Mission Statement and Economic Vitality of Northern · 2605 S. Miller, Ste. 107, Santa Maria, CA 93455 805-364-2153 2

Supporting the growth industries and Economic Vitality of Northern Santa Barbara County

Mission Statement To Create a High Performance, Globally Competitive Regional Economy

Industries/Sectors Served: • Agriculture • Wine/Tourism • Energy • High Tech/Advanced

Manufacturing • Healthcare • Innovation/Entrepreneurship

What We Do: • Celebrate important industries

with high visibility events, publicity

• Educate public on industry benefits

• Inform public/policymakers about impacts of land-use policies and regulations on industry and jobs

• Provide cross-industry networking • Support industry with far-reaching

initiatives: workforce development and literacy, attraction of university programs, infrastructure, global trade

2605 S. Miller, Ste. 107, Santa Maria, CA 93455 ▪ 805-364-2153 ▪ www.EconAlliance.org

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EconAlliance Board Members

President: Steve Pepe, Co-Founder, Clos Pepe Vineyards LLC Vice President: Joe Halsell, CEO, Halsell Builders Secretary: Jenelle Osborne, Principal, Orijenel Organizer Treasurer: Mike Sell, Vice President, Pacific Western Bank Immediate PP: Mike Kirkwood, Business Services Manager,

CoastHills Credit Union Founder: Lawnae Hunter, Principal, Plus Property Management

Directors: Philip Adam, Production Supervisor Innovative Produce

Sam Cohen, Government & Legal Affairs Representative Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Alejandra Mahoney, Sr. Education Mgr., Community Dev Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Rick Rust, Public Affairs Analyst Aera Energy LLC

Contact

Victoria Conner, EconAlliance Consultant/Initiatives Director Initiatives@EconAlliance ▪ 805-345-0688

The EconAlliance Foundation

2605 S. Miller, Ste. 107, Santa Maria, CA 93455 805-364-2153 ▪ www.EconAlliance.org

http://www.econalliance.org/



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2016 Accomplishments/Key Activities:

1. “Growing Possibilities” Agriculture Forum. Highlights: • California Department of Agriculture Asst. Secretary as keynote • Dept. of Water Resources Board Member and County Ag Commissioner as

featured speakers • Ag issues panel, ag innovation panel • Celebration of third, fourth and fifth generation row crop ag families

2. Appearances at County Board of Supervisor meetings and OpEds to share information on positive job and community impacts of industry expansion, negative impacts of new wine ordinance, oil and gas regulations

3. Hosting of annual EconAlliance “Future Forum”. Highlights: • Silicon Valley Foresight Institute keynote on nanotech/biotech/AI • Nationally recognized architect on the future of housing • Awarding of first annual EconAlliance Innovation Award • Introduction of new EconAlliance officers, Board members

4. Innovation/entrepreneurship networking opportunities featuring cyber security and virtual reality technology

5. Support for oil industry in developing a PowerPoint industry overview 6. Co-Leadership of North County Workforce Development and Literacy

Initiative – WALI (5 regional literacy/workforce goals for 2020); organizing of two WALI forums for educators, employers and community leaders

7. Co-development of “Working Neighborhoods Initiative” – recruitment of 11 organizations bringing youth and adult literacy, STEM activities, childcare licensing training, financial literacy, industry understanding, career and entrepreneurship awareness, and job search skills to six neighborhoods

8. Start-up coordination of North County industry celebration video 9. Began planning 2017 wine forum to take place July 26, 2017 in cooperation

with Santa Barbara County Vintners Association. Keynote: Robert McMillan, Founder, Wine Division, Silicon Valley Bank, government panel (Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, former County CAO Mike Brown), tourism panel (Vintners Association’s Morgen McLaughlin with regional tourism bureau reps)



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What is unique, special or important about EconAlliance?

• Geographical area served is Northern Santa Barbara County

• Organization has established a targeted “sector strategy” approach to North County industry vitality, regional prosperity

• Collaborative, participatory policymaker and stakeholder education,

with cross-industry, non-partisan support for industry and North County priorities

• Unique partnerships that leverage resources and expertise and

support cross-community vitality

• One-of-a-kind events driving regional dialogue, awareness, “possibility thinking” and action

• Support for economic development efforts undertaken by other

organizations (Cities, Chambers, County, Economic Vitality Team, and others)

• Development and leadership of several strategic industry and

regional support initiatives - initiatives that celebrate and provide foundational support for target North County job-creating industries, and initiatives that foster prosperity and global competitiveness for North County industries and communities



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Agriculture Sector Initiative

The EconAlliance Agriculture Initiative was established in 2013. At the request of ag community stakeholders, the Initiative’s focus is on celebrating North County’s agricultural legacy, economic impact, and the sector’s support for North County communities. EconAlliance has held major regional ag forums in 2014 and 2016, with next Ag Forum tentatively scheduled for February 2, 2018. EconAlliance also works with ag organizations on policymaker education. Agriculture is the #1 economic contributor to Santa Barbara County and the ag sector contributes $2.8 billion in direct economic output and an additional $1 billion in expenditures by ag companies and employees. The sector sustains a wealth of ag-related support businesses, as well, with agriculture providing over 25,000 jobs to the county, most of those in North County. The sector attracts job and career opportunities at every skill level, from field workers through field supervisors and managers to business and environmental professionals and scientists. EconAlliance supports the ag sector in several ways (http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/agriculture/):

• A regional ag appreciation forum every other year, attracting policymakers, media, other industry stakeholders, educators and the public

• First “Growing Possibilities” Ag Forum featured California Ag Secretary Karen Ross. Forums also addressed ag issues, innovation, food safety, etc.

• White papers, OpEds on important topics impacting the ag sector or ag jobs • Monitoring of County ag regulations; policymaker education at Planning

and/or Supervisor meetings on impacts to the ag sector or ag workers • Under its Workforce/Education Initiative, EconAlliance helps support

literacy and workforce development for farmworker families


http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/agriculture/


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Wine/Tourism Initiative

Santa Barbara County boasts over 27,000 planted acres of wine grapes, nearly all of those in North County. Eight wine routes and most of the 100+ wineries and tasting rooms are located in the region, as well. In 2014, the wine community boasted $163 million in sales, with an economic impact to Santa Barbara County of $1.7 billion. The county wine

sector is now inching up to 10,000 jobs, the bulk of them here in North County. North County enjoys a nexus of fine wine and a thriving tourist industry, as well, so EconAlliance has chosen to address both through the Wine/Tourism Initiative. In 2013-2014, the EconAlliance Wine/Tourism co-lead began working with the County on the Wine Ordinance revision, and the organization has monitored Ordinance revisions ever since. EconAlliance has provided verbal and written comments to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, as well as publishing letters to the Editor on Wine Ordinance impacts. Wine-related panelists also have been included in EconAlliance ag forums. North County Tourism contact links are on EconAlliance website. The Wine Tourism Initiative is gathering steam in 2017, with the first EconAlliance-hosted Wine/Tourism forum Wednesday, July 26, 2017, in cooperation with Santa Barbara Vintner’s Association. Keynote speaker is Robert McMillan, Founder of Silicon Valley Bank’s Wine Division, with former County CEO Mike Brown moderating a panel featuring 1st District Supervisor Das Williams, 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino and others. http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/winetourism/


http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/winetourism/


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Energy Initiative

EconAlliance has supported and celebrated North County energy production, alternative energy and energy efficiency since 2012, when it first established its initiatives. Early on, in response to stakeholder questions about North County oil reserves, impacts and benefits, EconAlliance inspired a series of Petroleum 101 seminars, which provided a foundational understanding of both developments in the industry and in North County.

The EconAlliance Oil & Gas Initiative Team distributed Petro 101 information and helped attract policymaker attendance at the informational seminars. In 2013, EconAlliance, in cooperation with industry stakeholders, coordinated the “California Energy Summit”, attracting statewide and nationwide speakers on every facet of the industry – oil, gas, wind, and solar, and energy policy. In attendance were 350 people – elected, policymakers, educators, other industry stakeholders, community leaders and

members of the general public. Also in 2013, the EconAlliance Renewable Energy/Cleantech Initiative leads coordinated forums for contractors and property owners on PG&E’s “On-Bill” Financing, which incentivized energy efficiency upgrades. EconAlliance has since helped educate policymakers and the public about the positive economic and job impacts of environmentally-sensitive expansion of energy production, providing information at both Planning Department hearings and County Supervisor meetings, as well as in OpEds. EconAlliance helped educate the the community about the potential impacts of Measure P, and works closely with coastal onshore oil producers to ensure understanding of issues. The organization looks forward to working with all those interested in expanding or bringing new, sustainable energy development projects to Northern Santa Barbara County. Initiative is undergoing website revision.



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EconAlliance “DURT” Initiative

To keep our North County industries strong, we need to help educate the public and policymakers about the impacts on jobs and the economy of delays, uncertainty, regulations and taxes. EconAlliance is actively engaged with industry stakeholders to better understand the impacts of issues and projects and help

educate decision-makers about the benefits versus the risks of the above. The organization works with industry associations, individual companies and key industry representatives to develop or disseminate economic impact information, job statistics, and community impact detail. EconAlliance representatives also encourage cross-industry education and understanding. EconAlliance monitors County Supervisor agendas and often appears to speak on an industry or company project to educate policymakers about the community benefits and economic impacts of enhanced or expanded operations and the jobs they bring. This industry-specific information is also promulgated when EconAlliance hosts an industry forum. See information on industry forums in previous pages. Visit http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/delays-uncertainty-regulations-taxes-durt/ for DURT description, OpEds, Letters to the Editor, etc.


http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/delays-uncertainty-regulations-taxes-durt/

http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/delays-uncertainty-regulations-taxes-durt/


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Education and Workforce Initiative http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/education-workforce-development/

In 2014, EconAlliance, United Way NSBC, Allan Hancock College and others discussed how a broad, regional approach could help support workforce development and literacy-building efforts, as well as foster an increase in the number of degrees and certificates attained by North County residents. With the commitment of these three entities and other partners, the WALI Initiative was born. The Northern Santa Barbara County Workforce and Literacy Initiative (WALI) is a common set of five workforce and literacy goals for collective regional attainment by 2020. It is co-led by EconAlliance and United Way, who co-host semi-annual WALI Forums bringing together educators, industry, and nonprofits, as well as the public, to ensure regional updates and sharing of success stories around these important goals.

Why WALI? 23% of Northern County residents live in poverty, 25% have no high school diploma, and 42% are English language learners. Degree attainment has dropped 19% in ten years and over 60% of those entering Allan Hancock College are not reading at high school level. Per ProLiteracy.com, a 1% increase in literacy equals a 1.5% GDP increase.

WALI 2020 Goals 1. Double the number of associate & bachelor degrees attained in NSBC region 2. Foster success of 1,000 North County adults per year in gaining basic literacy 3. Double number of career tech education (vocational/industrial) certificates 4. Reduce by 50% the percentage of students unable to read at grade level (3-11) 5. Increase number of quality, licensed childcare spaces by 1,000 in North County


http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/education-workforce-development/


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EconAlliance – Co-Developer and

Partner in Working Neighborhoods Initiative (WNI), Spin-Off Program of the Workforce & Literacy Initiative

WNI is a strategic, collaborative effort involving 10+ organizational partners addressing various workforce development and literacy needs of six neighborhoods in North County. Most WNI neighborhoods are anchored by Peoples’ Self-Help Housing communities. EconAlliance, United Way and Peoples’ Self-Help Housing co-developed and facilitate the partnership. The Working Neighborhoods Initiative includes the following programs, meant to be offered in all six neighborhoods, now in progress in the first neighborhood:

STARTsmart – training for becoming a licensed child care provider READsmart – literacy-building for after-school youth and adults STEMsmart – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math enrichment WORKsmart – Forums on Career Awareness, Job-Search, Interviewing PROSPER! – Veteran’s Outreach, Financial Literacy, Intro to Entrepreneurship

EconAlliance is WNI co-developer and facilitator, and also handles the following activities: • Semi-Annual WALI forums • WNI partnership meeting facilitation, grantwriting • WORKFORCE FORUMS at each Peoples’ Self-Help

Housing location (beginning with one neighborhood in Santa Maria) o Career Awareness forums (industry reps on

industry, jobs, skills) o Financial literacy Forums (w/bank volunteers) o Job Search Skill-Building forums; Resume/Interview Skill-Building forums o Entrepreneurship forums

• ROBOTICS in low-income neighborhoods (with industry volunteers) • STEM CAMP (weeklong) for youth in Peoples’ Self-Help Housing community

o Science/Technology/Engineering/Math half-day activities o Industry tours



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EconAlliance STEM Industry Day Camp June 12- 15, 2017, teens from the Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) community in Guadalupe and teens from Los Adobes de Maria (Santa Maria) attended a STEM workshop in the morning, and Los Adobes de Maria elementary after-school program students participated in a STEM afternoon workshop. June 16th EconAlliance featured tours to industry sites. Industry partners led STEM workshops and tours. Student transportation was funded by Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s Career Technical Education Incentive Grant to PSHH. Camp activities introduced STEM disciplines, careers and industries. (Full article/photo gallery at http://www.econalliance.org/econalliance-stem-industry-day-camp/)

Science Monday Technology Tuesday

Engineering Wednesday Math Thursday

STEM Industry Tours Friday:

Ag & Food Science; Science in Industry (Nagy Wines)

Geology,Ecology; Environm’l Conservation (Aera Energy)

Information Systems in Decision-Making (Aera)

Technology and Information (Aera Energy)

Engineering as Problem-Solving(Mob Armor)

Thinking Like An Engineer (Santa Maria Energy)

Math in Family Finances (CoastHills Credit Union)

Math in Disease Detection and Prevention (Hardy Diagnostics)

Hardy Diagnostics

Atlas Copco

Zodiac Aerospace


http://www.econalliance.org/econalliance-stem-industry-day-camp/


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Global Trade EconAlliance has a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with the District Export Council of Southern California (DECSC) which supports its efforts to expand export opportunities for Northern Santa Barbara County industries, businesses and entrepreneurs. Periodically joining with the DECSC to organize North County trade seminars and workshops, EconAlliance reaches out to those already exporting or planning to

expand into the global marketplace. Events feature trade experts on logistics, finance, target market selection, international legal issues, foreign trade regulations, and other topics. Besides presentations, workshops generally feature opportunities for individual businesses, entrepreneurs or industry consortia to schedule appointments for special conversations with trade representatives in an area of expertise needed by the attendee(s). This could be special help with a country or market difficult to enter, identification of logistic or finance partners in a certain area of the world, or guidance around a problem that an exporter is having. Complimentary consultation is also available.

http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/global-trade/


http://www.econalliance.org/strategies/global-trade/


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University Attraction

In 2011, EconAlliance introduced the Northern Santa Barbara County to the benefits of having a university presence in the region when it included “University Attraction” as one of its original initiatives. EconAlliance introduced California Lutheran University to the area and the area to Cal Lutheran in 2013, with Cal Lutheran establishing a master’s degree program in education in the region shortly afterwards. EconAlliance also identified property owners potentially willing to contribute land to university programs. With Allan Hancock College, EconAlliance researched the “university center” model established at College of the Canyon. In cooperation with the College, the organization completed a study on employer and student priority degree interests, identifying the “sweet spot” - degrees of most interest to BOTH employers and students. Since 2014, EconAlliance has been supporting Allan Hancock College in its efforts to either attract or build four-year degree programs in the area.



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The “IDEA” Initiative

The IDEA (Innovation Development Entrepreneurship Acceleration) Initiative was created to celebrate and support both innovation and entrepreneurship, especially that entrepreneurship capable of greatly stimulating job creation or technology advancement in the region.

EconAlliance hosts periodic meet-ups around the Northern Santa Barbara County region to introduce communities and innovation stakeholders to new enterprises, technologies, or applications and/or support high-value entrepreneurship. Past meet-ups have featured

virtual reality technology, business valuation and attraction of capital presentations, cyber-security practices, a new retail app, and topics and demonstrations. (https://www.meetup.com/IDEA-CentralCoast/) The EconAlliance “Future Forum” is designed to introduce the region to the thinking of futurists (Simon Anderson, co-author, Foresight 20/20) to leading edge research and technology, (Christine Peterson, The Foresight Institute, on artificial intelligence, nanotech, biotech), to innovation (Robert Tucker, Innovation Resource, on strategic innovation) and to showcase innovative trends (Dan Parolek, Opticos Design on “missing middle housing”). The Future Forum is now also the EconAlliance annual dinner, and has added an annual innovation award presentation to the program.


https://www.meetup.com/IDEA-CentralCoast/


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Other Initiatives

EconAlliance also assists in regional Infrastructure, Transportation and Logistics, as needed, supporting the Economic Vitality Team with regional broadband expansion, among other efforts. The organization supports high technology, space and launch and advanced manufacturing, as well, working to provide a high tech workforce and monitoring those issues impacting these sectors. Currently, EconAlliance is also exploring the need for supporting Healthcare industry, also.

Initiative Team Leads Agriculture: George Adam, President, Innovative Produce Steve Jordan, Founder, Lompoc Farming Wine/Tourism: (Interim Lead) Steve Pepe, Co-Founder, Clos Pepe Vineyards LLC Energy: Ben Oakley, EH&S/Government Affairs Manager, ERG California DURT: Nathan Eady, Vice President/Project Manager, SCS Tracer Environmental WALI (Workforce Development & Literacy Initiative): Eddie Taylor, CEO, United Way Northern Santa Barbara County University Attraction: Ken Parker, EdD, Education Consultant Innovation/Entrepreneurship (IDEA): Steve Burgess, Principal, Burgess (Computer) Forensics Ben Kiblinger, Founder, WebWise Global Trade: Megan Cullen, Principal, SYV Consulting; Secretary, District Export Council So Cal Jodi Radford, International Territory Manager, Hardy Diagnostics


Documents

Mission Statement and Economic Vitality of Northern · 2605 S. Miller, Ste. 107, Santa Maria, CA 93455 805-364-2153 2