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JUNE 26' JUNE 26'

UPDATE UPDATE

CHRIS RICO

President & CEO

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends of the EDC,

Today’s message is quite personal. I hope you will oblige.

If you’ve had the opportunity to visit our offices above the Library in Cordelia/Green Valley, you would know that we are a dog friendly office. This was partly born out of the pandemic. Pat, our Office Manager, had been mostly working from home with her dog Blackie, who was aging. I had rescued my dog, Tobias, from the streets of Mexico. He had been with me pretty much 24/7 since I went to meet him at the Tijuana airport in December of 2020. Pat has since adopted a companion for Blackie named Buddy. Having these three dogs at the office created a really lovely environment, something that everyone commented on when they came to our office for meetings. I always thought it was strange that you needed to spend money to have your dog designated as an “emotional support animal. ” Something I had to do to be able to rent an apartment when I first moved up to take this job in January of 2022. Dogs are inherently emotionally supportive and it’s difficult to be stressed out when they are around.

We do important work at this organization, and we are professionals who don’t take what we do for granted. We’re here to serve the greater good. We also enjoy a familial environment, a place where we all look forward to spending the greater part of our waking life. Tobias was always happy to greet everyone who entered this space with a joyful smile and a welcoming energy. He set the tone. He particularly loved staff meetings because everyone would be in the same room. You would often find him fully stretched out with his belly exposed and a big smile on his face. Tobi was the employee of every month.

Tragically, Tobias was taken from us way too soon when he escaped from a friend’s back yard and was hit by a car. I was at a conference in Sacramento and got a call from a stranger that he was found dead on the side of the road. Needless to say, we’ve all been quite sad to lose our constant and joyful companion. As with every painful death, it’s a reminder that tomorrow is never promised, and an invitation to show up fully every day.

Wishing you continued good health and prosperity,

Chris Rico President/CEO

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New ‘So New ‘Solano Forward’ lano Forward’ Coalition Pushes Focus on Coalition Pushes Focus on Job Creation and Job Creation and Economic Growth Economic Growth

A new coalition of business, labor, A new coalition of business, labor, agriculture, and community leaders has agriculture, and community leaders has launched “Solano Forward” to advocate for launched “Solano Forward” to advocate for job creation and economic investment across job creation and economic investment across Solano County. This matters to residents and Solano County. This matters to residents and businesses as the region works to replace businesses as the region works to replace jobs lost from major closures, strengthen jobs lost from major closures, strengthen workforce opportunities, and support long- workforce opportunities, and support longterm economic stability. term economic stability.

Solano County Tourism Spending Solano County Tourism Spending Nears $1 Billion, Supporting Jobs Nears $1 Billion, Supporting Jobs and Local Revenue and Local Revenue

Tourism generated nearly $1 billion in direct spending across Solano County in 2025, supporting 8,850 jobs and producing $25.7 million in local tax revenue. This is important for residents and businesses because visitor spending strengthens local restaurants, hotels, wineries, retailers, and public services while driving broader economic growth.

Vallejo Approves Expanded Vallejo Approves Expanded Northgate Housing Development, Northgate Housing Development, Costco Project Advances Costco Project Advances

Vallejo approved updates to the Fairview at Vallejo approved updates to the Fairview at

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Solano County residents and businesses because it expands housing options, supports because it expands housing options, supports retail growth, creates jobs, generates tax retail growth, creates jobs, generates tax revenue, and encourages long-term economic revenue, and encourages long-term economic investment in Vallejo. investment in Vallejo.

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Vacaville’s appointment of Amanda Portier as Economic Development Manager signals continued focus on business attraction, workforce development, and economic expansion. For Solano County residents and businesses, strong economic leadership helps create jobs, support local entrepreneurs, attract investment, and strengthen the region’s longterm competitiveness and economic resilience.

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Community Solano Community Foundation Nam Foundation Named ed Nonprofit of the Year for Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 11 Assembly District 11

The Solano Community Foundation has been The Solano Community Foundation has been recognized as the 2026 Nonprofit of the Year recognized as the 2026 Nonprofit of the Year for California’s 11th Assembly District. This for California’s 11th Assembly District. This recognition highlights the critical role recognition highlights the critical role nonprofits play in supporting Solano County nonprofits play in supporting Solano County residents through education, health, residents through education, health, community programs, and charitable community programs, and charitable initiatives that strengthen local communities initiatives that strengthen local communities and improve quality of life. and improve quality of life.

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