Solano County leaders to stress agency's value - The Reporter
Solano County leaders to stress agency's value
BY REPORTER STAFF/
Posted: 03/14/2011 01:03:58 AM PDT
California legislators have been invited to attend Solano Economic Development Corporation membership networking event on March 30 to "learn how redevelopment projects have benefited the Solano economy," say organizers.
The invitation is the latest effort by local civic and business leaders to gain legislative support for keeping redevelopment agencies intact.
Speakers "will demonstrate how redevelopment funding has created economic opportunities through Solano County -- from the Suisun waterfront to the Vacaville downtown redevelopment, and in Vallejo, Fairfield, Dixon and Rio Vista," a press release announcing the event states.
"The governor has proposed in his budget that redevelopment funding be eliminated. I cannot stress too strongly just how devastating that would be to California and our Solano communities - especially right now with 12 percent unemployment," said Michael Ammann, president of Solano EDC.
Speakers at the meeting will include representatives from local cities in Solano County who will discuss the impact redevelopment projects have had on the economy including new business investment, increased job opportunities and construction of low income housing. They also will address how the funding elimination will hurt the cities in the coming months and years as economic development and housing staff will be reduced or eliminated, EDC organizers said.
The key speaker of the program will be Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area
Council, an organization of private business firms and executives. The Bay Area Council has endorsed Gov. Brown's proposed budget -- a move that would eliminate most of the state's economic development programs and realign and push many state programs down to county and city agencies. However, the Bay Area Council has called for reform of redevelopment agencies and not their elimination.
"California's budgets of the recent past have violated every principle of fiscal responsibility by conjuring up billions of dollars in fake revenues and pushing hard decisions off to 'next year,'" said Wunderman. "We don't like everything in this proposal. Our members don't like the higher taxes, which run counter to expanding business and jobs in the state. But on balance, we need to be part of the solution and we support the governor's proposal overall."
A recent letter signed by local mayors and two members of the Board of Supervisors urged Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Solano, to support the agencies. Wolk has said she supports Brown's proposal to do away with the agencies but has introduced legislation to allow formation of Infrastructure Financing Districts, which would absorb many of the functions of the current redevelopment agencies, only without being allowed to divert school district property taxes.
Still, Ammann said the current redevelopment structure is working and is "desperately needed" to provide opportunities for jobs and investment capital.
"This is critical legislation and our representatives need to know more about the history of redevelopment funding and what it has meant to Solano County residents," Ammann said. "It just doesn't make any sense to eliminate one of our state's more successful programs."
The meeting is one of EDC's monthly breakfast meetings to provide a forum to discuss critical issues and challenges. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield. Cost is $25 for Solano EDC members, $35 for non-members. Call 864-1855 for reservations or e-mail pat@solanoedc.org. This meeting is sponsored by NorthBay Healthcare and First Northern Bank.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Solano County grows by 4.8% - The Reporter
Solano County grows by 4.8% - The Reporter
Solano County grows by 4.8%
BY ROBIN MILLER / THE REPORTER
Posted: 03/09/2011 01:04:59 AM PST
Vacaville's population grew 4.3% in the last 10 years - among the slowest rate in Solano. (RICK ROACH / THE REPORTER)
Solano County showed a modest but slow rate of growth during the past decade -- most of it in the smallest local communities, according to 2010 U.S. Census data released Tuesday.
Overall, Solano County saw its population grow to 413,344 people, a growth rate of 4.8 percent since the 2000 census. Tiny Rio Vista again showed the largest percentage growth -- a 61 percent increase, bringing its population to 7,360 as of April 1, 2010. Vallejo, while still the county's largest city, saw its population decline by 818 people to 115,942. It ranked 49th out of the 480 cities counted.
Fairfield's population finally topped the 100,000 mark, standing at 105,321 as of the 2010 count. It ranked 60th out of all the incorporated cities tallied.
Vacaville's growth rate was one of the slower rates among local cities at 4.3 percent. The local population now stands at 92,428 people, ranking it 76th out of the 480 cities counted.
Vacaville's slower growth rate didn't surprise City Manager Laura Kuhn.
"People might have thought our growth rate was more but what's happening in Vacaville is a lot of new construction along the freeways," she said, noting several interchange revamps, the new Kaiser Hospital, and Nut Tree redevelopment that have taken place in the past decade. "That gives the impression that we're growing faster but all that construction does not necessarily mean more housing" and people, she said.
Still a modest growth rate is important for a
ADVERTISEMENT
city, Kuhn said.
"If you ask the school district, they will say they want more because more families moving in means more students and ADA (average daily attendance funding)," she said. "From an economic development standpoint some rate of growth is good for the economy because those people moving in are shopping locally and creating customer base."
Fairfield Associate Planner Brian Miller agreed.
"I would call it (Fairfield's 9.5 percent growth) a moderate rate," he said. "New employers and merchants certainly look at census overall population numbers and rates as well as income figures and other numbers in deciding whether to locate in a city. So as we grow over time, there are businesses that will look at us now who might not have when we were at 50,000 population."
Not all of the homes built in the boom years of the 1990s, however, are still translating into population, according to the census figures released Tuesday.
Among the numbers released were housing vacancy figures and the impact of the housing crisis can be clearly seen in Solano County's figures.
Overall the county had some 134,513 housing units in the 2000 census, with just 4,110 listed as vacant, a rate of 3.1 percent. By 2010, the county had 152,698 housing units of which 10,940 were listed as vacant, a rate of 7.2 percent. Overall, the number of vacant homes increased 166 percent during the decade.
Rio Vista, with the highest population rate increase, also shows the highest percent of home vacancies in the county at 11.2 percent, followed by Vallejo where 8.7 percent of the housing units were vacant as of 2010, and Fairfield, where 7.3 percent were vacant.
In the city of Dixon, the population growth of 14 percent during the past decade had City Manager Nancy Huston smiling Tuesday, but not the housing vacancy of 5.1 percent (the city saw the number of vacant homes grow from 99 in 2000 to 316 in 2010).
"We are happy with the growth because a lot of the funding from the state -- to the extent that cities still get funding from the state -- is based on population," she noted.
The vacancy rates, she said are a result of the economy and something cities across the state are having to deal with. "And I think the numbers may be down further since the census count last year," she added.
Solano County grows by 4.8%
BY ROBIN MILLER / THE REPORTER
Posted: 03/09/2011 01:04:59 AM PST
Vacaville's population grew 4.3% in the last 10 years - among the slowest rate in Solano. (RICK ROACH / THE REPORTER)
Solano County showed a modest but slow rate of growth during the past decade -- most of it in the smallest local communities, according to 2010 U.S. Census data released Tuesday.
Overall, Solano County saw its population grow to 413,344 people, a growth rate of 4.8 percent since the 2000 census. Tiny Rio Vista again showed the largest percentage growth -- a 61 percent increase, bringing its population to 7,360 as of April 1, 2010. Vallejo, while still the county's largest city, saw its population decline by 818 people to 115,942. It ranked 49th out of the 480 cities counted.
Fairfield's population finally topped the 100,000 mark, standing at 105,321 as of the 2010 count. It ranked 60th out of all the incorporated cities tallied.
Vacaville's growth rate was one of the slower rates among local cities at 4.3 percent. The local population now stands at 92,428 people, ranking it 76th out of the 480 cities counted.
Vacaville's slower growth rate didn't surprise City Manager Laura Kuhn.
"People might have thought our growth rate was more but what's happening in Vacaville is a lot of new construction along the freeways," she said, noting several interchange revamps, the new Kaiser Hospital, and Nut Tree redevelopment that have taken place in the past decade. "That gives the impression that we're growing faster but all that construction does not necessarily mean more housing" and people, she said.
Still a modest growth rate is important for a
ADVERTISEMENT
city, Kuhn said.
"If you ask the school district, they will say they want more because more families moving in means more students and ADA (average daily attendance funding)," she said. "From an economic development standpoint some rate of growth is good for the economy because those people moving in are shopping locally and creating customer base."
Fairfield Associate Planner Brian Miller agreed.
"I would call it (Fairfield's 9.5 percent growth) a moderate rate," he said. "New employers and merchants certainly look at census overall population numbers and rates as well as income figures and other numbers in deciding whether to locate in a city. So as we grow over time, there are businesses that will look at us now who might not have when we were at 50,000 population."
Not all of the homes built in the boom years of the 1990s, however, are still translating into population, according to the census figures released Tuesday.
Among the numbers released were housing vacancy figures and the impact of the housing crisis can be clearly seen in Solano County's figures.
Overall the county had some 134,513 housing units in the 2000 census, with just 4,110 listed as vacant, a rate of 3.1 percent. By 2010, the county had 152,698 housing units of which 10,940 were listed as vacant, a rate of 7.2 percent. Overall, the number of vacant homes increased 166 percent during the decade.
Rio Vista, with the highest population rate increase, also shows the highest percent of home vacancies in the county at 11.2 percent, followed by Vallejo where 8.7 percent of the housing units were vacant as of 2010, and Fairfield, where 7.3 percent were vacant.
In the city of Dixon, the population growth of 14 percent during the past decade had City Manager Nancy Huston smiling Tuesday, but not the housing vacancy of 5.1 percent (the city saw the number of vacant homes grow from 99 in 2000 to 316 in 2010).
"We are happy with the growth because a lot of the funding from the state -- to the extent that cities still get funding from the state -- is based on population," she noted.
The vacancy rates, she said are a result of the economy and something cities across the state are having to deal with. "And I think the numbers may be down further since the census count last year," she added.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Solano County leaders attending legislative conference in Washington, DC
Solano County - News Details
County leaders attending legislative conference in Washington, DC
March 7, 2011
The Solano County Board of Supervisors and two staff members are in Washington, DC this week attending the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference.
Board Chairman Mike Reagan and Supervisor Linda Seifert arrived last week. They are joined by County Administrator Mike Johnson and the County's Health and Social Services' Director Patrick Duterte.
The legislative conference is an annual event that draws thousands of county leaders from across the country. During the five-day conference, county officials will have the opportunity to help develop and advance NACo’s 2011 legislative agenda. The will also meet with Obama administration officials and members of Congress, and hear from prominent national leaders and commentators.
"The policies coming out of the federal government have a direct impact on county programs and services. By working collaboratively with other county leaders, we can help shape that policy to benefit local communities," Reagan said.
NACo’s 11 steering committees will meet during the conference to review and make recommendations on issues and legislation important to counties and communities. Participants will also tackle critical issues including how to increase government transparency, improve government efficiency through technology, and expand interagency collaboration to enhance service delivery.
Reagan, who sits on NACo’s community and economic development steering committee, will spend much of his time in policy discussions and meetings on job creation and the role of county governments in the nation’s economic recovery.
Seifert, a member of the NACo’s justice and public safety steering committee, will focus on county governments’ role in homeland security, emergency preparedness and vital public safety services.
Duterte, a member of NACo’s Health Services Committee and chair of the Health Disparities Subcommittee, will be discussing health care policy and social services. Duterte will also be presenting a resolution on behalf of the Solano County Board of Supervisors, urging NACo to support the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which was introduced by President Obama last year. The initiative would provide loan and grant financing to attract grocery stores and other fresh food retailers to underserved areas to expand healthy food options, reduce childhood obesity, and improve the health of families and children.
"Our representation plays a significant role in shaping the priorities of this national organization, which the federal administration uses to understand local issues," Seifert said.
The policy development process initiated by the steering committees leads to the publication of the American County Platform, which NACo uses as a guide to deliver the county government message to the administration, Congress and the American public.
County leaders attending legislative conference in Washington, DC
March 7, 2011
The Solano County Board of Supervisors and two staff members are in Washington, DC this week attending the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference.
Board Chairman Mike Reagan and Supervisor Linda Seifert arrived last week. They are joined by County Administrator Mike Johnson and the County's Health and Social Services' Director Patrick Duterte.
The legislative conference is an annual event that draws thousands of county leaders from across the country. During the five-day conference, county officials will have the opportunity to help develop and advance NACo’s 2011 legislative agenda. The will also meet with Obama administration officials and members of Congress, and hear from prominent national leaders and commentators.
"The policies coming out of the federal government have a direct impact on county programs and services. By working collaboratively with other county leaders, we can help shape that policy to benefit local communities," Reagan said.
NACo’s 11 steering committees will meet during the conference to review and make recommendations on issues and legislation important to counties and communities. Participants will also tackle critical issues including how to increase government transparency, improve government efficiency through technology, and expand interagency collaboration to enhance service delivery.
Reagan, who sits on NACo’s community and economic development steering committee, will spend much of his time in policy discussions and meetings on job creation and the role of county governments in the nation’s economic recovery.
Seifert, a member of the NACo’s justice and public safety steering committee, will focus on county governments’ role in homeland security, emergency preparedness and vital public safety services.
Duterte, a member of NACo’s Health Services Committee and chair of the Health Disparities Subcommittee, will be discussing health care policy and social services. Duterte will also be presenting a resolution on behalf of the Solano County Board of Supervisors, urging NACo to support the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which was introduced by President Obama last year. The initiative would provide loan and grant financing to attract grocery stores and other fresh food retailers to underserved areas to expand healthy food options, reduce childhood obesity, and improve the health of families and children.
"Our representation plays a significant role in shaping the priorities of this national organization, which the federal administration uses to understand local issues," Seifert said.
The policy development process initiated by the steering committees leads to the publication of the American County Platform, which NACo uses as a guide to deliver the county government message to the administration, Congress and the American public.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Solano County - offers second round of help for employers to provide jobs
Solano County - News Details
County offers second round of help for employers to provide jobs
February 16, 2011
Local employers can get a little help adding new jobs thanks to Solano County's Create Jobs program.
"Local companies want to expand their businesses, create jobs and get our economy moving," said Supervisor Mike Reagan, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “We want them to do so as well and the Create Jobs program gives them a little extra incentive to add jobs now.”
The subsidized employment effort is a re-start of a similar initiative implemented last year with federal American Recovery and Investment Act funding. In that effort, 27 residents were placed in jobs with 14 employers. At the end of the six-month program, 18 of the participants remained employed.
“We are hoping the program will be even more successful this year,” said Christiana Smith, Health and Social Services deputy director for employment and eligibility services. “Local employers have already seen that they get much more than a subsidy. They also receive an array of services to ensure new hires are successful.”
Federal and state CalWORKs dollars are funding Solano County’s Create Jobs program.
Any employer in Solano County can participate if they hire new employees in new jobs for at least 20 hours per week. Employers will be reimbursed for 80 percent of wage costs up to $16 per hour. The employer must be able to document that supervisory and training costs equal 25 percent of the subsidized wage costs, and that these costs are not paid from federal funds.
Potential employees under the program are people already participating in CalWORKs. CalWORKs participants should contact their employment services worker to sign up for this program.
Employers interested in participating in the program should e-mail createjobs@solanocounty.com, call (707) 553-5173, or go to www.solanocounty.com/createjobs.
County offers second round of help for employers to provide jobs
February 16, 2011
Local employers can get a little help adding new jobs thanks to Solano County's Create Jobs program.
"Local companies want to expand their businesses, create jobs and get our economy moving," said Supervisor Mike Reagan, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “We want them to do so as well and the Create Jobs program gives them a little extra incentive to add jobs now.”
The subsidized employment effort is a re-start of a similar initiative implemented last year with federal American Recovery and Investment Act funding. In that effort, 27 residents were placed in jobs with 14 employers. At the end of the six-month program, 18 of the participants remained employed.
“We are hoping the program will be even more successful this year,” said Christiana Smith, Health and Social Services deputy director for employment and eligibility services. “Local employers have already seen that they get much more than a subsidy. They also receive an array of services to ensure new hires are successful.”
Federal and state CalWORKs dollars are funding Solano County’s Create Jobs program.
Any employer in Solano County can participate if they hire new employees in new jobs for at least 20 hours per week. Employers will be reimbursed for 80 percent of wage costs up to $16 per hour. The employer must be able to document that supervisory and training costs equal 25 percent of the subsidized wage costs, and that these costs are not paid from federal funds.
Potential employees under the program are people already participating in CalWORKs. CalWORKs participants should contact their employment services worker to sign up for this program.
Employers interested in participating in the program should e-mail createjobs@solanocounty.com, call (707) 553-5173, or go to www.solanocounty.com/createjobs.
Solano County - tops in getting benefits to residents
Solano County - News Details
County tops in getting benefits to residents
February 16, 2011
Solano County is the best medium-sized county at getting food stamp benefits into the hands eligible low-income residents, according to the California Food Policy Advocates.
The organization presented the county the "Best PAI in Class- Medium County" award at the 11th annual CalFresh Forum in Sacramento on Feb. 9. The “Freshy Awards” honor individuals and organizations for their efforts to boost participation in the CalFresh program, formerly known as the Food Stamp program.
“The CalFresh program gives eligible families much needed assistance to provide healthy and nutritious meals,” said Christiana Smith, Health and Social Services deputy director for employment and eligibility services. “The integration of services at the one-stop campuses, our outreach efforts and the ability for clients to apply for benefits online were key to achieving our participation rate.”
In December 2010, Solano County had 18,022 open cases with individuals receiving the federally funded nutritional assistance benefits, up 3,816 cases or 27 percent from December 2009. The monetary value of the December 2010 benefits was $5.6 million in local food purchases.
Residents can apply for CalFresh benefits online at www.benefitscalwin.org.
Solano County ranks fifth in the state for maximum participation in the federal program, according a report by the California Food Policy Advocates that establishes a county-level Program Access Index (PAI) by estimating CalFresh utilization among low-income individuals. Solano County's PAI was .695. The remaining counties in top five were Fresno (.788), Tulare (.769), Del Norte (.731) and Sacramento (.707) counties.
Full participation would bring an additional $13.5 million annually in federal nutritional benefits to Solano County families, the report said. The organization estimates that statewide only half of eligible Californians receive CalFresh benefits, which translates into about $4.9 billion in federal nutrition benefits that are not collected each year.
For more information about CalFresh participation and its impact on the state and local economies, read CFPA’s 2010 Lost Dollars, Empty Plates report at and CFPA’s Program Access Index report.
County tops in getting benefits to residents
February 16, 2011
Solano County is the best medium-sized county at getting food stamp benefits into the hands eligible low-income residents, according to the California Food Policy Advocates.
The organization presented the county the "Best PAI in Class- Medium County" award at the 11th annual CalFresh Forum in Sacramento on Feb. 9. The “Freshy Awards” honor individuals and organizations for their efforts to boost participation in the CalFresh program, formerly known as the Food Stamp program.
“The CalFresh program gives eligible families much needed assistance to provide healthy and nutritious meals,” said Christiana Smith, Health and Social Services deputy director for employment and eligibility services. “The integration of services at the one-stop campuses, our outreach efforts and the ability for clients to apply for benefits online were key to achieving our participation rate.”
In December 2010, Solano County had 18,022 open cases with individuals receiving the federally funded nutritional assistance benefits, up 3,816 cases or 27 percent from December 2009. The monetary value of the December 2010 benefits was $5.6 million in local food purchases.
Residents can apply for CalFresh benefits online at www.benefitscalwin.org.
Solano County ranks fifth in the state for maximum participation in the federal program, according a report by the California Food Policy Advocates that establishes a county-level Program Access Index (PAI) by estimating CalFresh utilization among low-income individuals. Solano County's PAI was .695. The remaining counties in top five were Fresno (.788), Tulare (.769), Del Norte (.731) and Sacramento (.707) counties.
Full participation would bring an additional $13.5 million annually in federal nutritional benefits to Solano County families, the report said. The organization estimates that statewide only half of eligible Californians receive CalFresh benefits, which translates into about $4.9 billion in federal nutrition benefits that are not collected each year.
For more information about CalFresh participation and its impact on the state and local economies, read CFPA’s 2010 Lost Dollars, Empty Plates report at and CFPA’s Program Access Index report.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The UC Davis School of Medicine rose to 37th place among 134 medical schools in the U.S.
The UC Davis School of Medicine rose to 37th place among 134 medical schools in the U.S. in an annual ranking of research funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2010, school officials reported Monday.
That's 11 places higher than 2009 and 25 spots better than in 2001, when UC Davis ranked 62nd nationwide.
UC Davis got almost $119 million in total research funding from NIH in 2010. This compares to just over $46 million in 2001. NIH funding represents 62 percent of the school's total outside funding, which reached $190.4 million in fiscal 2009-2010.
"The proportion of NIH funding for an institution is one measure of research excellence," Lars Berglund, associate dean for research at the UC Davis School of Medicine, said in a news release. "Funded by U.S. tax dollars, NIH supports researchers around the country and around the world as they work to improve people's health."
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.
UC Davis ranked particularly high in basis sciences, including microbiology (12th out of 96 surveyed) and in anatomy/cellular biology (20th out of 80 surveyed). In clinical sciences, the urology department ranked fifth out of 34 schools surveyed and department of neurology ranked 21st out of 78.
Berglund attributed much of the recent gains in NIH research funding to work on autism and fragile X syndrome at the UC Davis MIND Institute, research partnerships with the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences, UC Davis Cancer Center grants and support for scientists through the UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center, which seeks to move discoveries from the laboratory into the market place.
"Research fuels the discoveries that transform health, and the infusion of federal funds contributes to the overall economic health of the region," Claire Pomeroy, chief executive officer of the UC Davis Health System and dean of the medical school, said in a news release.
UC Davis ranked fourth among the University of California medical schools in NIH funding last year.
The ranking includes UC Riverside, which was approved by UC Regents in July 2008. The school is gearing up for business but will not accept its first class until fall 2012.
UC San Francisco ranked second in NIH funding among medical schools nationwide, with $442 million in 2010. Johns Hopkins University took the top spot with almost $439 million.
UC San Diego was ninth, with almost $303 million; UC Los Angeles was 12th, with $294 million, and UC Irvine was 54th, with $71 million. Fledgling UC Riverside got $1.3 million.
That's 11 places higher than 2009 and 25 spots better than in 2001, when UC Davis ranked 62nd nationwide.
UC Davis got almost $119 million in total research funding from NIH in 2010. This compares to just over $46 million in 2001. NIH funding represents 62 percent of the school's total outside funding, which reached $190.4 million in fiscal 2009-2010.
"The proportion of NIH funding for an institution is one measure of research excellence," Lars Berglund, associate dean for research at the UC Davis School of Medicine, said in a news release. "Funded by U.S. tax dollars, NIH supports researchers around the country and around the world as they work to improve people's health."
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.
UC Davis ranked particularly high in basis sciences, including microbiology (12th out of 96 surveyed) and in anatomy/cellular biology (20th out of 80 surveyed). In clinical sciences, the urology department ranked fifth out of 34 schools surveyed and department of neurology ranked 21st out of 78.
Berglund attributed much of the recent gains in NIH research funding to work on autism and fragile X syndrome at the UC Davis MIND Institute, research partnerships with the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences, UC Davis Cancer Center grants and support for scientists through the UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center, which seeks to move discoveries from the laboratory into the market place.
"Research fuels the discoveries that transform health, and the infusion of federal funds contributes to the overall economic health of the region," Claire Pomeroy, chief executive officer of the UC Davis Health System and dean of the medical school, said in a news release.
UC Davis ranked fourth among the University of California medical schools in NIH funding last year.
The ranking includes UC Riverside, which was approved by UC Regents in July 2008. The school is gearing up for business but will not accept its first class until fall 2012.
UC San Francisco ranked second in NIH funding among medical schools nationwide, with $442 million in 2010. Johns Hopkins University took the top spot with almost $439 million.
UC San Diego was ninth, with almost $303 million; UC Los Angeles was 12th, with $294 million, and UC Irvine was 54th, with $71 million. Fledgling UC Riverside got $1.3 million.
Monday, February 7, 2011
$50,000 Syar grant a call to action
February 7th, 2011 02:05am
By Jenna V. Loceff, North Bay Business Journal Staff Reporter
SOLANO – Solano County’s seven cities and county government have always been strong supporters of the Economic Development Corporation, but the fiscal crisis has meant funding from public sector declined by about $100,000 for the 2010 calendar year.
Due to state budget cuts, public sector funds have been diminishing over the past couple years and now account for 25 percent of EDC revenue compared with 40 percent, which has been the norm.
The EDC started a capital campaign hoping to raise that $100,000 and last year Jim Syar of Syar Industries challenged the membership to match a $50,000 donation dollar for dollar to reach the EDC’s goal of raising that $100,000.
“We are thrilled to recognize Jim Syar and Syar Industries for their phenomenal support and contribution to Solano EDC,” said Michael Ammann, executive director of the EDC. “Like all economic development organizations in California today, Solano EDC faces financial hardships due to California’s budget crisis and economic challenges. Solano business and government partners have been strong supporters of EDC and recognize the critical role EDC plays in making first contacts with companies that might locate in this region. We have faced cuts of more than $100,000 in annual funding due to these cutbacks from government and private sources.”
But even during the worst recession in a generation, Solano EDC members stepped up with a $33,000 match. The Solano EDC “Cup is More Than Half Full Award” was created to mark this achievement and challenge the membership to “more than finish the job in 2011.”
The EDC staff and officers are taking steps to reduce costs, but with these steps come the hard decisions that will affect EDC’s ability to do the day-to-day work that is necessary to keep Solano County’s economic opportunities strong.
The fear is that reductions in activities by Solano EDC will result in less exposure at conferences, trade shows, one-on-one meetings, and in public relations/advertising expenditures.
Syar Industries is headquartered in Napa and is a leading producer of aggregate rock products and paving materials in Northern California.
Syar serves the construction industry from facilities in Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, and Contra Costa counties. Today, Syar operates nine asphalt paving material plants, four recycling facilities, and ten ready mix concrete batch plants.
Syar provided materials for the original construction of Marine World, towers on the Al Zampa Bridge and Benicia/Martinez Bridge, pavement of Curtola Parkway, the widening of Highway 37, the grading and excavating of the original Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Vallejo, and paving of nearly every street in Vallejo. The Syar Family has contributed to many community organizations, events and milestones.
By Jenna V. Loceff, North Bay Business Journal Staff Reporter
SOLANO – Solano County’s seven cities and county government have always been strong supporters of the Economic Development Corporation, but the fiscal crisis has meant funding from public sector declined by about $100,000 for the 2010 calendar year.
Due to state budget cuts, public sector funds have been diminishing over the past couple years and now account for 25 percent of EDC revenue compared with 40 percent, which has been the norm.
The EDC started a capital campaign hoping to raise that $100,000 and last year Jim Syar of Syar Industries challenged the membership to match a $50,000 donation dollar for dollar to reach the EDC’s goal of raising that $100,000.
“We are thrilled to recognize Jim Syar and Syar Industries for their phenomenal support and contribution to Solano EDC,” said Michael Ammann, executive director of the EDC. “Like all economic development organizations in California today, Solano EDC faces financial hardships due to California’s budget crisis and economic challenges. Solano business and government partners have been strong supporters of EDC and recognize the critical role EDC plays in making first contacts with companies that might locate in this region. We have faced cuts of more than $100,000 in annual funding due to these cutbacks from government and private sources.”
But even during the worst recession in a generation, Solano EDC members stepped up with a $33,000 match. The Solano EDC “Cup is More Than Half Full Award” was created to mark this achievement and challenge the membership to “more than finish the job in 2011.”
The EDC staff and officers are taking steps to reduce costs, but with these steps come the hard decisions that will affect EDC’s ability to do the day-to-day work that is necessary to keep Solano County’s economic opportunities strong.
The fear is that reductions in activities by Solano EDC will result in less exposure at conferences, trade shows, one-on-one meetings, and in public relations/advertising expenditures.
Syar Industries is headquartered in Napa and is a leading producer of aggregate rock products and paving materials in Northern California.
Syar serves the construction industry from facilities in Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, and Contra Costa counties. Today, Syar operates nine asphalt paving material plants, four recycling facilities, and ten ready mix concrete batch plants.
Syar provided materials for the original construction of Marine World, towers on the Al Zampa Bridge and Benicia/Martinez Bridge, pavement of Curtola Parkway, the widening of Highway 37, the grading and excavating of the original Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Vallejo, and paving of nearly every street in Vallejo. The Syar Family has contributed to many community organizations, events and milestones.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)