From the LA Times, By Chris Megerian and Eli Stokols; Times staff writer Sarah D. Wire contributed to this report.

Join us for our virtual networking Luncheon Alliance on Wednesday May 5th at 11:30am and Connection Breakfast Thursday, May 13th at 8am. (Sorry, because of the calendar, the events are on back-to-back days.)

Mixed Roots Enterprises sponsors the May lunch. Marketing guru Craig Valine and Enhanced Marketing Performance sponsors May's breakfast.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund program website is live with both 

Free Online Event: Dr. Ian Oxnevad Presents Remaking California to be More Business Friendly: What's Gone Wrong? What Can Be Done to Fix It? April, 28, 2021 at 2pm via ZOOM.

Pasadena Chamber Presents Exclusive Presentation for Pasadena Business Community

As companies reopen their offices, they are deciding how the virtual work arrangements they’ve relied on during the pandemic will factor into their long-term plans — or not.

By ANNE MARIE CHAKER

After playing a softball game earlier this month, Kevin Carlson, a Washington, D.C., real-estate agent, was introduced to a teammate’s friend as they walked off the field.

Final Round of COVID-19 Relief Grants from the State of California: The final round of the State of California's COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will open on April 28th and close on May 4th. This final round will accept new applications. Grant award amounts will be between $5,000 - $25,000.

The California Restaurant Foundation launched a new Restaurant Resilience Grant Program.  SoCalGas, PG&E and SDG&E all contributed (and our goal is to find more donors so we can help more restaurants/in other areas).  But for now, small, independently owned restaurants in LA County may qualify for a $3,500 grant.  

From the LA Times: 

How to boost mental health at your workplace

Rose Wong For The Times 

By Rachel Schnalzer

The stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic have led many employees to look to their managers for support — with mixed results. Ultimately, though, the pandemic may result in more awareness of the importance of mental health care.

From the New York Times: The Biden administration proposed a significant expansion of federal spending Friday, asking Congress to bolster funding by 16% for domestic programs including education, health research and fighting climate change as it tries to harness the government’s power to reverse what officials called a decade of underinvestment in the nation’s most pressing issues.