OntarioEDA@ontarioca.gov.

The California Dream Fund is a one-time $35 million grant program to seed entrepreneurship and small business creation in California. New entrepreneurs and small business owners will complete a training program through select participating centers of the Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP). After completing the training and consulting program, new businesses will be eligible to apply for a micro-grant of up to $10,000.

For more information about the California Dream Fund, click here.

Available Properties

For questions or comments, please contact the City of Ontario Economic Development Department at (909) 395-2005 or OntarioEDA@OntarioCA.gov.

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