Solano Economic Update: October 2024 by solanoedc

OCTOBER 24' UPDATE

CHRIS RICO CHRIS RICO

President & CEO

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends of the EDC, Last month we hosted a reception with many of our partners on the Revolving Loan Fund. We wanted to thank everyone for doing something extraordinary and frankly, quite difficult. Never before have three rival financial institutions partnered on a project, especially not funded with American Rescue Plan dollars that come with so many strings. First Northern Bank, Travis Credit Union, and Valley Strong Credit Union have been exemplary partners and great community members. Kudos to the County Board of Supervisors and staff for a lot of really hard, and complicated work to make this happen, and for entrusting us with these vital resources for our small businesses. All of the chambers and the NAACP have been helping to get the word out far and wide, and lastly, Tim Murrill and the SBDC have been an integral part of vetting the businesses and setting them up for success. As you may know, Sean Quinn was the architect of this program and, fortunate for all of this, he actually wrote the state manual on Revolving Loan Funds earlier in his career. With Wendi Reed and Jose Caballero by his side, he has been leading this project. So far we have lent over $2million of vital capital to small businesses in every city and in the unincorporated areas, and the loans have gone out to every type of business. We’re so grateful for all of you. Teamwork makes the dream work.

Solano Biz-Grow RLF Reception

If you follow us on social media, you may have seen that we have a new intern from Rising Sun, Jaytwann Bell. He’s been such a rock star in a short amount of time that we have already elevated him into a Program Assistant role. We’re lucky to have him on the team.

Lastly, you may know that it’s waterfront weekend in Vallejo. You may also know that they convince civic leaders to subject themselves to a “Splash Chair” to raise money for scholarships for the Vallejo Leadership program. It might not be surprising to find out that I’m super competitive, so if you can lend $20 to the cause in my name, I would be so grateful. You can sponsor me here.

Wishing you all good health and continued prosperity.

Try to stay cool!

Chris Rico President/CEO

VACAVILLE GETS $11 MILLION FOR I-505 PROJECT

In Vacaville, $11 million dollars is earmarked to to create bicycle and pedestrian pathways, as well as roundabouts along Vaca Valley Parkway where it crosses over Interstate 505. "The project will address two high-injury corridors ... The implementation portion of the project will provide safer connections across I-505 ... where 100% of crashes involving a bicyclist or pedestrian occurred in a location without any bicycle facilities," read the grant award announcement.

DIXON WORKFORCE

HOUSING PROJECT GETS EARLY PHASE FUNDING

The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday allocated the The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday allocated the final $1.5 million from the Housing Trust Fund to prepare its final $1.5 million from the Housing Trust Fund to prepare its former Dixon corporation yard site for a workforce housing former Dixon corporation yard site for a workforce housing project. project. The project would consist of up to 18 modular one-, The project would consist of up to 18 modular one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The site has water and sewer two- and three-bedroom units. The site has water and sewer connections to the Dixon system, but would likely require connections to the Dixon system, but would likely require upgrades, a staff report to the board said. The address is upgrades, a staff report to the board said. The address is 580 N. First St.

CITY COUNCIL TO RE-ADVERTISE HEART OF FAIRFIELD PHASE

The City Council voted unanimously, with councilman Rick Vaccaro absent, voted to transfer $785,070 to fund for a portion of the Heart of Fairfield project. The Heart of Fairfield project is being completed in phases. Phase 1A was completed in April and included the removal of antiquated site furnishings, including concrete benches, pergola structures and potted plants. Phase 1B will build upon the improvements. It includes the replacement of existing street trees and corresponding irrigation.

VALLEJO POLICE AWARDED $550,000 TO BOLSTER MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM

The Integrated Health and Resource Team, or IHART, is a

The Integrated Health and Resource Team, or IHART, is a mobile crisis response team launched by the city to be non- mobile crisis response team launched by the city to be nonpolice response force for behavioral health crises. Officials police response force for behavioral health crises. Officials

hope the $550,000 check will help expand the service from hope the $550,000 check will help expand the service from it’s 12 hour operating window, to a full 24-hour operation, it’s 12 hour operating window, to a full 24-hour operation, development of community resources, officer and development of community resources, officer and community training and enhanced staff for IHART. community training and enhanced staff for IHART.

YOCHA DEHE NATION SETS UP $400K SCHOLARSHIP

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has announced the establishment of a $400,000 scholarship fund to support Solano County students.

“The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has deep roots in this region, which encompasses our ancestral homeland. We share a mission and vision with these educational institutions to uplift our community,” Anthony Roberts, chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Tribal Council

LONZACOMPLETESACQUISITION OFVACAVILLESITEFROMROCHE

Lonza completed its acquisition of the Genentech large-scale biologics manufacturing site in Vacaville, CA from Roche for $1.2 billion. The Vacaville facility significantly extends Lonza’s capacity for mammalian manufacturing in the U.S., according to a Lonza official, who added that it creates a significant West Coast commercial manufacturing presence close to San Francisco’s pharma and biotech hub.

The Solano Economic Development Corporation and the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) announced today it is entering a strategic partnership to bridge the gap of state and local resources for advanced manufacturing companies in the region.

Acknowledging Solano County’s decisive role in advancing manufacturers to the region, CMTA aims to support the businesses making California. Solano County employs over 12,000 manufacturing employees across 270 companies in the region, according to the most recent data. As Solano’s manufacturing scene continues to grow, CMTA will also play a pivotal role in supporting Solano County’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan to ensure strong benefits and seamless processes to bring new manufacturers to the region.

TRAVIS CREDIT UNION LAUNCHES GENERATION WEALTH AT BENICIA HIGH SCHOOL

Generation Wealth Generation Wealth, its newly refreshed , its newly refreshed and rebranded award-winning, and rebranded award-winning,

interactive youth financial education interactive youth financial education initiative, today at Benicia High School. initiative, today at Benicia High School.

CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS

LLESLIE ESLIE JANIK JANIK

NEW POSITION:

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Solano Community Foundation has appointed Leslie Janik as Chief Executive Office, replacing Connie Harris who retired on Aug. 30 after 23 years with the foundation.

“I am deeply honored and excited to be the new CEO of the Solano Community Foundation,” said Janik. “It is a privilege to lead an organization with such a profound impact on our community, and I am eager to build on the strong foundation that has been established.

SUMMIT FOR YOUNG LEADERS TO BE HELD IN VALLEJO ON OCT. 19

The “Brown Girls In Congress Leadership Summit” will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19 to help empower young girls by understanding the political system.

Girls ages 8 – 17 are invited to attend the summit from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be held at Solano Community College Vallejo Center, 545 Columbus Parkway.

Sustainable Solano’s 25th Anniversary Celebration

"We were honored to attend Sustainable Solano’s 25th Anniversary "We were honored to attend Sustainable Solano’s 25th Anniversary Celebration at the beautiful BackRoad Vines in Suisun Valley. The Celebration at the beautiful BackRoad Vines in Suisun Valley. The evening was a true celebration of community, featuring delicious evening was a true celebration of community, featuring delicious locally-sourced food and wine, live music, dancing under the stars, locally-sourced food and wine, live music, dancing under the stars, and a shared commitment to building a more sustainable future for and a shared commitment to building a more sustainable future for Solano County. Solano County.

Sustainable Solano has an incredible legacy of service and Sustainable Solano has an incredible legacy of service and dedication to supporting local food systems, environmental dedication to supporting local food systems, environmental stewardship, and community resilience. It was a pleasure to stewardship, and community resilience. It was a pleasure to reconnect with our friends at Sustainable Solano and hear about the reconnect with our friends at Sustainable Solano and hear about the impactful work they’re doing throughout the county, as well as their impactful work they’re doing throughout the county, as well as their future plans to continue these vital initiatives. future plans to continue these vital initiatives.

Solano EDC’s Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) Business

Solano EDC’s Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) Business program is excited announce our coordination with Sustainable program is excited announce our coordination with Sustainable Solano called "Doing Good Business" . This initiative will focus on Solano called "Doing Good Business" . This initiative will focus on recognizing and supporting businesses that not only prioritize recognizing and supporting businesses that not only prioritize environmentally friendly practices but also go above and beyond in environmentally friendly practices but also go above and beyond in caring for their employees and contributing positively to Solano caring for their employees and contributing positively to Solano County. County.

As we enjoyed the evening’s festivities and the anniversary presentation, it reaffirmed our belief in the power of local presentation, it reaffirmed our belief in the power of local partnerships and community-driven solutions to create lasting partnerships and community-driven solutions to create lasting change. Here's to Sustainable Solano's next 25 years of making a change. Here's to Sustainable Solano's next 25 years of making a difference difference

As we enjoyed the evening’s festivities and the anniversary

The Solano WDB is hosting a fall Career Fair Oct. 17, 10 am to 1 pm, at 500 Chadbourne Road, Suite, A in Fairfield. More than 20 actively hiring regional employers will be on site to meet with job seekers. Register early and upload your resume for early access to view available jobs.

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