1. SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 JENNIFER MACARTHY BUTTE COUNTY ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Butte County Regional Economic Development Strategy

2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A process by which public, business and nongovernmental sector partners work collectively to create better conditions for economic growth and employment generation. Background

3. Butte County Regional Economic Development Strategy  Created per General Plan 2030 Action Item ED.A1.1  3 year strategy organized around three key initiatives and supporting action items.  Action items divided into an annual work plan: 2011 - 2013.

4. Provide a status on the Year 3 implementation of the strategy, Outline implementation tasks for the next quarter, and Address questions from the Board of Supervisors and the public. Outline

5. INITIATIVE #1 – ENSURE BUTTE COUNTY IS A COMPETITIVE LOCATION FOR NEW INVESTMENT. INITIATIVE #2 – GROW EXISTING KEY INDUSTRY SECTORS. INITIATIVE #3 – COORDINATE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ON A REGIONAL BASIS. Initiatives

6.  Continuation of Business Ombudsman Duties  Continuation of Economic Development Assistance Committee  Continue to support business incubation and innovation  Continue to assist with the identification of business financing  Complete the development of an industrial database  Continue to work with a Business Retention Team  Continue to work with a Business Attraction Team  Continue streamlining of project review/approval process  Develop a regional permitting process  Initiate area branding  Market Butte County to prospective businesses  Enhance regional tourism Work Plan: Year 3 & Continuation Items

7. Initiative #1 – Ensure Butte County is a Competitive Location for New Investment Continuation of Business Ombudsman Duties  Economic and Community Development Manager position.  Interacts with business on 3 levels:  General interaction through phone calls or site visits.  Participation in the Economic Development Assistance Committee.  Assistance with the permit process when requested.  Working as the County’s point of contact for business inquiries.

8. Initiative #1 – Ensure Butte County is a Competitive Location for New Investment Continuation of Economic Development Assistance Committee)  Purpose:  Meet with all necessary departments at one time.  Determine if existing zoning would permit proposed use.  Clarify requirements/improvements necessary.  Meets Wednesdays at 1pm as necessary – coordinated through Development Services Department.  37 meetings since program began in August 2011.  8 since January 2013.

9. Initiative #1 – Ensure Butte County is a Competitive Location for New Investment Continuation of Streamlining of Project Review/Approval Process  Important task based on input from Board, public, and staff.  Various departments continue to streamline identified issues and develop necessary tools to assist with the permit process.  Customer Service Training identified as need based on input.  Training developed by County staff in cooperation with Butte College the Training Place.  Courses began for land development departments in July 2013.  Courses to be available for all departments January 2014.

10. Initiative #1 – Ensure Butte County is a Competitive Location for New Investment Develop an Industrial Database  New website design and beta site complete.  Goal is to coordinate the data from all of the local jurisdictions as well as the unincorporated area of the County to create a comprehensive database of available land and buildings.  Received input on search criteria from local jurisdictions, Economic Development partners, and County staff.  Working to finalize method of data gathering.  Official launch in October, 2013.

15. Initiative #1 – Ensure Butte County is a Competitive Location for New Investment Initiate Area Branding  Branding as Business Friendly area happens organically – process, customer service, fees, etc.  Becoming recognizable through a visual statement or a verbal statement happens through more traditional branding methods.  Team of government, tourism, and economic development individuals working with consultant to draft County logo and taglines.  Once drafted the material will be shared with other jurisdictions and stakeholder to further define and discuss implementation.

16. Initiative #2 – Grow Existing Key Industry Sectors Support Business Incubation and Innovation  Butte County Business Incubator Program (CDBG funded)  Since January 2013, 11 businesses were receiving services.  3CORE supplemented program with EDA funds – 5 additional businesses received services.

17. Initiative #2 – Grow Existing Key Industry Sectors Enhance Regional Tourism  $35,000 CDBG Grant to develop a Countywide Tourism Strategy & Implementation Plan.  Planning process supported by Steering Committee (representatives from all local jurisdictions), and Tourism Stakeholders.  Identified goals:  Increase travel related revenues,  Increase travel related employment,  Increase awareness of Butte County as a desirable travel destination, and  Increase coordination among Butte County jurisdictions.  Strategy anticipated to be complete in October 2013.

18. Initiative #3 – Coordinate Business Development Services on a Regional Basis Develop a Business Retention/Expansion Team  Conducting informal business outreach visits throughout the County independently & with other partners.  Meet quarterly with economic and workforce development partners.  Tasks:  Business Resources Guide,  PACE program,  Business Retention Program,  Coordinated Services, and  California Business Incentives.

19. Initiative #3 – Coordinate Business Development Services on a Regional Basis Develop a Business Attraction Team  Assisting communities to respond to business leads.  Enhancing Butte County’s visibility through on-line presence, membership in Upstate California, and relationships with GoBIZ office.  Member of the Oroville Economic Alliance – recruitment, branding, and marketing coalition for the Greater Oroville Area.  Next quarter to discuss other attraction options with Economic Development partners.

20. Community Development = Economic Impact Chico Urban Area Nitrate Compliance Program  Project Area 2S – Chico Vecino Neighborhood.  2 phases to break-up project & encourage local contractors. CDBG Disaster Recovery Initiative  $3 million – Housing Rehabilitation/Reconstruction  $2.5 million – Public Improvements

21. What Next?  Continuation of completion of 2011- 2013 Action Items.  Begin evaluation of Strategy to expand work items for 2014-2016.

22. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS