North Bay Business Journal

BEST and Lucasfilm: Going after the big one

Under the leadership of BEST (Building Economic Success Together), a new regional economic development initiative and a public-private partnership designed to facilitate business success in Sonoma County, seven incentives to attract Lucasfilm to Sonoma Country quickly appeared.

Santa Rosa Chamber to move offices

SANTA ROSA — The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce said today it plans to relocate its downtown offices to a business park in the west central area of the city this summer.

BEST to poll 100 businesses on retention, expansion needs

SANTA ROSA — A public-private Sonoma County partnership aimed at spurring job growth plans to survey 100 local businesses in as many days on what they need to stay and thrive in the county.

Share your thoughts: Should North Bay local governments provide financial and other incentives to attract and retain businesses?

Q&A: BEST Executive Director Carolyn Stark

SONOMA COUNTY — Carolyn Stark had already spent several years helping to foster economic success and vitality in communities before becoming the executive director of the Building Economic Success Together, or BEST, program late last year. Most recently, Ms. Stark helped develop a plan to bring 8,000 jobs to Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs, and her work as CEO of the Austin Technology Council has brought more than 150,000 new jobs to the region since 2004. Under the umbrella of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, BEST’s goals include creating 4,100 total jobs in five years.

SSU conference includes timely forecast, state controller, food industry visionary

The annual Sonoma State University Economic Outlook Conference Feb. 23, which for nearly two decades has been one of the benchmark events in the North Bay, will include a unique combination of high-level presentations from one of the region’s leading economists, the founder of the area’s private natural foods producer and a top state budget official.

2011 top stories: New hospital, tech advances define year of the economy

The national and local economy was on everyone’s mind in 2011. But as the Business Journal editorial staff set out to develop its Top Ten Stories of the Year, it quickly became clear that the North Bay was blessed with multiple economy-boosting projects and new commitments job creation.

BEST forms task forces to tackle employment issues in 2012

The newly formed economic development effort will partner with other groups during the year.

50 new jobs is a great start heading to 2012

Several months ago I had the privilege of participating in a group tour of Agilent Technologies’ sprawling and visually stunning Fountaingrove campus. When the tour was done, I felt for the first time in 25 years of following Agilent that I understood — in a non-technical way, for sure — what the company does in Santa Rosa. (Coincidentally Agilent is a winner of one of our Healthiest Companies Awards and is profiled below.)

Santa Rosa chamber names executive director for BEST jobs effort

SONOMA COUNTY — The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce today announced the appointment of Carolyn Stark as executive director of the Building Economic Success Together program, a countywide economic development organization created to spur job growth while making Sonoma County more economically competitive.

Risk of doing nothing on jobs is too high

If someone offered you the opportunity to make a tenfold return on an investment over five years, would you take it?

Sonoma County BEST program to get $300,000 from county

SANTA ROSA — Despite concerns from some members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors about more spending at a time of county budget cuts, the board this morning voted 4-1 for a three-year grant for $100,000 annually to the economic development program Building Economic Success Together, or BEST.

BEST economic program kicked off

SANTA ROSA — A proactive and coordinated effort from the public and private sectors targeting job growth, Sonoma County BEST – “Building Economic Success Together” — officially kicked off with a breakfast this morning at Santa Rosa Junior College.

Santa Rosa chamber preparing to launch BEST economic effort

SONOMA COUNTY — A partnership between private and public sectors in Sonoma County is being forged to form a singular entity that would address economic challenges while creating jobs.