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Receive a verbal update on the Solano County Farmbudsman Program; and Consider designating a Board member to meet quarterly with the Farmbudsman
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator's Office recommends that the Board of Supervisors receive a verbal update on the Solano County Farmbudsman Program, and consider designating a Board member to meet quarterly with the Farmbudsman.
SUMMARY:
The Farmbudsman program has been operational in Solano County since April 2013. The Farmbudsman assists farmers, ranchers and agriculture-related businesses with various permitting processes, including assistance with agricultural permitting and standards as required by regulatory agencies. On July 24, 2018, Solano County entered in to an agreement with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation's Northern California Small Business Development Center (Norcal SBDC) to administer the Farmbudsman program until a new SBDC host agency could be found in Solano County. On January 24, 2019, the agreement transitioned to the new Solano SBDC host agency, the Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Solano County. Heather Henry, Executive Director of the WDB, will provide an update on the transition process. And, Sarah Hawkins, Farmbudsman, will provide a status update on the Farmbudsman program. The Farmbudsman program's objective is to facilitate and expedite the development of promising value-added agricultural projects.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The operating agreement with Norcal SBDC, which has now transitioned to the WDB, for the administration of the Farmbudsman program is through June 30, 2019. The agreement is for an amount not to exceed $35,000 to reimburse Norcal SBDC and WDB for Farmbudsman services offered to facilitate and expedite the development of promising value-added agricultural projects, to provide regulatory aid in complying with the...
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