Solano County Business News

TOURISM CONTRIBUTES TO FAIRFIELD’S ECONOMY IN A BIG WAY

2013-05-02T13:57:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Anand Patel
May 2, 2013 (707) 399-2445
anand@visitfairfieldca.com

TOURISM CONTRIBUTES TO FAIRFIELD’S ECONOMY IN A BIG WAY
National Travel and Tourism Week, May 4-12, 2013

FAIRFIELD, CA – In recognition of travel and tourism’s significant economic, social and cultural impact in Fairfield, the Fairfield Conference & Visitors Bureau is joining the rest of the nation in observance of National Travel and Tourism Week, May 4-12, 2013.

“This national observance provides us an opportunity to truly appreciate what Fairfield and the SuisunValley has to offer leisure travelers, small conferences and meetings, and tour groups. Attractions that set us apart from other destinations includes Suisun Valley wineries and the Western Railway Museum, Jelly Belly and Anheuser-Busch Brewery tours, plus wildlife viewing and nature hikes at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area and Solano Land Trust open spaces,” said Anand Patel, President/CEO, Fairfield Conference & Visitors Bureau. “It’s also a time to recognize what tourism means for us in terms of jobs and much needed revenues for local businesses,” added Patel.

Highlights of SolanoCounty and Fairfield tourism:

· Tourism generates $583 million in travel expenditures, resulting in an estimated $36.8 million in state and local tax revenues.

· Tourism employs 6,930 SolanoCounty residents, representing a payroll of $156.9 million.

· Fairfield collected more than $1.7 million in transient occupancy tax (TOT) in 2012.

The Fairfield Conference & Visitors Bureau is a destination marketing organization that was created by a Business Improvement District (BID) to market and promote tourism to the area, including overnight stays. The independent non-profit 501C6 organization is funded by 18 lodging properties in Fairfield.

For more information about Fairfield tourism, call the Fairfield Conference & Visitors Bureau at (707) 399-2445 or visit www.VisitFairfieldCA.com. You can also follow Fairfield on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VisitFairfieldCA.com.

Solano EDC gets role in diversification project

2013-04-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

Published by The Reporter

Posted: 04/17/2013 01:05:51 AM PDT

The Solano Economic Development Corp. is now part of a consulting team created to conduct an economic diversification project.

The project will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of Travis Air Force Base on Solano County and recommend ways that the public and private sectors could further diversify the local economy.

Last month, the Solano County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with Economic & Planning Systems (EPS) to conduct the project, which is funded by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), a field agency of the Department of Defense.

The board also asked that Solano EDC play an integral part.

Economic & Planning Systems, according to county staff, has retained the Solano EDC as a sub-consultant to assist in the public engagement process and to provide review and comment on the draft report.

"The inclusion of the Solano EDC into the project team capitalizes on the Solano EDC's vast array of relationships with virtually every segment of the Solano County community," county staff said.

The Solano EDC has facilitated past economic studies funded by the county, including the Index of Economic and Community Progress and industry cluster analyses on energy, life science and the food chain. Additionally, Solano EDC played a major role in applying for the OEA grant by initiating the local inquiry to determine if Solano County was eligible for it.

The sub-consultant agreement with Solano EDC is for an amount not to exceed $20,000. This contract modification reduces the project contingency amount to $13,860.

Economist: Solano out of recession yet faces regional challenges

2013-04-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

Economist says job training needed

By Gary Quackenbush, Special to the Business Journal

FAIRFIELD — Solano County is enjoying a resurgence in jobs and taxable sales, but high home foreclosure rates and indications of job importation are among regional improvements needed for the local economy fully to rebound, an economist said Thursday.

Sandy Person and Robert Eyler

“Solano County is continuing to recover, evidenced by the rise in job growth since 2010,” Robert Eyler, Ph.D., said of the newly released 2012 Solano County Index of Economic and Community Progress. “At the same time, taxable sales are up, which is also true across California, but employment is not keeping pace with the size of the available labor force. Nonemployer growth indicates that small businesses are back in the game.”

Local employment hit bottom in 2010, according to Dr. Eyler of Petaluma-based Economics and Analysis and Sonoma State University. Since 2010, private industry in Solano has added back 4,200 jobs, but government cut 1,333 jobs.

“The net effect of these current (national government) revenue issues on local city budgets has yet to be seen, but federal and state reactions to these budget issues will take some toll,” he said.

“Nonemployers” — typically, the self-employed — numbered 20,689 in 2010, up from 20,544 in 2009 but down from 21,730 in 2007 and back to the same level as in 2008, according to the latest Census Bureau data compiled from tax returns.

The county of Solano released the 2012 index last week (solanocounty.com/economicindex), and it was the framework for Dr. Eyler’s keynote analysis at a morning briefing sponsored by Solano Economic Development Corporation.

The index points to signs of economic recovery, while other indicators are still reeling from the recession six years ago, according to Sandy Person, SEDCorp president.

Economic progress in Solano is based on the synchronization financial, labor and goods and services markets, according to Dr. Eyler.

“In Solano County, there is growth in the region now after lags caused by labor, income and housing issues,” he said. “This push-and-pull cycle is affecting California overall. Foreclosure rates in Solano are still relatively high.”

While Solano is emerging from recession, it still faces regional challenges, Dr. Eyler said.

“Community progress is based on specific changes in population and demography, education, health care, housing and government resources,” he said. “These factors are naturally linked.”

An aging population is pressuring labor and housing, with home downsizing helping only certain industries, he noted.

“Aging is a significant issue in Solano as well as California,” Dr. Eyler said. “Standard-of-living changes affect the aging and lower-income populations in the county. What happens if California becomes a retirement state?”

Fewer local options for workers implies more labor is being imported, while some residents have to look for employment outside the county, he observed. As the region continues to export products and import labor, this trend is affecting local housing markets — resulting in the median home price falling to more affordable levels.

“There is a jobs and skills mismatch, and the breach is getting wider,” Dr. Eyler said. “The challenge is reconsidering how we educate people for higher-paying jobs.”

Solano County jobs vs job growth, January 2003–January 2013 (click to enlarge)

From 2000 to 2012, Solano County had a net gain of 4,367 jobs within local firms, along with a 28.3 percent increase in the gross domestic product and a 3.6 percent per capita income increase, according to the 2012 index report. But median household income declined 9.7 percent from 2000 to 2012.

The number of unemployed in the county more than doubled since 2000. The worst of the decline occurred in the peak recession years — 2006–2010 — due to the local housing market collapse, and when local firms cut 12,000 jobs and private industry GDP shrank by 4 percent.

During this period, per-capita income declined 6.8 percent, taxable sales and assessed property values fell by a quarter, and foreclosure figures were breaking records, according to the report.

In December, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Solano dropped to 9.6 percent, down from 12.2 percent in December 2010, resulting in 7,050 more residents employed. Overall, 5.8 percent more Solano residents were employed in 2012 than in 2000, and over the last year the county added nearly 2,800 more.

Solano had bright spots amid recession. Seven local industry sectors had GDP growth, and five experienced job gains. Health care dominated GDP and job growth.

Remaining local challenges threaten the economy, Dr. Eyler said. For example, foreclosure rates aren’t dropping as quickly as most would like.

“There is also a need to provide a pipeline for new workers,” Dr. Eyler said. “The education data point on the trend toward more imported labor indicates a need for better job training.”

Though the Solano high school dropout rate has edged downward, so too, has the local proportion eligible to attend University of Southern California and University of California compared with statewide figures, he noted.

Economy improving a bit in Solano County

2013-03-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

By Reporter Staff

Posted: 03/22/2013 01:06:01 AM PDT

Solano County is showing some positive signs of economic recovery but still finds some areas reeling from the financial turmoil of the last six years, according to a report released Thursday.

The 2012 Index of Economic and Community Progress, which will be the subject of next week's Solano Economic Development Corp. gathering, includes an analysis by Robert Eyler of Economic Forensics and Analytics.

"Once again, there are trend lines for Solano County that are starting to point in the right direction," said Sandy Person, president of the Solano EDC. "Not everything is moving in the right direction just yet, but it appears most of the indicators have stopped going in the wrong direction. It's a start of a recovery that we can capitalize on."

The 2012 Index examines local economic condition from three perspectives. The long view goes from 2000 to 2012, which compares the end of the 1990s cycle to the recent recovery. The recession view goes from 2006 (the peak year) to 2010 (the bottom year) in the local employment market. The recovery view represents changes since 2010.

Over the long view, Solano County had a net gain of 4,367 jobs from firms located in the county, a 28.3 percent increase in the gross domestic product, a 3.6 percent increase in the per capita income and a 9.7 percent decline in median household income. While Solano County has been better than the Bay Area, the Sacramento region and the rest of the state in retaining local jobs, the number of residents seeking employment grew faster than the troubled regional economy could support. The number of unemployed people in 2012 has more than doubled since 2000.

The somberness of the long view happened primarily between 2006 and 2010. As a result of the local housing market collapse and the Great Recession, local firms shed 12,000 jobs and the gross domestic product from private industry shrank 4 percent. Per capita income declined 6.8 percent, taxable sales and assessed property values declined nearly 25 percent and quarterly foreclosure figures were breaking annual records, the report found.

The recession view held some bright spots. Between 2006 and 2010, seven local industry sectors showed growth in gross domestic product and five experienced gains in jobs. Health care dominated the growth in both GDP and local job gains, the report noted.

Local industry employment hit bottom in 2010. Since then, Solano's private industries have added back 4,200 jobs, but the gains were offset by government sector declines of 1,133 jobs. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Solano County dropped to 9.6 percent in December 2012, down from 12.2 percent in December 2010. That translates to 7,050 more residents employed.

"Supervisor Mike Reagan and I pushed for the Index to give us a better perspective on what is happening in the economy and what we can do collectively to move the economy forward," said Supervisor John Vasquez. "In cooperation with the Solano EDC, the county is building the internal capacity to monitor, analyze and report the key indicators shaping our local economy."

The complete 2012 Index is available online at www.solanocounty.com/economicindex. Past indexes and analyses of the life science, energy and food chain clusters in Solano County are also available on the website.

Thursday's Solano EDC gathering will include a presentation on the report by Eyler. The Solano EDC breakfast starts with registration and networking at 7:30 a.m., with the presentation beginning at 8, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Fairfield. Cost is $25 for members, $35 for non-members. To register or obtain more information, contact Solano EDC at 864-1855.

Assembly members address Solano business, community leaders

2013-02-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

By Barry Eberling
From page A3 | February 23, 2013 | Leave Comment

FAIRFIELD — Solano County’s representatives in the state Assembly are getting ready to work on a state budget without facing financial projections awash in red ink, a change from recent years.

“We are in different times, perhaps more hopeful times,” Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada said at Friday’s Solano Economic Development Corp. monthly breakfast.

Yamada, D-Davis, Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Oakley, and Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, D-Concord, each represent a different part of Solano County. They addressed a crowd of local business and civic leaders at the Hilton Garden Inn.

California voters stopped the state’s economic bleeding by passing the Proposition 30 tax increases in November 2012, Yamada said. But, even though the situation looks more hopeful, the Legislature must act with restraint, she said.

“We cannot squander this moment in California’s history,” Yamada said.

Bonilla said that Gov. Jerry Brown would probably like the Legislature to rubber-stamp the proposed budget he has submitted. The Legislature won’t do that, she said. But she did say the Legislature will pass a budget by the June 15 deadline, something that has been a rarity in recent years.

“It’s very important we hear from you in the business community,” said Bonilla, who described the budget as a “tax dollar investment.”

The state in recent years cut about $1 billion from the University of California system and from the California State University system, she said. Now the state can begin filling back in the hole it had to dig, she said.

Bonilla also talked about high school education changes that she would like to see. Students can be bored in classes that fail to reflect the 21st century. Students need to do more than learn how to fill in bubbles on a test, she said.

“Those aren’t the people you want to hire,” Bonilla said. “Last time I looked, that wasn’t on a job description . . .”

Schools need to engage students and educate them to think and solve problems. Students might learn in the context of health care, engineering and the arts, Bonilla said. She also stressed the importance of early childhood education.

Frazier said he has dealt with state regulations as a general contractor. He too has “felt the pain,” he told his audience. He talked about updating the California Environmental Quality Act, a topic that Brown has also mentioned.

An audience member during the question-and-answer session said California overregulates small businesses and called the state Environmental Protection Agency a “rogue agency” that needs to be called to account. None of the Assembly members directly addressed his comments.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

Three area representatives talk issues at Solano EDC breakfast

2013-02-25T09:17:00.000-08:00

By Melissa Murphy/The Reporter, Vacaville

Posted: 02/24/2013 01:01:14 AM PST

A unique opportunity presented itself Friday morning as three state lawmakers joined local business and government leaders to discuss issues facing Solano County this year.

During the monthly Solano Economic Development Corporation breakfast, Democrat Assembly members Mariko Yamada, Jim Frazier and Susan Bonilla, shared issues that they're working on at the state level.

Bonilla, who now represents District 14 which includes Vallejo and Benicia, said this year is a time to restore voter confidence in government.

She said the passage of Proposition 30 will help do that.

"You put trust in the state government to make wise decisions," Bonilla said. "We're in a critical place right now in building trust so that we can look at moving forward."

Bonilla noted that before the tax measure was passed, money was cut from education to fill the state's deficit. She said some 400,000 fewer students enrolled in community colleges and 30,000 credentialed teachers were laid off.

Yamada, who represents District 4 which includes Dixon, said while her district boundaries moved she still has a "toe in" the county's northern portion and a vested interest in its economic success.

Yamada noted that Gov. Jerry Brown has emphasized the issues surrounding education, health care and the prison system, but argued that a healthy economy is key to any success.

Jim Frazier, who represents District 11, an area that includes most of Solano, said he's really living the dream by representing the district.

Frazier told the room of business people that he has been a general contractor for years.

"I have felt the pain," he said. "I'm at the state to encourage a better business environment."

Frazier said his desire to participate in public service started after his two daughters were on their way to Lake Tahoe in 2000 and one was killed in a crash. He said it was then that he made sure the California Transportation Department revamped that section of road on Highway 50 so that accidents would stop.

Solano Economic Development Corporation has new board of directors chief

2013-02-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.com

Posted: 02/01/2013 01:07:46 AM PST

There are many reasons the Solano Economic Development Corporation can celebrate.

Solano EDC is celebrating its 30th year in existence, it's only the third time in the last decade the organization has ended the year on solid financial footing by being in the black and, to top it off, it's the first time a woman was chosen to chair the board of directors.

Patsy Van Ouwerkerk, with Travis Credit Union, will lead the board this year.

"Being the first woman to be selected as chair is an honor and I am proud of the board's confidence in me," Van Ouwerkerk said. ... "I now join a long list of chairmen whose drive, talent, skills and vision have enabled the Solano EDC to move forward and attract new business to Solano County."

This coming year, she said Solano EDC will be focused on retention and on attracting new businesses. Ouwerkerk said she's looking forward to working with the board to "enhance and leverage existing public and private partnerships and to develop new ones in order to improve the economic vitality of Solano County."

Ouwerkerk was a good choice, according to outgoing chair Scott Reynolds with Gaw Van Male, who chaired the board from 2008-12.

"You're in good hands," he told a packed room of government and business leaders who gathered Thursday for lunch at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield for the first meeting of 2013. "Patsy is a dynamic and visionary leader."

"It's been an honor to serve the last five years," he added.

Solano EDC President Sandy Person said 2012 really kicked off a "new normal."

Her enthusiasm in the afternoon's presentation was contagious as she delivered some of the highlights from the past year.

She shared that the city of Vacaville boasts a 99 percent occupancy rate in its downtown, while trendy national stores are popping up in the Premium Outlets across town.

Additionally, a state-required $150 million expansion project to the city's Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plan is set to finish this year.

Meanwhile, the city of Dixon saw new growth in its business sector with Altec moving into the area. The company builds products and serves the electric utility, telecommunications and contractor markets and added 100 jobs to the area.

Additionally, Viva Market and Dollar Tree both set up shop in Dixon.

Looking at Solano County, Person explained that the agriculture industry continues to grow, and more specifically, in processing.

A new jail expansion at the Claybank Detention Facility and additional windmills at Shiloh IV in the Montezuma Hills adds to the growing economy, she said.

The county has also been awarded a grant of $369,860 to conduct a study on how Solano County can be less reliant on the ever-changing Department of Defense budget, which is connected to Travis Air Force Base.

The base continues to be a driving economic force in Solano County, according to Col. Dwight Sones, who is the commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis.

"Thank you for all that you do for Travis and our families," he said to the members of the Solano EDC. "We could not do what we do without your support."

Driving home that Travis is "America's First Choice," Sones shared that the base brings $1.4 billion of positive annual economic impact to the county and generates 5,000 jobs, according to 2011 data. He said he expects the data for 2012 will be very similar.

A new runway and landing zone is nearly finished. The landing zone, Sones said, will be ideal for assault training that airmen currently have to travel out of state to do.

The landing zone also will allow other installations to train.

"It will pay for itself in three years," he said. "If you pave it, they will come."

There is some budget uncertainty this year," he said.

The dynamic economic environment means times are tough and will include trimming down and stopping certain activities for the time being to save money.

The good news, he said, is that Travis has a culture of being efficient and innovative and has been monetarily rewarded and recognized nationally for their efforts to be fuel and energy efficient.

Follow Staff Writer Melissa Murphy at Twitter.com/ReporterMMurphy.

Sones: Travis tightening its belt, improving facilities

2013-02-01T09:15:00.001-08:00

By Ian Thompson
February 1, 2013

FAIRFIELD — Budgets may be tight, but Travis Air Force Base is still more than able to carry out its mission, thanks to the dedication of its airmen and a determination to fill the needs of its service members and their families.

That was the central nugget of the talk Travis commander Col. Dwight Sones gave to the Solano Economic Development Corporation’s 30th annual meeting Thursday at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Sones said that the base is tightening its belt for the time being after the Air Force directed all major commands to start a series of cost-saving measures in case Congress allows massive cuts to defense spending, called sequestration, to take place in March and if Congress fails to pass an appropriations bill this fiscal year.

Expenses that are not deemed critical to the mission included cutting supporting flying missions not directly related to readiness, implementing a civilian hiring freeze, deferring repairs and renovations that are not emergencies and canceling all travel that is not mission-essential.

“Some things we will have to stop doing,” Sones said.

Sones described the measures as reversible and recoverable. He also described the situation as a very dynamic environment that could change quickly. Action is required now even though sequestration may not take place in March or may be delayed by federal leaders.

“We still have to deal with it,” Sones said.

Sones pointed out that the Air Force has not instituted anything like furloughs or reductions in force. He also promised those present that as Travis gets more information about the situation and any impacts, “We will keep you in the loop.”

He said Travis has gotten a reputation for stretching its dollars, with the base’s recent monetary awards for increasing its fuel and energy efficiency.

The Travis commander also used the talk to give Solano Economic Development Corporation members an economic snapshot of the base and the construction projects going on there.

Travis has $13.7 billion in assets and facilities, has a $1.4 billion economic impact and its spending generates about 5,000 jobs in the community, according to data from the base’s 2011 Economic Impact Report, which Sones quoted.

“And the 2012 data is expected to be very similar,” Sones said.

Travis still has a lot of construction in the works, even though it is less than in the past, Sones said.
It has seen several projects completed in the past year, such as the $5.4 million cargo-loading facility and the $11.9 million new fire station, as well as present projects such as the $14.5 million fuel-distribution system and the $1.7 million military working-dog facility.

The $70 million runway reconstruction and new assault runway construction is expected to be finished in April. The assault runway will be used for training by Travis aircrews and also by aircrews from other bases, “and that is huge,” Sones said. The savings from not sending aircraft elsewhere to train will allow the runway to pay for itself within three years.

A $22 million first phase of an airmen’s campus housing facility is under construction, with completion expected in January 2014 and the second through fourth phases expected in the next several years.

David Grant Medical Center just started the second phase of its planned improvements in November 2012, with $63 million being spent to improve the emergency room and outpatient facilities. Future improvements include the operating room, women’s clinic, and labor and delivery rooms.

Solano Economic Development Corporation President Sandy Person preceded Sones’ remarks by talking about Solano County’s economic situation. She said “there is a recovery in place” that has seen industrial vacancies in the county drop from 15.1 percent to 13.4 percent while unemployment dropped to 9.3 percent.

Person said that every community in the county has seen improvements with new businesses opening and bringing jobs to the area.

Solano Economic Development Corporation also recently embarked on a study funded by a $369,860 Department of Defense grant to examine and make proposals about better diversifying the county’s economy.

“This is not about shrinking Travis,” Person said. “This is about growing the pie.”

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or ithompson@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ithompsondr.

Editorial: Solano EDC brings it all together

2013-01-18T09:42:00.001-08:00

Published by The Reporter
Posted: 01/18/2013 01:04:09 AM PST

During its 30-year existence, the Solano Economic Development Corp. has rightfully been credited with guiding major employers and whole new industries to Solano County.

Just as important -- and far less noticed -- is that Solano EDC has become the forum where private industry and government leaders can come together, discuss their challenges and work out common-sense solutions that strengthen the entire county.

That wasn't always the case.

When Solano EDC was born in 1983 (it was known as SED Corp. then), local communities regularly tried to undermine each other in their scramble to bring in jobs, while local businesses often did what they could to keep out competitors.

A peek into The Reporter archives shows that, just prior to Solano EDC's formation, there were two countywide organizations devoted to business development -- one run by government and the other, by private industry -- that worked independently of each other and even publicly bickered from time to time.

Once Solano EDC was formed, its leaders managed to bring those factions together and get everyone to acknowledge that it was more important to bring industry into Solano County -- even potential competitors -- than it was to nitpick about which community that new industry chose to settle in.

Such cooperation has continued through three decades and has led to the rise of Solano County as a center for biotechnology and an expanded food industry built on the region's reputation as an agricultural center.

Solano EDC has been at the helm of improving Solano's workforce by creating ties with the state university system and expanding local college opportunities. It marketed Solano County to the world, and foreign industries responded by bringing their companies here.

Solano EDC has done for Solano County what California has completely failed to do on a statewide level. And now, with the demise of redevelopment agencies, Solano EDC's role in local economic development has become even more vital.

Of course, none of this happened overnight. It took three decades of building personal relationships while reminding the world that Solano County is the "heart" of the Northern California region that stretches from San Francisco to Sacramento -- and the work continues.

How exciting to imagine what the next 30 years could bring.

County to look at diversifying Solano economy

2013-01-15T09:26:00.001-08:00

By Barry Eberling
January 15, 2013

FAIRFIELD — Solano County has a chance to study creating a more diverse economy that depends less on defense expenditures at Travis Air Force Base.

A $369,000 federal grant is available for the study. The county Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday whether to accept the money. It looks to be an easy decision – the item will appear on the board’s consent calendar, which is reserved for items likely to be noncontroversial and require no discussion.

Supervisors meet at 9 a.m. at the county Government Center, 675 Texas St.

At a glance
Who: Solano County Board of Supervisors
What: Accept grant to study how to diversify the economy
When: 9 a.m. Tuesday
Where: Solano County Government Center, 675 Texas St.
Info: 784-6100

Solano County doesn’t want to contemplate a less vigorous Travis Air Force Base, much less a base closure. Rather, it wants to study further building an economy that has Travis Air Force Base and a whole lot more.

“It grows the economy around the base so that the base is a smaller piece of the pie, so it is not having an undue influence on the economy, even though it will always be a significant aspect,” county spokesman Steve Pierce said.

At the same time, the study will look at the supply chain serving the base. Then the county can reinforce the supply structures that the base needs, he said.

“It’s a gain all around,” Pierce said.

Travis Air Force Base had its beginnings in 1942 during World War II, when bulldozers carved out two runways in pastureland 10 miles east of Fairfield. Fairfield at the time was a small town with
about 1,400 residents.

A fast-growing base helped transform Fairfield-Suisun, as did the coming of the interstate freeway system and the rise of the commuter culture. Fairfield’s population by 1950 had doubled since the base opened and by 1960 had grown by 10 times, the start of a growth boom leading to today’s Fairfield population of about 105,000.

Today, Travis Air Force Base officials estimate the base’s local economic impact at about $1.4 billion annually. This includes the payroll for 13,368 employees at the base, other jobs created in the community because of the base and contracts awarded by the base to local businesses.

The base is the largest single employer in Solano County and employs about 6 percent of the county’s total industrial work force, a county report said. In addition, nearly 10 percent of the county population is veterans.

A county report said the study will assess:

Industry clusters in the county and how much these clusters rely on and benefit from the base.
Solano County’s work force and its ability to meet the demands of a more diverse economy.
Work force leakage, which is local residents taking their talents to other regions.
Potential opportunities to further diversify the county’s economy.

Finally, the study is to recommend a course of action.

If the Board of Supervisors grants it approval Tuesday, the county will look for a consultant to do the study. Results should be available in about 18 months.

Pierce said that the county receiving an economic diversification grant from the Department of Defense isn’t a sign that the base is marked for closure.

“The Department of Defense’s perspective is they want the communities around (bases) to be very viable,” Pierce said. “For a variety of reasons, it helps the bases.”

Mare Island Naval Shipyard closed in 1996 and set Vallejo into an economic downturn. Pierce clearly didn’t want to contemplate a Travis closure.

“It’s more than an economy to us, it’s part of our culture,” Pierce said. “That would be like us losing agriculture.”

Solano County will be the lead agency on the grant study, but intends to involve other organizations as well, a county report said. These include the Solano Economic Development Corporation, the Travis Regional Armed Forces Committee, the county’s seven cities, the Solano County Workforce Investment Board and the Solano College Small Business Development Center.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

Solano EDC celebrating 30 years of service

2013-01-14T15:07:00.000-08:00

By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.comthereporter.com
Posted: 01/14/2013 01:01:38 AM PST

Through the bumps, twists, turns, dips and unexpected loops, however, one organization stood steadfast, encouraging business owners and employers along the way.

The Solano Economic Development Corporation, known today as Solano EDC, is celebrating it's 30th anniversary of increasing economic activity, entrepreneurship and job generation in Solano County.

"We sit in a global economy and we're not just competing with another county, but other countries," said Sandy Person, president of the Solano EDC.

Person said California is the ninth largest economic engine in the world and Northern California is globally recognized because of that.

"We're situated in the epicenter of that," she said. "It's a significant marketing plus."

Person has been connected to the corporation since the early 1990s when she volunteered on its board of directors. At the same time there was a hit to the residential and real estate markets and it was then that the corporation took an industry focus and had a policy voice instead of focusing so much on the recruitment and marketing as it had done since its inception in 1983.

However, it was the team of Person, who was now president of the organization, and former president Mike Ammann, who joined the corporation in 2003, that allowed Solano County to make a name for itself.

"We were a dynamic force," Person said.

"We recognized that the state didn't have a plan. It has missed the concept of bringing the tools together to build the economy."

"I love this organization and what it represents," she continued. "It's a spirit of partnership and we have the ability to serve the public and private partnership efforts together."

Ammann said he was behind the name change. Initially dubbed SED Corp., he wanted people to know who they were outside of the county, thus it took on the Solano EDC moniker.

"The (nickname) changed, but the tradition on the inside was maintained," he said. "It was our goal to be more market savvy."

He said even a new logo put a dot on the state of California to show where the county sits within the state.

"We wanted to do anything and everything to be identified outside of California," he said.

Ammann said the corporation's influence grew with "Solano's Got It - The best that Northern California has to offer."

Economic summits also helped Solano County market itself as the "heart of the mega region" between Sacramento and San Francisco.

Even though Solano County is part of the nine-county Bay Area region, it was never really part of the North Bay or the East Bay and the differences between the cities of Vallejo and Dixon are so vast, Ammann said, that Solano County was being pulled in many directions.

"We had to come together to see the overall market," he said. "We were in the perfect position to do that. Solano County is in the best location to serve all of Northern California that way. We had to identify and show the unique assets to outsiders."

He said it was initially hard to identify Solano County, especially to the commuters on Interstates 80 or 680 "who didn't realize they're in the county."

The hard work paid off when the biotech industry sprouted in the county.

Ammann said the county marshaled its resources, marketed its tie to the University of California, Davis, Solano Community College and its proximity to other educational institutions in the Bay Area.

Genentech came as did Novartus.

"We exposed Solano County to the opportunities for the biotech industry," he said. "Maybe the industry hasn't met the expectations of the community because of the economy, but there is solid opportunity for future growth. The whole community can be proud we got our arms around the industry."

He said repositioning Solano County, to make it part of both Sacramento and San Francisco was the positive strategy the corporation had to eliminate the "in betweener" reputation.

"As a community we overcame all of that and came together to sell itself," he said.

Ammann, who is now working as the President and CEO of the San Joaquin Partnership, said there have been some big changes during the last 10 years, and the corporation is prepared for new changes moving forward.

Person, who is now president of Solano EDC, said there will be challenges, but working with Solano EDC means the communities can come up with a solution together to tackle those issues.

Looking to the future, the corporation will continue to market and recruit, but it will also develop programs to serve the existing economic base.

"California has unique problems," she said. "But it's time that everyone pitch in and help in difficult financial times. The economic downturns effect bottom lines and the pushing on businesses can be disproportionate. There should be an equal sense of pain."

Still Person is very optimistic.

"You can't find solutions without a positive outlook," she said and added that being the cheerleader is in her DNA. "We have to appreciate the assets we do have and spread the word."

The 30th Annual Meeting of the Solano Economic Development Corporation is at 11:30 a.m., Jan. 31 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield, 2200 Gateway Court in Fairfield.

The cost is $45 per person, $350 for a table of eight. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to register, contact Pat Uhrich at 864-1855 or pat@solanoedc.org.

Follow Staff Writer Melissa Murphy at Twitter.com/ReporterMMurphy.

Solano EDC December E-Blast

2013-01-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Click here for the Solano EDC E-Blast

Solano County's chambers of commerce honors local firms

2012-12-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

Times-Herald staff report

Posted: 12/12/2012 01:00:47 AM PST

Krissy and Richard Hitewshew of Vallejo's A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. were among nine Solano County businesses honored at the recent 17th annual Spirit of Solano luncheon. The firm was chosen for the award by the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce.

Selected by the various Solano County Chambers of Commerce for their outstanding spirit and community support, this year's recipients included Dennie Geltzs and Frances Hurley of Printer Concepts Technology of Benicia and Vacaville's Gary Passama of NorthBay Healthcare, selected by their cities' chambers.

The Dixon chamber selected Dorothy Luedke and Cher Besneatte of Curves of Dixon, while the Fairfield-Suisun chamber chose Pat Holzwarth of Delta Graphics and Sohail Tabar, of Ford Lincoln Fairfield.

Omar Enrique Martinez Zerbato of Martinez Multi Services, received the Filipino-American chamber's nod, while the Hispanic chamber chose Marisela Barbosa of Monarch Engineers and K. Patrice Williams of 123 Target Marketing, was the Solano Black Chamber's choice.

The Spirit of Solano is hosted by Westamerica Bank and the Solano Economic Development Corporation. Last week's awards program in Fairfield was designed to recognize the role chambers of commerce play in economic development and honor those businesses that take an active part in improving the communities they serve.

Vacaville officials urge shoppers to spend money at local businesses

2012-12-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

By Kimberly K. Fu/ KFu@TheReporter.com
Posted: 12/09/2012 01:03:22 AM PST

Shop local and support your community.

That is the message Vacaville leaders are passing on, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong, thriving local economy.

"Shopping locally not only supports the city in terms of sales tax revenues, but it also supports our entire city in that ... (dollars spent) on local businesses creates jobs, which, in turn, creates more spending," explained Mark Mazzaferro, spokesman for the city of Vacaville and its economic development representative. "Pretty soon, it's a nice network of support."

Bob Vollmer, head of the Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District, agreed. Shopping locally means keeping tax revenues at home, he said, which keeps the economy going, local businesses in business and so on.

The DVBID executive director quoted an E Magazine article by Tim Mitchell to illustrate the phenomenon:

"A dollar spent at a locally owned store is usually spent six to 15 times before it leaves the community. From $1, you create $5 to $14 in value within that community," Mitchell wrote. "Spend $1 at a national chain store, and 80 percent of it leaves town immediately."

Vollmer said revenues from shopping locally have helped to keep the downtown area vibrant.

"Over the last three years, we've sustained a 9 percent increase in sales tax revenue," he said. "Our vacancy rate downtown ... is 1 percent, which is great."

That, he pointed out, is what can be accomplished by shopping locally in an economic downturn.

On a regional scale, shopping close to home is integral to a community more than ever with the loss of redevelopment funding, impacts from state and federal budget cuts and more, advised Sandy Person with the Solano Economic Development Corporation. The trickle-down effect of local spending not only keeps businesses going, she said, but it also pays for things like public safety services and other resources a community needs.

It's a good sign that retail businesses have not dropped off in Solano County, she continued, and that auto sales are returning after scant sales numbers a few years back.

But does Vacaville have everything its residents need? And is shopping locally cost-effective?

Mazzaferro said the city strives to encourage a diverse array of businesses to come to Vacaville and will continue to do so. Right now, there's a little bit of everything -- from hotels to retail, restaurants to auto. As for cost, he believes shopping near home is somewhat of a bargain. Consider the money saved from gas not spent to travel elsewhere, and time saved, too, he said.

As for Vollmer, he thinks Vacaville, especially the downtown area, is rich in what it provides to the community.

"We have 25 restaurants in downtown Vacaville and all the entertainment you want," he said, ticking off live music, seasonal events like the Halloween Stroll and the farmers market, and more.

The longtime Vacaville resident added that he'd love to help welcome more new businesses to the downtown area and wishes it could somehow grow to accommodate anyone who wants to open there.

"Come down here," he urged. "There's always something going on."

Follow Staff Writer Kimberly K. Fu at Twitter.com/ReporterKimFu.

Solano County firms receive the 'Spirit of Solano' award

2012-12-07T10:20:00.001-08:00

By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.com

Posted: 12/07/2012 01:10:21 AM PST

'Tis the season to give back to the community. For several local businesses, helping others is their motivation all year long.

Amid cheers, laughter and applause, nine businesses were acknowledged Thursday for their years of contributions during the 17th annual Spirit of Solano award luncheon.

The award recognizes local chambers of commerce and honors businesses that embody the entrepreneurial spirit of the region and who take an active role to improve the communities they serve.

From the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce, NorthBay Healthcare received one of the Spirit of Solano awards.

Giving back to the community goes back more than 50 years, when a group of local physicians created NorthBay, its mission of compassionate care, advanced medicine means no one is turned away, even for the most expensive, most sophisticated treatment.

Vacaville Councilwoman Dilenna Harris vouched for NorthBay's care as a mother delivering a premature baby. She said the neonatal intensive care unit at the hospital saved her daughter, who just recently gave birth to her own child.

"NorthBay, you are awesome," Harris said.

NorthBay Healthcare President and CEO Gary Passama received the award.

"NorthBay believes that to have a healthy community, it must have a thriving business sector," he said and thanked the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce for the acknowledgment.

Not accustomed to being publicly recognized for their behind the scenes efforts, Richard and Krissy Hiteshew, owners of A-1 Guaranteed Heating and Air Conditioning, humbly accepted their award.

The company in business since 1996 was chosen by the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce.

"We don't do it for the recognition," Krissy Hiteshew said. "It's kind of awkward for us to be up here, but we're very appreciative.

"We grew up in Vallejo so it's our turn to give back to Vallejo. We couldn't be here without the help of others."

Hiteshew said they run their business on doing the right thing even when no one is looking and thanked their co-workers for the success.

Additional Spirit of Solano award winners are:

Dixon Chamber of Commerce: Curves of Dixon, Dorothy Luedke and Cher Besneatte.

Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce: Ford Lincoln Fairfield, Sohail Tabar; Delta Graphics, Pat Holzwarth.

Benicia Chamber of Commerce: Printer Concepts Technology, Frances Hurley and Dennie Geltz.

Solano County Black Chamber of Commerce: 123 Target Marketing, K. Patrice Williams.

Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Monarch Engineers, Marisela Barbosa.

Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Solano County: Martinez Multi-Services, Omar Enrique Martinez Zerbato.

Follow Staff Writer Melissa Murphy at Twitter.com/ReporterMMurphy.

Spirit of Solano honors county businesses

2012-12-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

FAIRFIELD — Ford Lincoln Fairfield, Delta Graphics and NorthBay Heathcare were among those honored Thursday at the 17th annual Spirit of Solano ceremony.

Local chambers of commerce chose the honorees. The awards were handed out at the Hilton Garden Inn at a luncheon sponsored by Westamerica Bank and the Solano Economic Development Corp.
“What better way to show a united economic front than being here to cheer on our champions?”

Solano EDC President Sandy Person told the crowd of about 200 people.

Westamerica Bank Chief Executive Officer David Payne described the criteria for naming businesses as Spirit of Solano winners. Among them are outstanding customer service, adaptability, profitability and contributions to the community.

The Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce named both a large and a small business of the year. Chamber Executive Board Chairwoman Sue Vaccaro thanked Spirit of Solano organizers for allowing the group to go against the norm and have two winners for this time only.

Price Simms Dealergroup opened Ford Lincoln Fairfield in 2010, helping to revive an auto mall battered by the recession. The dealership provides about 100 jobs. Its community contributions include working with the Tomato Festival, local schools, Toys for Tots and The Leaven.

“It is truly one of our guiding principles to give to our local community,” General Sales Manager Sohail Tabar said. “I want everyone to understand, this is only the beginning for Ford Lincoln Fairfield.”

Delta Graphics won as the Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce’s small business of the year. Vaccaro called it a “mom and pop” business with two employees.

The business opened in 1995 in Fairfield. Pat Holzwarth became a partner in 1995 and she and her husband Ken became the sole owners in 1997. They have been active chamber members, with Holzwarth serving as a chamber ambassador.

“I hope all of you will remember to support your local economy – the small businesses,” Holzwarth said.

The Vacaville Chamber of Commerce named NorthBay Healthcare as its business of the year. NorthBay Healthcare operates VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville and NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield.

Vacaville City Councilwoman Dilenna Harris introduced the award. She talked about NorthBay Healthcare’s local roots, given that a local group of physicians founded it about 50 years ago. She described how it has over time added such features as neonatal care and a cancer center.

“When our community grew, NorthBay was very aware of the needs and the advanced treatments that would be needed,” Harris said.

Though it has grown to have 1,800 employees, NorthBay remains connected to the community, she said.

NorthBay Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Gary Passama said the medical group believes having a healthy community also means having a strong and vibrant business sector.

The Vallejo Chamber of Commerce presented its award to Richard and Krissy Hiteshew of A-1 Guaranteed Heating and Air Conditioning; the Solano County Black Chamber of Commerce to K. Patrice Williams of 123 Target Marketing of Vallejo; the Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to Marisela Barbosa of Monarch Engineers in Vallejo; the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Solano County to Omar Enrique Martinez Zerbato of Martinez Multi-Services in Vallejo; the Dixon Chamber of Commerce to Dorothy Luedke and Cher Besneatte of Curves of Dixon; and the Benicia Chamber of Commerce to Frances Hurley and Dennie Geltz of Printer Concepts Technology.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

Solano hospitals give county's economy a healthy boost

2012-11-29T12:19:00.000-08:00

By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.com
Posted: 11/29/2012 01:08:40 AM PST

The five hospitals in Solano County are a major drive to the area's economy, according to a report released Wednesday by Economic Forensics and Analytics.

Together, the five privately operated hospitals are responsible for more than 11 percent of the local economy, according to Robert Eyler, an economics professor at Sonoma State University and principal of the independent research and consulting firm in Petaluma. Additionally, the revenue generated by hospitals represents more than 7 percent of Solano's total revenue.

"Hospitals are the economic engines that elevate our community," Eyler said Wednesday morning during a Solano Economic Development Corporation breakfast. "Hospitals contribute a large amount to Solano's economy and community through jobs, business revenues and tax receipts, and by providing what the public cannot easily provide: a safety net."

Hospitals included in the study were Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo, Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Vallejo and Vacaville, NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville.

As of January, there were 4,085 employees at local hospitals, slightly more than 2 percent of the total payroll employment in Solano County, or almost $319 million in wages. These jobs support more than 7,800 additional jobs in the area because of the "multiple layers of spending."

Eyler explained that the employees earn their income in Solano County and turn around and spend that money in the same community.

"Hospitals go way beyond employing medical professionals," he said.

He added that, even in the midst of a recession, health care remained a "bright spot."

While hospital revenues remain flat statewide, Solano County continues to see revenue growth.

Solano County does a better regional job in providing services than the state," Eyler said. "Things are going really well and will likely continue."

The study shows that for every $50 million spent annually in Solano County on hospital improvements or new construction, there is an additional $24.5 million in business revenue earned beyond the $50 million to fund the capital project; capital spending supports more than 250 jobs while the project is taking place, including construction jobs to support an industry otherwise hurt by the slow economic recovery; and capital spending generated more than $2.27 million in state and local tax revenue.

The relationship between health care and education continues to remain strong as well.

Joanie Erickson, director of public relations for Kaiser Permanente, Napa-Solano Area, said local colleges allow the hospitals to keep the workforce close to home.

"There is that symbiotic relationship that we appreciate," she said, adding that Kaiser Permanente is in the process of creating a family practice residency program at its Vallejo hospital.

Gary Passama, president and chief executive officer for NorthBay Healthcare, agreed that the hospitals are a "pretty powerful economic engine."

He added that David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base also contributes to Solano's economy.

Passama said that, whether we like it or not, come 2014, the Affordable Care Act will have a huge impact and hospitals in California will have to find a way to provide services for some 4.4 million citizens.

"We're all looking to grow to meet these demands," he said. "We need you, business leaders, our economic development pacesetters and our government leaders -- especially our local, county, state and federal policy makers -- to understand what stands in the way of expanding, modernizing and advancing health care in Solano.

"The Affordable Care Act and the rest of this decade will reshape how we do what we do. It will be a wild and bumpy ride at times. But there's great opportunity in Solano to have more and better when it comes to health care."

The complete study, Economic Impact Report for Solano County Hospitals, can be found on the website of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, www.hospitalcouncil.net, or at solanoedc.org.

Follow Staff Writer Melissa Murphy at Twitter.com/ReporterMMurphy.

Study looks at hospitals’ economic impacts

2012-11-29T12:10:00.001-08:00

By Barry Eberling November 29, 2012

FAIRFIELD — Solano County’s five privately operated hospitals support or generate more than 11 percent of the county economy, according to a new report.

“We don’t often think of hospitals as economic engines,” Rebecca Rozen of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California said at Wednesday’s Solano Economic Development Corp. breakfast.

The report by Robert Eyler of Economic Forensics and Analytics argues that local hospitals are indeed big economic players. Eyler presented the results to about 125 people who attended the meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Eyler talked about effects that local hospitals have that go beyond their own 4,085 employees and daily services. These ripple effects extend into such areas as hospital workers supporting local restaurants and hospitals buying supplies.

“Very little of economic life in Solano County goes untouched by hospitals,” his report said.

Putting everything together, Eyler found that local hospitals support and generate $1.25 billion in annual business revenue, about 7,830 jobs and $64 million in state and local tax revenue.

Eyler looked at NorthBay Healthcare’s NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield and VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, Kaiser Permanente’s Vallejo and Vacaville hospitals and Sutter Solano’s Vallejo hospital. He did not include David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base.

He also explored the effects of hospital capital projects. Every $50 million that hospitals spend on construction and expansion generates another $24.5 million in business revenues, 250 jobs during construction and $2.27 million in local and state taxes, he said.

NorthBay Healthcare has three capital projects planned over the next four years, with more than $100 million in construction, NorthBay Healthcare President Gary Passama said.

NorthBay Heathcare has announced plans to build what it calls a “health village” with a cancer center and medical fitness center at its VacaValley hospital. It plans to construct a second building at its Administrative Center on Business Center Drive in Fairfield. It plans to do construction work at NorthBay Medical Center.

Eyler said that construction itself is only part of the economic impact of hospital capital projects. The subsequent growth in hospital services when the project is finished creates new business revenue, jobs and wages, which in turn have a ripple effect on the county’s economy.

The study is more than a snapshot in time, Eyler said. Data can be used to determine what assets are needed in the community to support hospital growth, so hospitals don’t have to spend money in other counties.

“The bane of economic development is leakage,” Eyler said.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

Report: Solano hospitals infuse $319M into economy

2012-11-29T12:04:00.002-08:00

Sacramento Business Journal by Kathy Robertson, Senior Staff Writer

Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The five privately operated hospitals in Solano County are responsible for more than 11 percent of the local economy — and could grow even more important in the future — according to a study released Wednesday.

The hospitals pay almost $319 million annually in wages, with 4,085 employees in January 2012 accounting for slightly more than 2 percent of the total employment payroll in Solano County.

Annual revenue from hospitals represents more than 7 percent of total revenue generated by Solano County businesses overall. Because of their links to education and demand for skilled workers and medical professionals across multiple job classifications, hospitals heighten their economic impact by paying good wages and purchasing supplies, concludes the study by Economic Forensics and Analytics in Petaluma.

The five hospitals in the report are: Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo, Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Vallejo and Vacaville, and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville. The study was commissioned by the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California.

“Hospitals are an economic engine for the community,” Robert Eyler, an economics professor at Sonoma State University and principal of the consulting firm that did the study, said in a news release. “They generate support for education, jobs and businesses, all the while continuing their critical mission of providing health-care services locally.”

For a PDF download of the economic impact study, click here.

Study: Solano County hospitals a major driver of local economy

2012-11-29T12:00:00.001-08:00

By Dan Verel, Business Journal Staff Reporter

FAIRFIELD — The five privately operated hospitals in Solano County make up more than 11 percent of the local economy, making health care a key driver that could be even more important in the future, according to a new study that details the economic impact of Solano County’s hospitals.

“Hospitals are an economic engine for the community,” said Robert Eyler, Ph.D., an economics professor at Sonoma State University and lead author of the report, which was commissioned by the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California (hospitalcouncil.net). Dr. Eyler is also principal of Economic Forensics and Analytics, which conducted the study. “They generate support for education, jobs and businesses, all the while continuing their critical mission of providing health care services locally.”

Dr. Eyler presented the findings today at a Solano Economic Development Corporation (SolanoEDC.org) breakfast meeting at Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield.

Hospitals included in the study were Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo, Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Vallejo and Vacaville, NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville.

The study found that as of January those hospitals employed approximately 4,085, slightly more than 2 percent of total payroll jobs in the county. They also pay nearly $319 million per year in wages.
Additionally, the number of workers has grown since 2001 and likely will continue to grow as hospitals add new services, expand or build new facilities. And annual revenue from hospitals represents more than 7 percent of total revenue generated by all Solano County businesses, according to the study.

The wider economic impact of hospitals in the last four years includes:

More than $1.25 billion in business revenue.
More than 7,800 jobs in hospitals and outside those health care systems.
More than $64 million in state and local tax revenue.

“Because of their links to education and their demand for skilled workers and medical professionals across multiple job classifications, hospitals heighten their economic impact by paying good wages and salaries and purchasing supplies,” the study said.

Having a trio of robust health care systems in the county — Sacramento-based Sutter Health, Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente and Fairfield-based NorthBay — prevents precious payroll and the purchase of goods and services from escaping Solano County, according to the report. Otherwise, “economic leakage can occur when hospitals spend on goods and labor outside the local market.”
“They provide services locally, rather than allowing adjacent counties to garner these patients or clients and thereby take income away from Solano County,” the report said.

If local policymakers and developers can continue to attract, retain and expand businesses that help support the growth of hospital services, the local financial and social impact of Solano’s hospitals would increase, according to Dr. Eyler.

The likelihood of those hospitals expanding operations within the county can help propel the county out of lingering economic doldrums, according to the report. Hospital construction could help expand the “financial dimensions throughout the county economy.”

Every $50 million spent annually on hospital improvements or new construction contributes:

An additional $24.5 million bump in business revenue in the community.
More than 250 new jobs while the project is taking place, including construction jobs to support an industry otherwise hurt by the slow economic recovery.
Creation of more than $2.27 million in state and local tax revenue.

The complete study, “Economic Impact Report for Solano County Hospitals,” is posted on the websites of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California and the Solano Economic Development Corp.

Study Measures Economic Impact of Solano Hospitals

2012-11-15T11:23:00.001-08:00

Results of the economic impact of Solano County's five hospitals – jobs, payroll, new construction and spinoff benefits – will be revealed on Nov. 28 at a breakfast meeting of the Solano Economic Development Corporation.

Executives of three hospital systems will add their perspective to the findings of Dr. Robert Eyler of Sonoma State University, the keynote speaker who conducted the study for the Hospital Council of Northern California.

Panelists for the event include Max Villalobos, Senior Vice President of the local region of Kaiser Permanente; Gary Passama, President and CEO of NorthBay Healthcare; and Terry Glubka, CEO of Sutter Solano Medical Center.

"Healthcare and hospitals are critical parts of our economic engine," Sandy Person, Solano EDC president said. "They generate significant benefits in terms of education, jobs and other businesses, in addition to providing essential care to our residents.”

The event begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield. Cost is $25 for Solano EDC members and $35 for non-members. To register call 707 864-1855, or e-mail: pat@solanoedc.org.

Sponsors for the November meeting are: Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, NorthBay Healthcare, Sutter Health and Kaiser Permanente.

The program is one of the monthly breakfast meetings sponsored Solano EDC to provide private sector, government and community leaders with information on economic issues and industries. They are made possible by the Solano EDC Chairman Circle Members; Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, Solano Transportation Authority; Syar Industries, Solano Garbage Company and Republic Services, Inc.

Political columnist predicts few surprises this election

2012-11-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.com
Posted: 11/01/2012 01:07:51 AM PDT

Halloween isn't the only scary thing this time of year -- politics are too.

That's how Political Columnist Dan Walters on Wednesday painted this year's election with less than a week before voters head to the polls.

"It's an odd election in some respects," he said to a room full of city and business leaders at a Solano Economic Development Corporation breakfast.

He predicted that in California, President Barack Obama will receive the most votes toward his re-election and it won't be any surprise that United State Senator Dianne Feinstein will hold onto her post representing California.

He added that there were two interesting aspects added to the election structure for this year, though, the top two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary, regardless of political party, moved on to the regular election and district lines were redrawn by an independent party with no regard to the location of the incumbents.

The Sacramento Bee columnist also added that "almost certainly" the Democrats will not regain control of the House of Representatives.

He explained that millions of dollars are being dumped into campaigns for 11 ballot measures in California and it will likely continue.

He said Gov. Jerry Brown or "Brown 2.0," as he called him, went straight to the ballot with Proposition 30, which would increase sales tax from 7.25 percent to 7.50 percent statewide and create four high-income tax brackets for taxpayers with taxable incomes exceeding $250,000, $300,000, $500,000 and $1 million.

"It isn't doing well," Walters said of the proposition. "He campaigns, (support) goes down. He's not the best salesman for his own measure."

He added that the sales tax part of the proposition is likely to blame for it dragging.

However, if Proposition 30 doesn't pass, there will likely be a "political war" between counties, schools and colleges who will fight over a "shrinking pot of money."

"It's bad tax policy," he said. "We become more dependent on a few wealthy and their success in the stock market. ... It's dangerous."

He said the design of the proposition will last longer than Brown is in office, but the money source has an end date.

One tax measure Walters believes is likely to pass is Proposition 39, an income tax increase on out-of-state businesses that would not effect California-based companies or residents.

Most of the audience, however, has already voted and that made Walters question the need for his talk.

He admitted that elections are largely conducted by mail.

"Campaigning at the last minute is less effective," he said.

Follow Staff Writer Melissa Murphy at Twitter.com/ReporterMMurphy

Columnist gives stories behind state ballot issues

2012-11-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

By Barry Eberling
From page A1 | November 01, 2012 | Leave Comment

FAIRFIELD — Political columnist Dan Walters on Wednesday shared views on the upcoming election that go beyond what can be found in advertisements or the voter’s pamphlet.

Walters, who writes for the Sacramento Bee and whose columns appear in the Daily Republic, talked about many of the 11 propositions, including Proposition 40, which addresses redistricting, and Proposition 30, which is a tax measure backed by Gov. Jerry Brown. He compared the behind-the-scenes maneuverings to a popular Mad magazine Cold War comic feature.

“That’s what a lot of this is about, it’s ‘Spy vs. Spy’,” Walters said.

Walters spoke at the monthly Solano Economic Development Corp. breakfast. More than 100 civic and business leaders attended the event at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Proposition 30 would increase the state sales tax by 0.25 percent and increase taxes on the wealthy. Its failure would supposedly trigger $6 billion in budget cuts that mostly affect education, though Walters said education advocates could challenge the trigger cuts in court.

An audience member asked what would happen if the measure fails, which Walters said could well happen.

The hole in the state budget would be $10 billion to $11 billion, not $6 billion, Walters said. That’s because other revenue is less than what the state is expecting.

“Political war would break out,” Walters said. “How many of you are here from county government? You’re going to be right in the middle of those wars.”

Solano County already faces budget challenges with no changes to the political equation. It faces a general fund structural deficit of about $13.7 million next fiscal year, though it can draw on savings to cover the shortfall.

Fairfield City Councilwoman Catherine Moy asked if cities would be affected by Proposition 30’s fate. Fairfield is struggling with budget shortfalls and has warned of drastic cuts if a proposed 1 percent sales tax on the November ballot fails to pass.

“Cities are probably not in this war,” Walters said. “It would be counties, schools and colleges mostly. They would be fighting over a shrinking pot of money. It will be pretty bloody, I expect.”
But Proposition 30 is bad tax policy, Walters said. Revenues would depend largely on how well about 150,000 people are doing in the capital markets, which is volatile. Plus, it guarantees counties would get $5 billion to help pay for state realignment policies, even though the tax is temporary.

Perhaps the best thing in the long run is for the proposed taxes to be defeated, Walters said. Then Brown and the Legislature might look at tax policies, he said.

An audience member asked about redevelopment. The state in February dissolved redevelopment agencies, such as the one formed by Fairfield. In Fairfield’s case, the lost revenue blew a hole in the city budget. Also, the city over the decades used redevelopment to spur economic development, declaring areas such as Green Valley as blighted so it could spend future property tax increases there on infrastructure.

Redevelopment is dead, despite efforts to revive it under a different name, Walters said. Redevelopment became somewhat of a monster over time, though he understands why cities used it as they did, he said.

“I understand why Fairfield declared swampland to be blighted,” Walters said.

Proposition 40 is a referendum on a redistricting commission’s newly drawn lines for state Senate districts. Walters said Republicans wanted it on the ballot because Democrats under the new lines are likely to get a two-thirds majority in the Senate in Tuesday’s election. Republicans had hoped the proposition would prompt the state Supreme Court to suspend the new district lines for the Senate until the referendum got settled.

But the Supreme Court refused and Republicans lost interest in the issue. Republicans don’t really want voters to overturn the new lines now that the Supreme Court gambit for 2012 has failed. That’s because the party has a chance to pick up seats under the new lines in 2014, Walters said.

Proposition 37 calls for the labeling of genetically altered foods. But, Walters said, the initiative is so complicated that no one knows what it would really do.

“Maybe it’s on purpose,” Walters said. “Confusion is the area in which clever lawyers see the potential for a lot of business.”

Walters described the government reforms called for by Proposition 31 as the latest effort in a cottage industry called “Fixing California.” While Walters expressed doubt that Proposition 31 is the solution, he didn’t question that California needs fixing.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

Vallejo's Cal Maritime gets special visitor -- federal transportation chief

2012-10-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

By Sarah Rohrs Times-Herald staff writer /
Posted: 10/12/2012 01:03:41 AM PDT

For U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, his department involves a lot more than trains, planes and highways.

LaHood reaffirmed that belief by spending Thursday morning at Vallejo's California Maritime Academy, a school on the forefront of training students for the maritime industry.

"Over the last four years we've taken a lot of interest in the maritime industry," LaHood said, adding he included the short visit to the California State University campus as part of a larger California trip.

LaHood was expected to tour BART stations and other facilities in San Francisco later Thursday.

He was also expected to announce this morning at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet north of Benicia that the Maritime Administration would award $392,913 to Cal Maritime stemming from proceeds of the sale of old obsolete ships in the Mothball Fleet.

Besides Thursday's tour, LaHood was on hand to commission new Cal Maritime President Thomas Cropper as a Rear Admiral in the United States Merchant Service, a requirement of his new position.

Following the short ceremony, LaHood toured the Golden Bear training ship and the school's simulation center, and spoke to students in a leadership conference. He also took a look at the Golden Bear's ballast water treatment facility and watched an demonstration of Cal Maritime's navigation and engine laboratories.

LaHood was accompanied by David Matsuda, chief of the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration, and a small entourage of security officers and other officials.

LaHood is the first U.S. Secretary of Transportation to visit the campus, an action which gives the institution some clout, Cropper said.

"It's wonderful. We have a lot of confidence in our cadets and our programs. This reaffirms our confidence," Cropper said.

"The maritime industry has such broad implications for future employment in the state of California. They understand that," he added.

LaHood told cadets assembled in Rizza Auditorium that their future is bright and that his administration has invested in the maritime industry, including infrastructure improvements at several ports.

A new policy document, the Maritime Highway Plan, also outlines investments needed to invigorate the global maritime industry, he said.

Further, a new channel in the Panama Canal is generating considerable interest among ports the world over in expanding their capacities and depths, he said.

Investment in transportation is one area state senior transportation consultant Norman Fassler-Katz said is crucial. The consultant for State Sen. Alan Lowenthal was among the 100-plus crowd assembled on the Vallejo campus for LaHood's visit.

"The biggest issue for us is that there has to be clear federal freight policy in the next transportation bill and more funding sources, too," Fassler-Katz said.

LaHood said his department has made maritime industry investments a high priority, and he would try for more money in the next funding cycle.

Contact staff writer Sarah Rohrs at srohrs@timesheraldonline.com or (707) 553-6832. Follow her on Twitter @SarahVTH.

Vallejo cheers new waterfront parking garage's completion

2012-10-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

By Jessica A. York
Posted: 10/12/2012 01:03:39 AM PDT

Defiantly proud of this city, Mayor Osby Davis on Thursday commended the completion of Vallejo's waterfront parking structure as telling "the story of who we are and what we're going to be."

"Vallejo has come back from a lot," Davis said to an audience of several dozen atop the new multi-million dollar garage's pedestrian paseo, which opens to the public Monday. "To those who said we were dying, this is another heartbeat that shows you it's even stronger. We're not dead, and we're moving ahead."

Caltrans District 4 Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney argued that the structure is not just a garage.

"Of course, it's much more important than that," McElhinney said. "It's part of our economy, it's part of our success and we're reinvesting in California and reinvesting in America as we move out of economic hardship."

More than two years ago, Davis similarly stood with U.S. Rep. George Miller for a groundbreaking ceremony on the same site, then just an empty dirt lot and former home to Santa Clara Street's My Café restaurant.

Miller, as well as Rep. Mike Thompson, who is running in November's election to represent Vallejo following last year's congressional redistricting, joined Davis and officials from Solano County, the Vallejo City Council, state and county transportation agencies and many others in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for the parking structure.

Describing the garage as both inviting and exciting, Miller admitted to feeling some trepidation over the years, while waiting on the project's completion. He said on drives to Napa, he would often make a special detour through Vallejo to check on its progress.

"I want to see what's going on over there," Miller said he would explain to his wife. "I was really concerned, because I'm a real optimist about Vallejo's waterfront ... and knowing what's gone on here, that this waterfront to me is one of the gems of the San Francisco Bay Area, I was really concerned what this was going to look like. (But) you did it right ...."

The event comes just prior to the three-level, 750-space garage's public opening, scheduled for 6 a.m. Monday.

City Public Works Director David Kleinschmidt said city maintenance staff will be on hand the first day to offer traffic control assistance, and that regular Baylink ferry commuters on the city's email list will receive notification of the coming garage opening.

The city expects to begin charging daily or monthly garage use fees -- estimated at $5 and $20, respectively -- as early as February. Parking in both the garage and in city waterfront parking lots, will remain free until then, officials said.

Parking security -- in the form of both 26 active surveillance cameras and hired patrol services in and around the garage -- will begin immediately, Kleinschmidt said.

The garage, part of a two-phase project that will eventually include a second garage atop what is now the Santa Clara Street U.S. Postal Service office, was funded primarily through federal, state and county transportation funds, including $7.7 million set aside with the help of Miller. The project has run about $36.7 million so far, officials said.

Contact staff writer Jessica A. York at (707) 553-6834 or jyork@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @JYVallejo.