Sonoma County gives economic booster $100,000 more

SANTA ROSA -- The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an additional $100,000 investment in economic-development group Sonoma County BEST for fiscal 2014--2015 and an extension of arrangement between the county, Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce and Sonoma County BEST.

“Economic development is important not just in bad times but also in good, and by investing in BEST, the EDB and the county are working to attract businesses and build a diverse economy,” said board Chairman and BEST director David Rabbitt, referring to the county's Economic Development Board.

BEST has exceeded its 2014 job-creation goal by 28 percent, adding 478 jobs, according to Supervisor Shirlee Zane, also a BEST board member.

“BEST has assisted businesses in adding 2,586 total jobs to Sonoma County since 2012 and is at 62.9 percent of its five-year goal of 4,100 total jobs,” she said.

In 2011, the county supervisors approved a resolution entering into a memorandum of understanding between the county and Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce to support the BEST program for a term of three years and providing $100,000 for each year of the term. In return, two seats on the BEST board would be the supervisors' picks.

“The county’s investment in the BEST Program demonstrates support and investment in jobs, workforce growth, and business attraction and encourages a diverse community economic base” said Carolyn Stark, executive director, Sonoma County BEST.

BEST is short for Building Economic Success Together.

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