title
Receive an update on the 2019 Solano County Farmbudsman Program activities
body
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 an update on the 2019 Solano County Farmbudsman Program activities.
SUMMARY:
The beginnings of the Farmbudsman program can be traced back to a joint Economic Summit held with Yolo County in November 2011 where the concept of establishing a program to serve existing and future agriculture-related businesses to enhance the value of agriculture and decrease perceived regulatory obstacles was discussed. In 2013, the Farmbudsman program became operational in Solano County with the Board approving an agreement with the Solano Small Business Development Center to administer the program. And, on January 24, 2019, the Board approved a new management agreement with the Workforce Development Board/Solano Business Development Center (WDB/SBDC) to administer the program as the WDB of Solano County became the new host agency for the Solano SBDC.
The objective of the Solano County Farmbudsman Program is to provide consulting or training services to farmers, ranchers and agriculture-related businesses located in, or that will be located in Solano County, to facilitate and expedite the development of promising value-added agriculture projects, to provide regulatory support and advise in complying with the regulatory process, which includes activities related to preserving and enhancing agriculture as a viable industry for its cultural, environmental and economic benefit. Sarah Hawkins is the current Farmbudsman. She will provide the Board with an update on 2019 Farmbudsman program activities, and joining Sarah is Tim Murrill, Director for the Solano Business Development Center.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for this program is included in the County Promotion Department's FY2019/...
Click here for full text