North Bay Business Journal

SSU conference ‘call to action’ on economy gets response

NORTH BAY – “This is a call to action,” said Dr. William Silver, dean of the School of Business and Economics at Sonoma State University when he opened its annual economic outlook conference Feb. 25.

Innovation Forum issues call for startup presenters

SANTA ROSA – Start-up and second-stage companies looking for investment expertise should apply to be a presenter at the Eighth North Bay Growth & Innovation Forum. The event takes place on April 28 and the cutoff for applications is March 12.

Pros and cons of the Marin Clean Energy program

There’s been vigorous discussion in recent months over a plan to provide a significant portion of the energy demand for Marin County from renewable sources through a community choice aggregation program called Marin Clean Energy. The Business Journal invited both sides of the Marin Clean Energy debate to present their views here and in more detail at the Impact Marin 2010 conference on March 11.

Marin Clean Energy — pro: Program offers key green benefits

Marin Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation program that is designed to serve Marin’s priorities. It allows electric consumers to choose non-polluting renewable energy, lower Marin’s greenhouse gas emissions, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, foster development of local green power generation and clean technologies and protect Marin homes and businesses from uncertain fuel prices.

Marin Clean Energy — con: Plan carries far too many risks

The financial crisis is forcing Marin residents and businesses to spend less and work more. The regional unemployment rate has doubled in two years to 10 percent. Every day, another Marin family is losing their home to foreclosure.

Calendar: Week of March 8

Calendar of business events in the North Bay for upcoming weeks.

Banking, business strategy, fiscal crisis, energy plan at March 11 event

MARIN COUNTY – The North Bay Business Journal’s 2010 Impact Marin conference from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 11 at the Embassy Suites is packed with information designed to help businesses navigate the economy and come to a decision on what is arguably the most important issue facing the area, Marin Clean Energy.

To attend, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com. Tickets are $39 per person or $390 for a table of 10 and include continental breakfast.

Calendar: Week of March 1

Calendar of business events in the North Bay for upcoming weeks

Marin event registration closes next week

MARIN COUNTY – The hotly debated issue of Community Choice Aggregation will be closely studied from two different perspectives at the Business Journal’s 2010 Impact Marin Conference on Thursday, March 11 from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Rafael. This will be a unique opportunity for the public to ask questions of both sides in a neutral forum. In addition, a panel discussion will look at the state of the local budget and its impact on businesses and examine practical strategies that can be effective in the current economic environment.

Registration closes next Friday, March 5. To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com, or go to www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com. Tickets are $39 per person or $390 for a table of 10 and include continental breakfast.

Economic Outlook Conference presentations available for viewing

NORTH BAY – The slideshow presentations of speakers at yesterday’s Economic Outlook Conference are available on the Resources page of the Business Journal Web site in PDF format.

The event put on by Sonoma State University’s School of Business and Economics in collaboration with the Business Journal focused on a call to action for the North Bay to create a regional economic development corporation to leverage “cooperative competition” in creating industry clusters that will support and sustain job growth.