Press Releases & Media
Press Releases
February 28, 2013
Technology experts to speak at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – Greater Sacramento / Sierra
Sacramento, CA—Community business leaders can access the knowledge and experience of technology experts by attending “Growing Your Business --- Technology Made Simple” workshop at the SBDC in Sacramento on April 11, 2013 from 8:30am to 3:30pm.
Registration cost is $50, including continental breakfast and lunch. Click here for more information and registration.
The Technology Made Simple workshop provides attendees with a powerful learning experience on how to transform your business through the use of best practices in Web Site creation, email marketing, and effective social media.
The SBDC and CED have teamed up with following industry experts who will present inside knowledge in an easy-to-understand approach that will help your business grow:
- Jason Eatmon, Vice President, Development Group, Inc.
- Jonny Clark, Information Technology, Center for Economic Development
- Karen Rice, Regional Development Director, Constant Contact
- Brent Gummow, Multi-talento, Jimdo
- Jessica Murr, Social Media Advisor, Law Student
- Panda Morgan, Director, Small Business Development Center - Greater Sacramento/Sierra
Last year, in coordination with the Center for Economic Development, seven workshops were held, and hundreds of business owners in Northern California attended the full day event. In its 2nd year, this full day workshop is predicted to reach many new locations. Previous attendees provided the following testimonials. “Great workshop! Looking forward to taking next steps for success,” said Rose Bradshaw, workshop attendee in Yreka, CA. "This is a great program! I am glad to see organizations reaching out to small businesses," said Jenise Howell, workshop attendee from Marysville, CA.
We want to thank our premiere sponsors AT&T, CDC Small Business Finance, and Constant Contact for making this workshop possible. In addition, we would like to thank our workshop sponsors Microsoft, Jimdo, and Small Business Administration (SBA).
For more information about the workshop, visit us online at Growing Your Business --- Technology Made Simple or www.cedcal.com/events/. For registration information, call (530) 898-4598.
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October 16, 2012
Center for Economic Development Has New Regional Partnership
The Center for Economic Development (CED) at California State University, Chico has been designated as a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center in a regional partnership with the Office of Community and Economic Development at CSU, Fresno.
The new designation will be supported by a grant of $110,000 per year for each campus’s office of economic development.
University centers are specifically focused on leveraging university assets to build regional economic ecosystems that support high-growth entrepreneurship. The partnership will focus on cultivating an economic ecosystem throughout California, with an emphasis on their combined 31-county service area of the Great Central Valley.
Through this partnership, CED’s EDA University Center will focus on economic development activities that further industry growth, job creation, entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization in industry sectors with high growth potential, including agriculture, clean energy, health care and water.
“Through this collaborative partnership between CSU, Chico and CSU, Fresno, we will be leveraging the resources and expertise at these two California State Universities to address the many challenges facing the communities and regional economies of California,” said Dan Ripke, director of CED at CSU Chico.
“We are very excited to be designated a University Center and to be furthering an already strong working partnership with CSU, Chico,” said Mike Dozier, executive director at the Office of Community and Economic Development at CSU, Fresno. “This grant and designation will allow our two universities to provide communities and organizations throughout Northern California, from Bakersfield to the Oregon border, with economic development tools and technical assistance."
The mission of the CED at CSU, Chico is to educate and build the knowledge and capacity of California economic development professionals and enhance the well-being of the region's citizens by facilitating sustained, long-term and coordinated economic development strategies.
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September 26, 2011
U.S. EDA Investment Strengthens Economic Development Planning Capacity of Native American Tribes in California
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $200,000 grant to California State University (CSU), Chico Research Foundation, Chico, Calif., to help develop Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) for Native American Tribes in California.
“Native Americans have been among the hardest hit by these tough economic times,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez. “This EDA grant will partner the Chico Research Foundation with California tribal communities to develop planning documents that are critical to getting the assistance they need to advance economic and job growth strategies.” The project will increase the capacity of rural and remote Native American Tribes throughout California to begin their own Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) planning via an on-line database. For the Tribes without Internet access, regular meetings and visits will facilitate the process.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):
This year, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks 45 years of public service, with a mission of leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and innovation.
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October 5, 2010
CSU, Chico Center for Economic Development Team and Governor's Office of Economic Development Win Federal Technology Assistance Grant
The Center for Economic Development (CED) at the California State University, Chico Research Foundation announced today that it had been selected by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) as the winner of the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program for the State of California. This contract, developed in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GoED), will provide resources to target technology-based women-owned businesses, socially and economically disadvantaged businesses and small firms that have historically not participated in the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. Further, this effort will help develop the connection between the State's Small Business Development Centers (SBDC's) and California's Innovation Hubs (iHubs) designed to strengthen the collaboration and support networks of the State's entrepreneurs. The Federal funding made available by the FAST program will be used to build capacity within the iHubs and the SBDC offices by providing training in the areas of technology assistance and commercialization, supporting outreach initiatives and workshops for targeted technology firms and subsidizing the technology assistance and mentoring programs available through the iHubs.
Dan Ripke, the Director of the Center for Economic Development and the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center stated, "We are extremely pleased to be able to link California's SBDC program to the Governor's Office of Economic Development and its statewide innovation hub network to promote these kinds of grass roots technology-based job creation efforts."
Launched in March 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger's Innovation Hub Initiative provides a platform for research clusters, startup companies, government entities, business groups and venture capitalists by leveraging assets such as research parks, technology incubators, universities and federal laboratories to foster innovation and job creation statewide. Over the past six months, the group has grown to twelve including the North State iHub in Chico, the North Bay iHub in Rohnert Park, the Sacramento iHub, the Greater Mission Bay Area iHub in San Francisco, the i-GATE iHub in Livermore, the Green Corridor iHub in the East Bay, the Central San Joaquin Valley iHub in Fresno/Merced, the CleanTech Los Angeles iHub, the Coachella Valley iHub in Palm Springs, OCTANe iHub in Orange County and iHub San Diego.
"The twelve innovation hubs operating within various regions throughout the state will benefit from the additional funding," said Governor's Office of Economic Development Director Joel Ayala. "The partnership with CSU Chico and the California SBDC network gives us an opportunity to assist small businesses, commercialize new technologies, secure other funding and create jobs for Californians." Please visit www.cedcal.com or call (530) 898-4598 for additional information.
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June 2, 2010
National Broadband Industry Expert to Assist CSU-Chico’s California Broadband Planning Project
Bringing an additional dimension of expertise to California’s broadband planning efforts, Oakland, CA-based industry analyst and strategy consultant Craig Settles teams with CSU-Chico to help create a blueprint for advancing broadband in the state. CSU-Chico has contracted with Craig Settles, President of Successful.com and Co-Director of Communities United for Broadband for his industry knowledge and skills in developing business strategies for community networks that improve local economies. Settles’ consultant role with CSU-Chico includes both high-level and in-depth critical analysis of data gathered by CSU-Chico on various communities’ projects, methods and initiatives that are facilitating broadband adoption throughout the state. Settles’ assistance will help CSU-Chico uncover and document trends, patterns, and best practices that can be used to further support the ongoing broadband adoption efforts throughout the state. Mr. Settles also will assist CSU-Chico in promoting this information to counties, cities and towns to aid in local broadband planning and adoption efforts. “We are very pleased to have Mr. Settles on our team for this broadband planning project,” comments Don Krysakowski, Assistant Director of the Center for Economic Development in the CSU, Chico Research Foundation. “Craig is one of the leading voices in the U.S. on executing effective broadband community and business strategies. Communities should benefit tremendously from the results of this project.” A nationally recognized expert in developing broadband business strategy, Settles has worked with several California cities to help them assess their broadband needs and develop plans for moving network projects forward. Settles also worked with CSU-Chico last summer conducting local north state workshops on developing strategies for broadband adoption. An accomplished author, his recent book, Fighting the Next Good Fight: Bringing True Broadband to Your Community, combined with his first book Fighting the Good Fight for Municipal Wireless, and numerous reports, have established Mr. Settles as a thought leader on broadband issues and policies.###
Media
The Center for Economic Development (CED) is dedicated to providing critical information to community organizations, businesses, and community leaders. Working with the media is essential to delivering that information and data to the CED's audiences. This is why the CED goes to great lengths to build positive relationships with the media and provide them with news-worthy stories and research summaries.
Dan Ripke, Director
Telephone: (530)898-4598
Fax: (530)898-4734
E-mail: dripke@csuchico.edu