As the cost of just about everything continues to rise, one of the added values of Chamber membership is the ability to escape into the world of movie magic at discounted prices. In partnership with Krikorian Theatres the Redlands Chamber offers discounted tickets to members providing substantial savings when it’s time to go to the movies.

Whether the tickets are used for personal enjoyment or as an incentive for customers or employees, they are a terrific reward for a job well done or a gift for customer loyalty.

Tickets are available at the Chamber office for members only during normal office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM (closed 12 –1). Each ticket is $8.00 each (Cash or Check Only Please). For large orders call in advance to insure there are adequate tickets available. (909) 793-2546

Discounted movie tickets; another benefit of chamber membership!!

Small Businesses may be eligible for tax credits

If you are a small business owner that provides health insurance coverage to your employees and you pay at least half of the insurance premiums at the single (employee-only) coverage rate, then you may be eligible to claim the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.

Eligibility Rules

• Providing health care coverage. A qualifying employer must cover at least 50 percent of the cost of health care coverage for some of its workers based on the single rate.
• Firm size. A qualifying employer must have less than the equivalent of 25 full-time workers (for example, an employer with fewer than 50 half-time workers may be eligible).
• Average annual wage. A qualifying employer must pay average annual wages below $50,000.
• Both taxable (for profit) and tax-exempt firms qualify.

Amount of Credit

• Maximum Amount. On Jan. 1, 2014, the rate increases to 50 percent (35 percent for tax-exempt employers).
• Phase-out. The credit phases out gradually for firms with average wages between $25,000 and $50,000 and for firms with the equivalent of between 10 and 25 full-time workers.

Claiming the Credit
Small employers will use new Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums, to calculate the small business health care tax credit. Small businesses will include the amount of the credit as part of the general business credit on their income tax returns

Storage West…it’s best in the west….

Storage West is committed to providing you with a quality storage experience.  They are self-storage professionals that care about you and what you are storing. As part of their commitment their valued customer, they have annual in depth training conferences to help their managers be the best in the industry. During these annual conferences they honor those managers that exemplify their commitment to your quality storage experience.

If you are looking for a quality storage company with caring committed managers, look no further than Storage West Self Storage!

Brina and Mike Limon, the managers of Storage West Redlands, at 1680 W. Redlands Blvd., are ever ready to assist in all your storage needs.

The facility boasts air-conditioned units with security lights and cameras to insure you safety at all times. The website offers storage tips, community blogs and quick access to management.

Whether you need a large “closet” or storage facility large enough to accommodate a four bedroom house full of furniture or a secure location for your boat or RV, the team at Storage West can guide you through your storage requirements.

Each of the storage facilities sells moving boxes and packing supplies on site including; Bubble Wrap, Paper Mats, Wrapping Paper, Heavy Duty Tape, Mattress Bags, Sofa Covers, Custom Glass Packing Kits, Custom Dish Packing Kits, Rope, And Much More!

Storage West Self Storage is a regional storage company committed to providing a quality storage experience in local communities. When you’ve run out of room at home or office Storage West Self Storage is ready to help with whatever your needs demand.

When it’s time for you to make the move, call the friendly staff at Storage West today, 909 792-5761 or visit the website at www.storagewest.com/redlands.

Community Home Energy Retrofit Project (CHERP)-Redlands had its first community outreach meeting on April 10. Over 100 residents, business owners and building trade contractors attended. In a nutshell, CHERP-Redlands is a community volunteer driven effort to educate homeowners and contractors about three things: the benefits (home comfort and financial) of completing energy efficiency retrofits on your home; the financing resources available; and the “how to” of performing a retrofit.

CHERP-Redlands is modeled on a very successful and ongoing program in Claremont , http://www.claremontenergy.org/, that set a goal of retrofitting just 1 percent of their homes (130 homes). They have already surpassed that target and are picking up speed to help even more homeowners save money on their electric bills and put dozens of people to work performing a whole variety of home energy retrofits. Here are just a few facts on what’s already been done in Claremont: $2.5 million invested in community real estate, dozens of local construction jobs, $600,000 in utility and state rebates funneled into the community, 27 percent average reduction in energy bills today, an amount that will only reap greater benefits going forward as energy prices continue to climb. These retrofitted homes are eligible for “green rating” as well, which is proving to increase property values by 9 percent relative to a similar house that has not been retrofitted.

CHERP-Redlands can do better and therefore have an even greater impact on our local economy. But to do so means that both  homeowners and contractors need to become better informed about the energy efficiency opportunity and better skilled at determining the retrofit work needed and then performing it properly. In fact during the April 10 kickoff meeting, knowing how to select a contractor that could really do the job – the whole job – was the biggest concern expressed by residents. That is where the Redlands business and contractor communities have to really step up and get engaged in this great opportunity. Many contractors and suppliers are specialized in just one piece of energy efficiency retrofit, for example windows, insulation, or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Each of these may be part of the solution for an individual homeowner, but for the best results it is essential to start with a whole house energy audit. Using the results of the audit in consultation with a contractor who understands the sequencing of home energy improvements can help customers get the best return on their investment. As a contractor or supplier, you will have much happier customers who will come back for more work or refer you to their friends. So if you don’t offer a complete range of energy efficiency services, learn more about this approach and team up with colleagues as part of a trusted team. The Claremont website mentioned above is a good place to start your research on a holistic approach to home energy retrofit.

As part of a holistic or team approach, local contractors should be able to diagnose and fix or provide the following 13 system measures:

1. Last 12 month energy bill disaggregation and analysis
2. Building envelope leakage levels and causes
3. Duct leakage
4. Evidence of moisture and/or mold
5. Existing HVAC air flow, static pressure, and efficiency (unless you plan on      complete replacement)
6. Carbon Monoxide levels
7. Attic Insulation levels
8. Wall  Insulation levels
9. Solar PV options
10. Window repair and/or replacement options
11. Major appliance and phantom load savings opportunities
12. Interior water-saving opportunities
13. Green Point Rating opportunity analysis

Contractors should be able to provide or work as a team to repair or replace any or all of these 13 systems in order to achieve maximum energy savings, as well as optimal comfort and health levels from the total, system-wide performance, of each system relative to the other, and relative to dollars spent.

Part of CHERP’s mission is to support the definition and creation of an Ultimate Class of Home Performance Contractors for two reasons:

1. To      protect the public from, a. The opportunity costs of not being told of all      the potential benefits that could accrue to them by maximizing the      efficiency of all the interrelated energy systems in their home, and from,      b.  Sub-optimal levels of installation procedures and performance      outcomes in this highly technical field.
2. To      assist in creating a working definition of excellence for becoming  a      best-of-class contractor in the industry and helping to support those      contractors in becoming role models for other contractors looking to enter      the field and to improve their existing levels of competence and business      opportunity. We need thousands of highly-skilled and successful      contractors doing energy retrofit work to meet our state and national      goals.

In short order a CHERP-Redlands website will be up. We want to use it to provide information specific to Redlands, including identification of local contractors who have the skills and expertise needed. I hope all of our local businesses that can play a role in the success of CHERP-Redlands engage with the program as soon as possible.