April 23, 2008

A Prescription for Modoc County’s Future

Modoc Economic Development Rx:

Modoc Economic

Development Corporation

Modoc County is a county located in the far northeast corner of the of California, bounded by the state of Oregon to the north and the state of Nevada to the east. As of 2000, its population was 9,449. The county seat is Alturas, the county's only incorporated city. The county's official slogans include, "The last best place," and "Where the West still lives."A large portion of Modoc County is federal reservations. A patchwork of overlapping government agencies form a significant part of the economy and provide services to this rural area. The federal presence includes the following agencies and departments: US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National ParkService, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Modoc Economic Development Rx” was designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs get information and resources to grow or start up their businesses and to enhance the economic development of Modoc County.

Sponsored through the WIRED Initiative

WIRED seeks to integrate workforce and economic development on a regional level in order to help businesses flourish and create new jobs. Enhancing business development, discovering new business opportunities, keeping small businesses healthy, and helping secure venture capital for businesses with a potential for fast growth are all integral pieces of the WIRED project.

 

This event provided important information, resources, and local economic business strategies to over 60 people interested in the economic growth of Modoc County.

Before the event Jack Schultz started the day with a tour of Modoc County . We started the tour in Cedarville and ended in Alturas. Check Jacks blog for his insight from the tour http://boomtownusa.blogspot.comRepresentatives on the tour were:•Modoc County Board of Supervisors- Mike Dunn & Dan Macsay •US Forest Service- Laura Williams• Modoc Economic Development Corp- Carol Sharp & Alan Cain• Alturas Chamber President- Jim Cavasso•City Council Member- John Dederick• Modoc County Planning Department- Chester Robertson•Surprise Valley Chamber- Jim Brown•Hospital Coalition- Jerry Smith•Alliance For Workforce Development- Amee Albrecht.

Surprise Valley Hot Springs Old Mill Site Alturas

Jack Schultz: Keynote Speaker, Author/Entrepreneur

Bob Nash: CEO, Superior California Economic District

Linda Hansen: Mt. Lassen Sr. Rep, Sierra Nevada Conservancy

Matt Giblin: Project Manager/Developer, Invenergy, LLC

Jack Schultz-The 7 ½ Keys to Success in a Small Town.

Bob Nash-discussed the business financing process and financing availabilities.

Linda Hansen-gave and overview of available grant opportunities that they provide.

Matt Giblin-provided information about wind energy benefits and the economic advantages that it could provide.

The feedback from the event has been extremely positive.

Here are some of the comments: “This brings excitement to the economic future of

Modoc County” “Very interesting…It makes you really think of the

possibilities that are here” “I’ve been inspired”

Economic Development partners continue to collaborate on further projects to enhance the economic growth of Modoc County.

For further information & upcoming WIRED events visit this website: http://nortec.org/cb/wired_events.html