By Ryan McCarthy From page A3 | March 11, 2017
FAIRFIELD — A vehicle is in place to grow the local economy, people at the Solano Economic Development Corp. meeting heard Friday.
“Let’s start our engines,” urged Mario Giuliani.
Giuliani, the economic development director for Benicia, said the “Solano Means Business” effort outlines an economic development strategy for the county.
He held a shelf to show where the report on economic strategy for the county won’t go.
“Governments are great at making studies,” added Giuliani. “We make studies of studies.”
“Let’s start our engines,” urged Mario Giuliani.
Giuliani, the economic development director for Benicia, said the “Solano Means Business” effort outlines an economic development strategy for the county.
He held a shelf to show where the report on economic strategy for the county won’t go.
“Governments are great at making studies,” added Giuliani. “We make studies of studies.”
“Let’s start our engines,” urged Mario Giuliani.
Giuliani, the economic development director for Benicia, said the “Solano Means Business” effort outlines an economic development strategy for the county.
He held a shelf to show where the report on economic strategy for the county won’t go.
“Governments are great at making studies,” added Giuliani. “We make studies of studies.”
But the report by the second phase of Moving Solano Forward, including a marketing campaign and a list of industrial sites, he said, and communities should move forward with the strategy.
“When we promote Solano as a county, we promote us all,” Guiliani said to applause.
Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan supported a unified effort, noting that Benicia and Vallejo are sometimes seen as more Bay Area, while Fairfield and Vacaville are aligned with Sacramento.
Solano Means Business aims to create new jobs and attract investment to boost the $19.6 billion economy in the county.
Louise Walker, chairwoman of the board for the Solano EDC and chief executive officer of First Northern Bank, said the county is positioned to advance.
“This is our time,” Walker said.
Fairfield Mayor Harry Price said after the meeting, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, that the county now has a wonderful road map that will allow communities to work together on economic development. Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine also welcomed the strategy and said such an effort has long been needed.
Solano County Supervisor Monica Brown added, “We’re actually going to be doing something.”
Steve Huddleston, vice president of Public Affairs for NorthBay HealthCare, had said in a statement promoting the meeting, “The private sector and local government come together — at long last — with a shared vision to attract new employers, retain who we have, create a workforce of the future. For health care, it’s essential to let everyone know advanced medicine is delivered here.”
Sandy Person, president of the economic development corporation thanked people – including former Fairfield City Manager Sean Quinn – for their work on the strategy.
“Sean is the one who knows where everything is,” Person said.
MovingSolanoForwardII.com has more information about the project.
Reach Ryan McCarthy at 427-6935 or rmccarthy@dailyrepublic.net.
