North Bay Business Journal

What will be California’s economic game changer?

A look back at three decades of new and expanded manufacturing facilities in California leaves us scratching our head. What’s the state’s next big game changer? Our investment highs this decade equal our lows of the ’80s and ’90s.

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.

Mayor’s task force explores making Santa Rosa competitive

SANTA ROSA — A list of viable business enhancing proposals, that could help jump start the local Santa Rosa economy and be implemented quickly, is being actively considered by the Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Competitiveness.

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.

Amy’s Kitchen plans $63 million facility, 700 hires in South Carolina

SANTA ROSA — Natural prepared foods maker Amy’s Kitchen plans to open a $63 million, 700-employee production plant in Greenville, S.C., in January 2012, according to an announcement today by South Carolina officials. Acquisition of a 125,000-square-foot former bakery includes land that could accommodate a plant twice that size, according to a commercial real estate agent involved in the pending deal.

Marin forecast sees opportunity for biotech

Marin County’s economic recovery is under way slowly with some sectors improving but employment lagging, according to the Spring Economic Bulletin released tonight by the Marin Economic Forum.

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.

Marin OKs $150,000 for economic forum

MARIN – The Marin County Board of Supervisors has approved giving the Marin Economic Forum $150,000 to continue its work.

What do you call 25 changes to city rules? A good start

The Santa Rosa City Council is expected next week to approve a package of rule changes designed to help business, such as fee deferrals, zoning extensions and waiving some parking requirements.

The efforts are welcome and the relief badly needed. And they are a validation that the devastated budgets of the city and other public agencies are inextricably tied to the success or lack thereof a community’s businesses.

Santa Rosa explores ‘aggressive’ plan to spur business climate

SANTA ROSA — The Santa Rosa City Council has agreed to explore what are being labeled by city officials as “aggressive” additions to a plan for kickstarting the city’s economy.

Conference speakers to address economy, permit best practices

NORTH BAY — The good news is that the worst part of the recession generally is over for the local construction industry, according to conference panelist Rob Eyler, chair of the Sonoma State University Economics Department and director of the institution’s Center for Regional Economic Analysis.

Dr. Eyler will be one of the panelists at the Business Journal’s annual Construction Conference on Wednesday, offering opportunities for the North Bay economy and its significant construction industry to prepare for the next business cycle.

Winners announced for 10th anniversary Women in Business awards

NORTH BAY — The North Bay Business Journal has selected 10 women from Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties for its 10th annual Women in Business awards honoring leaders, innovators and visionaries across a wide range of professions.

Economic Outlook Conference calls for action on regional economic development

NORTH BAY – Registration for the SSU Economic Outlook Conference, produced in collaboration with the Business Journal, closes on Friday. The event is on Feb. 25 from 7:30 to noon, and tickets are $49 per person and include continental breakfast. To register, contact Linda Perkins at events@busjrnl.com or 707-521-5264, or register online at www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.

The conference will center on the need for business leaders to come together and take action on creating a regional economic development organization, including strategies for spurring growth at a local level. An outlook for the local and national economies will also give information on how businesses can best prepare for what is to come, and a panel discussion will examine in detail modes of stimulating job creation, retention and entrepreneurism.

Business needs a plan to execute on economic development

The North Bay has no shortage of dedicated business leaders who work diligently every day on behalf of making their communities better places to work and live.

Business Journal, SSU Economic Outlook Conference registration open

NORTH BAY — The Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics’ 17th annual economic outlook conference, “The Time is Now: Developing a regional strategy to attract and retain jobs,” will be Feb. 25 at the Sheraton in Petaluma.

Produced in collaboration with the Business Journal, registration is at 7:30 a.m. and the program from 8 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $49 per person and include continental breakfast. To register, contact Linda Perkins at events@busjrnl.com or 707-521-5264, or register online at www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.

Feds to hold Jan. 26 hearing on Yolo, Solano rural economic development

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to hear what Yolo and Solano county residents have to say on the types of programs and policies needed to support the counties’ rural areas.

After being without CEO, Windsor chamber to seek new leader in fall

WINDSOR – After having been without a full-time leader since the end of last year, the Windsor Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center plans to hire a top executive this fall.

Santa Rosa chamber’s Lynch leaving for Irvine

IRVINE – The Irvine Chamber of Commerce has announced Christopher Lynch as the new vice president of economic development.

Impact Napa registration now open

SANTA ROSA – After a successful inaugural event with more than 300 attendees, the Business Journal is holding its second Impact Napa Conference exploring top issues shaping the future of business in Napa County.

Seven cities, county share economic development plans

In an attempt to foster mutual cooperation and enhance awareness of economic development activities throughout Sonoma County, eight government agencies came together at a Sonoma County Alliance meeting June 3 at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club to talk about retaining existing businesses, attracting new ones, creating jobs and leveraging private/public partnerships to stimulate growth.