Supervisors Back Economic Blueprint for Region

The Placer County Board of Supervisors threw its support Tuesday behind a broad-based prosperity plan that seeks to position the Sacramento Region for long-term sustainable economic growth.

Board members voted unanimously to endorse the Next Economy Regional Prosperity Plan, a blueprint for promoting job growth, investment and innovation in Placer, Sacramento, El Dorado, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties.

"Tuesday's Board action is an important part of a drive by Placer County to expand its economic development efforts," said County Executive Officer David Boesch. "The local economy is beginning to recover from the recession, and our County needs to do what it can to help the recovery gain momentum. The most effective way to do that is to work with agencies and organizations throughout the region that are committed to the same goal."   
    
Explained County Director of Economic Development David C. Snyder in a report to the board, "Reviving our economic health on a regional scale can be maximized if cities, counties and organizations participate locally in job-creation efforts that are synchronized with our counterparts region-wide."

He noted that many Placer County business leaders, educators, government officials and nonprofit organizations participated in developing the plan.

The planning effort is spearheaded by such organizations as the Sacramento Metro Chamber, the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization, Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance and Valley Vision. 

The Regional Prosperity Plan's primary goals are:

• Fostering a strong environment for innovation;
• Amplifying the region's global market transactions;
• Developing and maintaining a world-class talent base;
• Improving the region's business climate for economic growth; and
• Diversifying the regional economy through the growth of core business clusters.

Core business clusters identified in the plan are advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food, clean energy technology; education and knowledge creation, information and communications technology and life sciences and health sciences. 

Implementation of the plan is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of this year.

Snyder emphasized the Regional Prosperity Plan is compatible with the Placer County Economic Development Board Roadmap. The latter is a countywide economic development strategy completed in 2009.

Tuesday's board action will allow the Placer County Economic Development Board (EDB) to take steps to further align the Roadmap with the Regional Prosperity Plan, Snyder said.

The Roadmap was developed by the EDB and county Office of Economic Development. It was drafted by a consulting team headed by Chabin Concepts of Chico.

The EDB is an advisory body that assists the county with its business attraction and retention efforts, film-promotion program and Business Advantage Network.
 
The EDB includes representatives from Placer County and its incorporated communities: Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Loomis, Rocklin and Roseville. It also has members who represent agriculture, public and private education, healthcare, utilities, manufacturing, tourism, communications and nonprofit organizations.