Solano Economic Update: July 24' by solanoedc

JULY 24' UPDATE

CHRIS RICO CHRIS RICO

President & CEO

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends of the EDC,

You may have recently seen an article in the Daily Republic about the launch of the solanoadu.org website. We’re proud to have played an instrumental role in the creation of this very useful tool for homeowners in Solano County, in partnership with the Solano Planning Collaborative, Placeworks, Community Planning Associates, and with financial support from the Kaiser Foundation. As I have shared previously, ADU’s (or Accessory Dwelling Units, Granny Flats, In Laws etc) can solve a variety of housing problems. First, we have 77,000 plus seniors, our largest and fastest growing demographic, many of whom are overhoused and will not be able to age in place safely. Many are saddened that their kids can’t afford to live where they grew up. Creating win/win situations where Seniors can age in place in their communities, bring their kids back home and sometimes provide child care is great for all of us. It’s also housing for Airmen at Travis. It’s housing for adult children who are living at home. It helps people to monetize their greatest asset whether it’s their primary residence, or a rental that provides passive income. We’re excited to keep working on helping to provide the diverse housing stock that attracts great employers.

Some of you may know that Winters is a member of the Solano EDC, in spite of the fact that they are technically located in Yolo County. We’re happy to have them in the family. When Jeremy Craig, their terrific new City Manager (you may know him from his time in Vacaville), called to help us to help identify resources for their downtown, we quickly pulled together an event to support all of our rural communities. In partnership with the Solano Farm Bureau and RCRC (Rural County Representative of California), we have assembled a formidable panel of representatives from myriad state and federal organizations to share their knowledge and experience, and to create personal connections with our cities and their leaders. First Northern Bank was kind enough to sponsor and host us in their community room in Dixon on the 16th of July from 9-11. You can read more about it and register to attend if you’re working on the economic development of one of our rural communities here.

Wishing you all good health and continued prosperity. Stay Cool and enjoy the 4th!

Chris Rico President/CEO

SOLANO COUNTY BOARD

SUPERVISORS CONTRIBUTES: DISTRICT 1 - $15,000 DISTRICT 3 - $4,600

The Solano County Board of Supervisors The Solano County Board of Supervisors allocated money to a series of services across allocated money to a series of services across Solano County. Solano County.

NORTHBAY HEALTH PLANS $250 MILLION PRIMARY, SPECIALTY CARE EXPANSION

Behl said $170 million will be used to develop a skilled workforce, $55 million will be spent on building acquisitions and renovations, and $25 million will be for other core ANS infrastructure. NorthBay Health is based in Fairfield, with hospitals there and in Vacaville, as well as other medical facilities throughout Solano County. The initial primary and urgent care clinic in this expansion plan is set to open in Rio Vista in early 2025.

SELF-GENERATING EV CHARGING STATIONS INSTALLED IN VACAVILLE

The city has installed three Beam ElV ARC solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations – two in the Town Square, and one at City Hall. "The deployment of the Beam EV ARC solar-powered chargers represents our dedication to a sustainable future.” Mayor John Carli

VACAVILLE TOURISM SPENDING TOPS $215M IN 2023

Travel spending in Vacaville last year grew by $11.6 million from 2022, generating a total of $215.8 million for the city’s coffers, Alyssa Pardini, president and CEO of Visit Vacaville, announced during the organization’s May 22 annual tourism breakfast.

Investing in Our Community

When you think of Kaiser Permanente, you might think of our hospitals and health plan.

What you may not know is that Kaiser Permanente is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the health of the communities it serves.

In 2023, Kaiser Permanente invested $1.3 billion dollars in its Northern California communities, including $113M in the Napa Solano service area to support community health.

A significant part of these investments supported access to quality health care for people in need through Kaiser Permanente’s participation in California’s Medi-Cal program. The investments also supported 98,000 patients who received medical financial assistance to pay for surgeries, prescriptions, and other care at Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities.

“In addition to providing access to care for those in need, we’ve made significant investments in the education of new health and mental health care professionals,” said Darryl Curry, Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente, “As well as charitable contributions to community partners working to improve conditions for health, and medical research to improve the delivery of health care for all.”

Kaiser Permanente’s recently published Community Snapshot report highlights some of the programs supported in Napa and Solano counties, including:

With a rise in demand for mental health services, and an ongoing shortage of professionals, we support programs like Mentis in Napa to expand the pool of qualified, diverse Mental Health professionals and increase access to community services for young people and vulnerable individuals.

Access to care is an important part of improving health. Our funding for Community Health Initiative(CHI) to support bilingual Medi-Cal outreach, enrollment, navigation and referrals in Napa and Solano Counties helps people who need it most.

Reliable jobs and stable incomes are foundational to good health. We supported Solano Community College Educational Foundation’s SOAR program, which assists formerly incarcerated students, current and former foster youth, and students experiencing

Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s efforts in your Northern California community by going to the Community Health Snapshot and clicking on “Communities We Serve” in the menu. To learn more about how Kaiser Permanente supports health in our community, please go to the Napa-Solano page of the report.

Discover Seamless Commutes with

Solano Mobility’s First/Last Mile Program

Are you commuting with alternative transportation and looking for an easier way to connect to Solano County transit hubs? Solano Mobility’s First/Last Mile Program is here to make your journey smoother! Enjoy a fantastic 60% discount on Lyft rides to 12 key transportation centers across Solano County, including both Amtrak stations and all SolanoExpress bus stops. Say goodbye to the hassle and hello to convenience with this exciting offer.

SUPERVISORS APPROVE EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR VETERANS HOUSING SUPPORT

The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday

agreed to give CANB $100,000 to support the agreed to give CANB $100,000 to support the cost of placing veterans in hotels and for meals cost of placing veterans in hotels and for meals while their transitional housing facilities are while their transitional housing facilities are modified to meet Veterans Affairs single- modified to meet Veterans Affairs singleoccupancy room standards. occupancy room standards.

KRISTIN POLLOT

VALLEJO

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR

Pollot has over 20 years of experience working in local government, planning, and development services in various capacities. Her experience includes having worked for the City of Pittsburg as the Planning Manager; in the private sector for a residential home builder; and as a planning consultant for the City of Vallejo.

The Valero Benicia Refinery thanks Josh Tulino for his tenure and welcomes back Lauren Bird as our new Refinery Manager

Josh Tulino, Vice President (VP) and General Manager (GM) of the Valero Benicia Refinery has elected to retire. Josh began his career with Exxon as a process engineer at Benicia and became a Valero employee when Valero purchased the Benicia Refinery in 2000. Josh held different positions throughout the Valero Energy Corporation circuit and was promoted to VP & GM at our Memphis Refinery in 2017 and then transferred to Benicia as our VP/GM in 2020.

With Josh's retirement, Lauren Bird will relocate to Benicia as VP/GM effective June 1, 2024. Lauren started his career at Exxon Baytown and later transferred to Exxon Benicia progressing through positions of increasing responsibilities. He joined Valero when Valero purchased the Benicia Refinery and was promoted to Director of Refinery Operations in 2002. Lauren was then promoted to VP and General Manager of Valero’s Meraux Refinery in 2012, he then relocated to Valero’s McKee Refinery as the VP and GM in 2014. We are excited that Lauren will be coming back to Benicia where he raised his family.

Please join us in congratulating Lauren on his new role as well as wishing Josh the best in his retirement.

Incoming VP and General Manager, Lauren Bird

Outgoing VP and General Manager, Josh Tulino

MEDIC AMBULANCE CELEBRATES

45 YEARS OF SAVING LIVES

VALLEJO COSTCO PLANS TO RELOCATE

Business Business

HIGHLIGHT HIGHLIGHT

Vacaville Glass Vacaville Glass

www.vacavilleglass.com/ www.vacavilleglass.com/. .

Experience the clear difference with Vacaville Glass! Experience the clear difference with Vacaville Glass!

Before: Before:

After: After:

UNLOCKYOUR UNLOCKYOUR PROPERTY'S PROPERTY'S POTENTIAL POTENTIAL

Discover the benefits of Discover the benefits of adding an ADU to your adding an ADU to your property. Transform property. Transform your backyard into a your backyard into a valuable living space valuable living space that maximizes both that maximizes both space and value. Visit space and value. Visit our new website for a our new website for a step-by-step guide on step-by-step guide on how to get started. how to get started.

APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR SOLANO

YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Solano County Office of Education and Touro University

California (TUC) have partnered together to host another California (TUC) have partnered together to host another

Solano Youth Leadership Institute for Solano high school

Solano Youth Leadership Institute for Solano high school students during the week of Aug. 5. students during the week of Aug. 5.

The institute is a five-day intensive youth advocate The institute is a five-day intensive youth advocate training that will be led by experts in the field of youth training that will be led by experts in the field of youth development, peer education, public health, and development, peer education, public health, and environmental prevention. environmental prevention.

SNEAKERS FOR SUCCESS AIMS TO PROVIDE SHOES TO FSUSD STUDENTS AHEAD OF SCHOOL YEAR

To help outfit Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District students with materials the upcoming school year, the Fairfield Community Services Foundation has launched the first-ever Sneakers for Success drive. A partnership effort through the Fairfield Community Services Foundation, the non-profit organization Shoes That Fit, and the FSUSD, the drive is now collecting donations to purchase the new shoes, which organizers say will cost approximately $30 per pair.

TEENS CAN BE SUMMER BACKBONE FOR SOLANO BUSINESSES

Young people have been an integral part of the workforce essentially since the beginning of time. “From what I have noticed, I would say that they are surprisingly very willing to work, eager to learn, and easy to train,” Preston Ashton, operations manager at Getaway Adventures.

20 STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO BE COMMUNITY LEADERS

For the third straight year, the organization of Future Leadership Vallejo held a graduation ceremony rewarding 20 high school students who completed a fivemonth process of learning how to be leaders in their community. The 20 graduates were double the size of last year’s 10 graduates.

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS WITH PROBIZ!

Norcal SBDC has partnered with the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and CalChamber to launch ProBiz, a game-changing program designed to help small businesses unlock the power of government and corporate contracting. ProBiz offers comprehensive support, including nocost training and workshops, personalized one-on-one advising, bid preparation and review assistance, certification guidance, and funding opportunities.

4th of July Parade

The City of Fairfield will host the 2024 Independence Day Parade in Downtown Fairfield on Thursday, July 4. The theme for this year’s parade is – “An American Journey”

The Parade will step-off at 10 a.m. from the corner of Webster and Kentucky Street and continue down Kentucky Street to Great Jones, then turn up Texas Street to Washington.