North Bay Business Journal

Business Cluster named one of six iHub job centers

ROHNERT PARK – The Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster has a new tag to add to incubator, business education provider and green tech business center.

Worksite English program expanding

NORTH BAY – The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce is adding several new aspects to its English language learning program. The Worksite Held Employee English Learning, or WHEEL, program put on by the chamber has traditionally involved three components in addition to the English classes.

SSU forum to focus on economic corporation

ROHNERT PARK – The North Bay must act immediately to form an economic development agency focused on improving the region’s economy, according to William Silver, dean of the School of Business and Economics at SSU.

Manufacturing group, Vantreo strike benefits deal

SANTA ROSA – The chamber of commerce-created Santa Rosa Manufacturing Group unveiled Monday a property casualty, benefits and workers’ comp insurance purchasing program that could save members between 3 and 15 percent on benefits costs.

The trade association launched last year represents about

Education: College of Marin dental program gets grant

College of Marin has received a $106,500 workforce grant for its dental assistant program.

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.

Appellate court upholds ‘Gateways’ redevelopment approval

SANTA ROSA – A California appellate court has upheld the June 2006 approval of the “Gateways” plan to redevelop 1,100 acres along a four-mile stretch of central Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa chamber names chief executive

SANTA ROSA – Jonathan Coe, currently the president and general manager for the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Chamber of commerce, will join the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce as its new president and chief executive officer in September.

Leaders say encouraging business development key to retaining local talent

With the loss of 600 high-wage positions just between Agilent Technologies and Medtronic Cardio-Vascular in Sonoma County alone, North Bay business, government and education leaders will need to work together to create alternatives for the region’s talent.
Local economic experts said unlike specific industries that can rise and fall, small business development might be the answer to attracting new talent in the future and realigning local resources in difficult times.

Chamber, RCU, schools partner on financial education

NORTH BAY – Redwood Credit Union, along with Santa Rosa City Schools and the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, is hosting a course in financial literacy for high school students this summer.

Business dean tells why ‘this community inspires me’

Editor’s note: Following are the opening remarks delivered to the Feb. 6 Sonoma State University Economic Outlook conference by William Silver, the dean of the SSU School of Business and Economics.

Resources for manufacturers subject of forum

SANTA ROSA – Manufacturing and supply chain principals are invited to a complimentary half-day summit sponsored by the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, Comerica Bank and Moss Adams LLP.

Big changes on housing, land use in Santa Rosa plan

SANTA ROSA – Business and construction groups are concerned Santa Rosa is trying to accomplish too much in too little time with a proposed update to land-use policy for the next 25 years.

Brad Bollinger: ‘3-2-3’ campaign: three years, 2,000 jobs, $300 million in sales

It’s easy to conclude from last week’s news that 3M will close its 100-employee Petaluma plant that manufacturing in the 101 corridor has no future.