Solano Economic Update: September

SEPTEMBER 23' UPDATE SPONSORED BY:

CHRIS RICO

President & CEO

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends of the EDC

,

Just when I thought my job couldn’t get more interesting, Flannery and Associates revealed themselves in the last few weeks and are full steam ahead in trying to assert their vision on Solano County. They have hired the best consultants, lawyers, and publicists that money can buy. What they haven’t done, however, is approach their vision thoughtfully and collaboratively. I penned an Op-ed in the SF Chronicle that dropped digitally this morning and will be in print on Monday. If you don’t have a subscription, the text is on our website.

A few highlights from last month. I was invited by California Forward to participate in a conversation about advanced manufacturing in the region at a really cool new innovation lab in Roseville. As you may know, Sacramento has been doing a great job in attracting new manufacturing jobs. We’ve just kicked off our MTC/ABAG (Metropolitan Transportation Commission - Association of Bay Area Governments) funded grant to make our 12 priority production areas shovel ready to attract the

I was fortunate enough to sit at Assemblymember Lori Wilson’s table at the Touro University Mosaic Gala. This is an annual fundraiser for diversity scholarships and they were honoring Supervisor Erin Hannigan. As you may know, Erin is a tireless advocate for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Touro is a standout institution who lives their values of service to our community every day.

I hope you are all enjoying some cooler weather and wish you all good health and continued prosperity.

Chris Rico President/CEO

TOURO UNIVERSITY MOSAIC GALA

Since its inception in the 1930s, the UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program has developed more than 60 patented varieties, turning strawberries into a year-round crop.

This year, UC Davis released five new strawberry varieties that are resistant to the soilborne disease Fusarium wilt, have high yields and improved fruit quality. UC Eclipse, UC Golden Gate, UC Keystone, UC Monarch and UC Surfline.

Today, the United States is the world's largest producer of strawberries, and almost 90 percent of them are grown in California. More than 60 percent of the state's crop uses varieties derived at UC Davis.

SOLANOCOUNTYTOPSBOTH CAANDU.S.WAGEGROWTH

TOPNORTHBAYWAGE GROWTHINQ1

Solano was the only North Bay county that exceeded the California and national averages for annual wage growth in the first quarter of this year. Of the 13,200 establishments reporting in Solano, average weekly pay in the first quarter was $1,338, up 7.4% from a year before.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

STOPPING OPIOID OVERDOSES NO QUESTIONS ASKED

Kaiser Permanente emergency departments dispense Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal drug, to anyone who asks. Kaiser Permanente emergency departments in Northern California are dispensing a free overdose-reversing nasal spray called Narcan, along with an in-person primer on how to use it.

The Narcan distribution program is part of an Emergency Department strategy to combat opioid overdose deaths and connect patients to treatment for substance use disorders, said John Ludlow, MD, physician lead for the Emergency Department Substance Use Disorder Program in Northern California.

“We give it free directly to patients and their family members, and we teach them how to use it, no questions asked, ” he said.

Dial 911

Narcan is a trade name for naloxone, which is sprayed in the nose of someone experiencing an opioid overdose. The drug works almost immediately, but its effects last only about 30 minutes to an hour, which is why it is important to dial 911 as soon as possible to get an overdosing person to an emergency room in case further treatment is needed.

“If they have taken a potent dose of fentanyl, heroin, or other prescription opioids, they might need multiple doses of Narcan or other treatments, so we recommend getting the person to the emergency room right away, ” said Dr. Ludlow. When someone requests Narcan from a Kaiser Permanente Emergency Department, the person also is taught how to recognize an overdose. “A decrease in respirations, an altered level of consciousness — from sleepy to comatose — and pinpoint pupils, all of those point to an overdose, ” said Dr. Ludlow.

Giving out free overdose-reversal nose spray without judgment is part of an effort to save lives by changing how people view substance use disorders, said Tracy Broce, Kaiser Permanente Regional Emergency Department Director. “It’s really an effort at changing the culture to reduce stigma and create a welcoming environment in our Emergency Departments, ” said Broce. “We’ve posted signs in our facilities telling people it is available. Any patient, visitor, or family member can ask for it. ”

Kaiser Permanente receives Narcan from the state of California’s Naloxone Distribution Program free of charge. Since the program began in 2018, the state has distributed more than 2.6 million doses to a variety of organizations such as police, fire, local and state governments, schools, substance abuse treatment facilities, homeless shelters, and hospitals, which it says have been used to reverse 186,000 overdoses.

Thousands of doses distributed

Kaiser Permanente has so far distributed 3,500 doses from 20 medical centers in Northern California since it started receiving shipments from the state about a year ago, said Broce. In 2022, about 72,000 people died nationwide from synthetic opioid overdoses, including fentanyl, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Kaiser Permanente emergency departments in Northern California see the most visits due to opioid-related problems in Sacramento, followed by South Sacramento, Richmond, Roseville, and San Leandro, said Dr. Ludlow. “We’ve been distributing Narcan for a little over a year, and we’ve heard numerous stories about lives saved because a family member or friend was able to administer it to someone overdosing, ” said Broce.

Dr. Ludlow said where he works as an Emergency Department physician in Modesto, a young man in his 20s was brought by ambulance during an overdose, treated and released. During the visit his mother requested Narcan. Later that same day after going home, the young man overdosed again, his mother administered the Narcan and got him back to the hospital.

“The mother used it and saved him, ” said Dr. Ludlow. “He probably would have died without it. And I heard after the second overdose in one day, he got into treatment. ”

Broce said she is energized by Kaiser Permanente Emergency Department leaders who have taken the time to implement the Narcan distribution program.

“They’ve done the work to complete these detailed applications with the state in a busy environment where there are so many other competing priorities, ” said Broce. “And they’re taking the time to give people the Narcan and talk them through how to use it. That’s inspiring. ”

Michael J. Dumont’s tenure as interim president of California State University (CSU) Maritime Academy. President Dumont brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from business, law, policymaking, government service, and higher education, all of which speak to Cal Maritime’s unique needs and distinct role in the maritime industry.

CONGRATULATIONS

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROFESSORJIMDEKLOE

2023 RON MARDIGAN AWARD

NATIONALBIOTECHNOLOGY

TEACHINGAWARD

Congratulations to Biotechnology Professor Jim DeKloe for being awarded the 2023 Ron Mardigian Biotechnology Teaching Award, sponsored by the National Association of Biology Teachers. The award recognizes a teacher who demonstrates outstanding and creative teaching of biotechnology in the classroom.

Valero Benicia Refinery congratulates their Volunteer Council

The Valero Benicia Refinery Volunteer Council is dedicated to improving lives, inspiring others, and promoting a spirit of giving throughout Benicia and the communities we serve. Volunteer activities that we participated in during the past 12 months include working with local food banks, participating in toy drives, and recognizing International Women’s Day & LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Please click the hyperlink below to review a presentation that highlights all of their volunteer efforts.

Valero Benicia Refinery's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report

The Valero Benicia Refinery is dedicated to providing positive experiences for our community and protecting both our economy and the environment. The Refinery has set a number of environmental, social, and governmental strategies to achieve these goals. Check out their work by reviewing the link below.

SEPT 19 - Designing an Employee Retention Culture the Workplace