News from The Collective
Fall, 2020
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From The Director
Jason Schwenkler
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As we continue to face unknown fiscal and socio-economic impacts related to the pandemic and Northern California wildfires, your input is more important than ever. As members of the California Stewardship Network (CSN), we’re able to bring regional concerns to statewide leadership in an ongoing effort to improve the economic vitality of the region, and shine light on the important work being done in the North State. Our work with CSN and CAFWD includes helping shape critical Broadband internet policy through participation in the Broadband for All working group. We’re honored to have a seat at the table, and serve as a trusted voice in the region. Read more about our broadband work in the Consortia Update in this issue. To learn more about the work of CAFWD, consider attending the California Economic Summit, planned for December 3-4, 2020. You can register now by clicking here.
I’m excited to share more about our 21st Annual Economic Forecast Conference planned virtually for January 14, 2021. This year’s event will explore the changing roles of Commerce, Education and Workforce. While COVID-19 has created many challenges for our 12-County region, it has also stretched our abilities, created opportunities and propelled us to find solutions. Our intention is to feature statewide, regional and local perspectives, initiatives and best practices that will generate continued discussions of how we keep the momentum going to sustain and grow our North State economy. CSU, Chico President Dr. Gayle Hutchinson will kick off the event followed by Economist Dr. Robert Eyler who will share his forecast for the coming year using both state and regional data. Dr. Eyler is one of “the” go-to experts on our region, and the reason we turn to him annually to share his expertise. His data presentation will serve as the backdrop for the remaining speakers and panelists for the day.
We are pleased to bring both Rachel Michelin, President of the California Retail Association as well as Bob Lanter, Executive Director of the California Workforce Association who will provide the broader, statewide insight on the changing face of commerce and workforce. We feel it is important to provide a platform for organizations like theirs to share their efforts and for our region to identify potential synergies. Additionally, we welcome the opportunity for statewide leaders to hear from our local partners and leaders to better understand what works and doesn’t work for the North State. Throughout the day, attendees will enjoy three different panels featuring regional representatives to further share their work regarding the conference’s topic. We hope the conference provides a mechanism for the deeper dive into these topics. It is critical for communication to flow from the state to our region and vice versa. This is also an exceptional opportunity for our attendees to learn more about the current and future initiatives of our partners and how their solutions may be applicable to your own business, community or classroom. We hope you’ll join us. Click here for details and registration information. Click here for details and registration information..
As we end 2020, I want to thank each of you for your dedication to keeping our communities thriving and safe during unprecedented times. I like to believe that our individual and collaborative commitments to community health and economic resiliency are making a difference.
As always, whether you’re a community member, business leader, or University faculty in need of project assistance, feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear from you to learn more about what you’re up to. We’re here to help.
Jason
Executive Director
California State University, Chico
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News from the Center for Economic Development |
Map of the Quarter:
Spotlight on Unemployment in the Leisure and Hospitality Industry
California unemployment figures for October 2020, indicate that the leisure and hospitality industry sector continues to be particularly vulnerable to COVID restrictions. Statewide, the leisure and hospitality sector has lost approximately 518,000 (25.4%) employees when compared to employment numbers from October 2019. Businesses in leisure and hospitality (including restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, and spectator sports) are among the most contact intensive.
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21st ANNUAL ECONOMIC FORECAST CONFERENCE PLANNED VIRTUALLY FOR JANUARY 14, 2021 |
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Join us for the 21st Annual Economic Forecast Conference, planned for Thursday, January 14, 2021!
Join us as we explore the changing roles of education, workforce and commerce in a day of statewide keynotes and regional panels!
Tickets are on sale now at
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PROJECTATTAIN! INITIATIVE
The ProjectAttain! Initiative, led by the Sacramento State College of Continuing Education, is committed to increasing the number of Sacramento’s working age adults with high-quality degrees, certificates and other credentials to 60% by 2025.
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EDA’s UNIVERSITY CENTER RECEIVES CARES ACT FUNDING
The Center for Economic Development (CED) at CSU, Chico is one of two Economic Development Administrative (EDA) University Centers located in California. Its sister University Center is the Office of Community and Economic Development located at CSU, Fresno. Together, the two Centers represent the Central Valley University Center Consortium. Their collaboration supports a high-performing, regionally-focused partnership committed to responding to technical assistance needs of businesses located in the Sacramento and Central Valleys.
In July, the Consortium received EDA CARES Act funding to respond to the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 for entrepreneurs, businesses, educational partners and communities as they navigate through this and other future disruptions. The Center for Economic Development can respond to many technical assistance needs (e.g., web site development, marketing assistance, customer demand assessments, and more) for no or low-cost based on the size of the project. CED’s regional assessment, conducted in October, highlighted the impact of COVID-19, and the desire for many businesses to shift their business models and utilize CED’s expertise.
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CED PARTNERSHIP BRINGS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESS
Spotlight: Interland
1208 Solano Street, Corning, CA 96021
530-824-5696
In partnership with California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC), the CED provides data analysis and technical assistance services with the intention of promoting and facilitating economic development in Northern California. Through this partnership, the CED provides technical assistance to manufacturing businesses that are established and successful but looking to take the next step. The CED strives to create technical assistance reports that are effective and useful for business owners while providing valuable market data customized to their products and customers. The CED recently collaborated with Interland, a family-owned small business in Tehama County, to elevate and expand their web and social media presence. Click here for more.
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News from the
Geographical Information Center
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Chico State Enterprises Receives $10 Million Grant to Continue Salmon Habitat Restoration Projects
By Sean Murphy
Photo by Jason Halley, University Photographer
A research team from California State University, Chico will continue its exceptional work to re-establish juvenile salmon and salmonid habitats along the Sacramento River, after learning it would continue to be funded by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. Click here for full article.
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Now more than ever before, access to reliable internet (broadband) is critical. The teams at the Northeastern California Connect Consortium and Upstate California Connect Consortium have been busy advocating on behalf of broadband in the region. |
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BROADBAND SUMMIT SUCCESS
On September 30, 2020, the North State Planning and Development Collective along with the Upstate and Northeastern California Connect Broadband Consortia hosted a free online Summit featuring Stephanie Tom, Deputy Director for Strategic Planning, Broadband and Digital Literacy at California Department of Technology as well as regional experts who shed light on the state of broadband in their agencies and communities For a video recap, click here:
BROADBAND CONSORTIA CONVENES ISPS FOR QUARTERLY ROUNDTABLE EVENTS
In an effort to engage Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across the Consortia's 10-County service region, Consortia staff held an online ISP Roundtable event on October 22, 2020. At the event, representatives from ISPs had an opportunity to share about challenges and opportunities in the region, and learn ways the Consortia might assist.
The next ISP Roundtable is scheduled for Thursday, January 28, 2021. For additional information about the online event, email Alice Patterson at ampatterson@csuchico.edu.
RDOF AUCTION PROCESS UNDERWAY
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to award up to $20.4 billion to support broadband services for eligible areas across the nation. The FCC will award funding in two phases using a reverse auction process. Phase I is currently underway with a $16 billion budget, and the Phase I Auction 904 began on October 29, 2020.
Eligibility areas for our region were released on October 8 are shown below:
Northeast California Connect (NECCC):
16,679 eligible areas; $136,229,030 (Total 10 year Reserve)
Upstate California Connect (UCCC): 4,540 eligible areas; $41,652,400 (Total 10 Year Reserve)
Statewide California: 370,986 eligible areas; $2,049,285,320 (Total 10 Year Reserve)
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