PRESS RELEASE: ASSEMBLYMAN GATTO HONORS BEACHWOOD CANYON RESIDENT MEG GILL, OWNER OF ATWATER VILLAGE’S GOLDEN ROAD BREWERY AS SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Earlier this week, it was awesome to honor Meg Gill, of Golden Road Brewery, as our district's Small Business of the Year!

ASSEMBLYMAN GATTO HONORS BEACHWOOD CANYON RESIDENT MEG GILL, OWNER OF ATWATER VILLAGE’S GOLDEN ROAD BREWERY AS SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Sacramento, CA – Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) honored local business owner Meg Gill and Atwater Village’s Golden Road Brewery on Monday, June 16, 2014 at the California Small Business Day Awards Ceremony in Sacramento.  The annual awards ceremony honors the contributions of small businesses to the State of California. 

“Meg Gill and Golden Road Brewery are an inspiration to us all,” said Assemblyman Gatto.  “Her entrepreneurship creates jobs and helps other young women to believe that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.”

Meg Gill, the co-founder of the Golden Road Brewery, was nominated by Assemblyman Gatto for her tireless dedication to building a successful small business that gives back to the community as much as it takes.  At 28-years-old, Gill is the youngest female brewery owner in the country, was recently named to Forbes magazine’s 30-under-30, and her brewery is the largest craft brewery in Los Angeles County.  But more importantly, in addition to building a vibrant small business, Gill and Golden Road co-founder Tony Yanow have also remained focused on building a vibrant Los Angeles.

"We're incredibly grateful for the support we've received from Assemblyman Gatto and the city of Los Angeles to help us, and fellow breweries, cultivate and drive demand for craft beer and its community-driven culture,” said Gill.  “In under three years, Golden Road has grown to more than 150 employees and brings 20,000+ visitors a week to our restaurant and pub.  Being recognized as the Small Business of the Year will help us continue to foster our commitment to local organizations such as Heal the Bay and the Greenway 2020 project.”

Founded in 2011, Golden Road Brewery produces and distributes its beers using environmentally sustainable production methods, and utilize their restaurant and brewery to create meaningful contributions to the community.  They have partnered with local nonprofit organizations, including Heal the Bay and the Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation, to help support socially- and environmentally-minded projects such as producing a specific craft beer called the Greenway IPA to support the Los Angeles River Greenway 2020 project. 

“Local businesses and their owners are the backbone of a strong local and state economy,” said Gatto.  “It is important that we recognize these businesses for their innovative and positive contributions to our neighborhoods and economy.”

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee in the California State Assembly.  He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, and Silver Lake.  www.asm.ca.gov/gatto 

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Gatto Establishes New Small Business Commission

Photo Courtesy of  freedigitalphotos.net

Last Saturday I met with eight local small business owners from throughout the 43rd Assembly District as part of the first Small Business Advisory Commission meeting.  Highlights from Mary O'Keefe's article about the meeting for the Crescenta Valley Weekly are below:

...On Saturday, small business owners sat down with Assemblymember Mike Gatto to discuss how Sacramento can help entrepreneurs navigate the business waters, either by creating new laws, or guidelines, or in some cases leaving them alone to do their job. 

The members are part of Gatto’s Small Business Advisory Commission and were present at the request of the assemblymember. 

The commission is comprised of business owners from a variety of business segments, from real estate to medical care, and from the film industry to construction. All members had one thing in common: they own a small business and are concerned about how to stay afloat in this economy. 

Gatto said he wants the commission to make proposals and share concerns that he can then take to Sacramento. He feels this will be a positive step in strengthening small businesses in the state. 

“As lawmakers, we have a sacred duty to listen to the needs and concerns of those who help our communities thrive, and to do what we can to support them,” Gatto said.... 

...“This is the first time we have done this,” Gatto said of the commission. “I wanted to make sure I got input from people who are on the front line.” 

During the meeting, nine new legislative proposals were suggested as well as some laws that should be reexamined and perhaps repealed...

You can read the entire article and more at the Crescenta Valley Weekly HERE

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto