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WET Center kicks off BlueTechValley project, innovation accelerator
The Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center at Fresno State on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2017, hosted the BlueTechValley Innovation Cluster Kick-Off. Fresno State’s David Zoldoske, director of Center for Irrigation Technology and California Water Institute, and President Joseph I. Castro provided welcoming remarks and a general program overview. The project will benefit much of the Central Valley and generate additional internship opportunities for Fresno State students.
Funding from the California Energy Commission has given the BlueTechValley Innovation Cluster the capability to accelerate the commercialization of water, energy, Ag technology, and connect emerging technologies to region specific needs and opportunities. Through outreach and education, Cluster Hubs will study energy use in disadvantaged communities (DACs) and work to create a strong collection of energy and water innovators to address energy challenges in these areas.
WET Center program manager Helle Petersen provided an overview of its Central Valley Regional Energy Innovation Accelerator Project, which is funded by the EDA i6 Challenge program. The project will generate significant new innovations and opportunities in Central Valley DACs by deploying an accelerator program for water, energy and agricultural technology startups. Furthermore, it will leverage existing Energy Innovation Cluster programs and infrastructure to support an estimated 19 companies and generate or retain at minimum 76 part-time and 37 full-time Central Valley jobs by completion. More information on the EDA program may be found here: https://www.eda.gov/news/press-releases/2016/11/15/ris.htm
Brian Bassett, H2O Optimizer, has used the WET center facility to help expand his business. He shared how he transformed his idea on an entrepreneurship level. H2O Optimizer provides custom data drive solutions for production agriculture, utilizing technologies including Unmanned Area Vehicles (UAVs) and various sensor-based technologies (http://www.h2o-optimizer.com/). Since coming to the WET Center, Bassett said his company has seen an annual growth rate of 27%, reaching a landmark 46% growth this year. They have hired five Fresno State graduates with bachelors and masters degrees and says he hopes to expand hiring to create employment for more students in the near future.
Our Innovation Cluster will expand plug and play space for entrepreneurs & 64 internships "Officially open for business!" – @JosephICastro pic.twitter.com/dgYqhEokct
— BlueTechValley (@BTVCluster) January 17, 2017
CalAsian Chamber hosts trade missions to Shanghai, Seoul
Two international trade shows hosted by CalAsian Chamber of Commerce are coming up in March and May. The first is Shanghai HotelEX 2017 from March 26 through April2. HotelEX is the largest hospitality trade show in the Asia market. It has specialized in the Chinese hotel, catering, and related food and beverage industries for more than 25 years and aims to offer a one-stop procurement platform for the entire hospitality industry for both buyers and sellers. For more information, go to http://cvagplus.org/event/hotelex-shanghai-2017 The second is Seoul Hotel & Food 2017, Korea’s largest international food, beverage and hospitality trade show which provides global industry professionals a unique opportunity to source new products in the fastest growing food marketing in the world. For more information, go to http://cvagplus.org/event/seoul-food-hotel-2017
CalAsian Chamber of Commerce has been committed to helping food and beverage growers/producers expand and export their products to the Asian market for the past five years, by organizing international trade missions, providing export training support, marketing research and business matching. They administer the China Direct and Korea Direct export programs under a cooperative agreement with the International Trade Administration Market Development Cooperator Program under the U.S. Department of Commerce.
More information
Seoul-Food-and-Hotel-2017
China-Trade-Mission-Hotelex-2017
China-Direct_CalAsianChamberKorea-Direct_CalAsianChamber
Manufacturing jobs are returning to some places. But these jobs are different
The Washington Post
By Ted Mellnik and Chris Alcantara
December 14, 2016
The nation shed manufacturing jobs at a steady pace over most of the last quarter century. A combination of trade deals, automation and economic recessions sent the number of manufacturing jobs plummeting, with 6 million jobs being lost by 2011.
But since then, about half a million jobs have been regained.
They’re not the same jobs that left. They’re not coming back everywhere, or even in the same places where jobs were lost. The map of where products are made in this country is being redrawn.
AgPLUS’ Workforce Summit to kick-off 2017 Food Processing Expo
News Release
November 30, 2016
AgPLUS’ Workforce Summit to kick-off 2017 Food Processing Expo
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Central Valley AgPLUS in partnership with the California League of Food Processors, will host the Food Processing Workforce Summit on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.
The event will be held at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel from 8am to 4pm in the Camelia Room. Speakers and panelists from all four regions of AgPLUS will discuss issues and developments for the Central Valley’s food processing workforce. Speakers include Tim Rainey, Executive Director of California Workforce Investment Board and Van Ton-Quinlivan, Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Economic Development at California Community Colleges.
The Summit coincides with the 2017 Sacramento Food Processing Expo that will be held on February 8-9, 2017. The Expo is the largest tradeshow in California devoted exclusively to food processing and features over 260 exhibitors and past attendance of more than 2600 attendees (foodprocessingexpo.org). Early bird registration for the Food Processing Workforce Summit will end December 2 and includes complimentary entrance into the Food Processing Expo. To view the Summit’s agenda, click HERE. To register for the Summit, click HERE.
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AgPLUS hosts rural small business workshop
News Release
November 22, 2016
AgPLUS hosts rural small business workshop
WINTERS, Calif. – More than 50 people attended AgPLUS’ Rural Small Business Workshop on Friday, November 18 at the Winters Community Center in Winters, Calif. Hosted by AgPLUS Capital Region lead Valley Vision, the workshop was geared toward food and agriculture businesses with under 50 employees in Yolo and Solano Counties
The forum provided the opportunity for growers, ranchers, processors, distributors, and others in the supply chain to connect with providers of business development resources. Welcoming remarks were provided by Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Mayor of Winters; Don Saylor, Yolo County Supervisor; and John Vazquez, Solano County Supervisor. Presentations on resources available to food and beverage manufacturers were provided by representatives from the USDA Rural Development of California, Small Business Administration (SBA), University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), Solano Small Business Development Center, First Northern Bank and Sacramento Area Council of Governments.
Many other partners participated in a Resource Roundup where attendees were able to connect one-on-one with providers.
Valley Vision provided a list of all the avilable resources and programs at the event, which you can view HERE.
Earlier this year, Central Valley AgPLUS Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium (AgPLUS) was awarded an USDA Rural Development California Grant for its AgPLUS Rural Business Resources Assistance Program. The program provides workshops and technical assistance to small and emerging rural businesses throughout the Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley, and North State regions. Additional workshops are planned into 2017.
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GO-Biz Hosting Over 30 Workshops for Businesses Interested in Applying for $100 Million in Tax Credits
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
November 15, 2016
GO-Biz Partners with Advocacy Groups, Ethnic Chambers of Commerce, and Local Business Organizations
Sacramento, Calif. – The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) today announced a series of workshops across California designed to help businesses apply for the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC).
“The California Competes tax credit has encouraged hundreds of companies to expand in California and add valuable jobs in the state,” said GO-Biz deputy director Kristen Kane. “Our continued goal for these workshops is to reach new businesses in diverse communities that would benefit from more state resources.”
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $15 Million in Entrepreneurs Across the Nation to Move Ideas to Market, Promote American Innovation
U.S. Economic Development Administration
By EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
November 15, 2016
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced 35 organizations — including nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations — from 19 states will receive nearly $15 million to create and expand cluster-focused, proof-of-concept and commercialization programs, and early-stage seed capital funds through the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program.
The diverse group of awardees, selected from a pool of more than 215 applicants, reach urban and rural areas across the United States, including the program’s first investments in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the South; a women-focused, early-stage capital fund in Texas; a Native American-centered, proof-of-concept program in Oklahoma; and urban innovation hubs honing in on fashion technology (New York) and social innovation (Louisiana). Additionally, six awards are being made in EDA’s Investing in Manufacturing Community Partnership regions.
Go to full story at U.S. Economic Development Administration
Fresno State energy-innovation incubator receives $500,000 boost
The Business Journal
By Business Journal staff
November 15, 2016
Fresno State’s new energy-innovation incubator has received another shot in the arm with a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The Central Valley Regional Energy Innovation Accelerator will use the money to help entrepreneurs commercialize new water- and energy-related technologies and innovations.
Made in the Valley: Basilwood Farms
ABC30
November 14, 2016
PRATHER, CALIFORNIA (KFSN) — Jill Spruance puts her passion for handcrafted items in every bar of goats milk soap she makes, curates and cuts for her business Basilwood Farms.
“We just continue to grow. We’ve probably grown four times our size since the last time you were here,” said Jill Spruance, Basilwood CEO.