How California small businesses can save money with free energy assessments and rebates to upgrade HVAC, appliances, lighting, and more are among the topics of this week’s free webinar presented by the Small Business Development Center at CSU Bakersfield.
Host and SBDC director, Kelly Bearden is joined by Nancy Robles, bilingual sustainability consultant with Environmental Innovations, Inc. Robles discusses how she helps businesses in Kern and Fresno counties to save money through energy assessments, and rebates to upgrade HVAC, appliances and lighting.
Kelly Bearden is also joined by economist Mark Evans, emeritus professor from CSUB. Dr. Evans provides a monetary policy update, and discusses the contributions of this year’s Nobel economics prize winner, Claudia Goldin, and her research on gender pay gap in the workplace.
This marks the 294th episode of the weekly “Webinar Wednesday” business series that provides news and information helpful to employers and business owners.
The CSU Bakersfield SBDC provides free one-on-one consulting to help small business owners. New and existing businesses can go to www.csubsbdc.com for more information or to sign up for assistance.
TIMESTAMPS: Links in bold blue below are where Nancy Robles speaks about energy assessments, and Dr. Evans talks about monetary policy and Claudia Goldin.
00:00 Intro
00:42 What’s up today October 11, 2023
02:24 Poll question #1: “How many children does the Nobel prize economics winner have?”
05:06 Capital Corridor: Debt ceiling for small businesses – factors that can limit your ability to raise capital
07:34 Kelly introduces Dr. Mark Evans, our Webinar Wednesday resident economist
08:18 Dr. Evans begins to speak on: Monetary Policy Update & Nobel Economics Prize, 2023
08:25 FOMC statement, September 20-21 meeting
09:52 Long-term rates after Fed’s Statement
12:13 Claudia Goldin Nobel Prize in Economics, 2023 https://www.npr.org/2023/10/09/1204620268/nobel-prize-economics-claudia-...
13:03 Goldin: What explains today’s gender gap?
15:22 “Greedy” work
16:54 Pharmacists versus attorneys
18:19 Goldin: research methods & themes
20:45 Kelly rejoins Dr. Evans
20:57 Kelly and Dr. Evans discuss: Cumulative number of small business bankruptcies each year
23:03 Bakersfield Foodservice Management Program https://extended.csub.edu/programs/bakersfield-foodservice-management-pr...
24:19 Community Calendar: Oct. 26 Small Business Expo, Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce
24:45 Want to run a day care business? $1,000 start-up grants
26:37 FREE HR Hotline phone numbers for employers by county in CA
26:57 Small Business Credit Survey Link: https://fedreserveboard.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PKWyQfbGKeIL3g?o...
27:59 How to give us feedback on today's webinar
28:29 On Demand Webinar: All About Economic Injury Disaster Loans https://youtu.be/PKZNfdEnZc0
29:42 Business Security Improvements Grant Program https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/1118/Business-Security-Improvements-Grant
30:18 Kelly introduces today’s special guest: Nancy Robles, bilingual sustainability consultant with Environmental Innovations, Inc.
31:23 Nancy Robles begins her presentation: Green Business Program
31:59 California Green Business Network https://greenbusinessca.org/
32:47 What Makes a Green Business?
35:17 Industry Sectors Served
36:35 Why Our Businesses Get Certified
39:33 PG&E’s Simplified Savings Program https://simplifiedsavingsprogram.com/
40:47 Direct Install Measures
42:04 Contact information for Nancy Robles and QR codes
42:47 Kelly rejoins Nancy for discussion, and Questions & Answers with attendees
47:32 A businessman’s life well lived – Charles Feeney
