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Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign and transmit a letter to the U.S. Economic Development Administration in support of the final Vision, Goals and Objectives of the Bay Area Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and for establishment of a Bay Area Economic Development District
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator’s Office and the Department of Resource Management recommend that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign and transmit a letter to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) in support of the final Vision, Goals and Objectives of the Bay Area Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and for establishment of a Bay Area Economic Development District.
SUMMARY:
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has been developing a Comprehensive Strategy (CEDS) for the nine Bay Area counties as a pre-requisite to filing an application with the US Economic Development Administration (US-EDA) to establish a regional Economic Development District (EDD). The draft Vision, Goals and Objectives for the CEDS is attached. The District would encompass all nine Bay Area counties. The intent behind establishing the EDD is to promote regional economic collaboration and improve access to grants and technical assistance. As part of the process, ABAG has requested input on and endorsement of the Visions, Goals and Objectives of the CEDS to establish the EDD from all Bay Area counties. To date, five counties have provided their endorsement. ABAG staff intends to return to their Board sometime in May/June to adopt the CEDS and authorize filing for an EDD with the US-EDA.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There are no costs associated with endorsing ABAG’s application to establish an EDD nor is there a cost to be part of the District. The County may gain access to grants and other technical assistance by inclusion in the District.
DISCUSSION:
The Board of Supervisors previously received a grant from the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) in 2013 to prepare a countywide strategic approach to further diversify the Solano County economy and a second grant in 2015 to further address economic diversification called Moving Solano Forward Phase II. As part of the Phase II project, the Board entered in to a Memorandum of Understanding with the Solano EDC to prepare a CEDS specifically for Solano County. The CEDS was approved by the Board on August 22,2017 and ultimately by the US-EDA. At the time of Board adoption, it was noted that ABAG was preparing a Bay Area CEDS that would be complementary to what was being adopted by the County.
Solano County staff met with ABAG representatives to go over the proposed Bay Area CEDS, to compare its provisions with the Solano County CEDS and to address Solano County’s questions and Comments. Attachment B documents how the adopted Solano CEDS and the proposed Bay Area CEDS augment and parallel each other in terms of selected key elements. Attachment C is the Vision, Goals and Objectives document prepared by ABAG for submission to US-EDA.
Participation in the Bay Area EDD will provide opportunities to highlight Solano County assets such as more affordable housing relative to core Bay Area counties and available land for manufacturing and commercial land uses and is meant to serve as a compatible and complimentary resource for Economic Development within our region. It also provides opportunities to address needs and resources in a larger Bay Area context including the potential to better tap in to positive economic factors experienced in the larger region. There are clear benefits to inclusion and will not exclude the County from pursuing individual goals identified in the Solano County CEDS.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to authorize signing of letter of support. This is not recommended as the Board will miss an opportunity to show its support for the establishment of a regional Economic Development District which will enhance the County’s Economic Development efforts both locally and regionally.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION