The Collective Voice
Spring 2023
The North State Planning and Development Collective ("the Collective") is comprised of the Center for Economic Development and Geographical Information Center at California State University, Chico, and serves as manager of
the Northeastern and Upstate California Connect Broadband Consortia

From The Executive Director
Jason Schwenkler
Greetings,
As we wind down the semester here at Chico State, our teams at the Center for Economic Development, Geographical Information Center and the Northeastern and Upstate California Broadband Consortia are busy working on a number of initiatives and projects designed to support the University, its 12-county service region and beyond. 

Along with the Sierra Institute, we look forward to holding the first community input sessions for the Community Economic Resiliency Fund (CERF) process in late June.  We'll be sending out more information in the coming weeks about how the region can get involved. We’re also continuing our work supporting student success across the region, and are honored to be leading the Butte Network—one of 10 county networks that serve as the foundation for North State Together’s regional collective impact model. You’ll be hearing more about the network in the coming months. In the meantime, learn more about the K-16 Collaborative by clicking here. In our work as managers of the Northeastern and Upstate California Connect broadband consortia, our teams continue to support regional Internet Service Providers with the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Infrastructure grant application process, and serve as an ongoing resource for the region on broadband issues.
              In this issue, you’ll learn more about additional projects we’re busy working on, including the Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge, the USDA’s Regional Food Business Center, and our ongoing river restoration work on the Sacramento River. 
              Finally, we hope you’ll mark your calendars for our 4th Annual Broadband Summit, August 3, 2023 online and our 2024 Economic Forecast Conference, planned for Thursday, January 18, 2024 at the Bell Memorial Union on the Chico State campus. More information for both events will be available in the coming months.             
I’d love to learn more about the issues your community, business or University department faces and how we might work together to find solutions. My door is always open… let’s talk.

Until then, take care.
Jason

California State University, Chico
NORTH STATE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COLLECTIVE, BIG CHICO CREEK ECOLOGICAL RESERVES, CONTINUE COLLABORATIVE WORK IN FOREST MANAGEMENT SECTOR

The Resilient Careers in Forestry - Good Jobs Challenge (GJC) Team held its quarterly partner meeting at the McConnell Foundation in Redding, CA, on Tuesday, May 2, led by the Foundation for California Community Colleges. The North State Planning & Development Collective and the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves collaborated with its partners Butte College, Feather River College, Lake Tahoe Community College, Reedley College, Shasta College, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Sierra Business Council to continue its work in the forest management sector. The partnership continues to implement trainings to support a variety of sectors throughout the forest management industry with the goal of increasing workforce development. Partners had the opportunity to meet with industry leaders to learn about their needs and challenges and keep discussions with education and industry moving forward. The GJC Team also explored ways to identify training participant needs and barriers and bring additional wrap around services into the project’s activities. For more information about the Good Jobs Challenge project: https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/american-rescue-plan/good-jobs-challenge/awardees/Foundation-for-California-Community-Colleges
USDA ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 12 NEW USDA REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTERS
North State Planning and Development Collective
Partners on Effort

On May 3, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of 12 new USDA Regional Food Business Centers that will provide national coverage coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources, thereby closing the gaps to success. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will partner with state and territories’ departments of agriculture for this program. The Southwest Regional Food Business Center is led by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) and encompasses Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.

For the project period of September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2028, North State Planning and Development Collective staff will actively partner with five organizations to provide services and referrals to the program, including Morrison, the Lost Sierra Food Project, North State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 3CORE, and Glenn County Resource Conservation District . Services include:

  • Engage in outreach to underserved and disadvantaged agriculture businesses in Northern California to connect them to the California Hub services
  • Conduct a needs assessment to determine the needs in Northern California
  • Refer agriculture businesses in the region to technical assistance services provided by The Collective’s vendors or the main California Hub in Fresno

The USDA Regional Food Business Centers will support a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system.  These Regional Food Centers will support producers by providing localized assistance to access local and regional supply chains, including linking producers to wholesalers and distributors. They will provide technical assistance needed to access new markets, access to federal, state, and local resources, and will assist small- and mid-sized producers in overcoming barriers to market access, with a focus on underserved farmers, ranchers, and food businesses. For more information, view the full press release here:
ANNUAL NORTH STATE TOGETHER SUMMIT FOCUSES ON PATHWAYS IN HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION

North State leaders gathered at the 6th Annual NST Summit on May 4, 2023 at the Sheraton Redding Hotel, hosted by our friends and partners at North State Together. This year's theme, "Streamlining Pathways in Healthcare and Education" offered an opportunity to learn more and engage with partners across the region. Courtney Farrell, Project Manager for the Collective, was part of the day's presentation line-up, and updated attendees on the Community Economic Resiliency Fund (CERF) initiative for the region. To learn more about CERF in the North State Region, email cafarrell@csuchico.edu. Pictured (l-r) are Courtney Farrell, Alice Patterson, Communications & Outreach Manager, and Melissa Kovacs, Project Manager for the Collective.
$1 MILLION AWARDED TO NORTH STATE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COLLECTIVE TO SUPPORT DIGITAL LITERACY & CALL CENTER TO ADVANCE BROADBAND ADOPTION

$1m was awarded over 2.5 years through the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) to support digital literacy programs and a call center in partnership with the Northern Rural Training and Employment Consortium (NoRTEC) and Human-I-T. The Collective will partner with NoRTEC to provide digital literacy classes which will support workforce development in the North State with a priority given to English language learners (ELL), disadvantaged communities, and justice-involved individuals. The digital literacy classes will focus on breaking down workforce barriers such as navigating the application process for state and federal jobs and gaining computer skills to successfully enter or advance within California’s critical industries: forestry, manufacturing, agriculture. A priority will be given to ELL and post-incarcerated individuals. Additionally, the Collective will partner with Human-I-T to establish a call center which will support broadband adoption in Northern California. For additional information about the project, contact Melissa Kovacs, Project Manager, at mkkovacs@csuchico.edu
DEDICATION CEREMONY PLANNED FOR KAPUSTA OPEN SPACE
SALMONID HABITAT RESTORATION SITE

The Collective, along with project partners, will hold a private dedication ceremony May 24, 2023 to celebrate completion of a new salmon habitat restoration site on the Sacramento River. The project is the result of a remarkable and effective partnership between the University, Federal and State agencies, nonprofit organizations, two Native American Tribes and the City of Redding.

The new side channel, nearly a half-mile long, was excavated this past winter and riparian plantings were completed early this spring. The channel was designed to provide rearingand spawning habitat year-round for Chinook salmon, including the critically endangered Winter-run. Spawning activity was observed in the channel immediately followingconstruction. For more information about The Collective's restoration work, click here or email Rebekah Casey, Project Manager, at rlcasey@csuchico.edu.
IN THE NEWS

The Collective's collaborative effort on the East Sand Slough salmon restoration project is blooming! Click here for the full article by George Johnston, Red Bluff Daily News.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR BUSINESS AVAILABLE THROUGH CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMS

Eligible businesses can take advantage of a variety of technical assistance programs offered through the Center for Economic Development. Services include website development and optimization, customer demographic reports, customer spending reports, funding and market research, social media campaigns and more.


Email Sara Carmody or call (530) 898-3864 to learn more about how the Center for Economic Development can assist, and be sure to check out our Technical Assistance Spotlights below!
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SPOTLIGHT!
LILI'S BRAZILIAN BISTRO
142 Broadway, Chico, California
530-399-0675

Owned and operated by Lili Da Silva, Lili's Brazilian Bistro is located in the heart of Downtown Chico, and offers a delicious option for those craving authentic Brazilian cuisine. Da Silva focuses on healthy, fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients while using sustainable business practices such as recycling and repurposing..

With funding made available through the Small Business Technical Assistance Expansion Program (SBTAEP), the Center for Economic Development staff created a fresh new website for the bistro. Be sure to visit the new site and learn more about Da Silva's story. The CED has a variety of programs available to assist small businesses. To learn more, email Sara Carmody at scarmody3@csuchico.edu.
The Collective serves as Manager of both the Northeastern California Connect Broadband Consortia and the Upstate California Connect Broadband Consortia. Together, the two Consortium support the facilitation of broadband across the counties of Glenn, Colusa, Lake, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, Lassen, Plumas, Modoc and Siskiyou counties. Email Jason Schwenkler at jschwenkler@csuchico.edu to learn more!

REGIONAL BROADBAND CONSORTIA BRINGS REGION TOGETHER AT STATE DIGITAL EQUITY WORKSHOP
On April 27, the Northeastern and Upstate Regional Broadband Consortia co-hosted one of 20 Broadband for All events across the state in conjunction with the California Department of Technology (CDT), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF). The event was held at the Masonic Family Center in Chico, and aimed to seek input on the development of the State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP) and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan.

Community members and organizations from across the region gathered to share their experiences in regards to connectivity and adoption issues, device access, knowledge and training. Input gathered will help determine how future federal dollars are allocated to address digital inequities across the region. For more information about the State's efforts to close the digital divide, click here.
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(Pictured, left) Community members had the opportunity to share their broadband challenges and brainstorm solutions during the April 27th event held at the Chico Masonic Family Center in Chico, California.
ACP ENROLLMENT EVENT PLANNED FOR
SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2023 IN SHASTA COUNTY

Staff from the Northeastern and Upstate California Connect Broadband Consortia will host an ACP Enrollment event at the Shasta County Public Library on May 25, 2023. The event is designed to offer hands-on assistance to those interested in signing up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

ACP is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

To learn more about the program, the event, or to request online or printed flyers to share with your communities, contact Sabrina Oregel, Analyst/Outreach Coordinator, at saoregel@csuchico.edu.
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Staff from The Collective were on-hand during an April 22nd ACP Enrollment event in Shasta County and will be on site again May 25, 2023 to assist eligible participants get enrolled in ACP. The event takes place at the Shasta Public Library from 10:30-2:30 p.m. Pictured l-r are Melissa Kovacs, Project Manager, Janae Bartolome, Research Assistant II, and Sabrina Oregel, Analyst/Outreach Coordinator.
HELP CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE! OFFER YOUR INPUT THROUGH THE DIGITAL EQUITY ECOSYSTEM MAPPING (DEEM) TOOL

The California Department of Technology is seeking input from community organizations, governments, nonprofits, funders, experts and practitioners as they aim to close the digital divide. Be part of the process by offering your input through the DEEM mapping tool. To learn more, and access the DEEM tool, click here.