North Bay Business Journal

NORTH BAY – While some dark clouds remain on the economic horizon, North Bay economists and business climate watchers are increasingly bullish about the 2011 regional forecast.

When the iPod in shuffle mode came upon the Moody Blues album “To Our Children’s Children’s Children,” it seemed a perfect analogy for today.

SANTA ROSA – Operating revenues for Sonoma County health care organizations increased 2.2 percent in 2009 and total operating expenses fell 2.6 percent, marking the first decline in more than a decade and the highest level of net income since 2004, according to the 2010 Sonoma County Health Care Industry Insider Report.

NORTH COAST — This year is shaping up to be another challenging one for the wine industry on the North Coast as signs of recovery in the U.S. economy and consumer spending slowly take hold, according to an economic report released today.

SANTA ROSA — The Business Performance Index for Sonoma County this winter increased from the summer rating to the first positive movement in business confidence since fall 2007, according to a report released this afternoon by the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.

SONOMA COUNTY – Employers will soon be invited to participate in a region-wide worksite wellness initiative that seeks to improve the health of the local work force as well as recognize the county’s healthiest businesses.

People items submitted by North Bay businesses for publication in the Business Journal for June 22nd

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.

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.

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.