LAKEPORT, Calif. – A nonprofit organization dedicated to helping businesses and improving Lake County’s economy has big plans for the year ahead which are receiving support from local governments.
The Lake Economic Development Corp. asked for, and received, support from the Lakeport City Council council for its continued implementation of a plan to support economic and business development, with the city also to consider a $10,000 budget contribution in the upcoming fiscal year.
The staff report for the discussion begins on page 77 of the agenda packet below and can be seen starting at the 27:18 mark in the video above.
The organization made a similar presentation to the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 12, where county officials indicated support and willingness to consider a contribution, and it’s scheduled to present to the Clearlake City Council on Thursday. Lake EDC is seeking $25,000 from the county and $10,000 from Clearlake for the next fiscal year.
Lake EDC worked with the two cities and the county along with the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay on the Lake County Path to Prosperity Economic Development Strategy, which was presented at a December meeting.
That plan’s key elements include focusing on targeted industries such as agriculture, tourism and research; improving infrastructure, including broadband and facilities at Lampson Field airport; and marketing Lake County’s unique and desirable qualities, including quality of life, the low cost to live here and the natural beauty.
Andy Lucas, a business representative for Lake EDC, explained the background of the organization, founded in 1983 and made up of individuals representing the county and two cities, private sector, Tribal Health, the Workforce Alliance, agriculture and real estate. It’s funded through US Department of Agriculture grants.
He said they assist with startup, expansion and business sale strategies. They also offer business education through workshops and one-on-one consultations on topics including marketing, Web site development, managing cash flow, using QuickBooks, preparing a business plan, customer service, networking services and working with lenders. Other efforts revolve around facility creation, retention, expansion and attraction of business.
Lake EDC offers business financing and access to capital from multiple sources, and has 31 loans to Lake County businesses, totaling $3.2 million, with more than 300 jobs created, Lucas said.
“We really like to be sort of mechanics for businesses,” Lucas said, explaining that they get in and identify the needs and find ways to address them.
He said the services are offered at no cost to businesses, “which is really beneficial for our rural economy here.”
Lake EDC also recently become more involved in housing for working class families, especially after the wildfires and the resulting loss of homes. He said it’s been working with the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development on that project, and together they’ve hosted five housing fairs. Another one – in both English and Spanish – is coming up on March 16. USDA Rural Development’s housing director comes to Lake County a few times a month, works out of Lake EDC’s Kelseyville offices and meets with applicants.
He said Lake EDC also has collaborated with both cities and the county, local organizations – among them, the Westside Community Park Committee, Middletown Art Center, the chambers of commerce – and numerous local businesses.
Lake EDC’s 2018-19 fiscal year operating budget totals $141,300. With that amount, Lucas said Lake EDC has been able to do several things – from putting on a number of housing fairs, to helping businesses, working on grants and operating an intermediary lending program in which it borrows money from the USDA and relends it out to businesses in the community for job creation and retention.
The organization also created a new Web site that he said is a great tool for existing businesses as well as for business investment and attraction.
Sources of the Lake EDC operating budget include a USDA Rural Business Development grant and the Business Loan Program, funds from the cities and county, and CalRecycle, Lucas said.
In the upcoming fiscal year, Lucas said Lake EDC has a projected budget of $252,500.
Lucas said Lake EDC has applied for an $80,000 grant from USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant program, and also has received approval from the US Department of Commerce with regard to establishing an economic development disaster recovery coordinator position for $80,000.
At a Dec. 7 board retreat, Lake EDC selected three primary short-term tasks for the Path to Prosperity Economic Strategy for 2019-2020, he said.
The tasks include defining and marketing 25 countywide commercial sites with complete information on each site that will be posted on the Lake EDC’s Web site under the “Site Selector” tab; expanding broadband services to commercial and residential users not adequately served now, as well as to the rest of the county; and funding infrastructure improvements such as public bathrooms and wastewater treatment at Lampson Field.
Councilman George Spurr asked about how to address the budget request. City Manager Margaret Silveira said it will be brought back to the council during the budgeting process.
“We are mostly about working with the local folks, day in, day out,” said Jeff Lucas, another of the Lake EDC’s principals.
He said they want to offer more of that help, explaining that they understand the pros and cons of owning a business.
Silveira lauded the Lucases for doing a great job.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner said she was encouraged and excited by the list of projects Lake EDC is proposing, noting that the airport infrastructure will benefit the whole county, and broadband will offer opportunities such as the ability to work from home.
“That’s what government does, is it creates the infrastructure that allows the businesses to thrive and grow, so this seems very consistent with those priorities,” Turner said.
“The best thing about this to me is the collaborative effort,” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina. “The two cities and the county are finally all coming together, and you have so much interest and so many people that are willing to participate and want to see it move forward.”
Councilman Kenny Parlet said it’s fairly minor investment. “I’m all for it, especially for ten grand.”
Turner moved to support continued implementation of the plan and suggested staff consider the $10,000 contribution, which the council approved 5-0.
For more information about Lake EDC, visit https://www.lakecountycaedc.org/.
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