From Summits to Indexes and BeyondCity County Coordinating Council

May 13, 2010

Tourism SummitMarch 2006

Gathered about 50 business and public sector entities with vested interest in tourism

Identified need for collaboration in marketing Launched www.80on80.com – common website to

promote events and festivals – in fall 2006 Solano County Official Guidebook launched in fall 2006;

updated in 2008; in process of 2010 edition Fairfield Hotel Association hosts Outdoor Writers

Association Conference in spring 2009 that promotes tourism destinations across the county

Solano Economic Summit IFebruary 2007

Asked ‘What is your vision of economic development in Solano County?’

Attendees committed to a shared economic vision

Conversation changed perspectives Old View: Solano is that area between the Bay Area and

Sacramento New View: Solano is at the center of a mega-economic region

that spans from San Jose to Reno

Summit sponsors City County Coordinating Council Solano Transportation Authority Solano EDC County of Solano University of California, Davis joins with Summit 2

Solano Economic Summit 2 & 3June 2007 and December 2007

Sorted out key economic and community issues

Developed a workable Solano County Economic Development Strategic Framework Mission Vision Goals Primary Economic Drivers Requisite Strategies Collaborative Planning and Implementation

Partnerships FormedAs issues were identified, partnerships formed to respond

Need to connect youth to workforce 300 youth attend Countywide Youth Summit in October 2008

sponsored by the County of Solano and the Office of Education All school districts expand efforts to hold career fairs at high schools

Need for measurable data over time County, Solano EDC partner to create Economic Index, cluster

studies Cross section of interest on Technical Steering Committee guide

projects

Need for collaborative efforts on seeking grants Benicia, Dixon, Rio Vista, Suisun City and County partner with Small

Business Development Center for $300,000 CDBG grant Solano EDC Marketing Task Force worked together to secure over

$26 million in Recovery Zone bonds

Inaugural Economic IndexNovember 2008 at Economic Summit 4

Identified fast-growing industry sectors in Solano Construction Professional & Environmental Services Health &Social Services Trade & Logistics Specialized Manufacturing Advanced Food & Beverage Manufacturing Life Sciences

Planted seeds for more partnerships First 5 Solano’s BEST approach connecting early childhood to workforce Solano EDC Marketing Task Force took on STEM Project to enhance

science, technology, engineering and math opportunities in local schools County Office of Education nonprofit to address school-to-business

issues

Economic Index FindingsNovember 2008 and January 2010

Good News Economy has become more diversified with growing

specializations County economy comparatively more resilient Business churn showed more gains than losses Housing affordability improving; pace of foreclosures

slowing

Not so Good News High school drop out rates, graduation rates concerning College preparedness rates decline Fewer higher skilled jobs (44%) than highly educated

residents (60%) 75,000 residents commute to jobs outside the county

Collaborative EffortsAwards praise how public, private sector work together

May 2008: National Association of County Information Officers Award of Excellence for a major public participation project (2007 summits)

May 2009: California Association of Local Economic Developers Award of Excellence in Economic Development for the 2008 Index

December 2009: Cities, Counties, Schools Partnership Award for the sustained collaborative efforts

Life Science Cluster StudyFebruary 2009

Solano prime location for technology spinoffs

Identified 5 areas to focus to grow the cluster Availability of industrial space Infrastructure Tax policies Expanded relationships with area universities Development of high school biotech academies

Compliments Solano College training programs Identified shortcomings at high school level to develop steady source

of qualified future workers – Biotechnology Academies

Energy Cluster StudyNovember 2009

Solano nexus to growing energy industry Diversified energy portfolio – carbon-based and renewable Transmission lines, like transportation arteries, intersect in

Solano Surrounded by billions of dollars in research and development

Most favorable area for local energy production

Need more trained workers for job growth Workforce Investment Board, Solano College tapped into ARRA

grant money to develop training programs

Lack strategy to capitalize on cluster Solano Energy Council is in process of being developed

Food Chain Cluster StudySlated for November 2010

Make connection between crops, manufacturing Hope to increase economic churn with more value-added

processing Not all local food processors buy local commodities

Partnering with Yolo County Both counties have completed similar agricultural studies Develop more synergy to grow the connected ag economies

Workshops to gather more information First workshop held today with processors; two more

planned

Where do we go from here?Keep the collaborative momentum going

2010 Index update being prepared

Opportunity to define two cluster studies

Questions to consider

What can each community do separately and collectively to transfer the knowledge gained in these studies into strategies that will build the local economy?

What should the role of the City County Coordinating Council be in the development of those strategies?