Envision Dec 2006 Vol 1 Issue 1

Envision E-Newsletter December 2006 Vol 1 Issue 1

Analysis & Impacts
Business Attraction & Marketing
Business Retention & Expansion
Planning, Smart Growth
Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development
Incentives
Neightborhood, Community & Downtown Development
Tourism
Trade Globalization & Internatioinal Economic Development
Workforce Development
Meet the Economic Development Staff

ANALYSIS AND IMPACT

Large Venue Recycling Law AB 2176
EPA Issues New Groundwater Rule
Staff Jenny Halpin and Becky Baylard are currently working on a project to establish the City of Fresno’s Large Venue Recycling Regulations ….This project includes research regarding the states large venue law, developing a comprehensive data base that includes all large venue recycling events/locations, diversion tracking mechanisms, and finally the design and development of a large venue packet that the public receives...For more information call Patti Towes, Recycling Coordinator, Solid Waste: 559-621 1882.

EPA Issues New Groundwater Rule
A new groundwater rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency targets utilities that provide water from underground sources and requires greater vigilance for potential contamination by disease-causing microorganisms.

A ground water system is subject to triggered source-water monitoring if its treatment methods don’t already remove 99.99 percent of viruses. Systems must begin to comply with the new requirements by December 1, 2009.

Contaminants in question are pathogenic viruses – such as rotavirus, echoviruses, noroviruses – and pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella, and shigella. Utilities will be required to look for and correct deficiencies in their operations to prevent contamination from these pathogens.

As required by the California Health Department, City of Fresno currently tests for over 100 different contaminates, including E. coli. Additional monitoring and retake sampling will be required for remainder contaminants, resulting in increased costs.

For more information call Bob Little, Water System Supervisor, for more information: 559-621-5355.

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Orphan Oil
The City of Fresno Recycling Program is addressing “Orphan Oil” issues. Orphan Oil is used motor oil left outside a Certified Collection Center (AutoZone, Kragen, etc). Dropping off used motor or filters outside a Certified Collection Center is illegal and, if caught, violators will be find $1,000. In continuing efforts to address the Orphan Oil illegal dumping problem, the Fresno Police Department will be patrolling the Certified Collection Centers. Call Recycling for more information: 559-621-1111.

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BUSINESS ATTRACTION & MARKETING

Slicker Cities
The real contest is among communities, not nations. Check out these hot spots

America is losing its competitive edge. That premise has been pounded into our heads so often by pundits, and reinforced with each report on the rise of China and India, that it's almost taken as a given. But can a nation that has averaged 3.4% growth for three years and keeps posting sterling productivity gains really have a competitiveness problem?
More….

BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION

City of Fresno Program to be Launched
With over 25,000 businesses in the area, the City of Fresno recognizes the importance of retaining and growing its existing business base. The Economic Development Department is developing a Business Retention & Expansion program to assist local companies with questions and challenges they face. Look for the launch of this new program in Spring 2007.

PLANNING, SMART GROWTH

Southeast Growth Area Listening Sessions

The City of Fresno Announces: Southeast Growth Area Listening Sessions
Listening to you . . . Before the planning begins!

The City of Fresno is embarking on one of the most important planning efforts in its history, the Southeast Growth Area, and we want you to be a part of it.

Monday, December 11
- Follow-up Meeting for Property Owners,
Residents, and All Interested Parties

For more information contact:
e-mail: Keith Bergthold – Phone: 559-999-5100
and/or
e-mail: Darrell Unruh – Phone: 559-621-8050
More ...

Auxiliary Service Providers (ASP)
Do you provide professional services to the small-business community?
Would you like to expand your client base?
Are you interested in becoming involved with entrepreneurs?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, attend an information session to find out more about becoming a certified auxiliary service provider of the Central Valley Business Incubator.
More…..

Cutting Back
Even successful businesses have debt, but how much is too much? Learning how to manage debt is what can put you ahead.
By Crystal Detamore-Rodman
Entrepreneur Magazine - December 2006

Taking on the right amount of debt can mean the difference between a business struggling to survive and one that can respond nimbly to changing economic or market conditions. A number of circumstances may justify acquiring debt. As a general rule, borrowing makes the most sense when you need to bolster cash flow or finance growth or expansion. How much debt is too much?
More….

‘Tis the Season for Smart Marketing
6 ways to market to your customers and prospects during the holidays
By Janet Holian

Nothing drives sales and business relationships like a personal connection, and there’s no better time to make that personal connection than during the holiday season. No matter what type of business you have, reaching out to your customers and prospects over the holidays is critical, since it helps builds long-term relationships with customers who buy from you--and keeps them coming back all year long.
More….

Municipal Restoration Zone (MRZ)
The City of Fresno Economic Development Department is please to announce the official adoption of the Municipal Restoration Zone, or MRZ. On October 31, 2006, the Fresno City Council unanimously voted to approve a resolution establishing the MRZ, a set of local incentives designed to help stimulate the business economy and employment opportunities in Fresno’s urban core.

In January 2006, Mayor Alan Autry proposed the new zone stating, “The MRZ helps ensure that residents of our most challenged neighborhoods are not left behind and that seeds of prosperity are planted for future generations.”

The Municipal Restoration Zone allows new or qualified expanding businesses within the zone boundaries to obtain refunds of business license fees, reductions of building permit fees, and refunds of sales and property taxes, in addition to the initiatives already in place as part of the Federal Empowerment Zone and State Enterprise Zone. These incentives are designed to help motivate business development and expansion, and job creation in the City’s urban core where residents are vulnerable to a life of financial strangulation without access to jobs.

The MRZ encompasses census tracts, which the 2000 U.S. Census identifies as having significant percentages of population below the federal poverty line. As a suburban core area, the MRZ includes areas zoned for industrial and commercial activity, and residential areas. The MRZ contains all properties within the City of Fresno limits south of McKinley and west of Peach.

For information regarding the MRZ, visit the Municipal Restoration Zone on our web site or contact Melodee Schwamb with the City of Fresno Economic Development Department: E-mail: Melodee Schwamb or 559-621-8366.

New Enterprize Zone (EZ)
On November 3, 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the designation of a brand new State of California Enterprise Zone in the City of Fresno.

This program allows businesses to reduce or eliminate their state income taxes through hiring tax credits, sales and use tax credits, business expense deductions and net operating loss carryovers. The Enterprise Zone also provides net interest deductions for lenders and wage credits for employees.

The City of Fresno original Enterpise Zone, which was designated in October 1986 and expired 20 years later in
October 2006, provided the opportunity for substantial state tax benefits and credits to over 5,000 local businesses. The new and improved Enterprise Zone, which should be finalized in the next few months, is expected to extend those benefits to over 15,000 City of Fresno businesses.

In August 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger released a report, commissioned by the California Housing and Economic Development Department, that evaluated the success of the Enterprise Zones in spurring economic recover. The report found that, from 1990 to 2000, Enterprise Zones on averaged experienced.

- A poverty rate decline of 7.35 percent more than the rest of California
-An unemployment rate decline of 1.2 percent more than the rest of California
-A household income increase of 7.1 percent more than the rest of California
-A wage and salary income increase of 3.t percent more than the rest of California

The City of Fresno is excited about the possibilities this new Enterprise Zone designation brings. For more information, please visit the Enterprise Zone section on our web site or contact Kelly Trevino, Enterprise Zone Manager. E- mail Kelly Trevino or call 559-621-8426.

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NEIGHBORHOOD, COMMUNITY & DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
Sports Town
Plans for a Sports Town area are underway. The Sports Town development is located on Kern Street between the Stadium and New Exhibit Hall/Convention Center. It will consist of new streetscape design of lighting, street improvements, banners, entrance signage, sidewalk patio dining as well as development of buildings (i.e., Virginia Hotel, Arco Garage, the Elections Office, and the old Gottschalk and Berkeley Buildings). City of Fresno departments in collaboration with private developers are working together to expedite this project. Project drawings are under review including the streetscape design along with potential entrance signage and conceptual drawings of what some of the buildings would look like under the sports theme. For more information, E-Mail Economic Development Department or call 559-621-8350.

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TOURISM

Discover Fresno County DVD
he recently released DVD, narrated in both English and Spanish, is being distributed to tour operators, meeting planners, hotels, airlines to increase travel and stay in Fresno. The DVD showcases the natural beauty of our region and the diversity of festivals, attractions, and recreational activities. For more information: Visit the Convention and Visitor Bureau web site.

New Look for Fresno Destination Guide – the 2007 guide features a user friendly city map and editorials on The Arts & Culture, Wineries and Eco-Tourism. Available in January. For more information: Visit the Convention and Visitor Bureau web site.

Official California Visitors Guide – What does cooperative advertising buy? A full page in the official visitors guide for California. The Fresno Convention and Visitors Bureau in cooperation with Fresno hotels, and attractions present a strong image with a full page advertisement in the Central Valley section of the California Visitors Guide. The guide has a distribution of 500,000 copies to a national and international audience and receives over 1 million unique visits to the website. For more information: Visit the Convention and Visitor Bureau web site.
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TRADE, GLOBALIZATION & INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Trade partner Down Under opens up office in Fresno
By Robert Rodriguez / The Fresno Bee
Australia is a leader in using radio frequency to track livestock, it produces notable wines and its entrepreneurs have developed water-saving irrigation technology. Australians' confidence in their products and last year's Australian-U.S. Free Trade Agreement led them to open an Australian Trade Commission office in Fresno.
More…

Tracking China’s financial market….source: Milken Institute
Xinhua Finance and the Milken Institute calculates a set of eight sophisticated economic indicators that give investors and firms valuable new information about the Chinese financial markets. The Xinhua Finance/Milken Institute China Indicators provide investors with a set of standardized, international measurements to gauge the performance of China's markets and companies participating in those markets. These indicators bring greater transparency to the China market than has ever been available.

More ... View the indicators

The Sun Still Rises
Carl Delfeld, Chartwell Advisor…. Source: Forbes.com

As Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi prepares to turn over power to his likely successor, Shinzo Abe, many are wondering what's next for Japan and the Japanese stock market.

More...

Next Stop Is Vietnam
Carl Delfeld, Chartwell Advisor……..source: Forbes.com

Vietnam is slightly larger than New Mexico in size, but it has a population of 85 million people, half of whom are younger than 25. Vietnam's economic growth rate of 8% is close to that of China, and its manufacturing capability has a long way to go; manufacturing currently represents just 11% of Vietnam's gross domestic product. Wage rates are lower than in neighboring countries, and the service side of the economy is thriving.

More...

As technology has improved, risks have increased. As a result, most corporations are now monitoring their employees closely.

More….

Pandemic Influenza - What Every Business Needs to Know
Seasonal influenza arrives each winter bringing fever, aches and some expected employee absences from work. A pandemic, or worldwide, influenza outbreak would be very different and could potentially last for months, sicken thousands of thousands of people, overwhelm the health care system, shut down schools, and interrupt commerce.

The Fresno County Department of Community

Health

is conducting informational presentations on the topic of pandemic influenza. To schedule a presentation, call 559-445-3330.

For business owners / managers: "Business Continuity During a Pandemic" - 45 minutes:
*Background and possible impact of pandemic influenza on the business community
*Strategies for preparedness and alternative operations planning
*Respiratory illness risk-reduction in the workplace

For employees: "Seasonal / Pandemic Influenza" 30 - 45 minutes (length modified to suit)
*Individual / family planning for emergencies, including pandemic influenza
*Tips on how to stay healthy and maximize work attendance.

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MEET THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF
The City of Fresno Economic Development Department was formed in 2003. Our goal is to provide the means for all Fresno citizens to continual increase their standard of living. Successful business development requires the building and maintenance of several key economic foundations including the availability of skilled labor forces, access to capital, adaptable technology and research, a modern infrastructure, competitive tax and regulatory policies and an attractive qualify of life.

In close partnership with businesses, governments, and communities, we provide leadership in creating conditions for a thriving economy throughout the City of Fresno.

For more information,

Staff Profiles

Economic Development Home Page