Consulting firm sought for study of Solano County’s local economy

Solano County has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking qualified consulting firms to conduct a comprehensive study of the local economy with a focus on developing a countywide strategic approach for diversifying the economic base.

The deadline for submission is Oct. 19.

The purpose of the study is to develop specific actions to help reduce the reliance and vulnerability of the Solano County economy to fluctuations in defense spending associated with Travis Air Force Base. The intent is to create economic development activities and projects that grow the countywide economy.

“The County is committed to working with the Solano Economic Development Corporation and the seven cities to grow the local economy and create jobs for our residents,” said Solano County Administrator Birgitta E. Corsello. “Solano County has a lot to offer to help existing businesses expand and to attract new businesses.”
As the second phase of the Moving Solano Forward Economic Diversification Study, the comprehensive study aims to focus on implementation of activities and projects to grow the local economy.
The Solano Economic Development Corporation is a partner with the County in this project. The project is funded by a grant from the U.S Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment.
Anyone interested in receiving the RFP or finding out more about the project should contact James Bezek, senior management analyst with Solano County at 784-6112 and jmbezek@solanocounty.com.

Water, economy topics at Impact Solano conference

By Kevin W. Green From page A3 | September 18, 2015

FAIRFIELD — Water and the economy were the major topics at the fifth annual Impact Solano business conference presented Thursday by the North Bay Business Journal at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Micah Weinberg, who heads the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, discussed the economy in the Bay Area and Solano County; while Wade Crowfoot, deputy cabinet secretary and senior adviser in the governor’s office, addressed water issues.

Forecasters are optimistic of continued growth in the region, Weinberg said of economic conditions in the region. The area has experienced a steady period of economic growth, rather than a spike, he said. Some forecasts predict the Bay Area economy will get even hotter, he said.

What happens with the economy during the next two to three years will greatly affect Solano County, Weinberg said. Large projects and some things that were anticipated prior to the Great Recession could come back into focus, he said.

One of the industries leading the way in job growth in the Bay Area is construction, which is also doing well in Solano County, he said. Housing permits, however, do remain well below peak amounts experienced in the 1970s and 1980s, he said.

Bright spots for Solano County include construction, agriculture, aircraft construction, falling unemployment and decent per capita income growth, Weinberg said.

Two major issues faced by the overall region are a lack of affordable housing and the lack of a comprehensive transportation plan, he said.

In wrapping up his presentation, Weinberg talked of a mega-region that would extend from the Bay Area to Sacramento. Solano County would be in the heart of such an area, he said. The county would be well positioned to take advantage of a mega-region, he said.

Water and the drought

Much of Crowfoot’s discussion centered on the drought. He also pointed, however, to climate change as a major issue contributing to the situation.

Droughts come in cycles and the state has endured them in the past, Crowfoot said. What has changed now is the climate, Crowfoot said. In addition to rainfall, California’s thirst for water has been sustained through dry months by the snowpack in the mountains. But now there isn’t a snowpack because it’s warmer, he said.

The situation has also affected the way major fires have spread, Crowfoot said.

Incident command teams that determine a strategy in battling a major fire develop computer modeling, running hundreds of forecasts in terms of how the fire will behave, he said. Those forecasts determine where they deploy assets, he said.

The Rocky Fire, the Valley Fire and the Butte Fire spread completely outside of the computer modeling that the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection had done, based on all the historic data, he said.

Crowfoot also pointed to the spread of the King Fire nearly a year ago.

“That fire made a 15-mile run in one day, which completely stunned the most seasoned Cal Fire veterans in the state,” he said. “Those are the conditions now that we’re facing fighting fires and those are some of the impacts of a changing climate.”

Crowfoot acknowledged the politics of the issue.

“Climate change is, obviously, a political football in Washington, D.C., certainly in the presidential primary – but I can tell you from somebody who’s living the impact day to day, it’s real and it’s impacting Californians,” he said.

Crowfoot also talked of the human impact of the drought.

While residents in Solano County and other regions have made big cutbacks in their water usage and experienced browning lawns, they have not felt the weight of the drought in the same manner as residents in San Joaquin County or parts of the Central Valley.

About 5,000 to 10,000 people there don’t have running water in their homes because domestic wells have gone dry, he said.

Crowfoot also discussed what El Nino might mean to Californians. Despite the predictions of El Nino, it won’t necessarily bring rains to Northern California, he said. The message is clear that we need to continue to conserve, he said.

While officials are pleased with the 30 percent reduction in water usage that has been reached in the state, they want to maintain that level, he said.

“We want to make sure when it does rain again that we don’t revert back,” he said.

Continued restrictions will be needed to assure there will be enough water for the future, he said.

Questioned about the distribution of water, Crowfoot said about 80 percent goes for agriculture and 20 percent goes to communities.

Growing food takes a lot of water, he said. It’s a major part of what is driving the economy in many parts of the state, he said.

He pointed out, meanwhile, that agriculture is working to be more efficient in its water use.

Also participating in Thursday’s business conference was a panel, representing three Solano County businesses. Panel members were Ron Lanza, vice president of Wooden Valley Winery; Brooks Pedder, senior managing director of the commercial real estate firm DTZ; and Kent Fortner, founder, Mare Island Brewing Company.

The conference was co-hosted by Travis Credit Union and underwritten by NorthBay Healthcare and Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty. The conference is produced in collaboration with the Solano Economic Development Corporation.

Reach Kevin W. Green at 427-6974 or kgreen@dailyrepublic.net.

Experts discuss Solano’s economy, drought

By Kimberly K. Fu, kfu@thereporter.com, @ReporterKimFu on Twitter

Posted: 09/17/15, 6:43 PM PDT | Updated: 2 hrs ago

The future of Solano is unpredictable.

So said two experts Thursday morning brought in to discuss economics and drought at an Impact Solano event sponsored by the North Bay Business Journal and Travis Credit Union.

“People ask, ‘What’s going on with the economy?’ I have a dirty little secret to tell you — I have no idea,” joked Micah Weinberg, Ph.D and president of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, who spoke on economic trends.

Wade Crowfoot, deputy cabinet secretary and senior advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown, talked about the drought.

In the Bay Area, the tech industry “is absolutely insane,” Weinberg said, but not so much in Solano County.

Part of the issue, he said, is a lack of affordable housing for employees and, well, housing in general.

“Housing permits are well below peaks of the 70s and 80s,” he pointed out.

Job growth has been decent in the past year, he said, with bright spots for Solano including construction, agriculture, falling unemployment and decent per capita income growth.

Challenges include competitors in the Mountain West region and transportation issues.

There’s also the “Megaregion” aspect, that of Solano sandwiched between the Bay Area and Sacramento. There’s a potential here to be mined, he said.

Crowfoot, meanwhile, discussed the drought.

Droughts are not uncommon, he said, though this one has seen two of the warmest winters on record and brought no snow melt this year.

The situation is also having a negative impact on firefighting, he said, and “fires are behaving differently than they ever have in California.”

Solano is well-positioned water-wise while in places like San Joaquin County, residents are running out of water, he said. Even worse off, apparently, are people with domestic wells.

“Five to 10,000 people turn on their faucets and nothing comes out,” he emphasized. “Emergency support is in place but there’s no permanent solution.”

The agriculture industry, meanwhile, is adapting, he said. Producers who can are moving to areas where water is available and there are strong markets for products. But, there are still challenges here, as well.

“If it (the drought) continues, 18 species of fish could become functionally extinct,” he said, indicating well-known species such as Pacific Salmon.

As a whole, Californians are remarkable when it comes to water conservation, he said.

As for El Nino, there’s no way to predict what it will bring, Crowfoot explained.

In other matters, a panel of three — Ron Lanza with Wooden Valley Winery, Kent Fortner with Mare Island Brewing Company and Brooks Pedder with DEZ spoke on the county’s winemaking and beer brewing booms.

“This is a growing, growing, growing industry for Solano County,” said Sandy Person, president of Solano Economic Development Corporation.

“We are poised for accelerating into the blue skies ahead,” she mused.

Manufacturing Day information

Manufacturing Day is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. Although Manufacturing Day officially occurs on the first Friday in October—this year is October 2, 2015—any day can be a Manufacturing Day. For more information visit: http://www.mfgday.com/

Small Business Boost Conference August 26, 2015

Solano EDC working with Congressman John Garamendi to collaborate on the Small Business Boost Conference at UC Davis

 WHAT:    Solano EDC  in collaboration with Congressman John Garamendi and 40 public-private partners will host the Small Business Boost Conference to help small businesses in our local region grow. At the conference, small business owners will learn about:

·        Best practices on developing a results-oriented business strategy

·        Cutting-edge tips on marketing techniques, operational optimization, and business-to-business networking

·        Special programs and resources for women and veteran business owners

·        Resources available through Covered California, our regional Workforce Investment Boards, and local Small Business Development Centers

·        Educational opportunities at UC Davis Graduate School of Management and Sacramento State College of Business Administration

·        Financing opportunities available through traditional lenders, alternative lenders, government lenders, crowdfunding, venture capital, the Small Business Administration, and more…

 

Conference participants will receive a Small Business Resource Manual, and be encouraged to complete a Business Strengths Assessment & Strategic Plan worksheet. With ample opportunities to network, all conference participants are encouraged to bring business cards. People unable to attend the Small Business Boost Conference can also stream a live webinar. More information will be available at http://garamendi.house.gov/smallbusiness closer to the event.

 

WHO:                   Participating organizations include:

                             U.S. Small Business Administration
 

                             University of California, Davis,

                             Capital Region Small Business Development Center,

                             Sacramento State College of Business Administration,

                             Constant Contact,

                             Third District Chambers of Commerce,

                             .…and many more regional business organizations

WHERE:             UC Davis Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, Davis

 

WHEN:              Wednesday, August 26

8:30am – 1:00pm

           
SCHEDULE:      8:30am - Coffee and bagel networking session

9:00am - Business strategy presentations by Pierre Balthazard, Dean of the Sacramento State College of Business Administration; Andy Hargadon, Professor at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management; and Alec Stern, Vice President of Strategic Innovation at Constant Contact
10:00am - Panel Discussion, “Accessing Capital for your Small Business”
11:00am -Workshop boot camps on business operations, marketing, and networking
12:00pm - Small Business Resource Fair & Networking

RSVP:                Business owners interested in attending should RSVP at (530) 753-5316 or by email at Andrew.Kim@mail.house.gov. The conference is complimentary, however seating is limited. Therefore, RSVP today. As a small business owner, you’re busy and may not have the time to attend in person. If you aren’t able to get away from the shop, join in by webinar at www.garamendi.house.gov/smallbusiness.

# # #

City of Rio Vista RFP

CITY OF RIO VISTA

City Hall, 1 Main Street, Rio Vista CA 94571

 

 Request for Proposal

  Business Park Development:

Property Disposition and Development Agreement

  Click here and here for more information. 

Contact:

Issac A. George

Planning Manager

Community Development Department

(707) 374-6448

ICON delivers its first A5

Posted: 07/20/15, 7:20 PM PDT | Updated: 2 hrs ago

ICON Aircraft Inc. hit another milestone Monday morning — delivering an A5 to its first customer.

At EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., ICON CEO Kirk Hawkins handed over the keys to the sea plane, Aircraft Serial Number 1 (ASN-001), to Sean Tucker, EAA Young Eagles chairman and aerobatic pilot, and EAA Chairman and former Cessna CEO Jack Pelton, who accepted the aircraft on behalf of Young Eagles.

Young Eagles is the EAA’s organization that allows children to experience general aviation, often for the first time, by taking them for flights.

“Delivering the first product to a customer is a transformational milestone for any company,” said Hawkins in a press statement. “ICON’s team has worked passionately over the years to create a truly amazing aircraft, and it delivers. Our mission is to make flying more accessible to the thousands who dream about it but consider it out of reach, including our youth.

“EAA’s Young Eagles shares that same vision and we couldn’t think of a more worthy recipient for the first ICON A5,” he continued. “Old, young, and in between, the A5 was specifically designed to change the way you experience personal flying–and it will. I can’t wait to see all the smiling faces of those youth who get to fly in it for the first time.”

Pelton expressed excitement with the delivery.

“EAA’s mission is to help support and grow general aviation at every level. ICON’s mission couldn’t be more aligned with ours, and seeing them succeed benefits all of general aviation. Many have tried and failed when it comes to bringing truly revolutionary aircraft to market in recent decades, so there is often understandable skepticism in our industry. But after flying the A5 myself and seeing it perform firsthand, I can say unequivocally that aircraft delivers on its promise. It’s incredibly easy to fly, safe, forgiving, and ridiculously fun. Not only is it the perfect aircraft to introduce young aviators to the thrill of flying, but I’m getting one myself.”

Both Pelton and Tucker spoke at Monday morning’s delivery event at AirVenture.

“I am very humbled and ecstatic to be taking delivery of this magnificent flying machine on behalf of Young Eagles,” Tucker said. “It’s exactly the perfect aircraft for our mission of showing the kids across America, many of whom would not otherwise be able to experience the magic of flying, that aviation is a fun and exhilarating adventure which empowers you to become the best you can be. “The A5 captures the essence of what drew me and so many others to aviation as children, and it shows how well aligned ICON’s and Young Eagles’ missions are,” he added. “Yeah baby! ICON, you rock!”

Prior to being handed over to Young Eagles, ASN-001 participated in ICON’s FAA audit in June and was the first A5 to receive an S-LSA airworthiness certificate. ICON is currently ramping up A5 production at their new facility in Vacaville.

ICON is celebrating the first customer delivery with a sales promotion that reduces the deposit for an aircraft from $5,000 to $2,000 until July 26. The promotion is available for deposits placed online or in person at the show and more information is available here: www.iconaircraft.com/a5/buy.

At the event, the company also debuted a new video, which is available online here: www.iconaircraft.com/theiconexperience.

For more information, visit www.iconaircraft.com.