News

LEAF Awards 2024 Scholarships

Eight green industry students receive 2024 scholarships. MORE >>

Prevent Cal/OSHA Heat Citations

As temperatures soar this summer, Cal/OSHA safety inspectors will be blanketing California to ensure that job sites are complying with “high heat” procedures to protect outdoor workers. MORE >>

Good News From Snow Survey, but Water Questions Loom

Although the “snow shoes required” warning for dignitaries attending the state’s April snow survey was good news, questions about the scope of the Spring run-off and the future of new California Water Plan Update 2023 raised longer-term concerns. MORE>>

Moving Forward

How do members of the California Landscape Contractors Association want to move forward as an association? Where do we want to be in 10 years? CLCA 2024 President Tom Sweeney, CWM, provides an update. MORE>>

Conflict Management Webinar May 30

Looking to grow your business? Learn with CLCA and gain the information you need to connect with success. Upcoming webinars include Communicate Like A Leader and Conflict Management: How to Have Fierce and Crucial Conversations. MORE >>

New Year, New President, New Board

President Tom Sweeney, Board of Directors Assume Office MORE >>

CLCA Updates Legal Contacts for 2024

New year, new laws, new changes to CLCA’s legal contracts. MORE >>

Convention 2023: Find Solutions at the Breakfast of Champions

The Breakfast of Champions, roundtable discussions that are short, concise and practical, full of valuable information you can immediately put to use. During this fast-paced discussions, you can table hop to broaden your scope, or focus on one specific challenge for your company. MORE>

Join CLCA November 10

All members are invited to attend the 2023 General Membership Meeting. President Evan Moffitt will update attendees on the state of the association, and then open the floor to questions and input from members of the audience. Voting will follow. MORE>

CLCA Celebrates a Successful Legislative Action Conference!

The California Landscape Contractors Association’s advocacy efforts were in full swing April 11-12 for the 2023 CLCA Legislative Action Conference. MORE >>

CLCA Honors Distinguished Members

Heath Bedal and Steve Jacobs win CLCA 2022 Allegiance Award, the association’s most prestigious honor. Alex Salazar and Mike Madewell were named Members of the Year. MORE>>

Join CLCA Feb. 9 at the Nor Cal Landscape & Nursery Show

This February, it’s time to sharpen your skills, update your professional licenses, check out some new equipment and see what new varieties of plant material are coming onto the market. Here’s your chance — for one action-packed day on Thursday, February 9, 2023 set your sights on the Nor Cal Landscape & Nursery Show at the San Mateo Event Center and bring your staff! MORE >>

At Equip Expo, CLCA Leaders to Address Transition to Zero Emission Equipment

Equip Expo is America’s largest green industry trade show, and the ideal platform for CLCA leaders and distinguished members to share their expertise about a fundamentals shift in the marketplace: The 2024 transition from gasoline-powered equipment to battery power. MORE >>

Webinar: New Drought Regulations

As California’s hotter summer months approach, policymakers throughout the state are implementing water restrictions. View this free industry webinar to learn what you need to know, right now. MORE >>

Cal/OSHA Once Again Updates COVID Guidelines

When new Cal/OSHA COVID guidelines took effect on May 6, green industry employers no longer had to take vaccination status into account when setting policies or quarantine asymptomatic exposed employees. They will, however, have to carefully check local ordinances. MORE >>

Let’s Engage!

This year, 2022, seems to be going by amazingly fast. As CLCA President Megan Rios notes, winter has passed. Spring is in the air. Many CLCA chapters are getting back to in-person meetings, a significant step to connect newer and long-time members. MORE>

New Bills Emerge Impacting How We Do Business

Our bill introduction deadline has come and gone and 2022 has 2,130 legislative bills pending in the State Assembly and State Senate. Of those, 128 are currently being tracked for CLCA. MORE>

Air Resources Board Mandates 2024 Phase Out of Gas-Powered Landscape Equipment

The California Air Resources Board voted to update California’s Small Off-Road Engine Regulations on December 10, effectively banning the sale of gas-powered equipment using small off-road engines (SORE), which includes all lawn and landscape equipment in 2024. MORE>>

Delay Zero Emission Equipment Transition, CLCA Tells California Air Resources Board

CLCA’s solution? Extend the time period to transition to zero emission commercial/professional grade equipment to 2028, but maintain the 2024 end-of-sale date for zero emission for residential users. MORE>>

CLCA Works for Responsible Transition to Zero-Emission

How can green industry professionals balance their commitment to be stewards of the environment while maintaining financial viability? MORE>>

Goodbye, Gas-Powered Landscape Equipment?

Gov. Newsom signed a law that orders state regulators to ban the sale of new gas-powered equipment using small off-road engines, which includes all lawn and landscape equipment, as early as 2024. MORE >>

Good News for Disposers of Treated Wood Waste

Good news for landscape contractors storing a growing pile of treated wood waste in their corporate yards. MORE >>

Popular External Hard Drives At Risk

Do you store valuable data or important backups on one of Western Digital’s extremely popular My Book external hard drives? MORE >>

California Re-Opens on June 15: To Mask, Or Not To Mask?

Masks? No masks? What about mandatory vaccinations? Social distancing? How many workers can travel together in a work vehicle? When Gov. Newsom declares the state reopened on June 15, how exactly are employers suppose to answer these questions for their workers? MORE >>

Follow Stricter Cal/OSHA Mask Requirements

Even though state and federal public health officials have aligned their guidance regarding face coverings for people who are vaccinated, CLCA strongly encourages employers to continue to follow stricter Cal/OSHA standards. MORE >>

CLCA Survey: Got Drought?

Although Gov. Newsom didn’t come right out and say it while making a drought emergency declaration in two northern counties last month, California statewide remains vulnerable to drought. MORE >>

What To Do With Treated Wood Waste?

Good news for landscape contractors storing a growing pile of treated wood waste in their corporate yards. MORE >>

CLCA Supports Water Conservation Showcase

Seeking an opportunity to showcase its nationally recognized Water Management Certification program and the association’s support for the responsible use of water, CLCA has partnered with the influential Water Conservation Showcase. MORE >>

Additional COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Mandated

A full-time employee who works for a company with more than 25 employees is now entitled to 80 additional hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, retroactive to January 1, 2021. MORE >>

Jay Martinez Joins CLCA Board of Directors

Jay Martinez, a CLCA award-winning landscape contractor and Founder/President of Sacramento’s JVM Landscape Construction, Inc., has joined the CLCA Board of Directors as 2021 Director of Legislation. MORE >>

Your PPP Loan + Business Deductions = IRS Issues

Did your company receive a Paycheck Protection Program loan? Did you apply for, or receive, loan forgiveness? When you prepare your 2020 tax return, do you plan on claiming a deduction for business expenses funded by the PPP loan? MORE >>

New COVID Workplace Rules Unveiled

Cal/OSHA’s recently approved emergency regulations to protect workers from COVID-19 hazards means changes to your workplace. For violations, inspectors can – and will – shut down an entire worksite. MORE >>

Free Harassment Prevention Training Offered

A state agency is offering free on-line harassment training webinars in English and Spanish for employers who have yet to comply with a looming deadline. MORE >>

CLCA Responds to COVID-19

With advocacy, action on upcoming events and a Company/HR information portal, the California Landscape Contractors Association is taking action to help you survive the coronavirus pandemic. MORE >>

Why We’re Essential During COVID

Bruce Dennis explains how CLCA was essential in helping green industry professionals continue to work as COVID shut down the state earlier this year, and notes that now, more than ever, being a member of CLCA can be crucial to our success. MORE >>

Protect Workers from Unhealthy Air

Protect workers from unhealthy air: Cal/OSHA mandates worker training, respiratory protective equipment. MORE >>

CLCA Leaders Kick Off 2020 with the Leadership Conference

Changing it up a bit with a day and a half event on January 28 and 29, CLCA state and chapter leaders gathered in Sacramento for the association’s annual Leadership Conference. MORE >>

Independent Contractor or Employee? Answer Correctly to Avoid Devastating Fines, Lawsuits

Are your independent contractors now employees? Answer this question wrong, and your company could face significant fines and penalties. MORE >>

Time To Roll Up Our Sleeves and Get To Work, 2020 President Regan Barry Says

“I am looking forward to digging in, pun intended, to my new position,” says 2020 President Regan Barry. MORE >>

Air Resources Board: Know Your Clean-Air Requirements

Failure to heed these requirements could result in significant fines and penalties. Here’s what you need to know to stay in compliance. MORE >>

In Memory: Tom DeLany, Mary Lyngso and Frank Dell

With much sadness, we report the passing of long-time CLCA members Tom DeLany, Mary Lyngso and Frank Dell Tom DeLany, ACLS, Inc. In addition to serving

Request For Proposals: Green Industry Education Workshops

The California Landscape Contractors Association is looking for a high-energy speaker to present a series of green industry business development workshops statewide. MORE >>

CLCA Capitol Delegation Educates Lawmakers

Supporting water conservation, combatting the underground economy and getting ahead of blower bans topped the agenda when members of the CLCA Legislation Committee visited lawmakers at the state capitol in mid-April. MORE >>

Social Security Administration Sending More ‘No Match’ Letters This Year

The Social Security Administration is sending more ‘No Match’ letters this year. What steps should you take if you receive one? MORE >>

Recycle Your Green Waste Or Else

An increasing number of cities are threatening to fine landscape companies that are not complying with a 2014 California law mandating increased recycling of landscape and pruning waste. MORE >>

Last Landscape Industry Certification Hands-On Test Successful

The CLCA Certification Committee celebrated the last hands-on Landscape Industry Certified Technician test in California April 6. The test was held at Cuyamaca College in San Diego, CA. MORE >>

New Foothill College Horticultural Training Site Honors Gachinas

After noting that there is a big difference between a classroom environment and actually working in the field of horticulture, long-time CLCA member and college instructor Frank Niccoli led the February 21 dedication of a new certificate program and hands-on horticultural training site at Foothill College. The site is named in honor of the late John Gachina and his wife Jaclyn Ishimaru Gachina, two long-time supporters of green industry education. MORE >>

Burns Elected President Of California Landscape Contractors Association

Elizabeth Burns of Zone 24 Landscaping, Inc. has been elected 2019 President of the California Landscape Contractors Association. MORE >>

Mike Baron Wins 2018 Allegiance Award, CLCA’s Top Honor

In recognition of his years of service and leadership, the California Landscape Contractors Association has presented Mike Baron with its Allegiance Award, the association’s most prestigious honor. MORE >>

We Have Lift-Off! New Website Launched

Same great association, but snazzy new website. Built to be very fast, and very secure. Click a few links — we think you’ll enjoy what you find. MORE >>

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