Following the release of the Council of Business Association’s (COBA) proposal for an increase in Long Beach’s minimum wage, the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) Board of Directors announced Wednesday that the organization has joined the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the Belmont Shore Business Association (BSBA), the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Area (BKBIA), the 4th Street Business Association, the East Anaheim Street Business Alliance (EASB) and the Magnolia Industrial Group in support of COBA’s recommendations.

“The DLBA and its partners are proud and honored to have been a part of the effort that encouraged the business community to have a single unified voice in this pertinent issue to discuss with everyone,” stated Kraig Kojian, President and CEO of the DLBA. “This proposal is one that takes into account all aspects of our community while utilizing empirical data and engaging in an inclusive process that leads to what [we] believe is a middle-of-the-road approach.”

COBA, a business resource center and an alliance of local business associations, improvement districts and stakeholders, met in December to review this report,  sponsored by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and the DLBA, and came to an agreement to move forward with the following proposal:

• $12.50 per hour minimum wage (compensation includes paid benefits such as health care and paid time off, including state-mandated sick days, but not tipped employees) to be implemented over a five-year period.
• One year delay on implementation for business with 25 or fewer employees
• Two year delay on implementation for 501(c)3 non-profits
• Youth wage for 21 years old and younger would be paid at State of California minimum wage

For more information about COBA’s proposal, click here. For background information regarding the initial deliberation, click here.

COBA will formally present its proposal to the Economic Development Commission (EDC) during Wednesday’s meeting at City Hall at 6:00PM, according to the release.