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News From The Collective (Winter, 2020)
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Jason Schwenkler
Executive Director
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Welcome to our quarterly edition of North State Planning and Development Collective News. You'll find information from all of our departments-the Center for Economic Development (CED) and Geographical Information Center (GIC) at CSU, Chico as well as the Northeastern and Upstate California Broadband Consortia.
With
brief recaps of just some of our collaborative work and events that have transpired across the University's 12-County service region over the last few months, you'll get an idea of how we're helping the North State achieve their planning, research and development needs.
This edition features a look at the remarkable salmon restoration project the GIC collaborated on during 2019, the CED's expanded partnership with the USDA, a recap on our 2020 Economic Forecast Conference, important news from the Northeastern and Upstate California Broadband Consortia and more. We can't wait to fill you in on more of our local and statewide projects in the next edition. Until then, be sure to save the date for our Spring Regional Economic Summit focusing on Workforce, planned for June 3rd. More details coming your way soon!
As always, if you have a planning, development or research need I encourage you to call or email me. I'd welcome the chance to learn more about your unique challenges, and how our teams here at The Collective might provide solutions.
All the best,
Jason
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Diverse Partnership Celebrates Remarkable Year of Salmon Habitat Restoration on the Sacramento River
Geographical Information Center at CSU, Chico Plays Key Role
On January 10, 2020, representatives from a collaboration of four resource agencies, two nonprofits, a university, a tribe, a special district, a city, private landowners and multiple water districts* conducted two site visits at Anderson River Park and Red Bluff to mark a year of remarkable salmon habitat restoration accomplishments.
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CSU Chico President Gayle Hutchinson |
CSU, Chico President Gayle Hutchinson (pictured, right) and other leaders from each organization attended the site visits to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of this effort. From April to December, 2019, the partnership has created three acres of spawning habitat for critically endangered winter run Chinook salmon, placed an additional 20,000 tons of gravel to support spawning habitat, and implemented three projects that created over a mile and a half of new year-round side channel habitat and enhanced almost two miles of stagnant backwater channels to flowing side channel habitat. These accomplishments demonstrate the incredible success that can be achieved by diverse organizations working together on a focused objective.
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The agencies included: California State University, Chico, the Sacramento River Forum, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, CA Department of Water Resources, River Partners, Yurok Tribe, CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, City of Anderson, Resource Conservation District of Tehama County and multiple Sacramento valley water districts.
Volunteers Sought Across the State for Home Internet Study
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC); the Geographical Information Center (GIC) at California State University, Chico; and CSU, Monterey Bay are seeking volunteers across the State of California to take part in the CPUC Home Internet Study, CalSPEED Home.
The CPUC will use data gathered from CalSPEED Home to provide critical information to state policymakers dealing with broadband issues such as universal service and the Digital Divide, in addition to providing money saving information to consumers.
Selected volunteers are asked to attach a small device to their home Internet router for a two-week period, during which speed and quality tests will be performed. The study will not monitor volunteers' Internet use in any way, and volunteers will have access to their own testing results.
Interested volunteers can sign up by going to
www.calspeed.net
and completing a simple survey. Selected participants will be chosen in accordance with the sampling plan to ensure a statistically significant distribution of the devices.
Candidates selected for the study will be entered into a random drawing for one of five, $100 Visa/MC gift cards.
For additional information about the study, email
support@calspeed.net
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Center for Economic Development (CED) News
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 The Collective Expands its Partnership with USDA to Support Local Food Producers and Manufacturers
The North State Planning and Development Collective (NSPDC) has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS), Farmer's Market Promotion Program (FMPP) to provide comprehensive training and networking opportunities to assist agricultural producers and food manufacturers operating in Northern California. Only 27 percent of the applications received were funded this year. The NSPDC will engage experts to supply this technical assistance paired with their own marketing, data and economic analysis expertise. Glenn County will be the hub for the location of the trainings and will be open to those businesses that are interested from around the North State region. Click here for more information.
20th Annual Economic Forecast Conference Recap!
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| Dr. Robert Eyler |
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250 leaders in government, education and industry gathered for the 20th Annual Economic Forecast Conference on
Thursday, January 9, 2020 at the Sheraton Redding hotel. "Housing for the North State's Future--Exploring Pathways to Meet the Needs of Workforce, Education and Economic Development" featured panels focusing on regional solutions and policy, and an Economic Forecast provided by Dr. Robert Eyler.
For a complete recap of the event,
click here to access the video.
Be sure to SAVE THE DATE for our June 3rd Regional Summit focusing on Workforce, coming your way soon!
CED Develops Tool To Identify Industry Job Growth Potential
Many students preparing to leave high school have limited exposure to what
options are possible for them after graduation. Even if they have an idea of what sector they are interested in pursuing, they may not know all of the various occupations within that sector. The agricultural industry is an example of just that scenario. There are positions such as agricultural accountants, marketing representatives, technology specialists and others that many students just don't know about or how to pursue the pathway to develop the necessary skillsets for that position.
The Center for Economic Development partnered with California Community College Regional Directors in the area of Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technology to help illustrate needed skills and the job growth potential of this industry sector. This effort is an expansion from the first phase of this project that is in partnership with NoRTEC.
Click here for more.
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New! USDA's Rural Development Announces Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development recently announced its Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program which assists rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. Grant awards range from $50,000 to $1,000,000 with a 15% match requirement. Grant funds may be used for broadband transmission facilities; audio, video, and interactive video equipment; terminal and data terminal equipment; computer hardware, network components, and software; inside wiring and similar infrastructure that further DLT services; and, acquisition of instructional programming and equipment use instruction. Grant applications are accepted through a competitive process and are due on April 10, 2020. Want to learn more about this program, visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants. Need assistance applying for this grant program, please contact Courtney Farrell at
cafarrell@csuchico.edu or David Espinoza at
despinozaaguilar@csuchico.edu.
Opportunity Zone Webinar
Making the Most of Your Opportunity (Zone)
Thursday, February 20 | 11:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch provided
Generously hosted by GHD Engineers, 718 3rd St, Eureka
Sponsored by the County of Humboldt Economic Development Department as part of the Prosperity Network
There's no doubt about it: Opportunity Zones are the hot topic in economic development these days. How will our community make the most of our zone? From real estate development to supporting small businesses & entrepreneurs, there are many options. And while the program is still in its early years, there are lessons to be learned. Attendees will leave this webinar with ideas, examples, and direction for how best to leverage this opportunity.
RSVP to Lynette Mullen at
lynette.mullen@gmail.com.
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About the Consortia:
The CPUC's Northeastern
and Upstate California Connect Consortia (NECCC & UCCC) are funded by the CPUC under the CASF Urban and Rural Regional Consortia Grant. The CSU, Chico Geographical Information Center (GIC) is the leading organization of these two consortia which consists of counties, cities, towns, ISPs, non-governmental organizations, anchor institutions, community based organizations, among other partners in the region. We support ISPs and local governments to expand broadband infrastructure and services in 10 counties in rural Northern California. The California and CPUC goal is to achieve 98% broadband service availability in each consortium region. For more information visit https://www.upcalbroadband.org/ and https://www.necalbroadband.org/
California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Deadline Is April 1
Map (left) shows areas eligible for Broadband Infrastructure Grant funding within the Northeastern and Upstate California Consortia regions.
Representatives from the Upstate and Northeast Broadband Consortia are available to facilitate deployment of broadband services by assisting infrastructure applicants in the project development or grant application process. Contact David Espinoza, Manager of the Upstate and Northeastern Broadband Consortia at
despinozaaguilar@csuchico.edu
For an enlarged map, and more information about CASF and the Broadband Infrastructure Grant application process, click here.
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Business Resources
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For more than 50 years, SCORE has served as America's premier source of free business mentoring and education. As a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs through mentoring, workshops and educational resources since 1964.
Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. The SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation's only go-to resource and voice for small businesses. Click here for access to local assistance.
Small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can go to their local SBDCs for free face-to-face business consulting and at-cost training, on topics including business planning, accessing capital, marketing, regulatory compliance, technology development, international trade and much more. SBDCs are hosted by leading universities, colleges, state economic development agencies and private sector partners, and funded in part by the United States Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. There are nearly 1,000
local centers
available to provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses.
The Job Training Center is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide unlimited employment opportunities to job seekers and hiring, training and human resource assistance to local businesses. The Job Training Center is part of a nation-wide system that provides job search and career development services through a trained staff and a welcoming career center open to the public.
Chambers of Commerce 
 Alliance for Workforce Development
Alliance for Workforce Development provides a single address where partnering agencies, each with their own identity and mission, provide core services focused on meeting the needs of job seekers and employers.
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