Solano joins discussions on Bay Area use of funds

Solano joins discussions on Bay Area use of funds
By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 04/01/2009

Local economic development experts hope that if they present a united front, Bay Area counties can get more federal stimulus money, a local expert said Tuesday.

Mike Ammann, president of Solano Economic Development Corporation, will serve on the regional Bay Area Council Economic Institute's advisory board. The group will help prioritize the region's economic development needs and try to match them with available stimulus dollars, he said.

The institute was asked by the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to develop a Bay Area Economic Recovery Workplan, according to an agency statement.

Also seeking input from area business leaders and residents, the institute will create a regional proposal to show how the Bay Area would spend the money it receives, he said. The submission deadline is April 24 and the region's final report is due to the state by June 1, he said. This type of regional board is forming throughout California.

"These are critical times for Solano County and the Bay Area," Ammann said. "We are competing against other states for this funding and it is important we present a uniform plan to increase our chances for funding."

Projects under the stimulus plan must fall into one of seven categories -- transportation, water, energy/climate, workforce training and education, business development, science and innovation or housing. They also must provide short-term job creation and a long-term return on investment.

"This is the first time that we've tried to prioritize economic development projects like they do transportation projects," Ammann said.

Though "anyone can apply for any grant at any time," the strategy here is to convince the federal government to direct as much of the available discretionary funds to our region as possible, he said.

"We think we'll get more money if we cooperate than if we don't," he said. "Everybody's fighting for their individual dollars and we think that if we work together, we might get more money. It's certainly worth a try."

Though "cautious as to the outcome," Ammann said he's excited by the possibilities for Solano County.

"We're at the table, and there was a day when Solano wouldn't have been, but we were invited, and at least it will likely produce long-term relationships," he said.

About $30 billion will flow to the state, and then be dispersed to regions, according to an EDC statement. Another $20 billion of discretionary money will be sent to California as part of the stimulus package, it notes.

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or RachelZ@thnewsnet.com.