News

The Italian Commerce Association (IT-COMM) is proud to welcome La Piccola Scuola as its newest member and is excited to announce that La Piccola Scuola will be open for business in September in Santa Rosa, using the Reggio Emilia approach to teach Italian to children 3 to 14 years.

A World-Renowned Approach. A Foundation for Life.

The Reggio Emilia philosophy—born in Italy and celebrated around the world—is more than a philosophy; it is a way of seeing children as strong, capable, and full of potential. It has been studied by top universities, respected by global educators, and implemented in some of the most innovative early learning programs across continents.

Children in Reggio-inspired environments are not just given worksheets—they are given the world: real materials, deep questions, and space to think, build, express, and collaborate. It is an approach that values intellect and imagination equally, honoring each child’s unique rhythm and voice.

And we take the time to listen to that voice.

At our Italian heritage enrichment program, your child is nurtured by this philosophy. With roots in Italy and eyes on the future, we provide the kind of learning that builds confident thinkers, empathetic communicators, and creative problem-solvers—the very qualities needed for tomorrow’s world.

To find out more, please click https://lapiccolascuola.org. Check out open houses, enrollment processes, and read about the funders, teachers, and volunteers. You can also call 408-343-9001.

Stay tuned to read about new initiatives by IT-COMM, geared to support Italian cultural and culinary education in the Bay Area.

The Italian Commerce Association is excited to announce a partnership with the Associazione Professionale Cuochi Italiani (APCI),  

APCI North America

 

The Associazione Professionale Cuochi Italiani (APCI) is a proudly Italian organization founded in 1998 to unite and support culinary professionals. With over 20,000 members worldwide, APCI has a rich, 20-year history of promoting Italian culture and cuisine on a global scale. The newly established North America chapter, based in Canada, was created in direct collaboration and full affiliation with the international APCI network.

The chapter is led by President Riccardo Bressan, a respected Italian business leader based in Toronto. He highlights the importance of cross-border collaboration between Canada and the United States in advancing Italian culinary excellence. This synergy is seen as essential to bringing authentic Italian flavor to every corner of North America and beyond.

Through shared knowledge, experience, and resources, APCI North America fosters participation in joint initiatives and professional development. The association is deeply committed to passing on culinary traditions, techniques, and creativity through a comprehensive educational and professional approach. A core value of the organization is the responsibility of members to support chefs at all skill levels, emphasizing mentorship and collaboration. The current team includes many chefs across Canada, with a strong focus on expanding membership and partnerships in the western United States.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577077207295&mibextid=ZbWKwL, https://www.instagram.com/apci.nordamerica?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The Italian Commerce Association is proud to announce assistance to U.S. companies interested in hosting qualified Italian interns or trainees

Open to:

Skilled candidates in hospitality, business, engineering & more

Cultural exchange & international experience

Full support through the visa process

Contact us to learn how your business can participate

info@italiancommerce.org

J1 VISA Support

GRAND OPENING - RIBBON CUTTING at HOT ITALIAN restaurant in San Rafael last night. HOT ITALIAN features a focused menu with pizza, panini, gelato, espresso, wine and beer selections, weekend brunch, curbside take-out. Fabrizio Cercatore has also founded a food manufacturing company, Passione Brands, which supplies many of Northern California restaurants and grocery stores with artisanal pizza crusts and specialty Italian products. supplied wonderful wines

The Italian Commerce Association's president, Paola Tonelli, was there with husband George, to celebrate the opening of the Association's new member HOT ITALIAN.

Also many Italian friends, including Rudy of C'era Una Volta, Lorenzo Scarpone of Villa Italia Wines, were there to enjoy the event. Giovanni Lossi of Ethica Wines supplied the complimentary wines.

Gallery 2025

It is with great enthusiasm that I endorse the work and mission of the Italian Commerce Association (www.italiancommerce.org). As CPA specialized in international taxation and cross-border compliance between Italy and the United States, I have had the privilege of collaborating with the Association on a variety of initiatives aimed at supporting our community.

Over the past year, I have participated in several webinars, informational sessions, and interviews organized by the Italian Commerce Association, focusing on topics such as double taxation, foreign asset reporting, and tax residency requirements for individuals and businesses operating between Italy and the U.S. These sessions have provided clear, practical guidance to many members of the Italian and Italian-American community—particularly those navigating complex dual-tax obligations.

The Association plays a vital role in connecting professionals, entrepreneurs, and families who are looking for trusted, accessible information and meaningful networking opportunities. Through its events and outreach, it has helped demystify the intricacies of tax treaties, compliance, and filing procedures for countless individuals.

I fully support the Italian Commerce Association’s ongoing efforts to educate and empower our community through high-quality programming and access to expert resources. I look forward to continuing our collaboration and assisting those who seek clarity and support in managing international tax responsibilities.

Sincerely,

Filippo Amoroso

CPA – ITAUSA Taxation - Cosi sembra anchela mia email.

Durante il nostro percorso di espansione nella Bay Area, la Italian Commerce Association si sta rivelando un partner fondamentale. Grazie a loro abbiamo avuto l’opportunità di entrare in contatto diretto con decine di ristoratori locali, aprendo conversazioni che altrimenti sarebbero state molto difficili da avviare. In un ecosistema competitivo come quello statunitense, il loro supporto è stato concreto, rapido e orientato ai risultati.

Francesco Tansella

CEO, Olivia

Thank you!

Thank you for taking care of my expansion project and introducing me to a network of people who are proving to be very helpful.

I am an entrepreneur from Milan, and I am currently planning to expand part of my business across the United States, establishing the main office in the Bay Area.

Initially, I had contacted some other associations, but the results were unhelpful and disappointing. Then, a few months ago, I met Sara Bianchi Chamberlin and shared my project with her. Sara immediately got to work helping me, especially in building a network of contacts and professionals that I had not been able to reach before. The Italian Commerce Association has supported me over the past few months, and it has been essential and very useful for me. Sara is a very helpful person, with a deep knowledge of the area.

Thank you again for the crucial help you have given me and continue to give, as you accompany me through this first phase of feasibility assessment!

Giovanni Manfredi

(Ediglam Srl)

The UC Berkeley Italian Migration Studies Working Group and the Italian Commerce Association organized a panel discussion, “Italian Diaspora Between Past and Present,” on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 5 to 7 PM at the Italian Community Services (ICS) in San Francisco. The event brought together various organizations, including the UC Berkeley Department of Italian Studies, the Institute of European Studies, Portland State University, and the Townsend Center for the Humanities.

The Italian Community Services generously hosted the event in the beautiful Heritage Room of Casa Fugazi.

The discussion featured scholars Laura Ruberto (Berkeley City College) and Clarissa Clò (San Diego State University), who shared their insights before opening the floor to a dynamic exchange with both in-person and online audiences. The event attracted approximately 130 participants, highlighting the strong interest in the history and contemporary realities of the Italian diaspora.

This panel marks the first in a series of conferences aimed particularly at the Italian-American community. Italian migration to South America and the U.S. has evolved through multiple stages since the mid-1880s, enduring world wars and political shifts.

Following the discussion, attendees continued their conversations during a reception, reinforcing a profound sense of community.

The next event will take place at the Italian Cultural Institute on April 8, featuring a screening of Nella Condorelli’s docu-film, La Storia Vergognosa, followed by a discussion.

Stay tuned!

The Italian Chamber of Commerce Northern California announces that our member AiGot- Restaurants Club, a marketing automation and business intelligence solution for restaurants, has become a partner of Satispay. Alongside partners like Satispay, SumUp, PonyU, and many others, AiGot is enhancing their platform to better serve the global restaurant market.

Read more here

The Italian Commerce Association announces a Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559919909675

The Italian Commerce Association announces a Linkedin page:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/italian-commerce association/about/

In a significant development for the Italian American community, the Italian Chamber of Commerce Northern California proudly announces its acceptance as an associate organization of the esteemed Italian American Leadership Forum (IALF).

With an estimated 18 million Americans of Italian heritage under its purview, IALF stands as a pivotal platform for addressing and advocating on behalf of critical public policy issues. Serving as a unified voice for the community, the IALF fosters cooperation and consensus-building among its member organizations.

This strategic collaboration between the Italian Chamber of Commerce Northern California and the IALF promises to amplify efforts in addressing shared concerns and advancing common goals.

Stay tuned for updates on this exciting partnership and its impact on the Italian American community.

For further inquiries, please contact: italianchambernc@gmail.com

About Italian Commerce Association: The Italian Commerce Association (previously called Italian Chamber of Commerce of Northern California) promotes and supports business activities between the West Coast of United States and Italian business.

About Italian American Leadership Forum (IALF): The Italian American Leadership Forum (IALF) is an association of major Italian American organizations representing the needs of an estimated 17 million Americans of Italian heritage. IALF serves as a mechanism to discuss, debate and act on the most important public policy issues facing our community. IALF is a coordinative body, providing a spiritual bond that encourages, supports and assists the membership to build consensus and advance our shared goals. The founding organizations are: Ø NIAF Ø Columbus Citizen’s Foundation Ø OSDIA – Supreme Lodge Ø OSDIA – Foundation Ø NOIAW Ø OSDIA – Commission for Social Justice.