Stanislaus County Economic Development Corporation

The mission and responsibility of the Alliance is overseeing both economic development and workforce training activities in the Stanislaus River Valley. Under its leadership, the Alliance is committed to creating a blueprint for success, which can make the Stanislaus River Valley the strategic business choice for existing and expanding companies by focusing on job creation, business assistance, and workforce preparation activities.

My talking points were drawn from the Stanislaus Alliance Strategic Plan 2008-2012 and Delyn spoke about the county’s location in the San Joaquin Valley Bioregion in the heart of California. It’s the state’s top agricultural producing region, sometimes called “the nation’s salad bowl” for the great array of fruits and vegetables grown in its fertile soil.

Transportation hub

Five railroads and three of California’s major highways traverse Stanislaus. The Port of Oakland is just 80 miles away. In addition to daily passenger flights to San Francisco International Airport, several other major airports are within 90 miles of the County.

Existing industry
World-class companies such as Amazon.com, ConAgra, E&J Gallo Winery, Foster Farms, Frito-Lay, and Save Mart are headquartered or have major operations in the area. In the past few years, Stanislaus distribution center openings have included WinCo Foods, Kohl’s Corporation, Longs Drug and Fastenal.

During the recession, their economic development programs helped businesses stay afloat and in many cases thrive and grow. Their very successful StanTogether 1000 Jobs program which rand from February to July of 2012 challenged local businesses to hire just one new employee to stimulate the economy – they exceeded their goal by creating over 1300 jobs for the county.

 Tourism

Stanislaus River Valley is also ideally located within a 90-minute drive of some of the world’s great tourist destinations – including Yosemite National Park, the Gold Country, San Francisco, Monterey Bay and the State Capital in Sacramento. The community is home to many festivals and special attractions that virtually span the calendar.

The area’s market for tourism was recently estimated at over $400 million. Some major sectors of this important cluster include lodging, transportation, and dining. Retail and many service businesses are also crucial to this industry.

California Central Valley Economic Development Board

The Alliance is also an active member of the California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation (CCVEDC) a regional marketing group whose mission is to promote job creation in the eight counties of the San Joaquin Valley.

No question, The Alliance is doing a great job and providing great model for growth in their area. Visit the Stanislaus County Economic Development Corporation - “The Alliance” at: http://www.stanalliance.com

Doña Ana SBDC is part of the New Mexico Small Business Development Network and a member of Association of Small Business Development Centers.

Here’s the interview with Fred:

The catch-phrase for Doña Ana SBDC is: “Building New Mexico’s Economy One Business At A Time” and the center, like most SBDC’s of its type offer free workshops, quality counseling and guidance for business owners, prospective owners, and managers. The SBDC is designed with local small business in mind. Whether you have been in business for some time or are just starting out, they help address the multitude of issues and problems encountered by small business and  they offer assistance in:

• • Marketing
• • Business Planning
• • Financial Statement Analysis
• • Cash Flow Projecting

Their key Local Business Partners are:

New Mexico State University
Doña Ana Community College

 From talking to Fred, there are no ‘stand-out’ large organizations in the immediate region but the network of small businesses are heavily into government business, both state and federal. We spoke briefly about the American Small Business Coalition – www.The ASBC.org a supporter of this program who help small business identify and win US Federal Government contracts.

They have a significant agriculture sector as well as business services.

The primary Economic Development Organization for the region is the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA) which attracts businesses to the region including large companies relocating from Mexico to the US to take advantage of a more stable environment.

Like many regions of the USA, New Mexico and the Mesilla valley have bee hit hard, but it’s great to see these networks working wit new and growing small business to get the country back to work.

If you know about Regional Economic Organizations or small businesses doing great things we would love to talk to you – Contact us now to schedule an interview and let us tell your story.

We are also seeking Hosts for regional specific programs. If you or someone you know can host interviews with small business stakeholders, why not Talk for Us?

This Program was brought to you by, Audible.com and CPSRadio.com

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Credits:

Images: www.freedigitalphotos.net

Music: Kevin MacLeod – Incompetech.com

Mike is a Certified Seminar Leader (CSL), a Certified Action Coach (CAS), and a Master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (MNLP), which is an advanced communication system modeled after three therapists who achieved amazing results in helping people make rapid changes in their lives.

He is a speaker and author of two books; The Art of Networking and Connect with Anyone in 90 Seconds or Less. Mike is also an executive coach and is a frequent guest of radio and TV programs across the country.

Mike spoke about NLP and provided a few communication tips. He gave a brief overview of the business landscape in the Valley.

His book, Connect with Anyone in 90 Seconds or Less book is in four parts:

Part 1. Mindset and Attitude – have unstoppable confidence, be charismatic, and have magnetism.

Learn:

Empowering mindset and attitude techniques.

Reframing techniques that help you instantly become more engaging, relaxed, confident, and poised.

Three dangerous words to avoid. Words that impact your confidence and energy.

Energy techniques that help create and project confidence and charm.

What to look for before you approach someone so you are prepared to instantly create rapport.

How to prepare for a successful interaction.

Part 2. The Contact – what to do (and not do) in the first vital 2 to 7 seconds of initial contact to create instant rapport and be charismatic…instantly create a natural sense of connection and understanding.

Discover:

Connect with anyone in 90 seconds or less! What you absolutely have to do in the initial 90 seconds to instantly create rapport with anyone anywhere.

How to approach someone so they instantly feel a sense of connection and trust.

How to stand and sit with people so they like you and believe your message.

Body motion to avoid…motion that will break rapport and create distrust.

How to remember someone’s name and secret about saying someone’s name that creates instant connection.

 Part 3. The Conversation – what to notice, body motion, voice patterns of influence, and questions to ask so you naturally and easily develop rapport.

Discover:

Five of the most powerful questions to ask to discover a person’s communication style. Know which questions to ask to understand what motivates a person and how they make decisions.

Nine dangerous words to avoid. Words that create a negative train of thought and will break rapport.

Three powerful persuasive rapport building words to use.

Which body motion to use and which to avoid.

How to read people so you can maintain and enhance your rapport.

Discover how to identify a visual, auditory or kinesthetic communication style and how to utilize during a conversation. This understanding will help you create a powerful connection.

How to know when you are in strong rapport.

 Part 4. The Follow Up – how to maintain rapport, trust, and confidence.

Discover:

How to follow up.

What to do to maintain a positive rapport relationship so they see you and acknowledge you as an expert and leader…not just a nice person.

What to do via email to maintain and create rapport.

What to do over the phone.

All this and much more!

For additional information about Mike visit http://www.MikeAguilera.com

Some of the subjects we addressed:

1. What is Creative Albuquerque and how did it come about?
2. When was it formed?
3. Who is it helping and how?
4. What activities ? Hosting a series of speaker luncheons; an annual symposium on relevant topics like intellectual property;
5. Measuring the creative economy

Resources mentioned:

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything

CREATIVE ALBUQUERQUE

Creative Albuquerque was launched with the purpose of connecting the private and non-profit creative sector industries, state and local governments, and community leaders in order to grow our local creative economy.

Some of our recent accomplishments include hosting a series of speaker luncheons; an annual symposium on relevant topics like intellectual property; and serving as the administrator for three national cultural data collection initiatives to measure the economic impact of the arts and cultural industries.

Creative Albuquerque, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is supported by a broad mix of funders, collaborators and a 25-member board representative of business, arts, culture, economic development, media, film, and education, among other creative enterprises.

REGINA CHAVEZ

A native of Albuquerque and a long-time supporter of the arts, Regina served as the Executive Director of the Hispanic Culture Foundation and as Arts Program Manager of the Albuquerque International Sunport. At the City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department she focused on arts and cultural industries economic development.  In 2007, she formed her consultancy, Cultural Econ, developing arts and cultural districts, planning economic strategies for communities and facilitating public participation.  She recently accepted the position of Executive Director of the newly transformed Creative Albuquerque, a non-profit whose mission is to grow the creative economy through education, information, advocacy and leadership; and is an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico.
Regina has presented on several arts topics including airport art programs, non-traditional arts venues, public art contractual issues, and on the creative economy. She received the 2007 Alumni of the Year Award from the University of New Mexico Alumni Association, School of Architecture & Planning Chapter. She is also a recipient of The Albuquerque Conservation Association (TACA) Award of Merit for the Art Collection at the Albuquerque International Sunport Rental Car Center.  Regina currently serves on the boards of the City of Albuquerque Landmarks & Urban Conservation Commission, the Central New Mexico Community College Foundation, and the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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This program was brought to you by:

Strengthening Brand America

We all believe in the American Dream, and its on-going importance to the uniquely American character, economy, and spirit. To ask why it is important to study the American Dream is to ask why America, itself, is important. The American Dream defines our aspirations; it is these aspirations and their connected values that distinguish us in the world.

The Center’s mission is to study the history of the American Dream, to examine and report on the present state and future trends.

The Center for the Study of the American Dream at Xavier University generates significant original research and survey data, and serves as a pre-eminent academic information clearinghouse on the American Dream. The Center engages in dialogue both in the classroom and in the community.

Today I spoke with Dr. Gregory Smith, PhD, Associate Professor, Management Information Systems, Williams College of Business, Xavier University.

The American Dream to most people is a nebulous thing, or at least different things to different people….

1.      How have you defined it and What is the American Dream Composite Index (ADCI)?

2.      Why was it created?

3.      How is it measured?

4.      Why should we measure it?

5.      What kinds of questions are on the survey?

6.      What does the ADCI value represent?

7.      What is its current value and is it good or bad?

8.      Will we ever fully reach the American Dream (100%)?

9.      How are businesses using the ADCI?

10.     What other ways can businesses use the ADCI?

11.     What are the long term prospects for the American Dream and the ADCI?

12.     What other information is available from the ADCI?

13.     How can business, organizations, etc. subscribe to this data?
You can find out more about the American Dream Composite Index at:  www.AmericanDreamCompositeIndex.com

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This program was brought to you by:

Strengthening Brand America

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La Mancha has over fifteen years of experience in financial consulting and specializes in small business growth & development and commercial finance. A former Naval Officer who is now an investor as well as an Entrepreneur, La Mancha holds degrees in Economics and Finance.

High unemployment along with a decrease in opportunity for millions who are unable to find a job has created a strong incentive for entrepreneurship.  Many of Triton’s clients approach the company seeking assistance on how to start a business. Recent surveys show that more Americans are starting businesses, but the failure rate remains high for these new entrepreneurs because of lack of knowledge, funding and support during the initial business development phase.
Here’s some of the questions La Mancha addresses during our discussion.

1. Firstly, what are some simple strategies for choosing the right business opportunity?

2. What are some of the creative ways to obtain start-up capital? (i.e. Private Investors, Peer-to-Peer Lending, etc.)

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This program was brought to you by:

Strengthening Brand America

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Seeking a change of lifestyle, Jeff sold his company and obtained a position at a major electrical engineering firm with operations in United States, Australia and throughout the world.

Then, in 2001, with over 30 years experience in the electrical engineering and sustainable energy industries, along with  a rolodex of high-level contacts and experience in recruiting hundreds of employees in numerous roles over the years, Jeff started GPSA (Global Placement Services Australia).

Jeff’’s core mission with GPSA is to use his knowledge, experience and contacts to help skilled Americans and Europeans get secure, high-paying jobs in the New Land of Opportunity, Australia.

Like many Americans, Jeff had long recognized Australia being a “slice of heaven” with beautiful beaches, a great climate and lots of kangaroos and koalas!

However, while Australia is well-known for its flora and fauna he, like many others was surprised to learn just how robust the economy is, based largely on the “Resource Boom” in raw minerals to China, and the huge “Infrastucture Boom” taking place to “feed” these primary industries.

While researching the overall economic situation in Australia Jeff learned about Australia’s 2nd ranking in the “World’s Most Livable Country Index” (behind Switzerland). This, along with the strength of the Aussie Dollar (achieving parity with the US dollar in 2009) convinced him to take a hard look at Australia as a serious relocation contender – in light of the worsening economic situation in the U.S.A.

GPSA has a range of programs to assist job seekers interested in relocating to Australia.

You can find GPSA at:

www.gpsa-america.com

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This program was brought to you by:

Strengthening Brand America

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Success, Ed explains, looks like an increased share of global FDI, which in turn will stimulate accelerated job growth and economic recovery. The underlying assumption is that stronger state brands in aggregate create a strengthened Brand America.

Strengthening Brand America is a Community of Practice for Economic Development professionals. Ed started the project back in 2009. It focuses primarily on taking the principles of product and corporate banding and apply that to branding and promoting places; cities, regions or countries.

In the discussion, Ed covers these points:

1. What is the Strengthening Brand America Project?
2. What are the reasons you started the Strengthening Brand America Project?
3. How is branding a location or a region different than branding a product or corporation?
4. What has the reception to the Project been?
5. What is the objective of the new section you are adding to the Project?
6. You are also a founding Board member of the Nemacolin Energy Institute how are these efforts related?
7. What’s next for the project?
8. How can people get involved?

The Burghard Group LLC is focused on four things –

• Helping America be more globally competitive for capital investment by supporting place branding mastery within the economic development profession as a strategy for sustainable economic growth of their local communities.
• Helping communities impacted by shale gas commercialization avoid the risk of experiencing a boom-to-bust cycle, by supporting economic development professional mastery of strategic planning design and deployment and through the sharing of academic research and identified “hands-on” best practices.
• Catalyzing a dialogue on the creation of a national energy policy, through the continued effort as a founding Board member of the Nemacolin Energy Institute.
• Mentoring future economic development professionals as a Fellow of the Levin College of Urban Affairs affiliated with the Cleveland State University Center for Economic Development.

Links and resources mentioned:

www.StrengtheningBrandAmerica.com

www.neienergy.org

www.americandreamcompositeindex.com

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This program was brought to you by: The American Small Business Coalition

KEVIN CLARK, is a Senior Vice President of Investments with Raymond James and Associates out of Holland, Michigan.

The “Kevin Clark Business Minute”, a live weekly radio show is beginning its 25th continuous year on the air in Western Michigan. This where Kevin gives his weekly advice on financial matters.

For a book that I thought would be somewhat negative and depressing it has a positive message….believe in America and the American way. Some of the questions and issues raised during our talk:

• How are we transitioning from what you describe as a “Consumer Driven Economy” to something new?
• You seem to be saying that history cannot necessarily be our teacher, what is the new normal and how does that fit with the American Dream?
• Parallels of the Great Depression and the artifacts of several generations – How is this going to affect investors and Joe Average?

• How has ‘Main St.’ America ridden through the wreck?
• What Regions and Businesses have best survived and why?
• What Regions and Businesses are best positioned to benefit from the wreck?
• Is the train still moving:
• Peak Oil?
• Natural Gas?
• Social Security & Retirement?
• European Crisis & US Exposure?
• China Bubble

• We are experiencing an economic transition; a transition from a highly leveraged consumer driven economy to an economy that is confined by the excesses that only with the passing of time can consume.
•  America has gone off the rails as the path forward seems to have a different historical track a head.  From economics to politics and from culture to the “American Dream” the “new normal” is yet, undefined.
• The remnants of the Great Depression echoed for generations, and it is clear to me that the Great Recession of 2008 will be this generations “Great Depression”.
• As a result of the financial crisis, our free market system and ultimately the American Dream itself now seem more vulnerable than ever.  More importantly, we doubt ourselves and our leaders and long for our life-before.
• The unprecedented levels of uncertainty have not been matched except during the 1930’s. Public policy mistakes have led us to a standstill of commerce and employment with a growing distrust in public and private institutions.Ultimately, ordinary people will make the difference as common sense will leach its way back into the American main stream.
• In times of economic transition, I believe it is normal and easy to underestimate the power of freedom, as well as the dynamic spirit of the American Entrepreneur.

Learn more about Kevin and the book at: www.economictrainwreck.com

Regional Economic Development in Kevin’s region is championed by:    City of Holland – Economic Development

This program was brought to you by: The American Small Business Coalition

Katie is a marketing and business strategy consultant working primarily with small and growing independently owned businesses.  For the last year, she has been a part of a unique project aimed at helping laid-off workers in North Carolina’s 85 rural counties to employ themselves by starting their own small businesses.

Utilizing the GATE Program (Growing America Through Entrepreneurship), SmartMoves International and the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center are helping ‘dislocated’ workers become more entrepreneurial and start new businesses.

This program was brought to you by: The American Small Business Coalition