North Bay Business Journal

SAN FRANCISCO — When it comes to creating jobs in California across a wide range of income levels and employment sectors, a new report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute concludes that it pays to play to your strengths.

For much of the Bay Area and other regions in the state, high-tech jobs are where the action is.

A majority of Bay Area employers said they won’t increase hiring in the coming months and fewer, including just more than half in the North Bay, expect the overall regional economy to improve by significant measures, although the outlook positive overall, according to a Bay Area Council survey.

With relatively little public notice, four Bay Area regional bureaucracies, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission have come together under the Orwellian sounding OneBayArea.org.

BAY AREA — Small- and mid-size businesses throughout the Bay Area are more confident about the economic outlook, with a majority of executives expecting conditions to improve in the next six months, according to survey results released today by the Bay Area Council. Marin, Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties trailed San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in optimism and projected growth.

The Marin Education Fund is looking for potential mentors who have the desire to assist high school students with the college and financial aid application process. … The North Bay Leadership Council and First Five Marin and First Five Sonoma County are co-sponsoring an event entitled “Key to Economic Success in the 21st Century: Investment in Early Childhood Programs.” … Sonoma State University’s campus will be closed two Fridays a month during the spring semester in order to save money on utilities as part of the reductions caused by the current state budget crisis. … Pamela Martens, superintendent of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District, submitted her resignation as superintendent effective Jan. 11, but agreed to remain with the district to assist with a transition to new leadership until June 30.

SANTA ROSA – With voters becoming increasingly pessimistic about the direction of California, momentum is building for a new initiative to be placed on the November 2010 ballot to authorize a constitutional convention.

One of the fastest-growing divisions of Medtronic Inc. that focuses on treatments for diabetes is based in Northridge. But its 1,400-employee expansion won’t be there. It will be in San Antonio, Texas.