Sacramento, C.A. – On Tuesday May 30, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) honored the work of Orinda Motors, Inc. (Orinda) as the 14th Assembly District’s 2006 Small Business of the Year. The 2006 California Small Business Day was convened by the California Small Business Association, where legislators from both the State Assembly and Senate recognized the contributions of small businesses throughout California.

Located in Orinda Village, and still housed in its original building (one of the oldest buildings in Orinda), Orinda Motors has been serving the community with all of its automotive needs since 1925. Under its current owner, Allen Pennebaker, Orinda Motors has achieved almost every possible recognition for excellence available to an automotive business. With a strong commitment to responsible business practices and protecting the environment, Orinda Motors takes particular pride in being one of the first businesses in Orinda to be certified as a “Green Business” by the Bay Area Green Business Program.

In addition to his work as owner of Orinda Motors, Allen Pennebaker, a long-time resident and businessman in Orinda, writes a column for the Orinda News and serves on the Board of Directors for the Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA), a statewide organization of independent automotive repair businesses. Through his work with ASCCA, Pennebaker has been instrumental in encouraging the organization to support agencies throughout California that are implementing projects modeled on the Green Business Program.

"Residents of the East Bay are extremely conscientious about the environment and it is important for us to recognize the businesses that incorporate sustainable practices into their day-to-day operations. I am extremely pleased that I have businesses in my district that can provide excellent business models that others can emulate," said Hancock.

On May 25, 2000 the Assembly of the State of California under House Resolution No. 57 recognized the importance of small businesses to the economy of this state declared the final Wednesday in May each year as California Small Business Day.