Gallup Management Journal explores what it takes to get top quality employees in today's tight market and it turns out that a good manager is better than more money! "Job seekers are slightly more likely to say that a quality manager (56%) or quality management (55%) is extremely important when looking for a job than they are to say the same about compensation."

http://gmj.gallup.com/content/103114/Job-Seekers-Ask-Whos-Boss.aspx

I was persuaded to take a job once by someone who promised me he'd be, "the best boss I ever had." And he was (so far.)

Especially with the next generation of workers, who value relationships and their own development more than putting in the time for the paycheck, "nearly half of job seekers say the opportunity to learn and grow, the opportunity for advancement, and earning promotions based on merit are extremely important when looking for a job."

And feedback about performance is especially important to workers, especially the ones who have the most potential to excel at your company. People who like to know thy are doing well are the ones who put in the effort to actually do well. Gallup notes, "employees are more likely to be engaged in their jobs if someone at work encourages their development, if someone talks with them about their progress, and if they have had opportunities in the past year at work to learn and grow."

Finally, the sense of purpose and commitment that comes from working with others and contributing to a greater goal encourages workers, and therefore company, success. "Similarly, more than 4 in 10 job seekers say the quality of their coworkers and a great work team are extremely important when applying for a job."

So focus on promoting to management people who are good managers, who can tell what motivates others, who aren't afraid to give feedback -- both praise and guidance -- and who focus on the fairness of merit based rewards.

Help for Managers of Non-Profits/Business Development Service Organizations

California Resources and Training -- CARAT -- is a non-profit organization designed to increase the effectiveness of business development organizations and support non-profit management expertise to increase service capacity through better management, increased funding and volunteer enhancement. http://www.caratnet.org/about.htm I work with many non-profit and service organizations --as well a a huge number of volunteer broad members of such organizations -- that are filled with people of great mind and heart for service without much support for the technical expertise of organizational development and strategic management of resources. CARAT provides training for non-profits, often Chambers of Commerce in management and resource development.

As part of CARAT's offerings, check out, The Free Nonprofit Micro-eMBA(SM): www.managementhelp.org/np_progs/org_dev.htm

This is Management Library's Free, Online Nonprofit Organization and Management Development Program. (Among many resources for management advice and support.)

Who Can Benefit From Program?

Nonprofit executives and board members seeking guidance to start a nonprofit or to firm up the foundation of an already established nonprofit. (And, from the lawyer's point of view...some protection against claims of Board mismanagement!)

Nonprofit service consultants and volunteers who desire understanding of nonprofit organizations, their systems and practices, in order to provide more effective community service.

Highly motivated learners who:- Have limited time and money- Prefer to schedule and locate their own learning experiences- Prefer highly practical results from programs.

Developed by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Copyright 1997-2007.Much of this program is based on materials adapted from the Nonprofit Capacity Building Toolkit(SM)and Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development.

Our Sense of Well-being and Economic Development

Over the long weekend it was apropos to read in the Sacramento Bee results of a survey that studied the public's sense of well-being. One's own sense of well-being and personal happiness does not always uptick even with large growth in personal income, and in fact a sense of well-being is not always tied to factual reality at all.

So there are things that matter more than money. And that gives public policymakers an opportunity to guide economic and other community development in a direction that would make people happier, more productive, and fold over into increasing our prosperity both economic and emotional.

The article cites a few of the questions asked of residents in 26 US cities the results of which could guide economic development and community planning in a more significant way to improve our lives on a wide spectrum of factors. Questions such as: Do you feel safe? Do you have confidence in your city's leadership? Is your city tolerant of people who are different? Would you tell a friend to move here?

Not just money, salary and taxes have an impact, but a community where people are emotionally engaged and attached to their homes, neighborhood, leadership, and future vision can help lower and keep talented workers, increase local investment, and rally support when difficult decisions face a community.

The article gives an interesting example of how to adjust our public policy based on the results of such a survey. For example, if people hate commuting and give a high priority to socializing with coworkers, as was found, then promoting carpooling creates a policy that can satisfy both needs thereby increasing people satisfaction and commitment.

Article: Thursday, November 22, 2007 page A15, by Frank Greve,fgreve@mcclatchydc.com.

The Hiring Process

I'm working with three high level, long career, professional people who are job hunting right now. The horror stories are incredible. With Internet submission of résumés, people infrequently get even any recognition that materials have been submitted; after discussing skill sets and expertise, employers will rarely illuminate for the candidate a "range" of what the expected salary might be; and then there are the formulaic questions repeated to each candidate, creating no opportunity to share information about actual skills, only skills of self-promotion.

And then there's the other side of the coin generation X -who has interests in and needs from their future employer that are very different from the needs expressed and sought by the previous employee generation.

Here is an interesting article discussing the message to then organizations and when it has a not very illuminating and perhaps even in net hiring process: http://www.governing.com/articles/10kmiller.htm

Local county buying foreclosed property

Check out Governing Magazine's October 2007 issue on page 11 discussing how Genesee County, Michigan has created a self-sustaining property tax fund of more than $8 million to allow the county to seize delinquent real estate property, pay back taxes, and repackage property for redevelopment or for re-sale.

The county created the Genesee County Land Bank which determines how to use property in the best interest of the community. The county land bank floated a $5,000,000 brownfield bond, a tax increment financing-based package. Working with community groups the Land Bank to demolish to abandon structures and developed single-family homes and affordable housing. It offered empty lots two adjacent property owners and rehab to single-family homes. In the interim the Land Bank mows lots and clears debris from properties it owns.

More information can be found at:http://www.governing.com/archive/2006/feb/finbrfs.txt

and for information about plans in Genesee County contact: Dan Kildee at 810-257-3024 or dkildee@sbcglobal.net.

Video Best Practices examples

That ICMA!

Here's a great example of using video to get out ideas for ED, especially if you use it to highlight the look and feel of projects that you hope to get approval for. Seems to me like this would also be good fro training videos for teaching -- like business growth and management basics, for example!

http://www.icmatv.com/video_library/?LGM=1

There's one about Sacramento's MATRIX program on customer services... Getting the Customer to Success City of Sacramento, California...
http://www.icmatv.com/video_library/?id=4&vid=152

Leaders -- everyday characteristics

Here's a great article about the everyday characteristics of leaders. I dare say they can't be faked, but they certainly can be nurtured. My favorite, of course, ... #6 -- invite participation and create meaning more significant than one can alone.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/bw/20071011/bs_bw/oct2007sb20071010093227

Innovations in Community Development - Visuals

Last week I was on a very interesting webinar about the use of technologies in Economic Development across the state. Especially intriguing was information about the use of visual modeling and 3D images for the proposals of new development in communities. Imaging how the pitch for a new arena would go if people could "walk" through models of the layout of the arena, parking, nearby housing and entertainment, even a "ride" on the trolley! Proponents say that using this modeling turned around a doomed project in their community... Listen at http://icma.org/main/ns_search.asp?nsid=3387.

Also, spend some time looking around the ICMA.org website, it has lots of innovative suggestions for communities, the latest is a look at how to get young workers interested in government/community development.

Preparing for Disasters

There was a very interesting article in the Sab Bee on 9/25 about the banking industry preparingfor a disaster such as a pandemic.



-- Unfortunately, (in my opinion) the Sac Bee website sucks so bad I can't find a link for the article even though I have the ripped out section in my hands....



But anyway, bans and other financial systems are preparing a 3 week long disaster scenarion to prepare resposes in case of emergency. These exercises include:



Coping with absenteeism: The over 2700 finnacial institutions recieved instrcutions that included assuming that 25% of the work force cannot comne to work. They were given certain letters to ID last names to ensure that the "hypothetical flu" could hit the bank president as well as the teller or janitor. In week two the scenario requies that the absentee rate be 49%



The planner have also proposed deling with shrinking bandwidth as more people try to conduct business from home, tring up the efficiency of transactions, possibly worldwide.



They expect cash withdrawals from ATMs to increase dramatically and considered how to get those machines re-filled with $$ as people are gone. Other interesting stumbles are considered as well.



This all just highlights the need for all of us do give some time and energy to thinking about how to be less caught off gard when something happens. Flood scenarios, home fires, etc. they are all hard to think about, but with some minimum consideration you could save you comany or family some of the pain and headaches of not having food, cash, communications, rendevous sites, etc. planned in advance.



http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/serv_disaster_ap051707.pdf

http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/disasterpreparedness/serv_disaster_inthenews.html



Crisies are a lot less devastating when they aren't a total surpirse.

Workplace Safety Seminar

The State Compensation Insurance Fund, http://www.scif.com/news/100907-ErgonomicsCompliance.html is having a safty seminar covering ergonomics, occ. health and safety and saftey management systems info on Tuesday 10/16 at the Raddison, 500 Leisure Lane, 8am -12. Contact Angel at 916-924.6812 or amartinez@scif.com

The SCIF is (by their own definition) a self-supporting, non-profit enterprise that provides workers' compensation insurance to California employers at cost with no financial obligation to the public. Yep, like always, the business owner isn't getting it for free.... Still, having in place a safety policy and reviewing it and making it known to your employees can reduce you liabilities and therefore your costs.

Is Metro Chamber serving the Small Business Community? Survey

The Sacramento Metro Chamber is looking for info on how it is succeeding in serving the Small Business sector of its membership.

To add you input, visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=4TPh3rSTXEWikiqJulBAAQ_3d_3d

Business Owner Optimism

Business owners are showing less optimism and hope for success and growth these days than in the recent past. High costs on goods, especially those caused by higher energy costs are hurting business. The solid job market has increased wages slightly but also tightened the availability of quality workers for businesses to hire. Read more at USA Today

Decide

“Love God and trust your feelings. Be loyal to them. Don't betray them.” Robert C. Pollock.



Certainly, to a great extent, your feelings about things – your children, your dog, your job – motivate your willingness to engage. However, many of us today have come to speak of “trust your feelings,” as if -- if it felt good it was good, if it felt right it was right.



This is not at all the real experience of those who create. Whether entrepreneur or weaver, for most people who create there is a lot of indecision, embarrassment, fear, uncertainty, doubt -- costs in money, time and energy involved. Moving into the unknown is tough – and it often does not “feel” particularly good.



One of the difficulties of generating new ideas, plans, products or paintings is that to make a decision to pursue something new necessitates the leaving off of something else. You’re 49; do you become a choreographer instead of a dancer? Travel the world but not put down roots? Marry Larry instead of Mary? If it’s a hard choice it’s likely that your desires are fairly well matched and yet in conflict in some way. If you could do both well, why would you be deciding?



When deciding, much of the bad feeling has its foundation in the fact that by simply choosing one you have to turn away from another. I read recently in Rolling Stone magazine that Johnny Depp took up acting as a way to pay the bills while he worked for a deal for his band. He says that he doesn’t take acting seriously, even now. I’m not saying that he ever regrets his choice, it’s just that on the days Johnny Depp experiences that he is an actor now and not a musician (starving or otherwise) he must wonder about the something lost, the thing not chosen.



Interestingly, it is said that the word “decide” comes from the Latin word, decider, meaning to cut off or cut away and, the suffix, --“cide,” meaning to kill -- related to the words, suicide and homicide. To decide means literally to cut off and kill something. Ever been in the position where you’re deciding to quit your job and take a mortgage on your house so that you can start that design firm or open that shop?



The new feels bad – the fear, risk, embarrassment, financial failure; the old, it feels bad too – the sameness, the boss, the regret. Knowing that a scary, sad, uncertain feeling about moving in a new direction is ordinary and literally, an experience of loss, can help you focus more on gaining the knowledge you need to make smart decisions and the self awareness to make values-based ones.



The fact that a decision feels bad does not help inform you of which direction to go. Don’t let fear be the thing that arbitrarily dismisses you choices. Everyone feels the fear of the new and the emptiness of the lost.



So, what’s left? Well, of course there is good fact gathering. Are you purchasing that building armed with information about ratios and market trends? Does that new product fit into your marketing image? Do you have good community involvement, do you know your banker, have you come to understand your company’s agenda, do you have good boundaries and chip in when appropriate?



And, yes, maybe some of the other emotions, are you excited about one option, does that give you energy for the struggle that either one would be? Do you feel hope, instead of stymied? It is as hard to pick between two magnificent, inspiring and life-changing events as two terrible ones. Don’t let the fact that it feels AWFUL to think about leaving your job of 20 years and becoming a children’s advocate be the reason you don’t do it. I’m not saying do it, either, I’m just saying that all decisions involve a loss and all loss feels bad. Acknowledging that factor in the equation

Small Business Services in the Area

For Small Business help in the Greater Sacramento area, log on to http://www.sbdc.net/, Citd.org,sba.gov.

AND

El Dorado County Chamber542 Main StreetPlacerville, CA 95667-5610 Laurel Brent-Bumb, Executive Director Phone: 530-621-5885 Fax: 530-642-1624e-mail: chamber@eldoradocounty.orgwebsite: www.eldoradocounty.org
Escalon Chamber of Commerce1111 First St., #1333Escalon, CA 95320-1619 Patty Fairchild, Secretary/Manager Phone: 209-838-2793 Fax: 209-838-3538e-mail:info@escalonchamber.com
Folsom Chamber of Commerce200 Wool StreetFolsom, CA 95630-2549 Joseph Gagliardi, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 916-985-2698 Fax: 916-984-4117e-mail: joeg@folsomchamber.comwebsite: www.folsomchamber.com
Galt District Chamber206 5th StreetGalt, CA 95632-1957 Executive Director Phone: 209-745-2529 Fax: 209-745-0840e-mail: galtchamber@sbcglobal.netwebsite: www.galtchamber.com/
Isleton Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 758Isleton, CA 95641-0758 Olivia Glavin, Office Manager/Treasurer Phone: 916-777-5880 Fax: 916-777-4330e-mail: isletoncoc@citlink.netwebsite: www.isletoncoc.org/
Lincoln Area ChamberP.O. Box 608Lincoln, CA 95648-0608 Harvi Callaham, Executive Director Phone: 916-645-2035 Fax: 916-645-9455e-mail:info@lincolnchamber.comwebsite: www.lincolnchamber.com/
Lathrop District ChamberP.O. Box 313Lathrop, CA 95330-0313 Donna Buckley, President Phone: 209-239-7587 Fax: 209-941-0716e-mail: info@lathropchamber.org
Lodi District Chamber35 S. School St.Lodi, CA 95240-2114 Pat Patrick, Executive Director Phone: 209-367-7840 Fax: 209-334-0528e-mail: ppatrick@lodichamber.comwebsite: www.lodichamber.com
Loomis Basin Chamber5911 King Rd #CLoomis, CA 95650-9074 Executive Director Phone: 916-652-7252 Fax: 916-652-7211e-mail: manager@loomischamber.comwebsite: www.loomischamber.com
North Lake Tahoe ChamberPO Box 1757Tahoe City, CA 96145-1757 Andy Chapman Phone: 530-581-8734 Fax: 530-581-8784e-mail: andy@mytahoevacation.comwebsite: www.mytahoevacation.com
Placer County Auburn Area Chamber601 Lincoln WayAuburn, CA 95603-4803 Bruce Cosgrove, Executive Director Phone: 530-885-5616 Fax: 530-885-5854e-mail: bruce@auburnarea.comwebsite: www.auburnarea.com
Rocklin Area Chamber5055 Pacific St.Rocklin, CA 95677-2707 Mary Jo Zimmer-Edmondson, CEO Phone: 916-624-2548 Fax: 916-624-5743e-mail: info@rocklinchamber.comwebsite: www.rocklinchamber.com
Roseville Chamber of Commerce650 Douglas Blvd.Roseville, CA 95678-3256 Wendy Gerig, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 916-783-8136 Fax: 916-783-5261e-mail: wagerig@rosevillechamber.comwebsite: www.rosevillechamber.com
Shingle Springs ChamberP.O. Box 341Cameron Park, CA 95682-0341 Carolyn Doty, Executive Director Phone: 530-677-8000 Fax: 530-676-8313e-mail:info@sscpchamber.orgwebsite: www.sscpchamber.org
South Lake Tahoe Chamber3066 Lake Tahoe BlvdSouth Lake Tahoe, CA 96150-7810 Duane Wallace, Executive Director Phone: 530-541-5255 Fax: 530-541-7121e-mail: duane_wallace@hotmail.comwebsite: www.tahoeinfo.com
San Joaquin County Clements-Lockeford Chamber18980 N Highway 88 #ALockeford, CA 95237-9787 Sharon Godat, Office Manager Phone: 209-727-3142 Fax: 209-727-3365e-mail: chamber@lockeford.comwebsite: lockeford.com/chamber
Stockton Chamber445 W. Weber Ave. # 220Stockton, CA 95203-3148 Douglass Wilhoit, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 209-547-2770 Fax: 209-466-5271e-mail: schamber@stocktonchamber.orgwebsite: www.stocktonchamber.org
Tracy Chamber of Commerce223 East 10th StreetTracy, CA 95376-4005 Michael Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 209-835-2131 Fax: 209-833-9526e-mail: mschmidt@tracychamber.orgwebsite: www.tracychamber.orgSutter County Live Oak Chamber of CommercePO Box 391Live Oak, CA 95953-0391 Annette Bertolini, President Phone: 530-695-1519 e-mail: liveoakchamber@syix.comwebsite: www.liveoakchamber.org
West Sacramento Chamber1414 Merkley Ave. Ste. 1West Sacramento, CA 95691-3209 Kay Fenrich, Executive Director Phone: 916-371-7042 Fax: 916-371-7007e-mail: kay@westsacramentochamber.comwebsite: www.westsacramentochamber.com
Woodland Chamber Commerce307 First StreetWoodland, CA 95695-3412 Kristy Wright, Interim Exec. Director Phone: 530-662-7327 Fax: 530-662-4086e-mail: kristyw@woodlandchamber.orgwebsite: www.woodlandchamber.org
Yuba County Yuba-Sutter ChamberPO Box 1429Marysville, CA 95901-1429 Laura Nicholson, Executive Director/CEO Phone: 530-743-6501 Fax: 530-741-8645e-mail: lnicholson@yubasutterchamber.comwebsite: www.yubasutterchamber.com/
Yolo County Davis Chamber of Commerce130 G Street #BDavis, CA 95616-4630 Sherry Richter, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 530-756-5160 Fax: 530-756-5190e-mail: ceo@davischamber.comwebsite: www.davischamber.com
Sacramento County CA Chamber of Commerce1215 K Street #1400Sacramento, CA 95814-3953 Ann Amioka, Vice President Phone: 916-444-6670 Fax: 916-444-6685e-mail: ann.amioka@calchamber.comwebsite: www.calchamber.com
Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce1331 T Street, Suite 3Sacramento, CA 95814-3953Pat Fong Kushida, President/CEOPhone: 916-446-7883Fax: 916-446-7098e-mail: sacasiancc@aol.comwebsite: www.sacasiancc.org
Citrus Heights ChamberP. O. Box 191Citrus Heights, CA 95611-0191 Jeannie Bruins, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 916-536-9888 Fax: 916-722-4543e-mail: chamber@chchamber.comwebsite: www.chchamber.com
East Sacramento Chamber of Commercehttp://www.eastsacramentochamber.org
El Dorado Hills ChamberPO Box 5055El Dorado Hills, CA 95762-0001 Debbie Manning, President/CEO Phone: 916-933-1335 Fax: 916-933-5908e-mail: chamber@eldoradohillschamber.comwebsite: www.eldoradohillschamber.org
Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce9280 W. Stockton Blvd. #104Elk Grove, CA 95624-1456 Janet Toppenberg, Executive Director Phone: 916-691-3760 Fax: 916-691-3810e-mail:janet@elkgroveca.comwebsite: www.elkgroveca.com
Fair Oaks Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 352Fair Oaks, CA 95628-0352 Marsha Karley, Executive Director Phone: 916-967-2903 Fax: 916-967-8536e-mail:info@fairoakschamber.comwebsite: www.fairoakschamber.com
North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 925-6773 S SAC Greenhaven Chamber of Commerce 6191 Florin Road, Sacramento, CA 95823 (916) 391-0272 http://www.southsacchamber.org/
Orangevale Chamber of Commerce9267 Greenback Ln.,Ste.B-91Orangevale, CA 95662-4863 Karen Adams, Executive Director Phone: 916-988-0175 Fax: 916-988-1049e-mail:linda@orangevalechamber.comwebsite: www.orangevalechamber.com
Rancho Cordova Chamber3328 Mather Field RoadRancho Cordova, CA 95670-5966 Rex Albright, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 916-361-8700 Fax: 916-361-3049e-mail: ralbright@ranchocordova.orgwebsite: www.ranchocordova.org
Sacramento Hispanic Chamber2848 Arden Way, #230Sacramento, CA 95825-1373 Stella Premo, Interim President Phone: 916-486-7700 Fax: 916-486-7728website: www.sachcc.org
Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce2251 Florin Road, Suite 132Sacramento, CA 95822Phone: (916) 427-4222Fax: (916) 427-6994www.sacblackchamber.org
Sacramento Metro Chamber917 7th StreetSacramento, CA 95814-2509 Matthew Mahood, President/CEO Phone: 916-552-6800 Fax: 916-443-2672e-mail: mmahood@metrochamber.orgwebsite: www.metrochamber.orgThe Alliance for Business and Community—Collaborative Partnership with Sacramento Black, Asian Pacific and Hispanic Chambers of Commercewww.allianceforbusinessandcommunity.com

Real Estate Economics

I thought this was a very interesting article on the economics in real estate. The economist Edward L. Glaeser has some out-of-the-box, against the mainstream way of thinking about how cities, ecomomies of urban areas and emotions create great (and blighted) enviroments. It made me think of somone wrestling with creative thinking. Check it out at the New York Times.

Call for suggestions of BAD for Business Federal regulations

Make your voice heard! It isn't that often that an organization makes a call for complaints!

The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration is issuing a call for nomination of federal rules and regulations in need of review and reform. You can help us streamline and update outdated or ineffective rules by nominating those that keep you up at night. Nominations are due by December 31, 2007.

Nominate them on the Office of Advocacy r3 Web site at www.sba.gov/advo/r3 or send an email to advocacy@sba.gov. For help, call Keith Holman at (202) 205-6936. For press release, click here.


And info on the BEST palces to do business... http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fsb/beststates_top10/10.html

Sacramento Economic Development Strategy

The City of Sacramento's Economic Development strategy plans for the next few years can be found at:

http://www.cityofsacramento.org/econdev/msc/EconDevStrategy.html

Be sure to look at the information gathered from community focus groups like small business owners as well as neighborhood and quality of life advocates.

Economic Development Strategy in Lebanon

Here's a short but interesting story on ED projects in Lebanon:

http://www.icma.org/main/ns.asp?nsid=3414&LGM=1&t=0

PRACTICAL Financial Projections for Small Businesses

Here's a great blog entry that can help you in thinking about some of the real costs of offices, staff and equipment in projecting expenses for you new company. Often we don't get useful tips on things like: How much sq. ft. per person do I need to set up a workstation, monthly telephone costs per employee, or how much is AC on my floor...

http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/10/financial-model.html

City Council Meeting on Redevelopment/Economic Development

I thought this coming week's council agenda looked particularly interesting. http://sacramento.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=6&event_id=2

The city is dedicating a lot of resources to stabilizing and improving our economic agenda to address quality of life issues and a strive for a super educated workforce -- beause that's what makes an economy sustain.

Check out where the new hot spots of redevelopmnet reside, and support or improve these ideas and projects as you are able.

Business Retention and Expansion Resources

Most firms and agencies that focus on developing economic growth and prosperity -- in Sacramento and elsewhere -- speak of "BRE", Business Retention and Expansion. Economic evidence shows that entrepreneur development and support -- especially of companies in a community with less than 20 employees contributes up to 85% of the economic growth of a community -- with tax base, sales tax and increased spending from job earning -- and also support much of the overall employment. Even though large companies employ more individuals, there are fewer of them so smaller businesses are really the workhorse of area employment. Of course, in Sacramento we also have a strong government sector.

We also know that retaining businesses that already live here, and taking the time and energy to grow them, contributes more bang for the buck than trying to lure new business into our area. This is especially true in California where costs to do business are high. Here, it's pretty hard to talk someone from Montana into paying rents, buying property, or paying Workers' Comp. fees here instead o f in their home state.

So BRE it is, where those charge with the economic prosperity of our region spend their time. Regional Economic Developers from the City of Sac., Sac. County, City of Folsom, City of Roseville, City of West Sacramento, El Dorado County, Placer County, Los Rios Community Colleges ,SMUD and SETA have partnered together to discover what our area businesses need to thrive. (MetroPulse)The plan is to gather information from many sectors of the business community and find out how to put businesses in touch with resources that can support them. Resources such as specific training for a company, subsidised by the state to increase worker performance; matched dollars to spiff up the front of your building, financing for your business expansion through Economic Development Corporation lending opportunities -- and lots of other things we don't even know businesses need - yet!

So, if an economic development professional contacts your business, tell them what's holding you back from growing and making new jobs for our friends, partners and children. You'll be surprised what's out there to support growth, once you find the person(s) that can help you navigate the "system".

Please post any successes or frustrations you've had with getting support for your business in the Sacramento region.


Building Tomorrow's Talent: A Practitioner's Guide to Talent Management and Succession Planning